Fun evening streaming this show. Missed the Pigtail and Moma, but got in on what sounded like a pretty standard (energetic) BOAF. Meat got reeeeaaaaaal sludgy, and was a first set highlight, with some dirty, funky interplay between the boys toward the end. The boys helped this meat go down by bringing on the carrion birds, and boy was it fun. Vultures is a surefire was to get the crowd going, and this was no different. High energy ending, with woo's aplenty from those who woo. Woos don't bother me, as I like fan participation, so this one was all meat gravy. Free was a little restrained. Trey toyed with the echo effect during the jam, which I think took some steam out of the proceedings, but I love Free and I'll take it any day. I do wish they would really put some oomph back into this one, ala Hampton 98, but c'est la vie, and we are where we are. Let Me Lie is a personal favorite of the ballads, and I loved hearing it. Reminds me of old friends long gone..... Halley's was good fun as always. But of course, we are hear to talk about the heavy hitters, and the one two punch to end the first set was plenty heavy. You can always count on Julius to pump up the room, and it did. Intro was a little off, and had some thinking we were going to hear La Grange for the first time since 2012, but turned out to be old reliable, which is always welcome. Plenty of ass kicking rock and roll went down on this tale of Caesar's woe, but still, one got the feeling that there was time left in the set for something even bigger, and sure enough as soon as Trey finished that final ascending guitar lick, here comes YEM. Plenty of energy in this one, and a non typical pre-vocal jam jimmy jam where the funk-blues breakdown usually fits, was given unto us with Page hopping on bass, Mike moving to the keys and laying on the clavinet, and Trey moving to marimba lumina. A spacey kind of thing transpired, and eventually gave way to a short and sweet vocal jam. Plenty for everyone in this first set, and it certainly whetted appetites for things to come.

Disease went down its usually happy go lucky roads, never veering into anything too dark or disjointed. It slowed down a bit as the jam went along, but eventually the boys roused themselves up for a very nice last 3 minutes or so, full of energy and light. I was really enjoying myself, and hoped that they would continue, but the band had other business to attend to, and they got right to it. I am not a huge Sand man, so I wasn't jumping out of my seat here, but I was moving my ass IN my seat, so there's that. Many people love this one, so I was happy for them, especially whoever called a DWD>Sand opener for Set II. Good call. But shit really started falling off of people when those beautiful, subdued, jazzy chords rolled off of the Languedoc and onto your ears. The Tale of Tela, Jewel of Wilson's foul domain had not been told in nearly two years, so this telling was welcome. Trey was pretty spot on with the composed parts, and vocals were good. Furthermore, Trey made sure to finish with authority, and the ripping was really ripping in the final solo. Yeah, he still gots it. This tender moment was soon ripped to shreds, however, as Carini's lumpy fucking head came through a rift in space to scare the shit out of everyone. Dark and powerful was this magician, and it appeared he puts Fish's testicles in a vice and turned, because the man was screaming and squawking throughout the affair, and it appeared he really, REALLY liked it. This one is worth another listen. Just when things were about to turn 4th dimensional, Trey chimed in the with opening chords to Twenty Years Later. Don't get me wrong, it's a great song, but I feel like Carini was abandoned too early. Oh well, it's their show, not mine, and 20YL ended up very nicely, with a dissonant, funky, and spares jam, which hearkened back to the jams of old (first set YEM and Meat). There was plenty of funk in the trunk tonight, and the boys were set to haul all of it. But how to proceed? Well, run that funk trunk down to the plains, and see about an ungulate. Yes indeed, a non-set-ending Antelope was in order, which is my favorite place to have it. I love what Phish has been doing with setlists this tour, keeping up guessing, and this Antelope did not disappoint. Trey must have been doing hand yoga, cuz those fingers were limber. Some very nice high peaks during this bad boy, and one you could tell the band was right into 'er. And of course, because he had been a good soldier all night, Trey got to put a cherry on top for himself, with # Line. I actually like #Line, maybe not as a set closer, but what can I say. When it gets a head of steam, it's hard to argue with, and this one was no different. I think we all knew that the stage was set for a pretty killer encore, or at least that was the feeling. There had been whispers after Tela that perhaps Lizards would soon make its way into our lives, and oh joy, those whispers were correct! Thanks be to the Book! Lizards, when done to perfection, is one of those magical songs that make Phish who they are, who they were, and who they will always be. Some people might not get it, but Lizards is a song that every person with a Phish compartment in their heart cherishes. The band knew what the people wanted, and they delivered. And, just because we all needed a swift kick in the ass before we headed home, they filled us up with Loving Cup. And it was raucous. Phish has always brought the pain with this Stones favorite, but they really turned a corner with at at Festival 8, and the energy connection is brings to the band and the fans is undeniable. This one would have been a great encore by itself, but as a companion to the Lizards, well folks, that's why we listen to Phish in the first place. It was all worth it, and I was sad that the night had to end. Love, peace, and afro grease from Texas.