NOTE: This is hopefully the beginning of a regular Phish.Net feature where one of our esteemed bloggers will post a short paragraph or two containing their take on the previous night's show. We encourage further discussion and interaction in the comments section.
Those who thought the strong opening night at Bethel boded well for rest of tour were (initially anyway) proven right during Night 2. The first set contained a number of highlights punctuated by the no-doubt-about-it best “Halley’s” of 3.0 (the 6/16/09 Fox version may have been a touch longer, but last night was far more interesting) and a “Gin” & “Manteca” cocktail. "Runaway Jim" and "Cities" were also considerably more interesting than the vast majority of their 3.0 counterparts. Set II brought a “Disease” that descended into space, a fun “Makisupa” and a “BDTNL” that was well above average, but didn’t quite rise to the level of 8/11/09, 8/16/09, 6/12/10 or 8/17/10. Really, the second set didn’t live up to the expectations set by the first set (which was one of the best first sets of 3.0), but it, nevertheless, seems like we're off to a good start... a solid 6.5/10.
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I'd give last night's show easily an 8 or higher. Personally, I'm inclined to say it's the best show I've heard from them since 1998.
Maybe that's coming back now with better control over the material thanks to some wood-shedding??
What I'm also hearing these two nights -- and that I'm really liking -- is that jams aren't being preemptively aborted, as I often felt I heard so many get crushed in 2010...So although yeah many of the jams are still short by comparison to behemoths of the past, maybe they're happening more frequently, and unlike the very recent past are being allowed to at least somewhat grow without being nipped in the bud?
That said I'm with your score. 6.5. A serious, jammed Bowie last night probably would have put the show in the ranks of greats in the years you mention. But it wasn't there.
Nevertheless an awesome show for the times, I'd say. Well worth the coin at LP.
That said, I couldn't have asked for a better opening weekend of 3.0.
Theme (opener), Halleys,Runaway Jim was very strong and the Bathtub with "Manteca"to close the set..
Disease was good,even the Number Line was had a tight little jam..Makisupa-> Hood.I had me feeling good..Bowie was above average..A Day in a Life,had to have a nice tune after that 2nd set
Good time good times!