IMO this was an incredible Phish show, the likes of which I’ve never seen before and will likely never see again. I was initially bummed at the choice to perform a set of the band’s own new material rather than a cover album. It felt like a cop out. But at the end of the first set realized I go to shows for one main reason: to see something I’ve never seen before. Phish often delivers, but even the best shows are merely new combinations of different takes on familiar ideas. This was an entirely new event – a moment frozen in time. 10K people experiencing something brand new for the first and only time. And it was GOOD like HOOD.

Half the songs sounded like you were dropped into the middle of a sick type 2 jam that had been shaped and formed into a song like 8 hands on so much wet clay. The new Gordon/Murawski tunes were equally strong and vibrant, with the recognizable stamp of Mike’s quirk. The new Trey/Tom compositions were fun, energetic exercises in “dad-rock,” which I was happy to tolerate, for I recognized their value as anchors in a set adrift with new ideas.

And then that 3rd set! When was the last time we saw Phish dig deep into multiple jams in the third set of a holiday show? 10/31/98? Ghost and Carini both went 20 strong minutes and will surely be brought up in conversation as all-timers. Add in a sublime Hood and a fiery Antelope and this kid walked out of Boardwalk Hall at 1am exhausted and exalting, exactly as one should on one of the most hallowed nights of the year.