The entire weekend was high energy, high polish, near flawless in the band's playing. Clearly they're enjoying themselves. I've been seeing Phish since 1993 and they're playing as tight as ever. Sure, the complete out-there weirdness may not creep into every show but we need to appreciate a whole bunch of facts surrounding these guys.

First, they're in their mid-40s (like myself). You mature. You're not living out of the back of the van playing shows doing endless bong hits and what not. I believe they are taking their music more serious now than ever before.

Second, Trey's sobriety. (And of course for him I'm hopeful on this.) His playing is more constructed now rather than straight-up psychedelic. Don't get me wrong - he went someplace magical in DWD on Saturday night. But the sweetness of Reba on Sat, the Divided Sky on Sunday, and Bowie were coming from a man at a new peace. The mind anchors your fingers, and if your mind goes to a new place so the fingers.

Finally, these guys own their genre, whatever that is. So boos when Joy arises, etc., frankly, I don't think they give a damn (like they ever have). We need to appreciate that the torch they've carried, bringing jam/improv music into the digital age (LivePhish), bringing total sensory experience to live modern performance with CK5, and the complete dedication to their entire repertoire means that anyone who is fortunate enough to continue to experience this group should be some of the most thankful on this crazy little planet of ours.