This show starts off with a pretty nutty Chalk Dust, with a guitar-as-siren breakdown in the middle, then chugs along until the band hits Gin, a jaunty classic-rock Gin that has a jam that could probably have been made its own song if the band so wanted (credit Fishman for some great drumming leading into the jam). I try not to use "hose" too often in my reviews, but if this isn't hose, then I'm not really sure what is; the music just pours out of the group with monstrous energy and abandon. I've been listening to a lot of Gins lately, and I can safely say this is the best non-Went one I've heard yet. This jam is about what a *powerful* jamming unit Phish can be, and the sharp turn back into the main Gin theme is something to behold. Piper (which gets played with vicious speed) and If I Could are a decent close to an okay set with a towering jam.

Set II leads off with DWD, which rocks along in standard DWD fashion before slowing to a crawl, Trey going to the effects pedal to wring some weird noises out of his guitar, Mike and Fish holding down a steady DWD-style backdrop, and then just when you're lulled by the low-gear jam the band explodes back into a DWD reprise and then immediately goes into Hood, which is also good but not a standout to my ears (although the crowd roars at Trey hucking the glowsticks back at the crowd are fun). Jibboo and Circus are whatever. Then comes Mike's Song, which brings a muscular energy right off the bat and locks into a Mike-driven jam (seriously, the bass will stick in your throat, it's so thick), with some of those techno-flourishes the kids were talking about back in the day (see: the next show). Then comes a sudden full band stop in the jam, a pause for cheering, and an equally sudden, fluid return into the jam...for about a minute, before another full band stop, upon which Trey starts up Albuquerque. Albuquerque actually makes a lot of sense as a palate cleanser (dig the harmonies!), and Weekapaug catches fire at the end, nearly on par with the greats (12/31/95, 7/17/98) for sheer intensity. A nice two-song encore sends everyone out happy.

I don't know if I would call this a classic show or anything, but the opening Gin definitely begs to be heard and the Mike's Groove is excellent, so I can recommend a download without hesitation.