I feel a lot differently about the 7/30/2003 show in Camden now than I did when I was actually there. I had witnessed the paramount show the night before in Burgettstown and was still in a state of shock. I was meeting my sister in Camden along with other friends and family from Jersey and PA. My brother in law Kyle actually predicted before the show that they would play Spock's Brain, just because of all the recent bust outs.

I apparently got into the wrong line coming into the show because it took forever to get in the gate. This hold up caused me to miss the My Friend, My Friend opener, so I was a little bummed out about that.

I met my friend Tania out on the lawn during Lonesome Cowboy Bill. I had worked with her and steered her musical interests into the Phish world, so it was nice to see her at her first show.

Scents and Subtle Sounds was spectacular. I always liked the dark reggae groove that opens the song and did not like how Phish rearranged the song later on without it. Anyway, this version has it and it is THE quintessential version of this song.

I like You Ain't Goin' Nowhere and it reminded me of a song my Dad would play. As soon as they hit the opening notes of Spock's Brain I hi-fived Kyle right away for nailing it. The rest of the set had some definite highlights such as the cool Chalkdust, the bust out On Your Way Down, a soothing Fast Enough For You, and a solid Taste to close the set.

The second set is what I like a lot more now at this stage of my life than I did when I was younger and at the show. Twist, Bug, YEM, and Walls of the Cave comprised the entire second set and the band journeyed all over the dark and spacy void. It was a completely different kind of show than Burgettstown was, which left me a little disappointed at the time. The Secret Smile encore put the nail in the coffin for me. I couldn't believe that one.

But as I stated, the show sounds much better to me now when I listen to it objectively instead of how I felt in the moment. I still like the second night much better though.