So here is what happened.

Everyone was hot off of the previous night, it was a generally great time, always a treat at Alpine which is a must-experience venue in the middle of nowhere.

When the town has only 34 cabs, you're gonna have a bad time getting a ride there. We made sure this night to plan ahead to get there before the show started. Alpine has become hilarious with their undercover security. Specifically, make sure to watch out for middle aged males with still wrinkled tie-dye t-shirts tucked into jeans with aviator glasses. They're not there for the same reason you are.

So to the show.

I for one had an AWESOME time. Shakedown was the right opener. It seemed like the venue was not at capacity, because it wasn't. I have seen so many bands there over the years, it was noticeably free with room.

Everything was enjoyable with sun and cold brew until it really picked up with Meat. Everything started with Meat.

They didn't look back from there. If you haven't been to alpine, it is a great outdoor venue in the middle of rural Wisconsin on a somewhat steep hill outdoor amphitheater with seats under cover close to the stage. Destination venue. I think the thin crowd felt pretty loose when cactus started sassing out the bass in meat during sundown. I really loved when the song ended, and the MP3 audio catches a Leon saying "thanks for the parking lot jam."

Page decided to whip out the keytar for Frankenstein which was a good segue into everything that was about to happen. Fee is a must hear, super smooth. I think 2/3 of the crowd were shrugging their shoulders in sync with the beat, hands spread out to absorb the waves.

Maze... some of us never got out of that maze. Outside in such brisk, clean air, with a $10 Fat Tire,... so nice.

By this time we were Page side within 10 yards of the fence that kept out the lawn seats from the pavilion. My buddy and I thought that it was strange that the area so close to the stage was so open, then we realized we were mountain goats on a 45% grade hill and made due which is why no one else was there.

In any case, the second set came on hard with a Talking Heads cover into a Led Zeppelin cover. The transition was beautiful. If you were there, you know how quiet, dark, and blue it got on the grassy knoll during the transition into No Quarter. I think most people snapped out of it when they heard the first heavy guitar chord of No Quarter - "oh yeah, whoa. Here we are then."

Light followed and took us for a ride into Ghost. We were all smiles at that point, the first chords of ghost began on our our 45% dance grade, and some phan behind me asked me if I was okay if phish played Ghost next.

Good ghost, into a great "Back on the Train" mid-set. Farmhouse provided a good moment of reflection, and the rest of the set ended out well, though no real breakouts. Joy had a lot of people happy and reflecting on the weekend.

Meatstick was a sick closer. We knew it was coming from the first muted chord. I think the crowd was feeling loose and wanted something fun, and they delivered. Not a super heady show, but just really fun. Trey pulled up a bunch of people from the crowd onto the stage to do the Meatstick dance, I can only image they had the time of their lives. Alpine is a varied, grassy, steep hill that I'm sure the band sees as contours of the crowd height. Certainly left with a smile.