Wow, "My Friend, My Friend" returned to Alpine Valley after 23 years! I don't remember a whole lot from this '96 show, but I do remember Trey walking out and looking at the Alpine Valley crowd for the first time—I was 6th row center with my older brother. Was that the largest crowd yet they played to? Trey had a huge smile on his face, and then he started up those rising notes to MFMF. It was my first show, and it still lingers with me to this day as one of the most exciting and beautiful Phish openers. I know MFMF opened a bunch of shows back then, but it was the whole summer gestalt of it happening at Alpine Valley for the first time. It was like they were saying, "We finally made it, and here we go!" By the time the song finished I was thinking, "Now this is something really special"—I was hooked for life!