So I turn to my seat mate and say "Geez, this 2nd Set is sounding like a victory lap to my ears". Then Prince Caspian starts up. And all in the world was good, again.

So, out of the three nights attended (4/20, 22 and 23) I thought two were utterly brilliant in their vision and one nearly flawless of the two. That'd be 4/22/12/31. But damm if they didn't give it some sort of whirl last night. But even they proved that they were at the end, like all of us, mortal. Trey was gassed by the Encore. But can anyone really imagine playing to that level for four nights?

Once again it turned out to be an embarrassment of riches for those fortunate enough to be in the building for these shows. 4/23's 1st Set was divinely crafted, and played, to these ears, perhaps too much so? It just felt like a 2nd Set. And thus, why I felt the 2nd Set itself ended up feeling like a Victory Lap, but what a lap it was.

Just loved how Trey had 20,000 of us "stop" for about five minutes and have us appreciate our Lonely Trip. It's these little things that count. That takes balls and a lovely sense of self imho. Before then they seriously brought the heat with what sounded like a never ending, in a good way, version of NMIMML, a beautifully drawn out Piper and a Gotta Jibooo that had the joint both rocking and smiling in unison. The IAWITW that preceded Lonely Trip was rather incendiary and so was Walls Of The Caves, which was very deliberately sung until the musical fireworks re-exploded into a thundering crescendo.

Ok, Trey was gassed out by the encore. He's human, go figure. And with that being said, all I can give is thanks. That we live in the life and times of a band that truly gives a shit about us. I'm not going to shy away from my disappointment in 4/20 but 4/22 and 23 was the stuff of dreams. They're living theirs, and we are just along for the ride. May it continue safe and sound for everyone.

Phish won. Again.