Actually, I'm not sure we are even arguing. In fact, your 2nd paragraph makes my case. I agree with you about the Cal Expo show and think its rating compared to what was given to the 3rd night of Bethel (the Japanese lyrics are worth +.5 by themselves) is readicculus. But then again, I think comparing the two of them already is silly, so I am being drawn into what I don't really want to do.

Hey, we were both at the show in San Francisco the year later. I thought that show was also somewhat below par. I'm sure that a lot of people would disagree - maybe you too? - but compared to many of the shows from that tour that I saw (Atlanta, Gainesville, West Palm, and even Arco Arena) it didn't measure up. Was it bad? Not a bit. Much better than an icepick in the forehead (a true 1). Much better than many shows I've seen of other bands, but a Phish show carries Great Expectations and they went unfulfilled that night (for me at least). I think this is also what happened to the third night of Bethel. People were hoping for a lot more and they got a standard show with a ripping Fluffhead, a well-played Slave that brings tears to the eyes of even dead people, and they came away disappointed. We got a Fluffhead in San Francisco too. I am so fucking spoiled it's nuts. What other band could do this?