@ScottyB said:

Only quibble is that I must say I'm not sure why the Merriweather shows - which imho each featured better first sets than Charlotte - are lumped in as being part of this "slump" you feel Phish went through.

Thanks for the kind words, Scotty. I agree that of the five shows I described as a "mini-funk" that the MPP gigs had more to offer than did Camden and Alpharetta (and especially Alpharetta2). Every one of those nights offered something of value to be sure. Perhaps I put too much weight into extended improvisation; perhaps my standards for the band are too high. But outside of the highlights mentioned in the previous recaps – they were certainly there – those five shows sort of peaked out at "average." Just one person's opinion, but, yes, I call a "below average, average, below average, average, below average" run of five shows a mini-slump. Good times to be had at all, no doubt, every show worth every penny. Just calling 'em like I hear 'em.

In any case, as always, I'm looking only forward. Much like the beloved Red Sox who so many wanted to bury the first few weeks of the season – and I'm looking right at you :-) – when you comeback with sustained excellence and ascend into FIRST PLACE, the mini-slumps fade into distant memory. Hope the band keeps it up tonight for the Raleigh people! Cheers.