Enjoying these reviews from out in Cali, as have not had a chance to see a show in person since last August. Esp. enjoying the last 3 recaps/reviews for their efforts to put the process of analyzing a show in context of the whole everything of Phishtory.

To share a bit of my own perspective, having seen about 58 shows since 3/25/93 and having seen Grateful Dead over 400 shows since 1973, I have observed there are many reasons why, in, say a 3 show run, 3 phans can each have a different favorite nite. As Icculus points out, on a certain level they are all great, but yes, some are more great than others. Besides different folks preferring different styles, a show can be colored by how the attendee is feeling physically and emotionally, their experiences getting to the show, the people they go to the show with, the phans that surround, where in the venue they are and the expectations they bring to the show (if you REALLY want to hear a particular song, whether or not they play it can color your experience).

But I have also found that a key aspect for me is the dichotomy between listening to a show with a critical/analytical mind vs. merging with the music. If I am listening with my intellectual/discriminating mind, comparing a song to other versions, I am somewhat outside the music, keeping a certain distance. If I can surrender to the flow and merge with the music, I tend to enjoy it much more; the price I pay for that is that a show that seems really great as I experience it may, on repeated listening, reveal itself to be just average great, but that seems a small price to pay for the pleasure of merging with the music. Of course, these approaches are not totally exclusive- I can merge with the music and part of me can still have an objective understanding of how good it really is. But I do find myself generally weaving between these perspectives and wonder how many of my fellow phans can relate to it...

Have not heard last nite's show yet, but based on the descriptions and the setlist it looks right up there with Randall's 3 and MPP 2 as one to hear...

Thanks again!