As somebody who saw Phish for the first time '09 and has followed them throughout 3.0, I've witnessed all of their odd fluctuations in this era, as I'm sure many of you have. I've never really gone to shows just for the "fun" (although they are always fun), since I'm more of an introverted person it's really about the music for me. I've seen some of the worst shows of 3.0 (8/15/09, 6/1/11, 10/22/13), and some of the best (12/29/13, 7/24/15, SPAC '12, 12/30/15).

This tour definitely has been underwhelming so far, especially compared to the greatness just last year. It is a bit disconcerting to see them go back to jukebox mode again at around the 40 minute mark of set II, because I felt like last year they had become unpredictable again. They were throwing out jams at every point of set II's, it seemed like they could just flip a switch and end a set perfectly with raging type II peak. Last year I really got what people say about 1.0, about them 'bringing it every night.' I felt like I was no longer looking at the clock and realizing 40 minutes had passed, so there would just be some songs > > > > end of show.

And yet (there's always an and yet), this is really nothing out of the ordinary for 3.0. With so much time off between tours, there's really no continuity. Dicks '12 was some amazing Phish ... and then they had 9 months off other than MSG, and by the time summer '13 rolled around it was the whale tone. I took until Tahoe and then fall '13 to really get going again.

I totally expect there to be some great shows by the end of this year, but if you're expecting this year to be '98 to last years '97, you might end up disappointed. In 1.0 Trey had a plan, and if that plan was cow funk or space funk he was going to go out and play that night in night out. In contradistinction, 3.0 tours start from scratch and build organically from there. Take it from somebody whose listened to a loooooot of 3.0. I'm not saying there won't be another August '15 in our future, but it really depends on the bands intent and if they're not distracted by other things (like trying to bring out new songs).