Much agreement with other posters here. After a (somewhat expected, but throughly maddening) letdown at Toyota Park this summer, I had high hopes that my second show since 2000 would shine. The recordings of the 2002-4 post-hiatus shows kept me well away, but Exile rocked my world, and I thought they would deliver to the Mitten State.

...and it was my birthday taboot. Fingers were crossed as N2O was freely distributed on the streets (literally) of Detroit, the home of RoboCop.

This show, I hoped, would bring me my second only Mike's Groove (and hoping show #23 would FINALLY give me Hydrogen). The AC/DC Bag opener said much about what was to come: classic opener, classic delivery, classic ending. The next few hours, while still managing to serve up some newer fare (Stealing, Mountains, 46 Days), were chock full of mid-late 90s greatness I fell in love with.

I didn't know how much I missed Ice and Horn till I heard them, and 46 Days had a fantastic jam. Also, a Bowie that knows where it was going is always an asset to any set.

An unusual Jim 2nd set opener showed Trey flawlessly hitting those rockin' bends before the last verse, just like he used to in the days of old. DWD->Free was very 1996, full of energy and as stated, wonderful near-eastern flavor. The light show during Taste had me agog and sitting down. Fantastic work Chris!! Bug came out of nowhere, and was very welcome. Then my birthday present showed up: Mike's.

No F-key jam, just straight to the 3-chord transistion and into Hydrogen. . . just like my early 90s tapes. I have heard Trey's guitar scream, wail, and rock, but that night the Languadoc cried during Hydrogen. A simply beautiful rendition. Then I danced my ass off to Weekapaug.

Character Zero DID bring the house down. We left having met new friends and seeing old ones once more. I found myself, holder of a full-time job for 5 years AND my own business, considering if I should quit and go on tour, during a bloody recession. That I almost talked myself into it is the testament to Phish's current quality. Thank you God, for bringing them back.