Attended this show as well as the 28th. For a variety of factors, I had a much more enjoyable experience on the 28th. I was solo here, but attended with my best friend (and recently minted Phish head) on the 28th. Was amped up and ready to go on the 28th...was exhausted after sleeping on a couch for this one (and admittedly one or four too many post show cocktails the night before, it is NYC after all). Had awesome people around me on the 28th (may have broke the record for high fives with strangers, with a total lack of irony in how cheesy high fives are)...was surrounded by drunk college kids for this show.

All that being said, the 29th is the better show. I subconsciously knew this as I was watching, and confirmed it as I relistened to the livephish upload on my late night drive home.

The 6 songs of set 2 hang together perfectly. Trey's playing during Carini is particularly striking, as he doesn't really play any "notes" for a major portion of the jam. This has been something he's actually been doing since Fall tour, but coming to fruition in this jam. Like a sorcerer laying down spell after spell on his band mates, Big Red plays a repetitive but ever so nuanced series of effect laden power chords as Mike and Page led the jam. Throughout their career, Trey has searched for ways to sit back and let his band mates take more of the burden, so that jams don't sound like an endless guitar solo. This technique is the latest in the trend of the 96 drum kit, the 97 minimalist funk chops, the 2000 mini keyboard. Whatever the technique, Trey consciously hanging back usually leads to great things as it allows the others to come to the forefront and inject more of their own ideas. Page in particular, with some of his new toys, has been a more noticeable leader this year...definitely for the betterment of the band.

To sum it up, set II is patient, late night music, with contrasting lightness and darkness, airiness and deeper segments. Much like how I see Wingsuit perhaps coming together, which I have written before. This set is definitely another highlight of this historic year.