For my first Phish show i was THOROUGHLY satisfied with the performance. Although i was near the back of the lawn, the sound was perfect. Birds of a Feather was excellent and Meat afterward was unexpected. Meat was definitely one of my favorite songs of the night. Vultures, Free, Let Me Lie, and Halley's Comet all coasted by and it felt like they were going to play forever (which is what i wanted) Then Trey started Julius and i thought for sure it would be the end of the set. After a rockin' Julius finished i was getting ready to sit down and wait out the break when YEM broke in and my jaw dropped. Junta the Phish album i listened to as a child that ended up getting me into Phish and YEM (along with Fee and Esther) was one of the songs I hoped they would play, but didn't think i would be lucky enough to hear on my phirst outing. In the middle of the song right before the music stops for a moment Trey held this beautiful note over at least 4 bars and it actually brought a tear to my eye. I was so pumped for the second set after a transcendent YEM.

To be honest though my enthusiasm did kind of die off a little after a half hour break, and although i was digging DWD and Sand, they aren't some of my favorite Phish songs and i was getting more of a calm vibe. Tela was an interesting one for me though because i hadn't put too much listening time into it and it was nice to hear a song i didn't really know so well. Then Carini broke in and I suddenly needed to throw my arms way up. I never expected to hear CARINI at my first show. They were having so much fun playing it, with Trey laughing some of the words and the band screaming at the lump! Sitting in the back it was awesome to hear the whole crowd screaming with them. Carini ran into a nice Twenty Years Later. And then I heard Trey's guitar intro to Run Like an Antelope and for the third time that night I got a song i definitely didn't think i would hear, especially after YEM and Carini. After a wonderful Run Like an Antelope in which it aptly started raining as the crowd was cranking into the high gear of their souls, I was hoping they would finish with Reba. I was hoping for a Reba all night, being it is my absolute FAVORITE Phish jam, but they finished the set with Backwards down the # Line, which was just as well.

We were slowly making our way toward the exit after they started playing The Lizards and we got to hear most of the song before we got to the opposite side of the amphitheater. We missed Loving Cup but i'm not too upset over that one.

After this show i can only say i am motivated to see ALOT more phish shows after this, I know I'll get a Reba someday.