Set 1: a long one, but one that manages to strike a great balance between Set 1 mainstays, a very cool Roggae (Roggae has been on a heck of a winning streak the last few years), two bluegrass numbers (including a new one!), a major bustout (Sleep Again, over 200 shows unplayed), the beloved OKPC > Suzy combo, and a gnarled and dissonant Melt that serves as probably the most Melt-ish version since 7/13/14.

Set 2 I'll just break down into numbered thoughts:

1. Fuego didn't quite touch the Big Three Fuegos of 2014, but it dropped back into dark minor-key terrain not often touched the last few years, Trey dipping into his crunchier effects, Fish as active and ever-present as usual, Mike stepping into the lead as often happens when the jams don't go major-key. Actually, that was a bit of a surprise, that they didn't make the immediate push to blissful upbeat hose when they had at least a few opportunities to do so, instead choosing to bring the jam to a close. Either way, a very fine version to kick off the set.

2. Jim > Jibboo was a fun run (even though my disdain for Jibboo is extremely well-documented); Trey, in particular, was on fire all throughout Jibboo. No jam, but some damn fine playing.

3. It took 3 years, but the 7/16/13 CDT now has a contender for my favorite sub-10 minute 3.0 jam, as Trey immediately dials into the Echoplex (which I know people are somewhat leery about its overuse, to which I say "it adds flavor for now; yeah, it'll probably get tired if that's all he does all 25 summer shows") and they slide back into the same dark zone Fuego travailed, Mike once again leading the charge, Page adding some color on the keyboards. It's Page, in fact, that appears to prompt Trey into the most thrilling part of the jam, as he breaks into Mind Left Body and that famous riff enriches our lives for an all-too-brief moment of time. And that dark jam makes a great entryway into Timber (Jerry) (my love of which is probably as well-documented as my disdain for Jibboo), which Page takes control of in a brief but greatly-enjoyed version by yr. humble reporter.

4. Absolutely gorgeous Slave, length be darned.

5. You Enjoy Myself, I think, will be a pretty divisive version in the community. To its demerits, it's something of a shorter version, and the drums/Marimba Lumina duet is the kind of thing that might lose the luster of its coolness and uniqueness after repeated listens. To its plaudits, the Rhythm Section-Off IS cool and unique, and it's highly amusing to hear Mike just burbling away as per usual while Trey has a blast on the Marimba Lumina and Fish really struts his stuff (what? struts his stuff). It's not 12/9/95, I suppose, but it doesn't have to be, and I think you'll reach for this one again in the future.

6. Whenever anyone asks you what "setlist flow" means, point to this Set 2 and say "this set 2 is what setlist flow means".

Final thoughts: if this is my favorite show of 2016, then 2016'll be a step down from 2015 in my eyes. If this is part of the evolution of where 2016 goes, then I'm even more excited than I was after the first couple of shows. Either way, this one's a great '93-style rager and shouldn't be missed.

Quick review before I listen to the show again on SBD:

First show under a pavilion, the sound was amazing in my section (right behind Kuroda. The energy was pretty high, and Trey told the crowd after one of the first few songs that they loved to play at the Mann (a sign of things to come..?)

Set 1 opened with a high energy Wilson (I finally got an opener call before the show right!). Found some grooving in Funky Bitch / NMINML combo, of which the latter went pretty deep.

Roggae continued the jamming for a bit but they decided to give us some bluegrass with Nellie Kane. Not my favorite bluegrass cover that they do, but it was still fun, and the sky was beginning to darken around this time.

We then got hit with an awesome 1-2 punch in Gumbo > BOAF. Both jammed pretty well but the BOAF in particular got really deep. The guy next to me shouted that they are playing so well right now after that BOAF ended. I had to agree.

Then we got Sleep Again and Things People Do, both of which calmed down the set and led perfectly into LimbXLimb. I love seeing this song in the first set and had a hunch we would see it tonight. It was followed by a solid, dark, Split Open and Melt.

I had thought SOAM would end the set, but instead they went into a song I didn't quite recognize because it hadn't been played in so long and I hardly ever listen to it. But the Oh Kee Pa > Suzy was a sure sign that the set was ending so I decided to beat the mad rush to the bathrooms and get prepared for set 2.

Set 1 highlights: NMINML, BOAF, SOAM
Set 1 rating: 3/5
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Set 2 started with a great Fuego. I've always wanted to get a HUGE Fuego at one of my shows, and this version was pretty deep, but it didn't quite reach that peak that I was hoping for.. however, it shifted perfectly into Runaway Jim and when I heard those opening notes I jumped up and down in excitement. What a great live song! This version didn't jam for too long before Trey brought us Gotta Jibboo, but I'm not one to complain. Jibboo is one of my favorite songs they play and I was dancing my ass off.

Breath and Burning was okay, though Trey started fiddling around during the jam with his echoplex and it got pretty dark. When they shifted into Timber the crowd was super excited. Timber had some cool back-and-forth between Trey and Page.

The Slave peaked like I haven't heard before in 3.0 Slaves, Trey specifically shredded the high notes toward the end of the jam.

I thought, again, that the set would end early with Slave (also thought the curfew was 11pm but I guess it was 1130). The last Phish show I went to was MPP2 2015, and that, too, ended with a set 2 YEM. This one didn't quite jam as much as that one, mostly because as soon as they stopped jumping on the tramps, Trey dismounted his guitar and ran back to the Marimba Lumina. For a time it was just Trey and Fish jamming out "Drums" a la the GD. Soon Mike jumped in and took us out to the vocal jam.

Quinn the Eskimo was a great way to end the show, but I knew it was pretty late so I darted out of there as soon as I heard the opening notes.

Set 2 Highlights: Fuego, Gotta Jibboo, Slave
Set 2 Ratiing: 4/5

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Overall, it was a great summertime show, and I'm happy to have had an amazing seat for once. Unfortunately I won't be seeing any more shows this summer, but I think I'll be sticking around for Couch Tour every night, because they seem to be playing at a very high level.

Overall Rating: 3.5/5 ~ 4/5

Wilson and Funky Bitch: was a solid jumping-off platform for set 1 and played well. The crowd seemed downright ready as well.

the NMINML was standard fare and the Roggae was thick as the humidity. This to me was one of the highlights of the entire show.

Nellie Kane is always welcomed and was a good contrast to the dark Roggae...

Gumbo: once of my favorites. Unfortunately, I felt this Gumbo fell a bit flat and trey's solo was "meh" at best. Seemed to be that Trey was almost forcing himself through the song - certainly not the best of the night.

Birds: nice version with some good instrumentation. Trey certainly worked his way through this one and had some really nice parts and the crowd was rocking.

Sleep Again: a "bust out" of not played in 200+ shows... felt like it brought the crowd down a few notches. Nicely done...

Things People Do: another bluegrass rocker that was a really nice and a lot of fun with Page leading the way. Really liked this tune and hope it sticks around in the 1st set going forward. A lot of fun!

Limb by Limb: crowd was rocking here and deservedly so... thought this was core of the 1st and sealed the rest of the set.

Split Open and Melt, OKPC > Suzy was fantastic with the band rolling ahead.

Set II:

Fuego: dark and crunchy... was not as good as some earlier versions as the previous poster stated but was a nice start to the 2nd set. A fine version indeed.

Runaway > Jibboo: Some very good playing and Trey was feeling it. Some great playing here...

Timber: great version and some tight playing.

Slave: if I can get a Slave and a Gumbo in the same show I am a happy camper. My ONLY knock on this beautiful version was that I really wanted the boys to run with this a bit more. Otherwise a fantastic and beautiful Slave.

YEM: ah, YEM! any version and I am happy. As the precious poster mentioned this, I would imagine, is a divisive version. What I loved here was Mike and Fishman locking in and showing their chops. To me, those two were straight fire while Trey was rocking the Marimba. For this old fan I will be back to listen to this frequently and loved the weirdness.

Quinn: Nice send off that was rocking and fun...

All in all a very good evening. Would not say this show was a heater but a very solid show nonetheless with some great moments. Slave and YEM were my highlights along w/ Split. 3/5 for me...

Things I love about this show: the return of one of my favorite rarities, Sleep Again; debut of Things People Do; Fuego jam; Jibboo in the second set (though not jammed way out, but it hasn't all that often been); and the first YEM of the tour. I rate the second night of this stand higher--okay, maybe way higher--but this is an average-great Phish show in an era wherein average-great is being redefined nightly, and lately, exceeded on a regular basis.

My entry into the Mann Center for the Performing Arts was well anticipated. After 2 solid summers of unforgettable jams @ Fairmount Park, I was eager to get the wife and I up to the venue and into our seats. Mike's side orchestra right- row A. A primo spot...

Over the Benjie & through the traffic on 476 W, we finally made into the park, stashed the car & headed in around 7 pm. The anticipation & adrenaline to see Phish was making me go crazy, but I was well at ease, ready to rage with the boys. We made it to our chairs, I grabbed two beers & made it back to kiss the lady on the cheek.

Then, lights hit.

Wilson set us off on a Gamehenge based saga, screaming shenanigans with Big Red as the the band wove tightly in and our of this heddy rock based tune. Seguing into the 2nd Funky Bitch of 2016, the crowd was very welcoming of this sizzling blues song, with some heavy soloing by Trey and spot on vocals by Cactus, himself.

We rolled right out the rock from "Wilson" into the blues from "Funky Bitch"...so what was next on the palate? How about some NEW funk?
NMINML proved to be the third batter. This brought with it a huge vat of excitement leaving many wondering if this would top the 2015 rendition that went way beyond anyone's expectations (and gave birth to the NMINML NYE 2015 version...). It brought the funk but did not bring the type II, but still a good slot with the sun starting to move in the night.

As the band closed up the funk tune No Man, "Roggae" took over in such an amazing show of type I gnar shred that has come to prove itself over and over with this tune. The few renditions of Roggae I have been lucky to see live have had a very compelling type I jam tacked onto the end of the tune & this one is no different. Definitely listen to it! Nellie Kane brings us to the 5th type of genre (if you will) that this show featured- Bluegrass, keeping the palate fresh!

This "Gumbo" isn't a hose by any means but it is a sizzling slow, drippy, funk based, reggae version that has to be heard. Another way Phish has been spreading set lists over huge ranges, this "Gumbo" was one of the more special one's I've seen, like that previous "Roggae". BOAF was upbeat and answered the cries of the past Gumbo that rolled slow, bringing the set back up to it's dancing shoes.

"Sleep Again" was the first I've ever heard of it, and I have to admit it's been in my head since 6/28, almost a month later. I sing it every where I go and I have listened back a few times. Thank you for this bust out. Moving into new music, Phish brought out "Things People Do" which is a new Blue Grass tune they wrote for the new album. I liked it, as I love all Phish B-grass & am excited they are still writing these kind of songs!

LXL>SOAM seemed like a set capper while I was busy dancing, but as soon as SOAM was over I had to pick my face up off the floor. The first SOAM since Dicks 2015, the jam was grueling, evil and dank. Definitely worth some re-listens especially for the memories of being shocked by what came next! The Oh Kee Pa Ceremony>Suzy made the whole night for me!! I have been chasing this tandem for SO long & it finally happened. Of course my wife has no idea whats going on, except for Suzy, but I made sure she knew this was a great pair that I have been waiting for great first set full of Phishy goodness.

Set I- 4.0/5

Quick beer run & food (which the mann has some great options, their kale salad was delicious) and we are back off to the races!

Fuego once again opening set II in Philly with tons of expectations, which I learned in my experiences to leave at the door, did in fact glow slightly with a nice jam. It definitely is not on par with the past two fuegos that Philly received in prior years which was sort of let down. To three-peat a tune and leave it as is, wasn't the best decision IMO, especially as a 2nd set opener, but it still packed a hard punch, reminding us Phans that Phish does what they do thanks to Us ....>Runaway Jim ( I prefer 1st set unless heddy type II) > Gotta Jibboo had me smiling, as Trey laid on some really nice type I lines that soar above a tight trio of keys, bass and skins.

Breath and Burning has been the MVP of the new tunes in terms of jams & I see it being a spring board for many shows to come. This version is one of those just with a little bit shorter length. It isn't as huge as the Magnaball B&B but it does pack some type II territory that actually leads us into a > of pretty standard version "Timber(Jerry)". Slave comes out the gates and it is a version to listen back to, as the band makes nods to the Philly Zoo and traffic lights in the city. A extended YEM closes set II with trampolines, lumina treys & vocal jams for all.

Encore: Bob Dylan's Quinn the Eskimo put a perfect stamp on the evening to send us off. I also collected a ton of space cash.

highlights: Roggae, Gumbo, Sleep Again, SOAM, Oh Kee Pa>Suzy. B&B, Slave, YEM