I'll tell you this, three years later, I don't often spin 09 shows. The first sets of Philly's Thanksgiving shows, and Charlotte's Tweezer->Light still make it into my rotation, but in general, there's been a lot of material, newer and older that preoccupy my Phish time.

This, my first show, is the exception. Take what I say here with a grain of salt, because, being my first show, its obviously very special to me, but even after three years, the high points of this show still perk my Phish Pickle to the highest degree, and sound very fresh overall.

There are obviously A LOT of really rusty spots in this show. Both Trey and Mike butcher some lyrics (Fee, Lizards, Sugar Shack) and there's some pure slop in the Suzy through Sugar Shack stretch, but I think there's a lot of value in this show and a good feel for how the band was trying to craft their sound in the post-hiatus Phishworld:

Tweezer closes the second set?!?!! Yessir... the one an only time-

Its a great jam, and one of the most underrated since the reunion IMO. It moves cohesively and crosses some interesting territory. I think it would have garnered some more attention if not for the monster Sand that opened the set.

The Sand, compared to some of the more notable post hiatus types IIs, it may be considered to be a little aimless and ambling, but it gets into some brain bubbling terrain. You just don't see stuff like this from the band now that they have reworked their jamming style. This is honestly the jam that made Phish for me, and set me on a path to blow every spare dollar I had over the next three years making it to shows. I've seen great jams since then; this is right in the mix with the best of them.

The first set rocks, plain and simple. CDT is not very inventive but is very energetic and well played. Guyute and Tube are real solid for 09, and while many better versions of 46 Days have erupted since then, this version still pumps. Likewise, this isn't an all time First Tube, but its a great end to a first set that has an excellent flow to it and you can feel the early-summer excitement dripping through it. Strange Design is a pretty breather, that I remember bestowing my first Phish-wind upon me and really being a nice introduction to that ineffible and glorious Phish vibe (I dosed a little more than I should have and Page was Johnny on the Spot with the calming words).

Flow is really what makes this show worthwhile apart from the Sand. Its one of those shows that, probably because of some irregularities in the setlist and in general the band still feeling eachother out, has a really unique feel to it. If you haven't heard this yet, I'd bet there are some unexpected twists and turns in there for you- namely a four song encore that includes the debut of Joy and an absolutely raging Tweeprise. Some people get off on this Antelope. I don't personally, but its not awful by any means. Joy is well played. Bouncing is very 09. I'm not quite sure what that means, but that's how I'd describe it. And Again, this Tweezer Reprise is a ripper.

There's a lot of energy behind this show. As a lot of these reviews have put it, the band seemed to be relieved to be in familiar territory and this show benefits because of it. There was a lot of negativity about their ability to play after the first part of this summer run, and I remember a lot of people being relieved after hearing the recording that came out of Camden. Go ahead and give it one a shot if you have some time. There's excellent rock and roll and some truly interesting sonic landscape to be explored here.