In a different vein than what is mainly being discussed here, I know that most of my frustration is rooted in the fact that Phish clearly still "has IT". They've exemplified that a number times on this very tour. Bethel, Michigan, Blossom, moments of PNC...all time stuff. Then after Blossom, you could expect one plunge into the unknown a night, and lately it's dwindled down to nothing.

I had a thread over on the forum titled "Unhappy in Phishland" that was my venting session after Darien. Whenever this band takes risks, it always pays off. They're still capable of going there. And the first few weeks of this tour looked promising that they would "go there" on a consistent basis. Clearly, it was not to be.

And I'm only playing this card because I honestly (and selfishly) believe that this band is saving themselves for Superball IX. I know it sounds silly, but I think that their 10-14 minute jams with new sounds are just experimental sessions for what will become huge jams in Watkins. At least, that's what I'm hoping. With that in mind, these mediocre shows are a lot easier to deal with.

Here's hoping they steer the ship into some uncharted waters