What an afternoon/evening - 20,000 people just having a gooood time.

In the parking lot at 3:00pm, wandered around as things gradually filled up and multiple Shakedown Streets organically emerged, soaked up the atmosphere which just built and built as the afternoon went on and the sun got hotter.... met some good people who shared their refreshments and swapped stories and guesses and wishes for the night's set.... just a really good time being had by all with a visible but completely hands-off police presence for a welcome change. Good vibes all round - where else could you get that many people together and know there is no likelihood of any trouble of any kind.

Anyway, come showtime had a great seat with my man Evan and his girlfriend Nicole. 7,000 capacity inside the pavilion, but at least another 15,000 behind on the lawn. (...only have a Lawn ticket for tonight so that will be a different experience for me) Was so excited for the first set which had lots of highs - PYITE, Stash, Walk Away, Divided, and a great Alaska stretchout. I fail to see how anyone with any interest in music and the dynamics of a live 'show' would not enjoy it....  im-possible. There were moments when it all clicked that were easily amongst the best I have ever experienced at a live music concert.

That said, it was patchy - especially in the second set  - after a Down With Disease that will surely go down as one of the best ever. Things lost their way and drifted a bit after that....... The final verdict from Mr.Miner's Phishthoughts website:

Though the Northeast’s opening night featured a half-hour of the summer’s best Phish music, the show also saw the band stumble more than a few times in a choppy affair that boasted little to no flow at all. On the brighter side, the band did pull it together in spurts, in both sets, creating some highlights that will definitely be spun all summer long..... the few earnest high points of last night were as high as any we’ve seen thus far.

Fair assessment. The highs were very high. Some sections were not up to snuff...... But they should be well warmed up for tonight.

I:
Punch You In The Eye (8:28)
Ocelot (9:59)
Dinner and a Movie (4:03)
Stash (13:28)
Esther (9:15)
Walk Away (6:50)
The Divided Sky (15:29)
When the Circus Comes (5:05)
Sugar Shack (5:23)
Alaska (10:13)
Golgi Apparatus (4:52)
II:
Party Time (5:16)Down with Disease > (16:49)

Sand > (13:24)
The Horse > (1:17)
Silent in the Morning (5:09)
Guyute (10:40)
Farmhouse (7:37)
Mike’s Song > (7:36)
I Am Hydrogen > (2:56)
Weekapaug Groove (8:49)
E:
Shine a Light (6:43)
Onstage at 8:30 - show ended at 00:15
 
Some random fotos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/51265971@N07/sets/72157624178692087/