I'll be the first to admit that I am what they call a jaded vet, albeit reluctantly. You see, I want with all my soul to feel the same way about the music as I did back in '94, but I just can't. That said, I've come to terms with my position. You won't hear me say a word of disparagement about the Phish from Vermont. All this is to say that I definitely would never have expected to come to phish.net to write a rave review about a recent show, and yet here I am.

I don't go in for those blow-by-blow, song-by-song rhapsodies that granularize each show to the point that they become meaningless. All I'll say is this: the Split Open and Melt was truly something special. If nothing else, do yourself a favor and listen to this. It's exquisite, and I'm in awe as I type these very words of admission that it was on par with the Providence Bowie. What an absolute delight. These guys still manifest miracles.