If you have the time, listen to Shoreline plus every show starting with Blossom through the end of the summer. They all have multiple significant jams that should be heard. For a more Cliff's Notes version, listen to the Atlanta KDF, Mann night 2 set 2, and day 2 of Magnaball.
Only saw the Chula Vista show this tour, but I thought it was quite good. The second set was great, and the cArini was one of the best I have heard. First set was long and quite good with some nice surprises, and the encore was fun with sleeping monkey and "a$$prise"
Live in Amsterdam. It was great for a long motorcycle ride around NorCal last weekend. Play it through the Bluetooth headset and hammer the curves.
A friend of mine who saw all of the West Coast shows chimed in a few years ago that Chula Vista was his favorite. LA his least.
It's been fun listening to the SF run again. I have listened to all 3 shows now at least once, and most of my initial impressions remain intact. Tues remains my favorite show, as in whole show. Weds set I is my favorite set. That was just so fun, with all the bust outs. Sneaking Sally gets the nod for favorite jam of the run. What a well balanced 3 show run! Although my favorite show is Tues, my favorite jam is from Monday, and my favorite set is from Weds! I intend to listen to them at least 1 more time each, then start hitting the Gorge and LA/Chula shows. After that, some summer 2015 shows, which I never really fully explored...
Pretty much spot on with your summary - Tuesday night was the best overall show, "Sally" was the best jam, but Wednesday had the best full set.
A few years ago? Must be a time traveler. Ask him to go back to 9/20/89 and record that show for you!
I appreciate these honest reviews. It's nice to find a middle ground between the "Phish can do no wrong" crowd and the "3.0 Phish sucks" crowd. I've only seen about 25 shows in my lifetime but started back in '92. In my experience, almost every show is great if you are there, but it's different if you are just listening to an aud or sb release. I've heard enough good shows and am really just looking for the highlights. I don't think that makes me a fair weather fan, and I'll always try to see them given the chance, but I just don't have the time or interest in listening to every show on a tour. I am enjoying the 3.0 Phish, have no expectations of them matching the glory years of 92-97, but can appreciate what they are doing now. They don't seem to take as many risks and reach as much as they used to, but they seem to be more dialed in, especially compared to before the hiatus and Phish 2.0.
I've only just recently started listening to every show with 2015. I'm not sure if I'll do it next year or now, but it's been fun to follow the tour, even if I'm lagging about a week behind.
That's a good perspective on things. I'm about the same, although have seen them about twice as many times (first night of the Bill Graham run was #50 for me). Also, unlike most other music I like, my wife can't stand Phish, so for the rare home listening I either seek out shows that I was at, or else need to focus on highlights. I probably only listen to about 5-10 shows a year, and have a couple official releases that I have had for a while but haven't gotten around to spinning yet. This last run was good enough that I feel like I'm going to probably go through and catch up on neglected Phish releases that have been gathering dust. Heck, I just finally ordered the CDs of the Tahoe Tweezer show (I've still never heard it).
I am in the same boat. I feel like my wife has walked in on me watching porn when she finds me listening to Phish.
My wife rarely hates stuff I listen to, except maybe black metal. I don't think she really likes Phish either, but she kindly usually limits her comments to, "I'm glad you enjoy them". She doesn't mind when I put on the Dead, though I do recall a few side-eyes during one of Pigpen's more, err.. descriptive, rants. The only thing she ever vocally objects too, oddly, is upbeat jazz - she says it makes her feel anxious.
My wife isn't a fan of the Dead, but doesn't really mind them. She has yet to appreciate the difference between a '73/'74 China Cat->Rider and those from other years, though. Other than Phish, and Zappa, there is very little I listen to that she hates, and we have a lot of overlap as far as other music goes.
What has certainly helped my case is that since meeting my wife, two of her best friends have married guys that are big Deadheads and Phish fans. Added bonus for me of new people to talk with and see shows with, but also my wife seeing that real, actual life Deadheads are nothing like lazy media caricatures.
