Really enjoyed reading this countdown all week, and happy to take the stroll down memory lane. I'll forever kick myself that we went to 12/29 instead of 12/30, but both of those CD's are staples in my household, so at this point I've heard that Sneakin' Sally, AC DC Bag, and Harpua so many times it feels like I practically did go!

Funny that, at the time, my friends and I were somewhat perplexed by the transition to cow funk. We went to the US opening 7/21 and 7/22 and felt the new sound was less raucous, less technical, and too druggy... not being into drugs ourselves, the drawn out Ghosts and Ebm9 vamps made us scratch our heads. Compare the tempo of the 12/6 Tweezer to, I don't know, 12/14/95 and it's startling. I believe it was during the fall tour when Fishman was interviewed about his adoration of The Meters, and how he'd try to play along with Meters songs, keeping the tempo as slow as them, but then turning up the CD at the end of the track and realizing he'd sped it up. (Anyone know where I can find this? I'm not imagining it. I'll be embarrassed if it's from Bittersweet Motel or something.) Now I've grown to love that vibe, of course, and wholeheartedly agree with the choices that made it to the top 20. Each show on the whole list is remarkable in its own right, so hopefully people won't be butt hurt by the numerical ranking of their favorites.

FWIW, that high school crew of mine pretty much got off the train around this time--I remember one buddy shaking his head in disdain during 12/29/97 (quite a fun vacuum sitting next to that! Now I listen and wonder what the hell he was so bent out of shape about)--and they haven't been into Phish since. Love those guys, but sucks for them. Thanks for putting this together!