I continue to be perplexed at the designation of the Fall 2013 as the best of 3.0. While it was not a bad tour, it pales in comparison to the Fall of 2010. The great thing about Phish is we all have our own viewpoints, which is the FUN of it! But I think Fall 2013, while good and has some moments, is not even in the top 3 or 4 tours of 3.0. It just wasn't THAT great, or as great as many overly boast on this site.

Fall 2010 is by far the best tour of 3.0 in my own opinion. Like this summer of 2015, that tour started slow and built momentum throughout until the final run of shows. It never slowed down. Also like summer '15, the tour took off when it hit the South in Charleston and never even came close to slowing down (a la Atlanta this summer). Augusta, Providence, UMASS, Utica, Manchester and Atlantic City all served up shows or moments in those shows that are among the best Phish has ever played, certainly in the last 6 years, but including 1.0 and 2.0. The band even released three LP releases from this tour alone with Kevorikian remixes. All of those gigs had sets that stand way outside anything the band has done in 3.0 on a continual every night basis, we know something special is going to happen. I did a fair share of both tours, both were short tours. But Fall 2010 was a crusher. The AC runs between 2010 and 2013 are not even a comparison. You would still rather hear a roughly developed Fuego over Waiting for Columbus with horns? Really? Nothing in 2013 came close to 10/30/2010. Delivering the knockout show the night BEFORE the signature event was positively Phish 1.0 at its best.

Summer 2015 has been a great ride and stands up there in the 3.0 era, no doubt. Trey has new influences and effects to add. The other three took that lead and have raised the bar. Magnaball was superb, but certainly does not stand up to the AC run in 2010 as a thumping tour closer. Here's hoping Dick's provides the effective bang a great tour like the summer 2015 deserves! Go Dick's!