I had the second set of this show on cassette for a long time, and it was an early favorite of mine. I've recently listened to this set again, while I have been going through shows I have from August 1993. This show doesn't really compare all that well to some of the incredible performances that followed, but it's almost like comparing apples to oranges. 7/24/93 was simply the most important show the band had played up to this point; a sold-out show at one of the largest venues in the band's home region. The band was not playing on this night to further their experiments with group improvisation and on-stage communication; they were playing to entertain their fans, and maybe to contradict any critics and prove that their success was no fluke. This show is not crazy, but it is tight as hell, and it rocks.

@MiguelSanchez did a great job breaking down the performance. I just want to add that segue in the set-opening 2001->SOAMelt combo is so seamless, I wish the band would perform it again. During Daniel, Trey thanks the crowd in a similar fashion to the version from 7/15/93 Weedsport that saw release on the I-90s compilation disc, but to this listener it really seems sincere. It also serves to remind us of how, having now scaled the career mountain of selling out Great Woods, Phish was setting their sights on even greater challenges.