First time at MSG and I can tell why Phish has played there so much. It's an awesome venue! Expectations were high walking into the first April shows in what? Over a decade? We're they going to acknowledge 4/20?

Show started out hot with a 19min Carini. The jam meandered a bit and it's obvious that the jam was a little rusty, but the fact that they opened the run with that bodes well! There are definitely some cool sections in it worth checking out. The segue into Possom was perfect and it was a heater. The Moma Dance really started going places before the segue into Leaves. This is the one part of the show where I felt the energy drop. Poor placement and not the best execution, but I love the song so I'm not necessarily complaining. Strange Design was a first for me and I love Page singing. Stash was by far the jam of the first set. Clocking at just over 13min, it is definitely worth checking out for a unique jam! Blaze On was the lone obvious reference to 420 and it was a set ender version. No type 2 jamming, but just a nice peak before the refrain.

Sigma Oasis is a new song I love and always nice to see. Down With Disease! This version shouldn't dissapoint with some really cool sections and some very awesome peaking in the last 5min of the jam before the song is finished with the refrain! My first "finished" disease. The Howling has such a similar vibe to 2001 and was a dance party! Twist was short, but had a really nice mellow jam that worked following the tunes that came before it. Mountains in the Mist is one of my many beloved ballads and always great to see. Reba was well-played with a beautiful jam...as always. Drift While Your Sleeping is a mixed bag for me. I've seen it a lot and always get dissapointed hearing it knowing that the set is ending and that this is the song they chose, but you know what? I'm also always dancing and shouting the lyrics by the end of the song's close. Sure it's not my favorite set closer, but they know how to make it worth it even to fans like me.

Gumbo was nice and Slave is always a good choice.

Overall, it's the opening show of the run, so sure it's not an automatic 5 star show in my book. The ratings are currently sitting around 3.6 and I think that's fairly accurate. 3.5-3.9 would be my prediction. I'm seeing so many people hate on the fact that they didn't do much for 420. Yeah, everyone was wanting that, but is it really that unexpected? They've played 420 in the past without doing any major acknowledgements to it and I honestly, I think if they had majorly played into it, it would have been too expected. Part of the reason this band is so good is that they surprise us all the time. You never know what they're going to do and that's the fun in it. They love the unexpected and avoid the expected in moderation. Also, Trey is clean and sober and the rest of the band is in their 50s! A huge homage to 420 wasn't needed! The band was great right where they are and I can't wait for the rest of the run. Cheers and looking forward to seeing you all tonight for round 2.