RE everything being fair game, there was a clear, prominent, and explicit set of pressures throughout the summer to push envelopes. Lots of little things that it's easy to discount, but whose influence I witnessed at more than half of those 15 shows.

A couple of guys from San Diego were doing the full tour, up front and driving noise in support of heavy rocking, and the band loved it and rode it. They became somewhat known, and dialed-in to several roving groups, and definitely had an effect.

A couple of chicas were following the band, yelling for Makisupa every night until they finally played it, then started busting out of a trove of other rarities. They're on the rail in several published photos from the tour, spent time backstage, and, well, anyone who saw a show that summer, saw them.

I spent 7 or 8 of the shows mostly Page side, watching him blossom. The grand was added earlier in the year, as he'd said he wouldn't play Loving Cup til he had one, his setup evolved a bit in the Spring, and he really settled in that during summer.

Their range was expanding. The venues were growing. The fanbase was congealing. HORDE was emerging. Phish was head of the pack, clearly the ones in it for the long haul, and about to explode. There were being recognized explicitly as a model by up-and-comers, understood by all as having done it right but inimitably. It was a glorious time - and a great summer to, in GD parlance, hop on the bus.