Excellent review. I too was one of the many who thought we would get Walfredo opener or A train or something very rare. Even perhaps a Forbins with narration about CurveDEbacle. My inner mind said it would be a normal set list with huge playing.
And so it was. I too felt it was a backwards show until Cavern.
What happened was Phish played the best show of the entire year so far. And we felt every moment.
Very atmospheric. Tightly played. Peaks upon peaks. And so much ambience too.
Well played, Phish. Well played.