After a respite from listening for several days, I move on to 8/15/11, Chicago #1 - the "elements" show
I was holding out until I felt in the mood to watch the stream of it, but I finally gave in and decided to just listen instead. 
Night 1 has a highly interesting setlist! Rarities and debuts, songs in unusual set placements.
I have high expectations for this one
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Back On the Train - great opener. Amazing peak.
Rift - not a memorable version. Better ones in recent 2011 memories, but still a fine one.
Guelah Papyrus
Scent of a Mule
Jesus Just Left Chicago
All three were excellent picks. All played fine but nothing special, imo.
Wolfman's Brother - Now THIS is what I'm talkin about! CHECK OUT THIS JAM!!! I'd call this a perfect example of "Type 1.5"
They go far out but never reach space. They eventually mosey their way
homeward very naturally without a hint of ripcording. A wonderful and
"complete" jam! TERRIFIC!!!!!!
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BABYLON BABY IS A GREAT TUNE AND THIS ONE HAS GREAT JAMMING! AWESOME STUFF!
Beautiful Reba
Alumni Blues - HOTTER THAN THE FRICKIN SUN HOLY SWEET BANANZA
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Made it through set I of 8/15/11 but set II has to wait for tomorrow.
I thought I was in the mood but I'm just not feelin' it tonight.
Forced listening is never good listening
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8/15/11 Chicago - "Elements" 2nd set
Set 1 was great but didn't really jive with me for some reason. Just didn't "connect" with me.
This second set though is the bomb.
BUT, the major highlight....
WAVES
FRIGGIN
WAVES
HO-LEE-CRAP-ON-A-CRACKER
LIVE THIS WAVES
BREATHE THIS WAVES
DROWN IN THIS WAVES AND BE THANKFUL YOU DID SO
The rest of
set 2 so far was great, but nothing beyond the best of 2011 so far. Sand
and Light were terrific versions with great sections of Type II and
terrific segues.
Dirt was great and unusually powerful.
BUT
Waves is tapping that hardcord X Factor.
BIG TIME.
And now that GENUINE segue into Undermind....
Holy freaking crap.
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Waves>Undermind
Sorry for the hyperbole. It was absolutely warranted.
My mouth is currently hanging askew and my face is numb and tingly.
Absolutely far and away the best performance (just these 2 songs, at least) of 2011.
For millennia to come, when people think of 2011 they will remember the Chicago Waves>Undermind
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Please forgive me everybody....Final thoughts on the MONSTER show that is 8/15/11
Ok, so set 1 was up and down for me - terrific song selection, but some
of the performances weren't anything special. But 2/3 of the set was
definitely "we hittin' that rocket sauce tonight" level awesome
Set 2 - my goodness. Where to begin.
First off, if you want anything from this show, GET THE WAVES>UNDERMIND>STEAM.
PRONTO.
If you're not satisfied with this sequence and the incredible performances within, you are not a Phish fan. Plain and simple.
Now, the opening 1-2 punch of Sand>Light was downright terrific, but, the aforementioned trio was GODLY.
If this were
any other show I'd be going banana sandwich bonkers about that awesome
Sand>Light, but in light of things to come (unavoidable punnage....) ,
there is nothing to be said.
Waves>Undermind>Steam
Say it with me.
Waves>Undermind>Steam
Get the picture yet? 
After Steam, Fire and Camel Walk were pretty excellent, but c'mon, you ain't gonna top that trio we go.
Silent In the
Morning was just the song I didn't want and Harry Hood was a pretty bad
version (though the terrific jamming ALMOST redeems it.)
Point is...
WAVES>UNDERMIND>STEAM
CAPEESH?
In case it's still not clear enough, here's my Idiot's Highlight List for 8/15/11...
8/15
Chicago** (Inconsistent from song to song, hence not a higher rating.
The highlights are better than ANYTHING else in 2011 so far though.
Truly an X Factor show! "ELEMENTS" SET. GET WAVES>UNDERMIND>STEAM.
GET WAVES>UNDERMIND>STEAM. GET FRIGGIN
WAVES>UNDERMIND>STEAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
Jesus Just Left Chicago
Wolfman's Brother (Sick Type 1.5!!!)
Anything But Me (MOST RECENT VERSION!)
Babylon Baby (Debut)
Reba (Beautiful!)
Alumni>Jimmy Page (ABSOLUTELY INSANE!)
Sand (SPECTACULAR Type I!!!)
>Light (PERFECT segue into. GREAT FUNKY TYPE II)
>Waves (FRIGGIN SPECTACULAR!!!!!! HOLY FREAKING CRAP MOST ROCKING WAVES EVER PLAYED. GOES TYPE II)
>Undermind (THAT INCREDIBLE GENUINE SEGUE FROM WAVES OH MY FREAKING GOD. TYPE II IMMEDIATELY. Dissolves into ambiance)
>Steam (EXCEPTIONAL. BEST STEAM YET!)
>Fire
Camel Walk
Harry Hood (Just for the terrific jam. Song portion is poor)
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