[We would like to thank Megan Glionna (@meganglionna) aka @the_megan_dance (X/twitter) for recapping last night's show. -Ed.]

Achievement means accomplishing something successfully using effort, skill or courage. Artistic achievement on a large scale for a long time requires so much, but more than anything it requires courage. The courage to try something new even when you have found what works. On the Helping Friendly Podcast this year we analyzed and ranked the Top 25 Phish Tours of all time and the recurring theme was the relentless pursuit of evolution, even in moments of wild, peaking success. This year’s New Year’s Eve gag was just that. Another push towards the future. Another courageous swing at-bat after a winning season. The pursuit of evolution is the defining feature of the Phish from Vermont. And why last night’s show was a triumph.

[We would like to thank @Jeremy8698 for writing this recap. -Ed.]

The 12/30 slot of a YEMSG run annually begs an interesting hypothesis: Will the band meet the exalted expectations of its demanding phans? The question is one asked at every show but, on this night, where the band has usually stretched its legs for jam-chartered versions of epic songs, odd bust-outs, and extra spicy playing, it takes on a heightened level of giddiness.

Set 1: Mike's Song > Bouncing Around the Room > Weekapaug Groove, Stash, Evolve, Llama, Split Open and Melt, Backwards Down the Number Line > Carini, The Squirming Coil

Set 2: Sigma Oasis > My Friend, My Friend^[1] > Sand, Golden Age > What's the Use? > Taste, Golgi Apparatus, First Tube

Set 3: Character Zero, Pillow Jets^[2] > Auld Lang Syne > What's Going Through Your Mind^[2] -> Chalk Dust Torture > Slave to the Traffic Light, Life Saving Gun^[3] > Say It To Me S.A.N.T.O.S.

Encore: Grind, Icculus, Tweezer Reprise

[1] No "Myfe" ending.
[2] With additional vocals from dancers.
[3] Mike on mini-keyboard.

[We would like to thank Max Alter (@SplitOpenAndMalt) aka @MaltsandShakes for recapping last night's show. -Ed.]

​​Talk about a year, huh?

41 years into their history, this band continues to surprise by pushing their limits. To me, it certainly feels like their 35+ minute jams in consecutive nights in Mexico fell further than one year ago. Add in Phish’s debut at the state-of-the-art Sphere in April, multiple 40+ minute jams across their Summer Tour, their first successful festival since Magnaball, their illustrious return to MVP Arena in Albany, and that the boys covered quite some ground in this year of touring. Of course, the only proper way to top it off was (and is) cumulating the accrued energy into their annual New Years’ Eve run at the World’s Most Famous Arena, Madison Square Garden. After a night of mixed reviews, I think we can confidently say that the band stepped up to the plate.

Set 1: Possum, Wolfman's Brother, Lengthwise -> Maze, Theme From the Bottom, More, Divided Sky, No Men In No Man's Land, Most Events Aren't Planned > Fluffhead

Set 2: Hey Stranger > Down with Disease^[1] > Winterqueen, Tweezer -> Seven Below > Piper > Also Sprach Zarathustra, Everything's Right

Encore: A Life Beyond The Dream, Harry Hood

[1] Unfinished.