"Those jaded vets who derisively scorn DB’s performances in 3.0 really need to turn the clock backwards a number years and apply an equally critical view towards its performances in the late ‘90s and through 2.0. "

The most spot-on sentiment in this article, and it applies outside of Bowie as well.

People thought they'd never hear another blowout Jim until Dicks.

On one hand, I'm happy that they don't go back to the same jam stalwarts from the early 90s for all their improv. Because something like 90% of the improv from 92-95 came from about 10 songs. I just wish that the songs they WERE jamming out would rotate a little quicker. But considering how few songs broke the jam plane between the debuts of Stash & Ghost, i guess it shouldn't be too surprising. To me, I think that specific angry desire to hear a jammed out *BOWIE* is asking Phish to Nostalgia Act it, just to Nostalgia Act in the way that you want them to instead of the way they want to.

They play the song plenty, so I don't think the composed section is what bothers them. Especially since they're playing the composed sections of Bowie and most other complicated songs better on a consistent basis than they have since what, 96?

It's a Type I jam now, no question, but holy crap they're finding some interesting little asides in every version. If I had it my way, Bowie would be a 9 minute exclamation point after a jammed out Halfway To The Moon or Unfinished Roggae or a groundbreaking 20 Minute Heavy Things. "Do it like you used to!" just doesn't work for me, especially now that Phish is improvising in a way that is at least as impressive as anything they've ever done before. And if they have to keep it in small doses in order to make it potent, so be it.