PITTSBURGH (AP) — In an astounding turn of events Tuesday evening, 4,000 Deadheads managed to put aside their crippling grief and anger over internet downloads and actually had some fun listening to live music.

OK, especially in light of the band’s reversal, I’ll try to keep the sarcasm to a minimum. But so much of what I saw, heard and felt at Phil’s show last night at Palumbo Center confirms everything I wrote a just a day ago in reaction to the ugliness about the Internet Archive thing. But before we get to that, let’s start with the set list:

Set 1: Let the Good Times Roll, Tennessee Jed, Girl on the Mountain, Peggy-O, The Weight, Doin’ that Rag, Not Fade Away
Set 2: Sitting on Top of the World, Eagles on the Highway, Big River, He’s Gone, Mountains of the Moon, Terrapin, Lovelight, Roll in my Sweet Baby’s Arms, Lovelight
E: Going Down the Road

What you don’t see in the list was a “Hard to Handle” tease in the first set and a calypso-flavored “Terrapin” that was totally new to me. Lots more jamming in the second set, including seamless transitions from the end of “Terrapin” through the end of “Lovelight.” I was really impressed with Larry Campbell. Just in listening to shows from earlier this tour (audience recordings that were DOWNLOADED FROM THE INTERNET, for crying out loud) I thought it sounded like he’s already a lot more comfortable with the material … he could be scary by NYE. And then … just good energy from about mid-first set on … and, Jesus, it’s just fun watching a band having fun, and they clearly were.

And, just to show that I have some Picky Deadhead tendencies as well, here’s a couple gripes: I wish Chris would take the time to learn the lyrics … he relies on a teleprompter and spends a little too much time catching up with the rest of the band. And as much as I like Molo, there were a few times I thought the flow would benefit from a lighter touch, drummingwise.

How does this fit with what I posted Monday, specifically in The Rant at the end? In poking around on message boards today, I’ve already come across several “reviewers” who do little but gripe about the show. My question is this: If it’s so consistently bad, why do you keep going? If you’re comparing a Phil and Friends show to the best Dead shows you saw, you’re going to be disappointed with Phil’s band every time.

But if you narrow your focus — just a little — you’ll find there’s plenty to like. You want some things to talk about? Compare Phil’s current band with past incarnations. Debate Barry vs. Warren vs. Herring vs. Kimock. Look at song lists: what’s been added, what’s been deleted, what works and what doesn’t.

And if you can calm down just a little bit more — like, say when you walk through the doors of the Palumbo Center about 20 minutes before Phil gets started — you might even find that you enjoy yourself. Again: I’m clear on the fact that the 2005 version of Phil Lesh and Friends generally isn’t going to be as good as 1974 Grateful Dead. But that doesn’t mean that I don’t feel an oddly familiar rush when Phil started to roll through the intro to “Lovelight.” It’s just as real as it was 20 years ago … and it’s there for the taking.

That’s what the 20-year-olds were doing last night, and they were having as much fun as I had at Richfield, Buckeye, Louisville, Pittsburgh, etc., 15 or 20 years ago. They have (or had) the same access to GD shows that we do, so they know what they missed, but in the moment, it doesn’t matter much. And that’s how it should work.

I got pretty bitchy at the end of Monday’s post, and I don’t apologize for it. I started to get a little bitchy just now, but I thought one rant was enough. My big point is this: Relax. There’s still plenty about our scene to enjoy, now, if you just take the time to enjoy it.