Phil's "Whoa!" after Jack Straw says it all folks.

While there's fewer gigs to choose from compared to 2018 or 2019, I'd say this is beauty is a very, very strong contender for 2020's show of the year. This is what Phil Lesh and Friends are all about. We've got a mixed bag of a setlist thought up on the spot and played by a lineup that blends old friends with newer ones on a sunny day in San Rafael. According to TXR, Phil just felt like playing that day, and within hours they'd announced the show, put together the band, and plugged in onstage. Every P&F lineup has its own sound, and this one is authentic, raw, uptempo, country-tinged, and bright, while not afraid to get rocking or take a trippy experimental turn down the end of Shakedown Street. This show is long enough to hopscotch across the Grateful Dead's 1970's repertoire but short enough to fit on a single disc. I've listened to P&F 11/16/20 all the way through twice already and I'll sure as hell be reaching for it again. In the meantime it has a proud place on the shelf sandwiched between 2/22/69 and 5/2/87. If you've stumbled across this in the late '20 section of Phil's stash in the archive, congratulations! You've just scored a golden nugget. Thank you taper! This is recording is flawless!