(2) Everything Must Go - 02/08/2025 vs. (3) Into the Myst - 10/04/2025

Had a peak moment during this EMG. First solo show for third night of the run, in the pit, had made a few friends along the way. The pit was past the speaker racks, so the sound was strangely intimate. I just remember time slowing down and looking at Ricky move his hands.

Sometimes I find the peak performances don’t always register live in the moment when I’m there. This one did though, and it’s one I’ll carry with me.

The most overrated jam(Philly myst) vs arguably the joty. No brainer decision here, this myst didn’t even make my top 32

My comment here is pretty much just the exact inverse of everything @Solo Traveler said below. The more I lsten to this Myst the less impressed I am with it, and this EMG is probably even better than everyone is saying.

That Philly Myst was thick as hell!!!

I dunno, but the more I listen to this Myst, the more it impressed me. I see I'm in the minority but I just don't feel this EMG is as good as everyone is saying. Myst just goes to some more interesting places, up and down, here and there, and Rick's tones and whatever the fuck he's doing is subtle but really funky and nuanced. I was at the show and, in the moment and even after a bunch of listens, it seemed like it was kind of, I dunno, like it didn't really get to where it could've gone BUT, watching it and really locking in to what everyone is doing, it is really special. And don't sleep on Trevor bass! EMG feels pretty typical, but maybe that's just me.
Addendum - I generally try not to read the comments until I post mine, which I did this time, but then I read what Uncle Ebinezer wrote and he nailed it...the Myst gives me the feels and the EMG doesn't. Pretty simple.

EMG so hottt right now. EMG

This EMG should win JOTY of the year. Search your feelings, you know it to be true.

I love the EMG and remember being amazed during couch tour. I was at Philly show and didn’t realize how great this jam was at the time. But lately I just keep coming back - Philly Myst as a workout jam is ELITE.

Okay so here's the deal. This EMG is certainly JOTY worthy. It's complex, features fantastic interplay, and is ultimately a unique beast. I love it. But at the end of the day, while it makes me think a lot, it just doesn't make me feel much. A JOTY should make me feel something. This Myst makes me FEEL. Feel alive, feel fun, feel young. And to be clear, I don't only seek put jams/music that make me feel good. I like music that makes me feel a myriad of emotions whether it be scared and uncomfortable or euphoric and joyful. I understand this Myst isn't as complex as the EMG, but it's so goddamn fun and I love it.

PS- Philly bias is not a thing. I've never even been to Philly in my life and this is my first year participating in tournament lol

This Myst is good, but don’t think it’s their best of the year. This EMG is several levels above…just unreal. If my JOTY is gonna lose, let it be to this banger next round.

There actually is no such thing as "Philly mafia bias" just like there's no such thing as "MSG bias." People just like to hate on big city fun. I'm in the described "Philly mafia" and I didn't even rank this Myst. Elmeg and Seekers were special though, and Big Modern actually may be the best jam of that Mann night after relistening, but got zero recognition (I was guilty of bypassing it at first too). Give it a listen if you're bored.

As for this matchup, getting back on track, yea EMG in a landslide. Really looking forward to the results of its next matchup. Can we just do that one tomorrow while they're extra fresh in our minds? ;)

TFW you share the same JOTY as Peter and Neal

This EMG is straight gas and I wouldn’t be angry if it won JOTY

I love listening back to this EMG during this bracket competition! It never fails to put a smile on my face every time I revisit it. I have to say, even though seeing Myst live was incredible and I totally get the attendance bias, EMG just has that special style and jam quality that really wins me over and takes the vote

These results are great - 2/8 EMG is pure gas

Canyon Dan really gets it!! Perfect breakdown….
“This EMG is a master class on the tension/release jam formula but it’s so much more than that. It jumps from the song proper almost immediately into a deep dark sinister space and builds upon itself moving us through this dark world while building tension upon tension until the band brings us back to the land of the living in one of the best releases the band has ever done. It’s my personal JOTY and I will be pulling hard for it.”
I wholeheartedly concur 🫶🏼

Hmmmmmm.... I attended both. I don't think either are truly JOTY material. The first ~7 minutes of the EMG are amazing, I just think it isn't really sustained.
The Myst is good... but I went back and looked and voted for the #14 Empress over it.

I suppose I will abstain from voting at the moment and relisten to these both when I have a moment. IMO Both are far inferior to MadGR so the next round will be easy for me.

2/8 EMG is the Jah-tee, stop with this Joe-tee nonsense

Peter was right... This Myst does NOTY belongy in JOTY

I liked the myst more than most but it pales drastically in comparison to the master class that is this EMG

Was at the Mann but not at 2/8. I listened to the EMG before voting Myst but I don't think it is attendance bias. the EMG is gorgeous but not quite joty material imo.

Nighty night Myst. IMO you had no business making it this far, but I congratulate the Philly crew on making that happen. I'm still butt hurt over this Myst knocking out my personal favorite in the CLE Torero, so I won't be sad to see this one gone. And last but certainly not least, this EMG rules and definitely should've been a 1 seed IMO. That battle with the GR Madhuvan next round is going to be epic.

Please vote for the Myst, Philly Jam Mafia has threatened me with violence if it doesn't make the E8.

Apparently I like this Myst a little more than most people (including Peter… per the “Peter Pod” the other night), and this EMG a little less than everyone (I had them ranked at # 4 and #37 respectively). I can appreciate this EMG for the beauty it possesses, but I’ll stand by my ranking of this Myst. It was a great dance party and embraced a fantastic MJ / Wanna Be Starting Something vibe that kept things upbeat and fun… all the way through the ridiculously good segue and into You Spin Me. Will likely be saying goodbye to this Myst at this time tomorrow, but I suppose we have today.

I've been pretty vocal about not understanding the hype around Philly Myst. Yes, it was a big show in a big city with some fun jams, and this Myst is absolutely crucial to the party vibe. It's dancy and loud and energetic. It also has no gravitas or oomph. I personally wouldn't advance an empty-suit jam to the E8.

I would enthusiastically advance this monster of an EMG. It's multi-sectional without being schticky, sonically-layered, adventurous, and tells a complete story. It has a level of sophistication and polish and coherence that is totally absent from Myst's fill-in-the-blank jamband Mad Libs performance.

Whenever we get down to the final rounds, we always end up debating what makes a great jam. For me, it takes a lot more than being "fun." YMMV.

EMG. This Myst shouldn’t have made it out of the last round.

Into the Mid :/ locks into a super fun groove but stalls out before fading away into Spin

EMG has the creativity, variety, and better peak

EMG by several miles

This EMG is a master class on the tension/release jam formula but it’s so much more than that. It jumps from the song proper almost immediately into a deep dark sinister space and builds upon itself moving us through this dark world while building tension upon tension until the band brings us back to the land of the living in one of the best releases the band has ever done. It’s my personal JOTY and I will be pulling hard for it.

This Myst is fun and a solid dance jam but it really doesn’t move the needle much for me. MKE EMG advances to the next round where it must do battle against a monster.

It's a testament to how good of a jam vehicle EMG is for this band that there are two remaining in the sweet 16 in a year where there were barely any EMG jams.

This one is a powerhouse and a cornerstone jam from the best tour they've played to date. It easily deserves to move on to face 2/15 Madhuvan, and then we'll see.

Listened to both again… really enjoyed the EMG earlier this year but the Myst just does more. Some really good stuff in EMG around 10-13 mins but it’s is mostly Rick leading the way. Myst gets more contributions, especially from the rhythm section as we start with a dance groove with the Cotter click and build into some massive drops. Trevor is driving the groove and Cotter is showing everything he’s got. Lovely false peaks at the end and eventually we are in a deep, heavy dance groove - mashing up Myst and the Spin Me like descending run. The hints at Spin me Round come in early and this jam is best understood as a 2 piece with spin me round, but even without it, it’s another great one coming out of Philly. Promise no bias :) myst goes one more round… at least.

EMG Synthbombs its way into the Elite 8