PHISH, SUNDAY 07/19/1998
SHORELINE AMPHITHEATRE
Mountain View, CA

SET 1:

The Moma Dance: Trey has a little extra mustard for this one. Feeling feisty.

Beauty of My Dreams: Standard.

Sample in a Jar: Standard.

Guyute: Standard.

Ghost: Fishman’s work in the very early stages of this jam is fantastic. This does have a funky interlude in the ten minute range. There is kind of a Manteca theme in the early 11 minute range. By the 12 minute range this jam is in full throat, each member is stomping on their respective gas pedal. Full speed ahead. Trey is ripping this thing to shreds in the 14’s – unabated all our raging rock and roll, truly impressive. Fish cannot contain himself and adds Ghost vocals. Awesome Ghost, easy all timer and highly recommended! >

Limb By Limb: Ripped to shreds! >

Roggae: Standard.

You Enjoy Myself: This version totally groove and funk oriented and led by Page primarily. No Trey shredding. Fun version for sure, this would have been fun to dance to live. Would recommend.

SET 2:

Llama: Nuts! Trey just goes crazy with this one. Extended and rocked the hell out! Impressive debauchery from Trey in this version!

Wolfman's Brother: Slightly surprised there isn’t more love for this one. The first part of the jam feature Mike going absolutely bonkers, it is fantastic backed so well by Page on the clavinet (I hope that is right). >

Piper: Standard. >

Tweezer: Don’t sleep on this one just because it is compact. It is super funky and chill, I love it! The loops add a lovely sonic background. The last 30 seconds when they drop into that bluesy stuff, it is so seamless, amazing Phish and then it’s obvious they will opt for JJLC or Dogs Stole Things… ->

Jesus Just Left Chicago: Smokes, but don’t they all?

McGrupp and the Watchful Hosemasters: Not sure who is at fault – kind of think it is Page – but the intro is sloppy, the timing is off. >

Jam: This is flat out exceptional Phish. So connected and listening to one another. At 10:08, tell me that is not the riff that begins All of these Dreams? It’s only for a second or two but it is there: https://www.phishtracks.com/shows/1998-07-19/mcgrupp-and-the-watchful-hosemasters . This jam will make you feel like you are floating on a cloud, it’s really quite incredible and can’t imagine what it would have been like in the moment. For my money, this is the best McGrupp out there! Easy all timer and highly recommended. Wow!!! ->

Down with Disease: Type I face melter – wish they ended sets like this more often, with a closed ended DWD. Not much beats it to be honest. Keep it like this – less than 13 minutes.

ENCORE:

Possum: DWD tease at 5:28. Takes the band a while to find their footing – around the 6 minute mark – but when they do they definitely bring the house down. This smokes – they crush this Possum! >

Tweezer Reprise: Standard.

Summary: Long show, longest of the tour as a matter of fact clocking in at 2:59. The second half of the first set is awesome, anchored by Ghost and YEM. After all these years, this show is still underrated somehow. The epic 7.17.98 show being right before Shoreline may have something to do with that. But this show has plenty of jewels and the best of them is the McGrupp jam but beyond this show is absolutely loaded. Take three hours out of your day and check this one out, you won’t be disappointed. The current rating on Phish.net of 4.184/5 (147 ratings) seems low to me. I would rate it as a 4.35/5.

Replay Value: Ghost, You Enjoy Myself, Llama, McGrupp and the Watchful Hosemasters, Jam, Down with Disease, Possum

YEM contained Things That Make You Go Hmmm... teases from Mike.
SHOW RATING
Your rating:
Overall: 4.184/5 (147 ratings)
JAM CHART VERSIONS
Ghost, You Enjoy Myself, Llama, Jesus Just Left Chicago, McGrupp and the Watchful Hosemasters, Jam
TEASES
Things That Make You Go Hmmm... tease in You Enjoy Myself