Notable for the debut performance of Train Song, this show features an especially strong performance from Page. He's out front in the mix and takes the lead in a number of jams.

First set highlights include a Tweezer with sparse, staccato-like jamming at the end, the plaintive debut of Train Song and a furious Timber that packs a lot of muscle into a short time.

Page is prominent in the Theme during the second set and the solid and tight Reba that follows. Antelope has plenty of Page, but the band fumbles the re-entry to the jam after the "Bid you to have any spike" line. Simple>Caspian is a super smooth transition, and another Page highlight.

The Hood starts off quietly, but Trey forces the band to speed up at about 9 minutes and it finishes strong.

A fun listen for Page fans, though nothing except perhaps the Timber is truly memorable.

You know, between not touring for the first several months of the year, doing all the warm-up gigs for Santana and that disastrous Amsterdam show, you could argue that this was the first really normal show of 1996. And I mean that in a good way.

It's refreshingly flub-free (unlike the previous Phish-only show in Italy on July 15), and has a nice, clean setlist performed totally fine.

"Normal" and "fine" aren't flattering terms, but given how thoroughly underwhelming the first part of 1996 turned out to be, those are a huge step up. 4 stars, 6 stars in the context of this tour.

The boys are out to prove they are on their A game in GErmany.
Italy and franc was a lazy affair. Some highlights but some sloppy play to.
The first three songs out the gate show a more determined band.
Rift is played fast and tight.

Tweezer!! the verse is played with a sick rhythm. Fish has been the MVP for the Europe tour .
Trey searches for a little then they get into a typical Tweezer jam but Fish's playing is worth hearing. The hit about 4 good themes and end with a Triumphant Trey guitar lick.
A really pretty If I could follows. Trey writes really pretty ballad-like songs for four instruments ( fast enough for you )
Tran Song!! Debut's are always cool

SOAM!! the crowd is attentive and respectful. They were screaming after songs but were listening hard during. You hear it good here. Trey stars out in the low octave pushing the groove. Fish handles it well. A little clumsy then at hte 6:30 they get it moving good. Trey throws out some very weird notes and Fish up for the challenge. pAge lays the context down with big ambient chords which is what the jam devolves into at the end. Solid interesting listen.

Timber HO!! this is why Fish is MVP of the tour. his patience and power are not in full bloom yet ( 97-99 we see a fruition of his style) but this powerful stuff. Trey is an animal in the minor keys. Page kills it as well him and Trey are of one mind throughout. Mike is grooving hard . This is a short charging Timber .
Llam a great sec. set opener. Again the i must say how much clear and focused the band is here as opposed to when they were opening for santana.

The crowd s sooo quiet at the beginning of Theme. The band must've been loving it cuz they take us on a sonic ride. Trey stays in the say octave as page and mike for t=the most part just riding the them with a sharper muffled tone on the guitar. it fits.

They follow with Reba!!!! a perfect song for this attentive crowd.
You can here all the dynamics for this masterpiece in a perfectly played orchestrated part. The beginning of this jam is friggin beautiful. Thought they were going silent but they just go into a solid Reba. love 96 because Page started playing the elec piano on this song this year. Lots of texture.

PHISH, SUNDAY 07/21/1996
THE FORUM
Nüremberg, Germany

Soundcheck: My Mind's Got a Mind of its Own, Poor Heart, Character Zero, Billy Breathes, work on Billy Breathes

SET 1:

Golgi Apparatus: Energetic, Trey sounds good. Much better than the one from 7.15.96 >

Guelah Papyrus: The ending before they go back into the chorus is a mess. >

Rift: Trey on fire with his solo. Rips it to shreds. >

Tweezer: Trey dominates. The hard strumming/machine gun/explosion is great. It’s short but this one is a lot of fun.

If I Could: Very mellow (no Trey solo really) and short.

My Mind's Got a Mind of its Own: Standard.

Split Open and Melt: Below average. The ending is oddly rushed.

The Horse > Silent in the Morning:

Taste: Longer than normal Fish intro.

Train Song[1] Page on xylophone trying to re create the solo that Fish took on the album

Fee[2] Standard >

Timber (Jerry the Mule) Standard >

Johnny B. Goode: Standard.

SET 2:

Llama: Standard.

Theme From the Bottom: Standard. >

Reba: Beautiful, sustained note from Trey 10:13 – 10:31. Strong jam but not much of a climax at the end.

Life on Mars? Standard.

Free: Some of the best vocals you will ever hear out of this tune right here in this version.

Run Like an Antelope: Standard. >

Simple: Standard. Very intentional segue into Prince Caspian. ->

Prince Caspian: Standard. >

Suzy Greenberg: Standard.

ENCORE:

Harry Hood: Below average. Trey strums his way through the parts that typically would be the bridge to the climax.

Summary: Very straightforward. I really like this Tweezer but not enough to assign it replay value. Would rate this show as a 3/5.

Replay Value: None.

[1] Debut.
[2] Trey sang verses through megaphone.

Train Song debuted at this show and was dedicated to the fans that were following the band around Europe via the rails. Trey sang the verses of Fee through a megaphone.
JAM CHART VERSIONS
Tweezer