I believe this is my second show, my first show was also at the Front. It's been pretty difficult to figure out which Front shows I saw. There was also two Front shows I attended where they had a guest fiddle player (called The Fiddler by many fans), one of them being my first show. This one...
Ah, an early version of Bathtub Gin...think I'll have some wine. ;) Seriously, though, it's amazing how much more tight the band sounds in this performance when compared with the previously reviewed 3/11 and 3/10 1990 shows. Runaway Jim is basic but solid, and the "Possessed" banter is quite...
Not really a personal review, but Chris Kuroda mentioned this show during a jambase interview. Said it would be his first choice if there ever was a "Chris's picks" series.
Thought it would be worth mentioning since it's an 'extra special' type of review.
Here is the link:...
IIRC, this was my first *tape* of a Phish show that I ever dubbed from a friend. I had enjoyed listening to Junta, and this was the only tape (sets 1&2) that my buddy had from this era. I was studying jazz guitar and knew "A-Train" and "All Blues", and was just getting into Zappa, so I was...
So the bulk of this show is, to me, another typical '91 gig. Mostly very tight, enjoyable, few musical excursions. I liked the Tweezer, and there's another very nice Chalkdust to open the second set. Trey has major problems with the start of YEM, and the guest harmonica player isn't all that....
This was one of my earliest shows on tape, as I asked for shows with horns. Grippo and Remminton help to heat up the second set which includes some great Trey banter when they flub SOAM, a slick debut of In A Hole (which should instead be played every time Trey calls My Soul), and a hot...
This was the infamous "Tape Release Party" night. We knew that the first-ever PHISH tape was to be available. The anticipation was frightening. Some of us headed down early to check things out. Not too much was happening, but as usual, there were some folks having a couple in the...
This is a very, very solid '91 show, featuring Dave Grippo (of the Giant Country Horns) playing saxophone. on 6 songs spread throughout the night. Outside of the Grippo appearances, nothing out of the ordinary is in this show except for the Mike's Groove. Mike's Song comes with the 2nd guest...
This is a nice show. Suzy works well as the opener. SOAM is played much slower than it would be played in later years, but this short version is fine. I like the following combo of Tela>Fluffhead a lot. La Grange is pretty good, featuring nice playing from Trey. The placement of Carolina is...
This is a pretty decent recording of an all ages show at the Front, though there are quite a few cuts between songs.
First set had a nice average Alumni>LTJP. McGrupp was also kind of average and had its end chopped going into the weird transition to Who Do We Do as again the parts of Fluff...
Very improvisational jamming distinguishes this early thriller. The excellent recording showcases the band sounding fantastic throughout the composed section. Great Mike underpins this version, which finds Trey leading the others through the jam, modifying his tone, and deftly modulating intensity to create some of his most interesting and varied lines to date.
Dave Grippo on saxophone. Horns and jazz go hand in hand, and so horns with "Magilla" are a logical and terrific way to add colorful texture to the soundscape. Here, Grippo provides a new twist on this "standard," inspiring strong playing by all.
With the Dude of Life on vocals and Dave Grippo on saxophone. The Dude adds several verses and is hysterical. Grippo is excellent, making the jam far more interesting than most versions from late '88 - late '91. Even the little 2nd jam is great. Check it out!
One can debate when the finest theme emerges, but 7:30 seems to account for "must-hear" playing, with Trey's dazzling, "DEG"-esque soloing dizzying, offset by super play from Mike (who sounds great across the entire recording). More great guitar follows, with Trey working up and down a series of scales, before locking in upon an incredible theme. Brief and compact, the version finds all four members playing with purpose and passion, thus offering something for everybody.
With a noticeably faster tempo for the era, the inventive and sustained "Manteca" teasing grabs one's attention at first, but the dynamic modulation and inspired interaction between Trey and Mike is what truly impresses, here. A highly musical build, with Trey trilling and scattering notes - while maintaining the jam's signature theme - further cements this version as an early classic.
Page is steady, precise and confident throughout. From his excellent fills and soloing in Who Do? We Do! to subtle runs in Clod's early going, the Chairman is clearly in his element here. Meanwhile, Trey and Mike provide awesome support as the intensity and tension build towards the conclusion. Arrival is a great example of the entire band firing on all 12 cylinders, while Machine Gun Trey aptly demonstrates why he earned this nickname.
The first of a handful of "heavy metal" versions (see also: 1/28/90, 2/9/90, 2/21/97 as well as 9/29/00's "heavy metal jam.") "Wilson's" intro starts with a power rock version of the verse chord progression courtesy of Trey, replete with coordinated unison accent hits from the rest of the band. In lieu of "blatting" and "booming", the band ends the song by returning to the 80s metal-inflected intro to close things out as the band plays out their then-unfulfilled (not for long) arena rock fantasies.