First of all, I love that Phish played in such an out of the way venue; sure, they didn't sell it out (or even come close, according to the other reviews), but I like that they'll a) head to venues like this or Chula Vista or West Valley City, Utah and b) reward those that do show up with kickass...
(Published in the second edition of The Phish Companion...)
I was about to move to Las Cruces for graduate school and I wasn't happy. I would never be able to see Phish there, that's for sure. As I was complaining about this to my mother, I walked out to the mailbox. The new Phish Update...
After seeing the 2 Gorge and Boise shows earlier this tour, I was hoping to finish out 1999 with one more epic Phish show (FYI, this is still the goal and it will never change). I'll never tire of re-listening to the 1999 tour and this show is right up there with the best of the year IMHO. The...
I lost my shit right off the bat! 2001>Chalkdust. We went early & got the rail in front of Trey. I head banged so hard during Chalkdust I blew my neck out & Trey gave me a thumbs up. Sick show all the way.
This was my first show in my home state. My brother's dorm room was a nine-iron shot from the arena. Can't beat that. My buddy Dave and I drove from Tucson the night before. Weird scene in Arizona and the rest area halfway between Pima and Cruces was full of wooks. But the Cruces show was...
This show has a fantastic Gin that starts out in the same vein as Riverport but takes a left turn into some arena rock madness, such a fantastic version. Sand is also no slouch. The whole first set is just so high energy the setlist is perfect for that.
Also Ghost absolutely slays as it pulses...
Also Sprach Zarathustra: Can you come out of the gate any better? Big, spooky loops to get underway. Wicked effects at 3:44 from Trey. Trey’s mini keyboard actually adds to the greatness of this jam instead of taking away as so often happened when he jumped on it. This 2001 out of the gate is a...
This is one of my favorite shows. I did this whole tour and this along with Boisse were special unheralded shows. Trey's Brian Eno influence heightened at this stage in his career. I love ambient phish. Great show! Check it out!
First five minutes are a spacey, black hole, acid trip. Then Trey unleashes pure savagery. Second jam is a sweet groove with space birds and dance beeps gracing this "2001".
Straightforward jam, in some ways similar to 9/12/99, but also different. This one comes closer at moments to breaking into a groove outside of "Gin" proper, and also features incredible trilling by Trey.