Venues

Ian McLean's Farm

Hebron, NY, USA

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Top Rated Shows

Highest rated shows at this venue by Phish.net users:

Date Rating
1987-08-21 82 votes 4.4390/5

Top Reviews

Highest-rated reviews from shows at this venue:

1987-08-21 by waxbanks 34
Let me admit a personal bias up front: I've never gotten much out of Phish's pre-1993 music. I used to keep a December '86 tape around (decent Whipping Post as I recall?) but I've never replaced it with mp3's, and don't really feel any need to. In fact I only half a tiny handful of pre-1993...
1987-08-21 by SlavePhan 21
I'm moderately floored that there hasn't been a substantial review of 8/21/87 yet. This show was one of my very first tapes, and I've listened to it so many times that I can write this review just from memory. I bet I've listened to the first set hundreds of times. I'll try not to be biased when...
1987-08-21 by WickedMonkey 2
When listening to early Phish shows, its exciting to hear these songs in their infancy. Musically, they're tight, fast, and technical. Its always the vocals that somehow fall short. I could never really put my finger on exactally what is wrong vocalls, but @waxbanks said it best. "the problem...
1987-08-21 by DemandOpener 2
There are already some excellent reviews of this show on the show page, which are undoubtedly written more succinctly and excellently than mine will be, so I’ll try to keep this short. I also wrote my own jam chart entries at the end, to prove that it is very hard to write blurbs for the jam...

Notable Jam Chart Performances

Individual jam chart entries from this venue:

The first version with lyrics sung rather than narrated. The jam follows a similar pattern to others from this period, with Trey strumming quite a bit while Page rocks the keyboard, but this one grows increasingly intense before seeming to veer towards "Possum." Instead, the jam explores more ground, then -> to "Stir It Up Jam" with no return to the typical closing.
1987-08-21 • Skin It Back (13:12) Set 2 Noteworthy
Replete with Marley or some other dog's barking, the band launches an exploratory, improvisational take on the Little Feat classic. The driving jam features great Mike and Page, and predictably rapid-fire Trey action. Becoming increasingly abstract after 10:30, the playing begins to settle, and Mike leads the band with a great -> into "Low Rider Jam."
1987-08-21 • Low Rider (6:30) Set 2 Noteworthy
-> from an improvisational "Skin it Back," this early nod to the War classic works to cool down the fury from the preceding jam, as Trey humorously sings "La Bamba" lyrics over the "Low Rider" melody. Picking up a blues-tinged theme after 4:30, this great and grooving full-band improv rocks on and -> "Back Porch Boogie Blues."
1987-08-21 • Back Porch Boogie Blues (7:47) Set 2 Noteworthy
-> in from a fun "Low Rider Jam," you may initially hear Grateful Dead-like jamming in this blues-based instrumental. Trey leads the band into increasingly frenetic playing, and Mike and Fish heroically manage to keep up with the torrid pace. Settling down into a more groovy bent, Trey cleverly sets the deck for an unexpected -> to "The Sloth."
1987-08-21 • Mike's Song (13:14) Set 2 Noteworthy
Very improvisational version, for any period. Has "Fluffhead"-like moments, a Grateful Dead vibe at times, and the jamming covers a huge range of exploratory ground. Must-hear early Phish improv.
1987-08-21 • Stir It Up (5:37) Set 3
-> in from a strong "McGrupp." While all members contribute (Page's early playing is varied and inspiried) Trey dominates, slowly working Marley's "Stir It Up" into its more traditional form, the ensuing jam informed by lines warm and melodic, rich in tone. Beautiful, must-hear material.
A supremely odd version. "Makisupa" proper begins more than six minutes in, after the "Stir It Up Jam" comes to a full stop. The first few minutes feature Trey ad libbing, lyrics over a loose, playful jam. It's mostly weird, but the last minute of the jam is a long, magnificent segue -> "David Bowie."
Gotta love the dogs, Marley and/or others barking in the background throughout. The Curtain section is very precise, and filled with a sense of energy. Listening along, you can imagine the band had practiced the composed section extensively. The With jam begins with delicate, lofty soloing by Trey, then gradually builds up to a crescendo, before easing back down and fading into the ether.
1987-08-21 • Harry Hood (14:09) Set 1
Strong early "Hood" includes a long, slow-tempo intro (to 3:50) with dogs barking in the background, and a soaring and unusually long (for this period) Trey-led jam, prompting Fishman to comment "that's why I'm in the band."
1987-08-21 • Wilson (6:25) Set 1
First ever "Wilson" chant from the band in a stretched out intro with nice droning organ and funky Trey comping before reaching the chord changes. When the band takes the volume down, some incredibly well-timed dog barking leads the band into a few lysergic, descending, atonal moments. Signature, briskly-paced, early version.


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