Am I wrong in thinking that this show has actually become somewhat underrated over the years? My ever-diminishing memory tells me that this show used to be considered one of the greats of not just 1997, but all of Phish's live catalog; these days, thanks to the spreadsheet and the new...
Spectacular show, well deserving of SBD treatment. When 30something fans get nostalgic about the late 90's, partly they're longing for their college/grad-school freedom and irresponsibility, but mainly they're thinking of astonishing setlists like this one. Phish doesn't do first sets like this...
If I had a say in the decision making-process, I would push hard for this show to be released in SBD quality, preferably remastered from the muti-track recordings. This second set of this show is probably my favorite of 1995.
There's not much new to add to the reviews but I would like to...
This was a really great show, I watched on the free webcast. The sideshow debuts were fun (Tuesday is a bouncy favorite of mine, and Crazy Sometimes is tense and cool), Trey actually practiced Sugar Shack and was able to play the solo! Lots of songs got more mustard than usual, including nice...
I know we always say the same thing when in the glow of the show…. But That might have been the best show I have ever seen. Such great flow, great song placement, and a pinch of phish wackiness to cap it all off. These fine gentlemen truly are the BEST BAND of brothers in the world! The egg man...
Oh, that Nutty Nutter Center in Dayton, OH. Along with 12/6 II, this show constitutes the best 3-sets of Phish that has ever existed on this planet. The triple punch opener of AC/DC Bag>Psycho Killer>JJLC contains some of the most inspired, coherent and mystically connected improvisation that...
A comment, rather than show review (That's been *covered*): Several posters above made at least a mention that Guyute was good in this case. I personally did not ever accept the (forgive me, but "PT" type) notion that "Guyute sucks" (the top complaint being that it was played too often and didn't...
Another Nutter at the Nutter? Hard to believe they would be able to equal, or one can easily argue, exceed Tuesday's epic show. 2 Magic nights in a row! But Trey made it very clear at the end of this one, that they LOVE playing the Nutter!! To quote, this venue is "unbelievably Sick!" Tuesday had...
Listen to @TheEmu, everyone - that Tweezer -> Makisupa -> Antelope sequence is worth the price of admission alone, with everything played at maximum late '95 intensity (the Antelope in particular has smoke coming out of its ears) and two very well-done segues to boot. Y'all like hose jamming,...
A multi-section monstrosity that features highly inspired melodic playing, atypical modulations, an extended passage based on either "Roll with the Changes" or "Paradise City", and a false ending that catalyzes a deep dive of inter-dimensional sonic alchemy rarely heard in the modern era. Must-hear.
After a standard and somewhat introspective first jam, the band once again charges into the fabled second jam, ready to explore. The music grows inward, as Page's rich, gorgeous grand piano catalyzes a delightfully
layered and stunningly spacious melodic section, replete with gorgeous loops from Trey. At 14:25, a modulation leads the band toward a darker zone that builds to a shoegaze-y peak before yielding to the closing chords to finish.
"Wombat"'s second big ride shrugs off some dubious vocals to deliver a hard-charging "Ghost"-esque late night groove that morphs into delicious major key rocking out. Mike's work, in particular, is a joy to behold. Collapses into bubbly ambiance, then > into "Chalk Dust Torture".
Precise and coordinated modulation between major and minor modes by Trey, Page and Mike give this excellent version a subtle sense of tension and release.
The first "Tube" to break out of the box begins with sweet funk in the first jam, while the jam reprise drops into some space, builds back up to more funk, and coasts into the -> to "Slave". A fan-favorite.
Busted out after a 989 show gap and segues smoothly out of Wolfman's Brother. The '97 style outro jam is distinct and deviates from the structure of "Boogie" at 5 minutes and is played at a slower tempo than recent versions. Transitions to a hot "Reba".
The jam begins with intentional, cerebral playing from Trey before quickly breaking for minor key. Page's clav and electric piano dominate along with Mike's enveloped synth sounds and Trey's stacked looping. The music shifts back to major key, building patiently and inspiringly towards a crescendo before winding back to the "Gin" melody to close.
Trey pushes through a few early miscues to share in Mike's incendiary groove. Via rhythmic shifts in meter and tone, Trey constructs a mellow, effects-enriched jam, which, colored by Page's wraithlike atmospherics, coasts atop Fish's steady beat, before driving the version to a strong conclusion.
Mixing some great new sounds, especially Page, with a fairly familiar jamming pattern, the band succeeds in recycling a formulaic, major mode and upbeat-oriented jam into a warm and very fresh sounding performance with a Trey-led peak.
If Super Bowl LI were a song... it would sound like this. [Excellent, unusual, and highly musical version. As if a malleable substance, Trey employs any number of ideas - and works an array of pitches - to fashion light from an atonal sort of darkness.]