THE GOOD: Being sandwiched between two fairly monstrous shows, this show featured some more reserved playing, however, there are some relative highlights. Jim continues on the back of the 7/15 version at around 7 and 1/2 steady minutes and contains a heavy build and great band interplay. Reba is another first set highlight - there's a minute long silent jam section here, out of which emerges some nice story-telling by Trey. The jam in Tweezer in the second set starts off being fairly heavy-metal based, moves into two dramatic tension and release phases, but then fizzles out into Coil. Once again, Leprechaun is a beauty, a bit more polished than the band's first attempt at it (7/15) and nicely placed in between Mike's and Weekapaug, although it seems clear that the band can't quite seem to find a good place for it in the set.

THE BAD: This show is definitely overshadowed by the two nights surrounding it, and unfortunately, many of the jams come up tame in comparison and/or fizzle out. There's also a seemingly strange herky-jerky bunch of song choices. The MMGAMOIO doesn't quite fit the bill between Sample and Stash, nor does the Faht really flow well out of Weekapaug. Listeners may be a bit underwhelmed, particularly because the jams for most of the big songs seem to fizzle. Trey has some great ideas in Bowie, but the band doesn't pick up on them unfortunately. Similarly, the Tweezer completely dies into a Coil riddled with some tough Trey flubs in the 'soaring' section. Weekapaug also, sadly, grinds to a halt into a momentum-destroying Faht.

THE NERDY: The Landlady, in a somewhat relic stage considering that the band had begun playing PYITE during Spring tour, hadn't been played since April. There's a Stash tease in the beginning of Reba, and the Ebenezer break in Tweezer features Trey playing Tweezer in a different key (Tweezer Rep). Faht featured piped-in sound effects. During Daniel, Trey mentions that they had a "really really great time" and that the band really enjoyed Wolf Trap.


No songs on Youtube from this show as nothing stood out in particular.

The 2nd Phish show that I ever attended. This was my first Red Rocks show as well. WOW! If you like show going, go to Red Rocks! We had the typical Colorado summer afternoon deluge. It rained for a few hours right before the show. There was some lightning (the dreaded show killer), but fortunately it passed. Then there was the orange sunshine.

A Divided Sky opener was destined to be. The post storm sky demanded it! Every silver lining has it's cloud. Then some ancient cave man lore for Harpua, and the giant iguana was born, now in the form of rock. The iguana would either be "Creation Rock" or "Ship Rock", these are the two major rock formations which amp the theater. The land of the lizards. A great Poor Heart>Maze sounding better and then Bouncing Around the Room. I recall realizing that this whole Phish show going thing was for me. This realization solidified when they went into one of if not the best It's Ice I've ever heard! The Page solo for this one is awesome. Page stands out in this show. Heck they all just rip it up this show. I love '93! The Wedge starts with a unique intro that I've only heard in a few early versions. I usually don't care for Ginseng Sullivan so much, but this version I'll make an exception for. We then lift approaching a Rift. The set is closed with a top shelf Antelope. This is a song that I have gotten a bit gotten tired of thru the years. Which of course doesn't mean that I don't want to hear it again, but I do feel that the versions being played these days are not as heavily rehearsed as they once were. 8/20/93 is a great example of an Antelope that is a well oiled machine rather than an off the cuff improvisational piece. A superb, well presented first set.

2001 starts off the second set. Always a great way to start a second set. They go into Slave to the Traffic Light, which looking back on it is kind of early in the set for a Slave, in a way. I like it. Into SOAM, killer! At the time this might have been my favorite song of the show, I now understood. Squirming Coil was next; a little early in the set for Squirming Coil? I like it. The first part of the Page solo at the end is accompanied by the rest of the boys. Did I mention that Page McConnell is on fire this show? My Friend, My Friend is acoustic which always sounds good at Red Rocks. Into a summer tour Chalk Dust Torture. Old reliable, a great rendition. You Enjoy Myself. This is one of the songs I really wanted to hear (who doesn’t like a YEM?) and they did not disappoint. The jam at the end starts quiet and easy then begins to speed into a hard rockin’ jam. This is a very memorable YEM for me. Next was Purple Rain with Fishman’s Mom on the vacuum. I had no idea they even did this song before. This is tied with 12/30/93 for my favorite version. I would give birth to a massive stiffy if they ever bought this song back. They finish the set with Cavern. It just makes sense.

The encore starts with Mango Song. I really like this song, especially the studio version. It’s a song inspired by the glory that is the food service business. Still, nothing beats a really good cook. At this point I love to hear any song off the first four Electra studio albums. This song can be a little rocky. Sometime I think the vocal harmonization of the song can throw off the instrumentation. But this version is really good! The encore is finished with Free Bird. Ahhhhh.

This is a show I will never forget. Filled with some oldies but goodies that they don’t play these days. Get it, get it, get it!

Summer of 98! What a great tour. I remember checking out the setlists every night and thinking to myself “Holy Shit! They played Ramble On!”, “Oh my god! They played Sabatoge!”, “ What the fuck! They played Terrapin!” Needless to say, I was very excited to catch my little run of shows which consisted of Star Lake, Vernon Downs (La Grange!) and The Lemonwheel. None of those shows disappointed in the least. Funny little story…my friend Justin dropped acid and drove a van filled with 10 of us up to Lemonwheel right after the Vernon Downs show. Drove the whole night. I remember him telling me his idea earlier in the day and making sure that I didn’t mention it to anyone. If anyone could do it, Justin could. I actually slept quite well on the trip up.

Well then, on to The Gorge! You know when a show opens up with Makisupa you’re in for a treat. The entire first set is perfect (although not really a fan of Waste…perfect time for a bathroom break!). It’s even more perfect when you imagine the setting of the show. One of the most amazing venues on the planet, the sun setting, smiles all around and the best band in the world to play soundtrack to it all. Love the video of Gumbo, I wish there was more crowd shots. Look at all those dreads! Where did they all go?! I always feel really embarrassed for myself when I see videos of people dancing at Phish shows. Uhgg. Anyway, this version of 2001 is the reason why 2001 is a top 5 Phish song for me. Or...WAS a top 5 Phish song for me. I could listen to this forever. Love the HEAVY Mike’s with Trey doing his chunky guitar playing. They have total patience during this Mike’s and just go for it. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. It doesn’t have to always work. I wish they would let loose like this again. I guess they still do but…you know what I mean. Such a SUPER fun ‘Paug to follow and no Simple? I sounded to me like Simple was gonna be the middle of this sandwich. The fact that there isn’t something inside this sandwich is another reason why this set is great. I have to say that I don’t really like Character Zero. It can totally rock balls at the end and all but I’ve seen it too many times and I fucking hate it. There, I said it. It’s the song that follows me around. PYITE is a great encore. I prefer it here than at the beginning of a show. Then there’s the Rocky Top. Isn’t it said that you know it’s a great show if they do a Rocky Top encore? I would say that this Rocky Top was well deserved and placed.

BB

Jibboo Crew

There's always a little extra scrutiny that gets paid to officially released shows, especially when they get the super-deluxe treatment the way that 11/20-21/98 did. For my money, it's not really hard to see why this run got the official treatment - the shows are tons of fun to listen to, clearly meant to be events (why else bring in a Giant Country Horn or do the big Tubthumping fooferaw on Night 2?), and still manage to throw in enough musicality to satisfy the die-hards. I've always thought @waxbanks was a tad harsh in his mini-reviews; sure, I'd take 11/22/97 over either of these in half a second, but the nice thing is that you don't have to make that choice, AND there are certainly some tasty musical jams for people that want Fishman to take that stupid Viking helmet off and the band to get down to the Type II already.

Set I is a nice set-up to the run, with some cool covers (I really enjoy Rock & Roll Part 2 for some reason), a dark-as-night Stash, and a host of energy. Set II, though, is where the real meat lies. A really great Gin opens things up, never straying outside the original melody but doing some really cool things within it (Trey's mellifluous soloing is a real treat), leading to a wicked-fast and woefully short Piper, taken at '95-level intensity. The Gettin' Jiggy Wit It is probably my favorite Fish moment ever, made the more fun because this time we don't have to take the song seriously (Trey and Mike laughing through their "na na na" backups is a hoot). Hood takes things down to a nice and mellow level after the composed sections (Page's twinkling notes are a highlight), and then Zero/Cavern close things out on a rocking high. Not an all-time classic set or anything, but fun to blast in the car on a summer day.

Night 2's the better night musically, I'd say, but this show is great fun to listen to. Give that Gin a listen at the least, as well as GJWI if you enjoy a good chuckle during your Phish time.

Check out photos from the show ATL Trey with Symphony show:

http://tinyurl.com/6waaspt

To my ears, this Mike's Groove is start-to-finish as impressive as 11/22/97 II or any other 45 minute stretch of tunes on this tour. Excellent version of Ghost as well. The rest of the show is average/great Phish.

Been meaning to get to this review a long time ago. I can hardly remember this show now being 15 years ago.

The scene was serene, and immediately sublime and keen.
I had never experienced so many smiling faces at a concert before. As this was my first I had my brain dosed with Phish for the 8 days leading up to it. Non-stop school across the country. So I had my early favorites. What is ironic is how your taste changes over time.

After this show I was a huge fan of Free and Caspian. Almost like the catchy pop hit that you can't get out of your head. Not even realizing that in my very first show I get a Theme and a Fluffhead and a Tweezer and Antelope in the same show. On paper this show should be considered epic. But frankly I remember Red Rocks in the proceeding days a lot better. And I was on more drugs at the time.

First Phish show for myself and all I wanted to hear was David Bowie. Wouldn't you know it, Phish opened with Bowie and I obviously was hooked for life!!!!!!! Can't really remember much else, but I found the second set Weekapaug to be excellent after re-listening to recently.

Adam