From: Ethan White 
Subject: review, 5/16/95- Lowell, MA

Lowell 5/16/95 was a special benefit show.  And I do mean "special," 
because not only did they play this small venue, but they also 
debuted no less than TEN new songs.


This was a strange Phish show; there was just one extended set, the 
venue was small, and almost all of the songs were brand-spanking 
new.  Still, the crowd was very responsive.  Some of the new songs 
we havn't seen since, some only a few times, and a few have already 
become very well-known.  (i.e. Strange Design, Theme, Free, etc).  
Needless to say, the crowd really lost it when they started Reba- 
the first recognizable one in 5 songs.  
It is interseting to see how some of the new ones have evolved, 
especially Free.  Here the jam didn't really lead anywhere, but now 
some of the best jams are coming from it, IMHO.  Plus, I think Theme 
is improving with every play (Though I still hate that atonal 
"snakey" guitar riff).  Taste/Fog that Surrounds rounds out the best 
of the new songs.  
Looking forward to the new album!

Ethan
efwhite@amherst.edu
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5/16/95  Lowell Memorial Auditorium, Lowell, MA  (John Wood)

	Last night was my first "new home" show, as I just moved into
Lowell last week.  The Lowell Memorial Aud. was a nice 2900-seat theatre
with a roundish design not unlike Bailey Hall in Cornell. LOTS of security
last night.  You had to enter with bracelet and ticket, then be subject to
a metal detector search.  However, I thought everything was run quite
well, given the political nature of the event.   Had excellent seats --
10th row right side, and next to Mimi Fishman.:-)  We chatted quite a bit
during Jennifer Trynin's set, which was generally pointless, boring,
every-song-sounds-the-same noise.  Emergency Broadcast  Network was a
video presentation derived from lots of TV footage, with radical views on
the NRA & OJ thrown in.  While the videos were interesting, its programmed
music was a bit bombastic for my taste.  On another note, while there were
no bad incidents to my knowledge, Mrs. Fishman told me during the day that
there were a few Pro-Life protestors around Lowell in response to Gloria
Steinem.  She ended up not roaming the streets during the day, because she
was nervous of being confronted by those protestors.  But now to Vermont's
Phinest!  Phriends, they are going to kick *major* butt this Summer, as
they  premiered 9 new songs last night, 6 of them originals.  
	Here's the setlist as close as I can get to it, with big thanks to
Eric Simon for coming up with some of the titles. 5/15/95 - Phish @ Lowell
Memorial Auditorium, Lowell, MA.  Voters For Choice Benefit -- MC:  Gloria
Steinem
Don't You Want To Go (Gospel cover, by Missionary Sisters),Ha Ha
Ha(written by Fishman),Spock's Brain (officially untitled, Trey let the
audience vote on the title!), Dripping In This Strange Desire (pretty Page
Beatlesque ballad, also untitled), Reba	(no reprise, but smokin'!!), Theme
(spacy, untitled), Lonesome Cowboy Bill (Velvet Underground song sung by
Fishman), Free-> (this is going to be phantastic!  A new epic!), It's Time
(another spacy untitled tune), You Enjoy Myself (yeeee haaaa!! Great jam,
rusty intro), Amazing Grace (unmiked), Sample in a Jar

ENCORE:  I'll Come Running (Brian Eno song sung by Mike)-> Gloria (the
chorus only; for Gloria  Steinem, who re-entered the stage to applause and
hugged Trey)
	Nearly all the new material was way cool...these boys are not
selling out, as some of its influences ranged from Zappa to Pink Floyd to
Beatles (the Page ballad).  Definitely the smallest taping section since
Ottawa last year, but the tapes will surface.;-)  The band sounded very
tight and confident, with only very few rust spots on the intros of Reba &
You Enjoy Myself, but both smoked (and Reba had a few new spacy twists in
its jam).  I can't wait to hear "Free" and "Spock's Brain" again in
particular!  Get the tapes and get to know the material: In due time,
you'll be thankful for it!  Personally, I couldn't have asked for a better
"new home" show!:-)