Another underrated albeit concise show from Fall '98. Ghost is solid in the first set, and SOAMule is amazing and is deservedly on the Jamming Chart. LxL is pretty great too, though concise -- check out the Taste tease 8 minutes in -- and La Grange has only been played twice since this night.

The 2O Jim doesn't go deep, but the ensuing Stash is great and should be heard. There are definitely some shades of August '93 in this version, but it's clearly '98 Phish. The rest of the set is straightforward, and the whole show is on the short side (at 2h15m it's the shortest show of the tour), but the jam out of Velvet Sea is beautiful and atypical and must be heard! It's like a sneak preview of the last bit of patient, beautiful jamming from the Bethel Waves soundcheck (5/26/11). The Rocky Top encore is fitting, and another reminder of how thoughtful this band is. Is this a 4 star show? No. But it's better than a 3 star show, and unfortunately there are no half stars to give.

My first show. Arrived 30 min before showtime. Had no idea what I was getting into.

Pre-show thoughts: I hope they play Free., Why are all these people in the parking lot?, I should have gotten here earlier. Why hasn't anyone told me about this?, Where do these people come from?, Am I smelling what I think I am smelling?

Thoughts during show: What the hell is this?, Is he in a dress?, Is he wearing a helmet with horns on it?, These people dance weird, That guy is going to fall over from spinning around that many times. This is my new favorite song, Nope, THIS is my new favorite song, Are they playing a ZZ TOP song?, ROCKY TOP!, They sang the third verse that nobody ever sings!

Post show thoughts: I have to tell everyone about these guys, When can I see them again, This might be what my life is about now.

Thoughts now (2018): I wish I had a time machine, I have been to better shows, but this one was a great introduction, I will probably never see them in a venue that small again, That show changed my life in a wonderful way.

A sleeper show outweighed by monster fall 98 shows (Salt Lake and Cincy as examples) before and (Hampton and Wooster) after. I attended a couple of years of college in the 80s at MTSU and it was my first visit to Murfreesboro in several years. I was excited to go back there after my long cross country drive from Park City to do the Cincy>Mboro>SC>NC>Hampton run and actually ended up skipping SC and NC b/c of some truck trouble but made Hampton (WHEW!)

My Friend opener was great--loved it having that open that show at a place I used to go to school with--ran into many old phriends there and the last concert I had seen there was REM back in the 80s--felt like an old friend. Don't remember much of the first set after Driver b/c my buddy that rode with me had a really strange ride on his sillycybins. Took me a few songs to talk him down--that really made me miss the good old ROCK MED on the west coast but he chilled out and I got to rocking again during Roggae. La Grange was a grand first set closer.

Second set started strong with Jim>Stash, Mikes but I was growing weary of Simple out of Mikes and Velvet sea was a downer to me (ha! but not a trip ender!) Loving Cup>Weekapaug brought the missing energy back and Rocky Top in my home state of course was completely fun.

Everyshow can't be EPIC but almost any show is GOOD PHUN. This one was just plain GOOD PHUN.

Well, this seems to me to be one of the few shows relegated to a lower league after the tour was over. I was there, too, I mean, I enjoyed a good amount of it- but the previous show i saw was their ATL Summer '98 show which was better. And before that was ATL '97. So, that was my knowledge and understanding of what a Phish show is. My first two shows (11/6/96, not a great show except to me and prob some others; then 7/23/97 was my 2nd show. So, i was played some of the greatest real soon, in my own opinion and in the entire phish opinion anus).
This show at a cool place I'd never seen a show at, even though I grew up for 30 years in Chattanooga, just 1:45 mins away. The venue was round and felt small once inside, awaiting your legs to actually do some dancin'. I never danced. Unless hammered. I wasn't hammered. I was only on some weed. I went full L ahead at my first show and after constant listening knew i didn't want to see them again on L. I used that drug to go do all sorts of stuff on- a rollerhockey rec league game down south in Chattanooga. HEY WE HAVEN'T HAD A YEAR ROUND ICE RINK SINCE THE MID 70'S! AND THE DAMN CHOO-CHOO TRAIN DOESN'T EVEN TRANSPORT THE PUBLIC ANYMORE! The Chattanooga Choo Choo. Pardon me, y'all. But come down this summer. It's a nice town.
This show though, is allright because phish is able to really put in an above average or higher show night after night, so it's like ranking which Trey composition is best. This show was enjoyed by me while I was there more that at any other time.
I was happy to see a song from a 1.0 show i attended put on soundboard mixed release- the Mule here. Which is a good one, but the Velvet Sea is just more unique and even the longest one ever.
EDIT- Phish released the 7/23/97 show!! I just learned that one. Thank you very much. I work with folks with disabilities and one thing auds don't have is that warm big bass that autistic kids enjoy. Shit, my brother danced when Breath & Burnin rotated on the other day, just cuz it's an album version in this case, but somethin off Live in Amsterdam would do it.

After the show the MFMF, Ghost, Driver. Limb By Limb was real cool to hear since it was so new. And the powered up La Grange!!

The second set was fun too! Listen to the Velvet Sea! The Stash isn't terrible, and go send Keven a message to please put the Mike's Groove from 11/6/96 on the next Bunny broadcast or official release!! It's amazing music.
Again, thank you Phish. And thank you even more phish dot net.
See ya on the beach in Jersey ahaahaa!

A chill show. Nothing must hear. Set I has an ok Ghost and a long SOAMule. La Grange closer is a nice treat for the people at the show.

Set II Stash jamming is interesting. I didn't see an annotation for a Landlady tease I heard in the Stash. Standard Mike's. Weekapaug is solid. A bit funky at times.

rocky top encore in tenn. loved it.

rocky top encore in tenn. loved it.

SET 1:

My Friend, My Friend: Good opener. Two nights in a row though that has deviated from this tour’s show opening norm of a face melting rager to begin the show.

Ghost: Trey rock god clinic and then about three or so minutes of the funk with Page paving the road. I love this Ghost, always have. How it’s not a jamcharts version is beyond me. >

Driver: Funny banter – Driver of Fishman’s Head, thought better of it – then Trey mutters almost under his breath Driver of Horns (Fish’s viking helmet?) - and a standard version.

Scent of a Mule: Not a fan of this tune but this one I am. Great Page section, really engaging.

Cavern: Standard. >

Limb By Limb: Very strong, plenty of trilling. Trey and Fish just own it. Would recommend!

Roggae: Standard. >

La Grange: Trey showing off those chops, but something is a little off in heading back into the closing lyrics.

SET 2:

Runaway Jim: Great energy to open the second set, but standard as she goes. >

Stash: Fish and Page are great! Other than that, not much to say.

Mike's Song: Smokes, huge fan. Would recommend! >

Simple: Standard. >

Wading in the Velvet Sea: There is an outro jam tacked on to the end of this one that is absolutely ethereal. A must hear. Very similar to the ending of the 5.26.11 Waves soundcheck. >

Loving Cup: Standard face melter. >

Weekapaug Groove: Trey absolutely rips this to shreds, very impressive. Recommended.

ENCORE:

Rocky Top:

Summary: Shortest US show of the whole year clocking in at 2:15. Very strong first set anchored by Ghost, Scent, and Limb but has great filler in there too with the rare La Grange and the only My Friend of the tour. Second set is equally as strong with the Mike’s, Wading, Weekapaug and strong bookends. Rocky Top is a given and the crowd roars it’s approval. Phish.net is way, way off on this one as the current rating is 3.62/5 (92 ratings). I love this show and have always given it the dark horse nod. I would rate it as a 4/5.

Replay Value: Ghost, Scent of a Mule, Limb By Limb, Mike’s Song, Wading in the Velvet Sea, Weekapaug Groove