I want to thank projmersch for calling attention to the incredible Slave from 12/7/97. It's an amazing piece of music and I hope it gets an official nod. The jam is gorgeous and it builds so perfectly that it's hard to believe the music was improvised. ~The trick was to surrender to the flow~
Slave to the Traffic Light is a very special song. Nine years ago, this non-phan married a huge phan and many fights ensued over what music to listen to in the car. Then on the night of 12-19-08, Slave to the Traffic Light found me and changed my life for the better.
I remember the moment so clearly ~ hanging out at a friend's house after a Black Crowes show and getting distracted by the Slave jam from 12-07-97. Suddenly, it was just me and the music. I have no idea what my friends were talking about at the time. Slave was the only thing that mattered. And in that moment, I fell in love with Slave and fell in love with Phish. The next day, I took action and downloaded my very first Phish show. There has been musical harmony in the car ever since.
Fast forward to March 3, 2009, just a few days before the Hampton reunion shows (which I did not attend as a newbie), and Slave from 12-07-97 blessed me again. This time while listening to the song, I had a vision ~ I saw myself experiencing my first live Slave at Red Rocks, and it felt magical. I could go into a lot of incredible story details from here (the magic of Phish can create miracles), but suffice it to say~
1. I went to 5 shows in 2009 before Red Rocks and never got a Slave.
2. I was only able to get tickets and go to one Red Rocks show ~ 8/2/09.
3. I received unexpected money to make the trip possible at the last moment.
4. My dream came true.
5. I have never seen a crowd look so peaceful leaving a Phish show since that night.
So in my personal experience, Slave to the Traffic Light from 12-07-97 is magical.
Since Red Rocks, I was also present for Slave on 7/3/10 in Alpharetta (the long note ~ahhhh~) and 10/10/10 in Broomfield (simply incredible ~ what it felt like to surrender to the music and let it wash over me cannot be captured in words). I would agree that these are also excellent versions to listen to.
To round out my Top 5, I would add the Slave from A Live One, so Phish.net seems to have all of the bases covered (other than adding 12/07/97)!
Now off to download the versions I have not heard yet~
Until this gets completed, one for the "must hear" list is 12/07/97.
One for the history time line is 8/06/93 at the Peacock Pavilion at the Cincinnati Zoo. Hadn't been played for 241 shows. One of the few times where fans were predicting a "bust-out" and it happened.
Anyone who wants to hear the wooliest of Slaves would be wise to heed a previous commenter's advice and check out the 12/5/97 version which arises from an utterly insane 17 minute rendition of Julius and goes into a long What's The Use?-esque jam section which lands in Lizards instead of returning to the Slave ending.
It's amazing that Phish played this version of Slave two nights before Dayton's equally stellar yet completely different version.
Totally agree w/ you Nichobert...that is my all-time favorite Slave. I remem listening to the tape trapped in a delayed subway car in Brooklyn...haha....perfect.
Slave might be the band's most consistent composition. It rarely, if ever disappoints.
Reply
Posted by nichobert
Score: 0
Anyone who wants to hear the wooliest of Slaves would be wise to heed a previous commenter's advice and check out the 12/5/97 version which arises from an utterly insane 17 minute rendition of Julius and goes into a long What's The Use?-esque jam section which lands in Lizards instead of returning to the Slave ending.
It's amazing that Phish played this version of Slave two nights before Dayton's equally stellar yet completely different version.
Um, I'd like to also note aboot 12-5-97's Slave> Lizards.
An impressive piece of Sonic Youth-like noise from Trey in Slave. And anytime it segues into Lizards is pretty boss.
This is a really awesome version of the tune tho. Check it oooooooooot.
Performances
Song History
Score: 3
Slave to the Traffic Light is a very special song. Nine years ago, this non-phan married a huge phan and many fights ensued over what music to listen to in the car. Then on the night of 12-19-08, Slave to the Traffic Light found me and changed my life for the better.
I remember the moment so clearly ~ hanging out at a friend's house after a Black Crowes show and getting distracted by the Slave jam from 12-07-97. Suddenly, it was just me and the music. I have no idea what my friends were talking about at the time. Slave was the only thing that mattered. And in that moment, I fell in love with Slave and fell in love with Phish. The next day, I took action and downloaded my very first Phish show. There has been musical harmony in the car ever since.
Fast forward to March 3, 2009, just a few days before the Hampton reunion shows (which I did not attend as a newbie), and Slave from 12-07-97 blessed me again. This time while listening to the song, I had a vision ~ I saw myself experiencing my first live Slave at Red Rocks, and it felt magical. I could go into a lot of incredible story details from here (the magic of Phish can create miracles), but suffice it to say~
1. I went to 5 shows in 2009 before Red Rocks and never got a Slave.
2. I was only able to get tickets and go to one Red Rocks show ~ 8/2/09.
3. I received unexpected money to make the trip possible at the last moment.
4. My dream came true.
5. I have never seen a crowd look so peaceful leaving a Phish show since that night.
So in my personal experience, Slave to the Traffic Light from 12-07-97 is magical.
Since Red Rocks, I was also present for Slave on 7/3/10 in Alpharetta (the long note ~ahhhh~) and 10/10/10 in Broomfield (simply incredible ~ what it felt like to surrender to the music and let it wash over me cannot be captured in words). I would agree that these are also excellent versions to listen to.
To round out my Top 5, I would add the Slave from A Live One, so Phish.net seems to have all of the bases covered (other than adding 12/07/97)!
Now off to download the versions I have not heard yet~
Score: 2
Score: 1
One for the history time line is 8/06/93 at the Peacock Pavilion at the Cincinnati Zoo. Hadn't been played for 241 shows. One of the few times where fans were predicting a "bust-out" and it happened.
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@nichobert said:
Totally agree w/ you Nichobert...that is my all-time favorite Slave. I remem listening to the tape trapped in a delayed subway car in Brooklyn...haha....perfect.Slave might be the band's most consistent composition. It rarely, if ever disappoints.
Score: 0
It's amazing that Phish played this version of Slave two nights before Dayton's equally stellar yet completely different version.
Score: 0
but in all honesty is there really a bad Slave??
Score: 0
An impressive piece of Sonic Youth-like noise from Trey in Slave. And anytime it segues into Lizards is pretty boss.
This is a really awesome version of the tune tho. Check it oooooooooot.