The Island Run: Providence

Exiting the Coliseum at Nassau and preparing for our trip north, spirits could not have been higher.  We were smack dab in the middle of some crazy-ass Phish, and we just left one of the most transcendent musical experiences of our lives.  The drive through the night to Rhode Island was fun and refreshing, trying to replay the nights events in our mind.  As The Beatles once sang, “It [was] all too much.”  The entire community was juiced after the first two episodes of The Island Run, and they brought every ounce of that juice up to New England.

4.4.98

phish-providence-4-4-98There was quite the scene outside the Civic Center on Saturday night, as fans congregated in the streets and lots surrounding the venue.  The hardest ticket of the four, many sought out extras to get themselves into what would surely be another outlandish event.  Never were you so sure that a show would blow up than this one on 4.4.98.  Following Nassau, everyone knew Phish were knee deep in IT, effortlessly creating masterful music.  Everyone wanted in, and those who found their way through the threshold were treated to a show they would never forget.

As many fans predicted from Nassau’s closing “Reprise,” the band opened up the Providence weekend with “Tweezer.”  But this was no standard “set-opening” jam, rather a deep exploration into the groove-based ethos of the song.  Complete with multiple improvisational segments, much like the Nassau “Mike’s” did, this “Tweezer” gave us the impression we were far into the show already.  Phish didn’t need to warm up  for these nights, they were feeling IT, they were living IT, they were IT.  As soon as the jam dropped, Mike led the band out of the gate in a patient opening before the band dove in earnestly.  What came out was a near twenty-minute groove-fest that sparked the Providence crowd, catching them up to what went down in Long Island.

Trey stepped in, providing guiding rhythm guitar patterns that framed the jam flawlessly.  This was one of those moments that I couldn’t help letting out a somewhat maniacal laugh while raging, just pondering the sheer absurdity of this colossal opener.  This jam existed as a measure of how balanced the band’s playing was at this time, with no one member dominating the textures, yet churning out amazing music like a machine.  Interestingly, Trey introduced a melody in this jam that he would toy with and carry throughout most jams in this show- a sort of themed lick for the evening.  (For those who care, it comes at about 12:25 on the SBD).  This “Tweezer” grew out of the funk and into its more climactic space.  Once the jam peaked, the band settled into some late ’97 stop/start solos before dripping into a smoking version of “Taste.”  Despite a nice “Limb by Limb,” the rest of the set was filled with fun, yet composed pieces.  The stage was set for what was sure to be an epic second half.

511609734_ae413fe390The buzz that had began in Nassau had traveled to Providence.  Setbreak had a tangible vibe of excitement as everyone knew that the second set would be epic- there was no doubt.  And everyone was right. The upcoming frame would be composed of some of Phish’s biggest songs, all magnified under the almighty lens of The Island Run.

They opened with the quickened drum beats of “Birds of a Feather,” and it took a moment to place the song, due to hearing it for the first time only two nights before.  They never repeated songs over four nights, so if Phish was opening this second set of this show with a song they debuted in Nassau, you knew there had to be a reason.  Over the course of the next 17 minutes, the reason became evident as the improvisational potential of “Birds” was wholly uncovered in a fiercely psychedelic odyssey.

Creating an intense jam that went beyond the typical aggressive rock rhythms of “Birds,” Phish engaged in some intergalactic communication, playing one of the definitive jams of the run.  As the band engaged in improv, it was as if they were collectively sailing the smooth strings of the universe, playing with no hesitation whatsoever.  About halfway through, when the band diverted their course into some chunky and locked music, effects were layered onto the jam and it adopted a certain outer-space quality.   Possibly foreshadowing the upcoming “2001,” it was at this point that Trey returned to his “4.4.98” melody, integrating it into this building jam artistically and with slower phrasing.  The band was passing musical ideas as easily as a spliff, tearing through sublime improvisational planes at a breakneck speed.  Gradually, they brought the music back to the song’s lyrical refrain, completing the high-speed chase through spacetime, and leaving the arena drenched in sonic residue.

1998-04-04gn2Yet, these residual textures soon developed into an intro to a larger-than-life “2001.”  As the band brewed their aural stew, the crowd was perched at the edge, waiting for Fish’s snare hit to transform the Civic Center into a space-aged dance hall.  And then it happened- the band entered the crack-groove as the lights dropped; only colored rays danced around the arena (see video below).  The grooves were straight slammin’; the band was subconscious yet again, effortlessly creating some of the best music of their career.  This “2001” doesn’t get mentioned nearly enough with top versions, but I would challenge anyone to find 20 more intense and  coherent minutes to ever come out of the song.  Sure, there are longer renditions (The Went, The Gorge), but they don’t hold up to the insane tightness and urgency of this version.  This was a perfect example of the band members playing as one entity- they may as well have had one brain- as they flew through grooves like never before.  Trey absolutely annihilated this jam with far more aggressive leads than usual for the song.

Ironically, one of the best versions of “2001” ever unveiled only moved through the theme once.  The band spent most all of their time improvising like never before.  The post-theme section of the jam was fairly succinct, as they created a sparser palate colored by Page’s Rhodes washes.  Cleverly, the band broke down the groove piece by piece, eventually landing in a vocal jam!?  Yes, this is how spontaneous the band felt during these nights, bringing one of their most intense jams to a quirky conclusion before Trey, in rhythm, strummed the beginning chords to “Brother!”

508818184_8994fa2000While most renditions of “Brother” focused on brain swelling intensity and seeing how far the music could be pushed before it imploded, this version grew quite differently.  Following the initial high-paced section, the band entered some surreal improvisation that brought the maniacal jam to a place of beauty with its odd time signature; like a ride on a psychedelic swing set.  Leaving the song far behind, this turned into a completely original jam, and one of the true highlights of the show.  Beauty and delicacy after such bombast lifted up people’s souls.   It’s hard to claim any band member “stood out” in such a collective effort; this was pure Phish, plain and simple.  Ending in cacophonous dissonance before returning to the song’s theme, this was a bona fide Phish adventure.

Following a second 15-second “radio friendly” version of “Brother,” Trey explained that the next song was “radio unfriendly” because it was “really long and really slow.”  Following the build-up, Phish dropped into the old-school opening of “Ghost,” automatically upping the ante of the set.  Often overlooked due to the plethora of stand-out “Ghosts” in this era, the Island version deserves its proper credit.  This 4.4 rendition didn’t focus on thick funk, but rather an eerie climbing melodic theme.  Ridiculously patient, the band allowed the jam to evolve organically, again complementing each other as if using ESP.  Latching onto each other’s phrases, and building the jam like a psychedelic construction crew, Phish built a swirling peak of harmonic melodies, seemingly levitating the venue.  Quickly popping from his plane, the band segued jokingly into the “Blues Brother’s” theme they had bust out during the 12.29.97, telling us they hadn’t forgot about those MSG shows either.

508843989_25d12a8c62Following the non-stop hour of intense psychedelia, the band used a Gamehendge centerpieces, “Lizards,” to provide for some breathing space and reflection.  As we tried to wrap our minds around the madness, Trey’s “If I Were a Dog” solo in the second part of the song gave every one the space to move inward.  This song couldn’t have been more randomly placed, and it couldn’t have been placed more perfectly.  Everything was clicking, we were fully immersed in Phish’s power.

This marathon set had to be coming to a close soon. And with the signature cymbal hits of “David Bowie,” we knew how things would wrap up- with another dark journey.  The entire set had an “unknown space-age” feel to it, with each jam more unique than the next.  This set created a powerful counterpart to the previous night’s in Nassau .  The band’s enthusiasm was indicative by the fact that every song in this set, with the exception of “Lizards,” extended beyond fifteen minutes.

“Bowie” was the ideal closer for this set of super-stardom.  The effortless quality of their jamming continued, quickly translating into a vintage version of the classic song.  In a set that favored darkness over light and madness over calm, “Bowie” served as the only fitting punctuation to the set. With the encore drop of “Harry Hood,” the crowd exalted in what was to come.  A twenty-minute pristine “Hood” put a sublime exclamation point to a night of menacing mania. It was crystal clear that Trey ‘s melodies were flowing directly from his soul as he gazed up into the rafters while losing himself in the music’s majesty.  Intricate and perfectly played from note one, this fantastic voyage landed us exactly where we needed to be.  As the poignant music washed over me, I felt so lucky to be there.  Not just “there” as in Providence, but “there” as in the era of the Phish.  As my mind spun with dizzying realizations and was flooded with sublime music, I felt an overwhelming sense of bliss and an appreciation for life in all its majesty.  I was alive, Phish was alive and things had, literally, never been better for me in my entire life.

“2001” 4.4.98

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You need to a flashplayer enabled browser to view this YouTube video

4.5.98

1998-04-05gnIt felt so strange to be entering the fourth show already; the first three blurred together like a dream.  Following up their “Tube,” “Mike’s” and “Tweezer” openers from the first three nights, the band raised the proverbial curtain with another huge bomb- “Oh Kee Pah > YEM.”  With everyone in the venue expecting a transition to “Suzy” or “Bag,” Phish surprised all with the opening to “You Enjoy Myself.”  Not only did the band open with “YEM,” they opened with one of the most defining “YEMs” of the late ’90s; the show’s highest highlight came right off the bat on this night!

With the dive into the jam, the Civic Center exploded.  Laying back and listening to his bandmates set up an insane groove, Trey entered the jam with a set of rhythm licks that could not have been conceived any better if composed.  This was some funky Phish music, far beyond a conventional “YEM’s” rhythmic patterns.  Subtly adding layers to the jam, the band set up Trey’s entrance.  Using the space perfectly, he brought some infectious rhythm playing to the onset of the jam, before his licks gave way to a sublime guitar narration.  Sounding as if telling a story to a group of children, Trey delicately accented his phrasings, lending emotional meaning to his notes.  If I were to pick one “YEM” to listen to for the rest of my life, this would be the one.  Yup, it’s that good.  It is so coherent and smoothness is surreal without being in your face.  There are so many distinct parts of the jam that we used to have own ideas on which part was the sickest, and the choices were manifold.  This was a huge highlight of the run.

862779724_8182271e4fA serene “Theme,” “McGrupp” combo brought the aqua blue lights out and chilled the arena with soothing songs before the next significant improvisational segment of “Bathtub Gin > Cities” took over.  While not incredibly extended, the “Gin” featured tight playing and a feel-good vibe that infused the audience.  The band’s methodical playing stood out during this jam which remained harnessed to the song’s melodic theme.  Yet, instead of returning to the original melody at end the song, Phish spent the last couple minutes of the jam improvising away from “Gin’s” structure, creating a funked out texture that seemed to be heading elsewhere.  Pretty quickly, Trey started slowly playing the chords of “Cities” over this canvas, and the band gradually all caught on, creating a less-than-perfect transition into the Talking Heads cover.  But once the opening groove hit, any small stumble was meaningless.  The composed section of the song featured many subtle improvised variations that always stood out so vividly in Phish songs.  Mike hits up a melodic bass line at the end of the jam that sounds like it belongs in a Wu-Tang verse; it’s quite nasty.  This wonderfully satiating dose of dance grooves absolutely hit the spot, as everyone wanted to hear “Cities” any time possible over ’97 and ’98.

“Sparkle” was the calm before the set-ending storm of “Split Open and Melt.”  A menacing jam saw the band play with the same effortlessness that had defined this entire run.  As if the instruments were playing them, there was no separation between thought and musical expression.  Basking in IT for four straight days, the band could do no wrong, regardless of what song they chose to play, and that is an absolutely literal statement.  There are simply no low-lights from the run, and this “Split” fit right into character. A ridiculously coherent jam, it is almost hard to distinguish any of the member’s playing as their musical offerings morphed into a complete whole; moving, twisting, and growing as one.

1874641252_ea3120c8f4When the lights came on after yet another absurd set, we looked at each other glowing, yet realizing there was only one set to go in this extraordinary place called “The Island Run.”  Yet savoring the moment, we tried to fathom what musical feats the band could possibly still pull out.  The last set grew in theme, favoring melody and triumph over rhythms and psychedelic dance music.  The set-opening “Disease” felt like a community celebration of all that had happened over these four nights.  Completely ripping joyful Phish rock carried the beginning of the set.  Yet, the jam grew dirtier for the second half, with the entire band crushing far more improvisational patterns.  This “Disease” moved from a gleeful stomp through the meadows to a brisk walk through the urban nighttime, growing in intrigue as it progressed.  Winding up in completely improvisational land, Phish finally left all traces of the song behind, creating an eerie canvas.  Just as we thought we might be heading way out into the stratosphere of psychedelia, the jam came to a natural end in silence.

Out of the silence came a change of vibe with the opening guitar chords of “Yamar.”  While this seemed like rather odd placement for the island cover, it kept the set moving along its upbeat theme.  Once the band entered the improv, this “Yamar” became magic.  Trey absolutely slaughtered this, playing lines as if they were coming off a record.  It was a joke; he was spewing gorgeous melodies as easily taking a pee.  Completely going off, Trey mesmerized the crowd, and his own band with his work.  Mike, Fish and Page quickly stepped out of the jam’s prominence, and then into silence, allowing Trey’s quiet solo melodies to take this version to the bank.  The whole arena was silent, listening to Trey play exactly what was in his heart at that moment of glory, his emotions to pour directly out though his guitar. The band emerged from the darkness with a stunning musical bliss, sounding like we were gradually headed for “Slave.”  The following portion of music is some of the most soulful of the weekend, as the band complemented each other subtly, flawlessly and beautifully.

2963669909_8b7183aff1This segment ended in some more solo playing by Trey that instead of leading into “Slave,” brought us into a classic second set “Prince Caspian.”  Love it, or hate it, late second set of a great show is when “Caspian” appears.  Bringing us childhood memories of Narnia, the band unleashed an awe-striking jam.  With stellar piano work by Page, classic Gordeaux bass lines, crashing cymbal work, and Trey wailing in a distorted tone, this wasn’t your every day “Caspian,” it was Island “Caspian;” there is a huge difference.

The rest of the set unfolded quite unexpectedly.  “Maze” thumped into play, seeming to not fit with the set’s or weekend’s feel, but Phish had a different plan; wanting to return to the funk, but in the Phishiest of ways.  Using “Maze” and “Possum,” two of the least funky songs in their repertoire, the band segued creatively into two last doses of dance music.  As “Maze” raged along as expected, the band used one of the “white-light crescendos” to smash into a bass-led song that was unrecognizable at first.  But as the band began to sing, it was apparent that they had re-arranged “Oblivious Fool” more than a little bit, transforming it into the bizarre and funky song we were seeing.  Even in the last minutes of their run, Phish was bubbling with tricks and energy.

Smack in the middle of what seemed to be a shredding set-ending “Possum,” the band pulled a similar stunt, transitioning on a dime into one of the most memorable jams of the weekend.  All off a sudden, Trey was tickling the crowd with his rhythm licks and the band cannon-balled into the jam with some the thickest funk of the weekend.  Trey summed up everyone’s feeling in his classic speech:

So it’s getting near the end of this little four day run. It’s been really fun, and its kind of weird having to stop after four days…And i started this little funk groove because we can’t end this whole thing without a little bit more funk, since that’s kinda been the theme.  So for those of you want to take off, take off, but for those of you who want to just dance to the funk, we’re gonna stay around and keep grooving.

4.3.98 (Joel Price)

4.3.98 (Joel Price)

Igniting the crowd to its highest possible point of energy, this banter will live eternally in Phish history.  The band proceeded to play the deepest funk of the weekend, cleverly building into “Cavern.”  Moving into the classic set-closer, the crowd was blindsided one last time, and roared in response.  Ending the run with possibly the Phishiest moment of the four nights, the bittersweet reality had come to light, the run was indeed over.

The Island Run remains a pinnacle of Phish’s career; a moment defined by such communal energy and enthusiasm, from the audience and band, alike.  The supreme magic of those nights remains a lingering mystery.  Never to be approached by another run for the rest of their career, these four nights were of another dimension.  The music created over those four nights is timeless, needing only a reference by song combos for everyone to understand what you are talking about. “Roses > Piper,” “Birds >2001 > Brother” “Oh Kee Pah > Yem,” “Wolfman’s > Sally,” Mike’s > My Old home Place,” “Gin > Cities,” “Disease > Yamar,” “Maze >Shafty”- you get the drift.  This was not everyday Phish; these were the best four consecutive shows ever played.  This was The Island Run.

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DOWNLOAD OF THE DAY:

4.25.92 Evergreen College Rec Center, Olympia, WA SBD 

phish-picture-of-nectar-tour-92Here we dip into the standout month of April ’92 when Phish visited Evergreen before their legendary Fall ’94 gig.  The setlist reads like a cannon of old-school Phish, and the second set is anchored by the “Bathtub Gin,” “YEM” combination.  A great SBD nugget for your Friday afternoon.  Enjoy!

I: Suzy Greenberg, My Friend My Friend, Paul and Silas, Reba, Brother, Tela, Chalk Dust Torture, Bouncing Around the Room, Rift, Magilla, Run Like an Antelope

II: Maze, Bathtub Gin, You Enjoy Myself, Silent in the Morning, All Things Reconsidered, Dinner and a Movie, Harry Hood, Weigh

E: Cold as Ice > Terrapin > Cold as Ice, Poor Heart

Tags: ,

98 Responses to “The Island Run: Providence”

  1. Jerrydamule Says:

    I’m outa Westchester, NY. 3/4/89 first show, got IT the night of 3/8/90… I figured no better way to celebrate my 20th than to get down at Hampton. I’ve seen some epics over the years 10/31/94, 96, 98… NYE runs 91, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 02… 4/3-4/98… RR 95, worcester turkey runs, festies… This site has been an excellent primer for v3.0, and I’ve learned so much regarding the juxtaposition of the pre and post “Halloween 96 > cowfunk” era. Mine’s, I’ve been digesting your posts carefully, student-athlete style. I promise to score an A+ on my Hampton boards. keep it coming!

  2. elbows Says:

    Hey Mr. Miner,

    If you’re reading…I requested a link to the ticket boards but never got a reply. Any way you could re-send it?

  3. Clod Says:

    Southern Vermont here. Been up and down Vermont since mid 80s. My first show was sometime at the Front in Burlington during the Fall 1989. I have tried to figure out which Front show i was, but even with help of setlists, I can’t pin it down. I do remember them throwing the different segments of Fluffhead all over the place ( a la Clod all by itself). After seeing them that the first time, it seemed like they were playing all the time at the Front – it was usually a “three night run” – one night of all ages and two nights of 21+. Luckily, it was an easy place to sneak into – I usually climbed the wall to adjoining bar’s outdoor patio – The Outback (25 cent drafts). It was hazy freshman year days at UVM. Since then, I have pretty much relegated myself to the Vermont (lets hear it for Sugarbush), NYC, Boston, Maine, Worcester, Albany shows with an occasional special treat such as sojourns to Halloweens, Deer Creek, Hampton and Vegas.

  4. dyda Says:

    as to the ongoing best-ever ‘roses’ question: big cypress version

    i wouldn’t try to put one above the other cause they’re both so good, but that’s another version worthy of note

  5. BingosBrother Says:

    @camman Had a dream last night they were playing The Fillmore. Great dream.

  6. Clod Says:

    As for the “Roses” discussion, my favorite part of Bittersweet Motel is when they transition from practicing “Roses” backstage into playing it life. It is a great snapshot into how a song gets introduced and the energy is spine tingling. I wish I could see Bittersweet (or It or Brooklyn or Walnut for that matter) in a movie theater again.

  7. camman Says:

    right on bingos!

    so who all is going to buy bonnaroo tickets tomorrow right off the bat?

  8. Mr.Miner Says:

    ticket exchange requests are dealt with a few times a day, you will get your invite if you sent the email. Sorry for the delay

  9. Asher Says:

    My geography:
    Philly > Boone,NC > Boston > Portland,OR
    First show 12-15-95 Philly Spectrum
    Last show 10-7-2000 Shoreline

    Miner, thanks for the Island Run recap. These shows represent the absolute best of what Phish is all about. 4-3-98 is also my favourite show of all time. If I could listen to one jam only for the rest of my life it would be that Roses. It really holds a special place for me. There were quite a few years after the 2000 hiatus where I didn’t listen to any Phish at all. I really thought I had completely moved on and been “cured”. When I heard that the Island shows had been officially released I found myself running out to the record store to purchase 4-3-98. Listening to the Roses jam brought it all back. I found I still knew every twist and turn of the music like it had been hard wired into my brain and was just sitting dormant for years. That got the ball rolling again and now look at me. I’m positively giddy about the prospect of that West Coast run!!! Bring It On!!

  10. JPhishman Says:

    I’m from Portland, OR. I grew up here and have returned after 8 years in Eugene going to school and generally enjoying my youth. So I guess it’s a Portland>Eugene>Portland sandwich for me.

    First Show: 7/12/2003 @ the Gorge was the life changer, I can’t wait to return to the scene of my baptism 6 years later and really feel the full circle effect. (Not in the same was that Trey felt it while botching The Curtain at…………

    Last Show: Coventry, I saw 10 shows in the 13 months from my discovery of Phish to their temporary demise. Can’t wait to get back on the road! My first show back with the boys will be the Fox! I can’t make it to Hampton but I sure as hell will be tying one on with my homies listening to the comeback show as soon as humanly possible!

    Phish Phish Phish Phish!!!

  11. hairy pood Says:

    so glad you posted the Evergreen show… what a gem… and it was right down the street from me. Too bad I was only 8 yrs old.

  12. Pencilneck Says:

    One month mofos! booyah!

  13. Asher Says:

    “Surrender To The Flow”, the magazine by Phish kidz for Phish kidz, is currently preparing a new issue for the upcoming Hampton shows. Help out by taking a short survey.

    http://fs7.formsite.com/STTFLOW/form440795824/index.html

    Thanks!!

  14. Mr.Miner Says:

    ^^ help out. This is done by a friend of mine; good peeps!

    (I also have an article in the upcoming issue. Look out for it @ Hampton.)

  15. Billy Breathes Says:

    Where’s Wax?

  16. jonathan Says:

    @ R1

    I’ll give you three reasons why I continue to mention David Hasselhoff in all my posts:

    1) Knight Rider – Best TV thriller ever
    2) Bay Watch – Best show that taught me life lessons!
    3) Hasselhof Live 96 – Best live album ever

    Just kidding guys. I am not quite sure why I mention Hasselhoff in all my posts. I guess it’s my schtick. I hope you all get a good laugh once and awhile. What’s the point of reading all this stuff it doesn’t spark some kind of a reaction?
    Not to mention he is 6 foot 4 and all man!

    I love you guys!!

  17. jonathan Says:

    @ bhizzle

    You know I never thought of that. It was eerily simiar to Dazed and Confused.
    When the Bentley vs. QU game ended, me and 2 of my buds jumped in the car and zipped in to R.I.

    As time went on I always wondered if I made the right call. After 4 years I left the team 3 days before Senior Day. My parents were so pissed.

    The Phish vs. College Lax career was a major debate in my house for many years to follow.

    I always go thru it by throwing on The Best of The Hoff Volme 12 and 17. Those albums can get you thru pretty much anything when you are feeling down. The trick is you can only listen to it on vinyl. The Hoff sounds so much better on vinyl!

    Later Fellas!!

  18. carl Says:

    elbows says: “the individual song is just a manifestation of the soul of the show. When you’re at a show like this, you will be surpised because they will bust into a song you don’t care for, like Caspian for me, but it fits so perfectly that you don’t even realize that usually you’d be going to the bathroom right now, and you rage hard, and time and song-names shrink away, and you hear each song for the note, not the title. These are always the best shows.”

    yes! IT is all about suddenly having NO IDEA where you are (& then… you’re on the back of the worm!) so many Phish tunes come with an expectation of where you’re going to go–the best jams take you someplace totally different. (this is why I love, say, the 10/15/98 Reba–not just no whistling… no fill, no climax. i wish phish felt more free to abandon the established forms of songs, just go out & never come back

    it will be so awesome to see them jam out on songs that had never previously been jam vehicles

  19. camman Says:

    ahh,

    I’m hoping a praying Roses makes a big comeback this tour…

  20. hawaii Says:

    I’m just waiting for a REAL island run!! 🙂

  21. showhe Says:

    Miner…thanks for today’s download of the day, I am thoroughly enjoying it!

  22. Chris notkuroda Says:

    I didn’t get a chance to respond, so here’s where I’m coming from. A point has been made here and several other places that we don’t go see Phish for the composed sections, we go for the improv. My problem with that is if I hear the first five minutes of YEM flubbed, it really kills my enthusiasm with the rest of the jam. I’m not pointing to this particular yem, but the last time I listened to the island tour(after the new release), I heard so many flubs I found it pretty offputting.
    @Selector, my favorite 4 night run was also Red Rocks 96. I don’t know if it was the best ever, but I was there, it was one of my peak musical experiences, and I think they played a lot better at those shows then the island run. I would say the only set that was below standards was the first set of the fourth night, plus they butchered Famous Mockingbird in the second set so that was disappointing(it was my first)If I had to say best ever(which is a pretty qualified opinion anyway) I would say NYE run 95.
    I respect the fact that the band became more loose and experimental after 97. But isn’t 98 around when they stopped practicing? Call me crazy, but I like to hear Phish play there songs as a tight cohesive unit, and then take the jams into the stratosphere. Which is what I think they did in 95. From 98 on, maybe due to lack of practice and drug use, the shows became all about the improv.
    Again, I think the shows were ok, I just don’t get the whole “best ever” label. If that was the peak of phish, I really wouldn’t be such a desperate fan.

  23. buddy Brown Says:

    alright, alright, alright… settle down best versions ever all at one show? take a breath, take it easy. that Birds is nice, but still just a hatched chick and to even begin to argue a single, top 2001 is remiss and NOT the point! However, that Twist and monster jam out of it still goes down monumentally along with the blatant Mind Left Body Jam before Frankie as some peak, all-time greatness. Providence is resposible for some monsters from the ’94 Bowie, ’95 Disease, and ’98 Twist to be SURE!

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