TTFF: Fall ’97 In the Shadows
MSG 1997
With the release of Hampton/Winston-Salem ’97 this week, there has been a lot of Fall ’97 nostalgia within the community on the 14 year anniversary of the legendary tour. Fall ’97 boasts so many jams that are household names, that quite a few playlists could be made from well-known highlights alone. The following selections aren’t exactly diamonds in the rough, but probably don’t jump to the forefront of one’s mind when recollecting the tour. Enjoy these lesser-played gems from one of the band’s most creative tours in history as we are now within weeks of re-congregating at MSG!
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Though many popular “Ghosts” on this tour overshadow this laid-back, show-opening version from Cleveland.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/ph97-12-05.cmc621.fob_.d1t1.mp3,http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/ph97-12-05.cmc621.fob_.d1t2.mp3]***
“Timber -> Simple” 11.16.97 II
Having always lived in the shadow of the gargantuan show the following night, this jam and segue are spectacular.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Timber-Jerry.mp3,http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Simple.mp3]***
“Bathtub Gin -> Llama” 11.19.97 I
With such a monstrous second set in Champaign, many forget that the first was quite impressive as well, and here is one of its centerpieces.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/ph97-11-19d1t02.mp3,http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/ph97-11-19d1t03.mp3]***
“Stash > Hydrogen > Weekapaug” 12.9.97 I
This unorthodox combo came together quite nicely 14 years ago tonight at Penn State. This “Weekapaug” absolutely kills.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/ph1997-12-09d1t04.mp3,http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/ph1997-12-09d1t05.mp3,http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/ph1997-12-09d1t06.mp3]***
“Drowned > Roses Are Free” 12.11.97 II
A monstrous piece of psychedelia in “Drowned” led into the debut of “Roses” in Rochester, another stellar outing along the golden road of fall.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/ph1997-12-11d2t01.mp3,http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/ph1997-12-11d2t02.mp3]***
“Run Like An Antelope” 12.6.97 I
Phish applied the funk paradigm to just about everything at some point during Fall ’97. This “Antelope” was the second song of the epic outing at The Palace at Auburn Hills.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/02-Antelope.mp3] Tags: 1997, Jams, TTFF
Timber-Simple
I just like saying that. Yup Let’s start with this one!
Thanks for the jams Miner!
I know not everyone is a “loop” jam fan, but I just love it. Back in these days I recall so many WTF moments. It’s like this blanket of sound was being wrapped all over you. Sounds coming form everywhere. It adds so many layers to jams.
What was so great about Phish, back during this time, was that they could drop heavenly funk beats and create huge dance parties, then turn the page and drop an antelope that would melt your brain. You get the best of both worlds. Dance party marathons mixed with pyschadelic (sp?) freak out sessions. A perfect balance of face melting rock with a thunderous groove.
That’s why fall 97 gets my vote for favorite era.
LOVE loop jams….
First real snowfall this morning with juicy flakes. Driving in was like riving in lightspeed the way the flakes were coming at the headlights. Nothing sticking to the ground but the feel of Winter has reached us…hopefully it continues to fall when my lil one wakes…she’ll go bananas!
One of my favs and not just because its from my town, 12.11.97, from beginning to end. I count that show as one of my biggest mistakes, along with cypress, for not going!
You blew it bhizzle!!!! I was flipping out when they started playing Roses at that show. I am a huge Ween fan too and could not believe it.
Still making my way through the Hampton/Winston-Salem box set because I’m savoring these shows like a fine wine from ’97. What I loved about this tour then and listening back to it now is the way the cow funk would get you dancing, then they’d start to take the music out and & hypnotize you. Once they had you in the palm of their hands, they’d slowly build into the next song but take the long way to get there. Once they’d drop into the next song, you’d get the WTF just happened moment willowed speaks of. Faces were beaming after every show. What great memories….
Oh hey – I remastered a 11/16/97 AUD for Kaveh way back when, but didn’t make it a blog post because i felt the source was slightly sub-par for a remaster…lemme try to find that link
here it is
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=5G0DZZB3
Thanks for the tunes, @Miner! I enjoy listening back on winter runs the most , I think. Those jaunts up and down the east coast are some of the more memorable times from tour. The stress of school and finances, the pressure of finals, etc. and then BAM! Phish for three days. Rage. And then return to the churn…
Nice KP. I’ll check that out.
Have a great day everyone.
For Robear
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZNG802zfZ4
This Ghost is alright
Yes Phish yes, throw that swagger!!!!
Champaign should be a LP DL release IMO!
Shit smokes many ’97 shows
fuck fracking
11.17 – 11.23/97 is the greatest run of 5 shows in the bands history. Has to be, right?
Listened to all of Fall 97 over the last 3 weeks. I agree the Cleveland Ghost is overlooked. Hell of a way to drop the lights.
Also, in the FWIW category, check out this video of the Prague Ghost. If you haven’t seen this one, it’s worth checking out.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVNSHBiG4RE&feature=feedu
Palmer i was thinking the same. Although Miner made a great case for the best 7 consecutive shows being Island Tour + Copenhagen.
But for 5 shows over a stretch of a week??? forget about it
anytime MiA, just don’t get your hopes up. Haven’t heard it in a while and I’m sure it’s likely an upgrade to most folks, but if memory serves me the source itself isn’t great for a fall ’97 AUD.
RIP Lew Bush
Bush is the seventh player from the Chargers’ Super Bowl team who has died, according to The San Diego Union-Tribune. The others are: linebacker David Griggs (1995; car crash), running back Rodney Culver (1996; plane crash), linebacker Doug Miller (1998; struck by lightning), Curtis Whitley (2008; drug overdose), defensive lineman Chris Mims (2008; enlarged heart) and defensive lineman Shawn Lee (Feb. 26; cardiac arrest).
Is this a curse or what?
@kp
Are there a lot of good/great auds from fall 97? I never pulled the mega torrent or anything, but I find many of my sources to be just ok
KP – just recently spun all of Island>Copenhagen.
Very impressive run, the only thing that might get in the way of calling it the best week is the debut of all the new tunes in Copenhagen.
Definitely hot jams in Copenhagen though:
Disease, Moma, Tweezer>2001, Hood, Ghost (2), and the Weird YEM.
It almost sounds like that Timber just sneaks up on the crowd…
struck by lightning?
great set of tunes for this fine friday. thanks, miner
@Jtran
yeah there are some real tasty ones i think, and then some not so good. thank God they released Hampton in SBD because just about all the AUDs i’ve heard for those two shows are crap (probably due to what are supposedly bad acoustics at Hampton?).
anyway i’m thinking a reason i like the sound of ’97 AUDs was how sparse and tight their style was, as well as the tone of Trey and Mike.
one of these days i just need to do a full EQ / preamp cleanup of the whole tour since i’m pathetically unfamiliar with more than i should be…
there’s an AUD i have from either 12/29 or 12/30 that is one of the nicest of the whole tour….but of course those shows are also avail as SBD
Island Tour/Copenhagen doesn’t count when you have 3 months in between IMO, but a straight week of FIRE?!?! Well, that’s just the Bidness!