The Elite Eight
Updated Bracket (click to enlarge)
**********
**********
Sweet Sixteen Recap
Well…the Sweet Sixteen round didn’t provide the the type of high drama that was expected between such standout versions. In fact, only two matchups were even close. The one-four contest between Alpine ’98 and Magnaball provided the only real intrigue of the round, as the modern favorite jumped atop the score from the get go, looking as if it was going to blow out the top-seeded classic from Alpine Valley. Magnaball got complacent with its lead, however, letting up on defense and allowing Alpine back in the game. Magna played with a single digit lead for much of the second half, but Alpine was never able to draw even, falling to the 2015 standout by the final tally of 50-37. Alpine ’98 is the first number one seed to topple in the tournament, as Magnaball’s Tweezer advances on the strength of two separate, standout jam segments sandwiched around Prince Caspian.
The other close game came in second-seeded Lake Tahoe’s 13-vote victory over the third-seeded version from the Great Went. Though Tahoe had the higher seed due to its iconic status in modern Phish, the Great Went boasted supremely locked-in, one-minded playing, and grooves that are among the band’s best ever. This one could have gone either way and the result wouldn’t have been surprising. Tahoe, however, took an early lead, and despite a legitimate effort from the Went to make it competitive, coasted to an easy 51-38 victory.
All the other Sweet Sixteen matchups turned out to be blowouts. The most notable upset came in Hampton’s two-three game as Denver ’97’s groove clinic toppled the longest version of all-time in Mud Island by the score of 57-25. Many saw the hallmark Summer ’95 version as a final four contender, but its run ended in the round of sixteen as McNichols will now battle Raleigh ’99 in a marquee regional final.
Jones Beach’s magic finally ran out as the Summer ’95 beast fell to 1994’s first long-form Tweezer from the Bomb Factory. Jones Beach had gone on a late-season tear, winning its conference tournament and vaulting to a two-seed in Tweezer Madness, but the Bomb Factory ended its quest for glory in dominating fashion by the score of 58-24.
Second-seeded Lakewood ’00 easily ousted Christiana’s Grey Hall rendition from Europe ’98 by the score of 48-32. Christiana made a nice run in the tourney, making it to the second weekend as a six seed and garnering the respect it deserves, but Lakewood proved too much for the international version to handle.
The three other top-seeded versions rolled once again. The Palace crushed Camden ’99, 62-24, Raleigh ’99 smoked Hampton ’13 by the count of 60-24, and Nassau easily disposed of Tokyo 64-19. These number one seeds all look like favorites for the final four, and will look to continue their dominance in the round of eight.
Above is the Elite Eight vote. These games will run for 72 hours. May the strong survive!
**********
Elite Eight Breakdown
By Year
1994: 1
1997: 2
1999: 1
2000: 1
2003: 1
2013: 1
2015: 1
By Season
Spring: 1
Summer: 3
Fall: 2
Winter: 2
I like 12.16.99 to take it all
12.30.16 Ghost>Light — $$$+
Ghost>Light might be a great namesake for a band
the hardest pick for me is going to be Raleigh vs. Nassau. definitely two of my personal all time favorites- the winner of that match up is going to wind up the winner.
If Magnaball beats Tahoe, that’s a shame. What’s a Tweezerpants without her pants? just another pants-less wook on strutting around thinking she’s too cool.
I feel vindicated that Miner counts the post-Caspian part of the Magna Tweez
Take that, bingos
Tell ya what. Don’t sleep on that 12/16/99 Chalkdust. That birdies got wings.
Dude. I love Fishman’s beat laboratory in the Raleigh tweezer so much. It’s just so off the chain.
I feel like it’d feel weird for the Raleigh Tweezer to be the best of all Tweezers when it’s not even the best jam from that show
^
Same-zee’s for it’s opponent 11/17/97. Although, the Raleigh statement is surely questionable.
I also disagree with the Bomb Factory Tweezer. It’s more of a whole set than a jam. Anyway, it’s a sad day when that 98 masterpiece goes down to a half assed festival glory peak.
Listened to that Amsterdam Carini today. Sick sick jam out of the gates. Mad momentum from the nasty Disease jam. But the truly glorious part is the last few minutes. My god. The hose. Great choice by Shapiro.
Speaking of great choices, the new release sounds fantastic.
Really wish they still sold CDs. Yes, I am dumb as fuck. Can do mp3s if anybody’s holding. That’s the extent of my knowledge.
ATL 2000 has a tough draw, going up against the mighty Nassau. I’d take it over either ham in the Gorge region.
Raleigh Tweezer clearly the best jam of that show and miles beyond Denver ’97. Get your shit together people.
Bingos- I agree with you and the Bomb Factory being about the set. Outside of the Tweezerfest, the Loving Cup set opener is so slick and a cool move, Sparkle and Sparks, that Maki. Shit is so cool.
I can’t choose. I love the Hotlanta tweezer too much. Those 2000 soundscapes are what I prefer for total cosmic blast off.
But…..Nassau fucking tweezer, man.
Here’s the encore from last nights Trey show. Pretty cool seeing Page come out and join him. I’m hearing nothing but good things about Between me and my Mind. Can’t wait to see it.
https://youtu.be/EfbCgNCec3A
7/1/00 Ghost with this morning’s coffee and treats. Siren Serenade.
So much awesome
3/18/97 Ben and Jerry’s Hood. Masterpiece. 5 legal tenders
bAk3r – I’m grilling up the last of your phine phish today while spinning jams. Thank you once again for sharing.
From reading the recap it looks like the Manga Tweezer is being counted as the full Tweezer->Caspian?
I had assumed that Magna included both jams based on its #4 ranking, though I’ve always felt that this wouldn’t even be a discussion if it happened at a non-festival show. Instead, it always seems like an effort to speak a festival Tweezer jam into existence, which clearly has a much better ring to it than Tweezer>Caspian. I think that’s straight up revisionist Phishtory.
Final answer: Prince Caspian included Tweezer teases, as based on LivePhish and Phish.net interpretations. Or we can ignore the song played in the middle of the Tweezer jam.
This isn’t Nam. We have rules here. TweezerPants!
And we’re free of time