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I have always maintained that the best nights happen on the 30th. New Year’s Eve is too fleeting, once it’s over, it’s over. 12.29 could make a strong argument for best musical night ever given its history, but there is something about the 30th– the night before New Year’s. Often reserved for darker shows, leaving the happy stuff for the 31st, Phish loved this date. As we head into the end of the year, let’s listen to some great 12.30’s.! (’92 and ’93 are already on the site! Use the Search Bar)
12.30.94 MSG, NYC < LINK
The band’s first visit to Madison Square Garden came on the 30th. Following a torrential year of touring, the band soared into their New Year’s Run only three weeks after finishing fall tour. Big versions of YEM, “Tweezer” and “Harry Hood” carry the second set of a show that had a tough act to follow in 12.29.94’s Providence show.
I: Wilson > Rift, AC/DC Bag, Sparkle, Simple, Stash, Fee> Scent of a Mule, Cavern
II: Sample in a Jar, Poor Heart > Tweezer, I’m Blue I’m Lonesome*, You Enjoy Myself, Purple Rain > HYHU, Harry Hood, Tweezer Reprise
E: Frankenstein
*Acoustic.
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12.30.95 MSG, NYC < LINK
For the second year in a row, Phish found themselves at MSG for the 30th; this time for a two-night stand into 1996. This year’s version of 12.30 was a stellar show with two sets of chock-full Phish. An early show “2001 > Suzy > David Bowie” got things spinning fast, while “It’s Ice > Kung > It’s Ice” continued the dark path. The second set was a keeper, with in my opinion, the most magnificent “Harry Hood” ever holding it down.
I: Prince Caspian > Also Sprach Zarathustra > Suzy Greenberg > David Bowie, Simple, It’s Ice > Kung > It’s Ice, TMWSIY > Avenu Malkenu > TMWSIY, The Divided Sky, Sample in a Jar
II: Ya Mar*, Free, Harry Hood > AC/DC Bag, Lifeboy, Scent of a Mule, Cavern, Run Like An Antelope
E: A Day in the Life
*With “Auld Lang Syne” tease.
***
12.30.96 Fleet Center, Boston MA < LINK
Another great 12.30 effort, featuring two full sets of great Phish. A quality “Reba” and “Theme” in set one made way for a “Timber Ho” opener is set two and the then rare “Guyute” moving right into a big “Tweezer.” A Slave put a cap on another great 30th.
I: Ya Mar, The Sloth, Llama, Gumbo, Reba, Talk*, Funky Bitch**, Theme From the Bottom, Good Times Bad Times
II: Timber (Jerry), Uncle Pen, AC/DC Bag, Guyute, Tweezer > Lifeboy, Scent of a Mule#, Slave to the Traffic Light
E: Possum
*With Trey on acoustic guitar. **The PA cuts out. The band continues playing for a few minutes while it is reconnected and end up miming playing. #Comedian Steven Wright came out and rang a bell twice.
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VIDEO OF THE WEEKEND:
“Tweezer” 12.30.94 MSG Pt.1
“Tweezer” Pt.2
“Tweezer” Pt.3
