It’s Friday again, and that means we are one week, and ten jams, closer to Summer 2010. Expect an announcement sometime next week after Mike wraps up his mini-run this weekend. And look for some of Mike’s solo shows in this weekend’s post. Until then, allow these ten jams to float you through your Friday. As usual, the orange song titles are also download links.
***
“2001” 8.16.98 III
This super-sized “2001” kicked off Phish’s final set in Limestone in ’98; the proverbial cherry on top of an incredible summer tour. before turning to other festival sites in 1999. In a summer defined by oversized funk grooves, this space odyssey put a proper exclamation point on one of the band’s historic weekends in Maine.
***
“Crosseyed > Antelope” 11.2.96 II
This must-hear, classic sequence began Phish’s post-Halloween transformation to groove. Karl Perazzo stayed on through the Florida run, helping the band along their increasingly percussive path.
***
“Reba” 6.23.95 I
This summer “Reba” moves from playful to triumphant, while stopping a few places along the way; another quintessential piece from the stellar summer of ’95.
***
Let’s fast-forward a bit to 2003’s three-night stand at Deer Creek. After a fairly mediocre opening show, the band came bank firing on night two. This swampy, set-opening segment of post-hiatus psychedelia immediately stood out as a tour highlight.
***
“Birds of a Feather” 7.23.99 II
This exploratory adventure at Polaris followed up the bombastic combo of “Ghost > Free,” contributing to one of Summer ’99’s strongest sets. This version mingles amongst the strongest versions of the song ever played. Likening a mythical battle, one can hear the distinct moment the troops declare victory.
***
“Tweezer > Makisupa” 10.22.95 II
This “Tweezer” brings a nasty session of groove, home-delivered from the balls-out tour of Fall of ’95. Playing with an edge on this slammin’ edition, the band brings this jam to an early peak before deconstructing it into an dynamic and engaging piece of improv. Seamlessly moving into “Makisupa,” this selection is excerpted from a phenomenal set in Champaign, IL.
***
“Piper” 10.2.99 II
A standout ’99 “Piper,” this version from the Target Center set its controls for the heart of the sun right from the start. Careening through musical-space-time with breakneck speed, the band unleashed a blistering collective performance that sounds like it might burst at the seams. Trey, specifically, slaughters this entire jam, eventually bringing the multi-faceted piece into sparser, more percussive territory.
***
“Harry Hood” 10.7.95 II
This delicate masterpiece from the Spokane Opera House settles in near silence before the band takes slowly takes the piece for a heavenly ride. Moving meticulously through the piece, Phish gathered for so much steam that they sidestepped the final verse, sustaining the climax of the song into glowing sphere of energy.
