MR. MINER'S PHISH THOUGHTS

With tour a week away, I wanted to write a note about some changes this summer. I have loved being a one-man newsreel for five years, cranking out pieces before going to sleep each and every night. I have loved the feedback from all Phish fans and I have always enjoyed the conversations that my reviews have sparked. However, I find this Summer Tour to be a good point of transition. As the band enters a new chapter in their 31st year, armed with an album of fresh material, I am going to step away from my at-all-costs commitment to reviewing every show.

This is not to say that I won’t be writing during tour, I almost certainly will. Maybe I’ll write on the off days, maybe I’ll write after some shows—I really don’t know. Because people have come to expect my reviews every day, I just wanted to put it out there before tour that I am not going to hold myself to writing after every show. Perhaps I’ll get bored without writing and I’ll switch back to my old routine. I just don’t know. I am also not positive that I will be at every show. I’m kind of playing this summer by ear. As always, thanks for reading along and I’ll see you out there.

With tour a week away, I wanted to write a note about some changes this summer. I have loved being a one-man newsreel for five years, cranking out pieces before going to sleep each and every night. I have loved the feedback from all Phish fans and I have always enjoyed the conversations that my …

A Change of Pace Read More »

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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“Ghost > Wilson” 12.5.97 I

Though many popular “Ghosts” on this tour overshadow this laid-back, show-opening version from Cleveland

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“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.

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“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.

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“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.

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“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.

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“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.

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 …

TTFF: Fall ’97 In the Shadows Read More »