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