With summer on our minds this week with the announcement of Summer 20011 Leg I, this Friday we focus on Summer tour from fourteen years ago—1997. Phish had just returned from Europe, where they funked out every song imaginable, beginning to hone their new playing style. When the pulled into Virginia Beach on July 21 to kick off their US tour, they were a well-oiled groove machine that was ready for business. Here are some of my favorites selections from a transformative summer tour that criss-crossed the nation.
This is, perhaps, the most liquid “Gumbo” ever played, including some of the danciest music of the summer and a legitimate nod to “Franklin’s Tower” towards the end of the jam. My personal favorite, I don’t think any version even approaches this one.
This version from Darien Lake gets my vote for the “Hood” of Summer ’97—and there were more than a few gems. And that is not even considering the sublime jam that oozed from the song’s peak; some of the most intricate interplay you’ll ever hear.
One of only two “Tweezers” in a massive US tour (the other came at The Gorge), this version dropped on the final day of tour in the Great Went’s afternoon set.
With summer on our minds this week with the announcement of Summer 20011 Leg I, this Friday we focus on Summer tour from fourteen years ago—1997. Phish had just returned from Europe, where they funked out every song imaginable, beginning to hone their new playing style. When the pulled into Virginia Beach on July …
Continuing our Friday focus on one era in particular, today we turn to Fall ’97. I tried to assemble a playlist without going for many of the big guns, but some slipped through the cracks. Happy Friday!
A classic, “Crosseyed”-laced version, that never gets old.
Continuing our Friday focus on one era in particular, today we turn to Fall ’97. I tried to assemble a playlist without going for many of the big guns, but some slipped through the cracks. Happy Friday! *** “Stash” 11.13.97 II The opener of the second set of tour in Las Vegas, and a piece …
Continuing our run through Decembers of legend, today I am re-posting an article originally published on December 11, 2008, called “Two Anniversaries.” Discussed are the insane shows of 12.11.97 in Rochester and 12.11.99 in Philadelphia. Had I more time, the article might as well have been called “Three Anniversaries” and included the Phish’s top-shelf stop at Portland, Maine’s Cumberland County Civic Center on the same day in 1995. Audio highlights from all three standout 12.11’s are included below in “Saturday Jams.” (Click show dates for direct download, torrent and grab a 12.11 remaster below the setlists.)
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“Two Anniversaries”
Today we find ourselves on the anniversary of a couple very Phishy shows. In addition to the Cumberland County ’95 show, this date brought two monsters in 1997 and in 1999. These two nights in Rochester and Philly were both instant fan favorites of their respective tours, and both are vibrant illustrations of where the band stood at that time. Happy 12.11!
12.11.97 War Memorial Auditorium, Rochester, New York (SBD)
First, let’s circle back to a cold and dreary winter day December 1997. Phish was on the brink of finishing their now legendary fall tour. On the heels of a monumental Midwestern weekend and a stop at State College, Phish pulled into the Rochester’s War Memorial Auditorium, a room that hosted the Grateful Dead on several occasions. The show proved to fall right in line with Fall ’97’s colossal outings featuring one of the best second sets of the month.
11.24.09 (C.Garber)
The night opened up with the energetic three-song combo of “Punch, Disease > Maze.” “Punch,” one of the great openers in the band’s catalog, set the table on this night for a phenomenal “Down With Disease.” Within this upper-echelon excursion, Phish tore apart the song’s thematic jam for ten minutes before slowing down into syrupy rhythms that quickly brought the music to a far deeper place. From this juncture forwards, it grew quite apparent that Phish was tapped into greater energies on this evening. As the piece developed, Trey began to solo with a menacing musical scowl while the band dropped into a dripping groove around him. This now-famous “Disease” became a significant tour highlight mere minutes into the first set. Phish flicked the switch on early in the night, and it remained locked in position for the duration of the evening.
Phish brought “Disease’s” delicate dance patterns to a slow and winding close, as they seamlessly morphed into “Maze.” Bringing maniacal madness into the mix, Phish took the energy already in the room, and channeled it directly into their harrowing improv, creating a forty-minute set-opening segment that jumped off the stage and directly down the throats of the audience. Allowing little time for warm up, the band reserved their mellower moments for the end of the set, decelerating with “Dirt, “Limb by Limb” and “Loving Cup” before closing with an out of place “Rocky Top.”
This mind-bending improvisation continued throughout the standout second set. Phish quickly upped the ante with a twenty-minute “Drowned” opener that immediately sat among the heaviest, most creative, and darkest slices of psychedelia dropped during the tour. After jump-starting the show in shredding fashion, the band put the pedal back to the metal as soon as set two began. About halfway through “Drowned,” the band gradually moved away from the song structure into original improv. Moving from uptempo ferocity into slow and murky textures, this jaunt, all of a sudden, became a lot more interesting. For the duration of the piece, the band explored eerie musical planes with the patience and precision of a surgeon, methodically juxtaposing the two halves of the jam. As Trey layered infectious licks over a thickening groove, this jam soon tramsformed into an ambient affair with loops and effects galore.
Bittersweet Motel DVD
In a now-famous moment, this standout jam wove its way into the debut of Ween’s “Roses Are Free,” a performance made famous by the documentary, Bittersweet Motel. While few were familiar with the song on this evening, all would come to know it as sacred ground come Nassau merely four months from this debut. The ending riff to the song proved a perfect launching point for the rare “Big Black Furry Creatures From Mars.” The lights went dark with white strobes, and the band dove into the quirky Phish-metal. Trey ran laps around the stage amidst the maddening music, lending a deranged and tone to the already standout show. A version that lasted eight minutes, full of dissonant build and distorted climax, this was not your average “BBFCFM!” As if the band had gone temporarily insane, the asylum’s soundtrack morphed into an excessively slow and heavy groove, not unlike the ending of “Axilla.” Painting a sinister musical backdrop, Phish reveled in pushing the crowd to the brink. After a two-minute ending of beatless distortion, the band dropped into a perfectly placed funk-relief in “Ghost.”
Giving the crowd exactly what they needed, this “Ghost” leaped onto the top shelf of all-star versions in a standout year for the song. Providing the show with a much needed release of flowing Phish grooves, the band took liberty in precisely ripping the only “Fall ’97 funk jam” of the night – another factor that made Rochester so unique. A seamless “Disease Reprise” emerged out of this multi-dimensional odyssey, artistically closing the musical ideas sparked at the beginning of the show, and bringing the evening full circle.
I: Punch You in the Eye > Down With Disease > Maze, Dirt, Limb By Limb, Loving Cup, Rocky Top
II: Drowned > Roses Are Free* > Big Black Furry Creature From Mars > Ghost > Down With Disease (Reprise) > Johnny B. Goode
When Phish came back to The Spectrum for the second consecutive night in December ’99, they had a little redeeming to do. After a botched transition from “Have Mercy” back into “David Bowie” the night before, the band bailed on the idea in full and awkwardly moved into a Fishman interlude of “Cracklin’ Rosie,” all but killing the momentum of the set. The band stumbled to the finish line with low-energy versions of “Twist” and “Waste,” but what a difference a night can make!
1999’s version of December 11 presented, arguably, Phish’s strongest outing of their climactic December 1999 tour. Opening with “Harry Hood” for the first time in almost ten years (1.20.90), the twenty-minute version let everyone know they we were in for a treat! Expecting a breather to follow the intense “Hood,” Phish brought “Mike’s Groove” – ya’ gotta’ love it! Giving the “Groove” full treatment, the band migrated from the evil soup into “Simple” then “Hydrogen” before closing the segment with a smoking “Weekapaug.” After a reflective moment in “When the Circus Come to Town,” Phish leapt into Gordon’s rarity, “Scent of a Mule”- all in the first set! The Spectrum buzzed loudly during setbreak with the feeling that set two would be extraordinary. And it was.
In one of the tightest sets of 1999, Phish destroyed their classic Philly haunt with a frame of celebratory segues and pure dance madness. If you liked to move at Phish shows, then “Sally > Ghost > 2001 > Disease” provided the perfect soundtrack. Packed to the hilt with dense Phish grooves and a complex ambient build before “2001,” this sequence stood on par with any music that reared its head in ’99. “Ghost” and “2001” were both top-notch versions, and the latter space odyssey spun The Spectrum with the ease of Medowlark Lemons, Spaldings and “Sweet Georgia Brown.” The entire segment totaled 55 minutes of pure Phish crack; one of those unquestionably special sets that everyone agreed upon when it ended.
An incredibly well played show comprised of almost all improvisation, December 11, 1999 was an unforgettable night. One can hear the crowd roaring on the tapes, responding to the full-on Phish carpet bombing all night long. A night of beauty in a the City of Brotherly Love, December 11 brought, perhaps, Phish’s greatest performance in The Spectrum (with 12.15.95 as the only contender).
I: Harry Hood, Mike’s Song > Simple > I Am Hydrogen > Weekapaug Groove, When the Circus Comes, Scent of a Mule, Cavern
II: Boogie On Reggae Woman , Sneakin’ Sally Through the Alley > Ghost > Also Sprach Zarathustra > Down with Disease
Continuing our run through Decembers of legend, today I am re-posting an article originally published on December 11, 2008, called “Two Anniversaries.” Discussed are the insane shows of 12.11.97 in Rochester and 12.11.99 in Philadelphia. Had I more time, the article might as well have been called “Three Anniversaries” and included the Phish’s top-shelf stop …
This weekend, I am featuring two shows from the game-changing tour of Europe Summer ’97. Fully realizing their transformation to groove, Phish explored slow, funky realms throughout the beginning of summer. Warming up to the point of sizzling over the course of a 19 show European tour, Phish then turned their attention stateside for one of the most beloved summer runs. Starting in Virgina Beach and ending in Limestone, Summer ’97 was a special era of Phish. But the excellence we witnessed throughout the U.S. had its foundation in Phish’s European vacations in winter and summer. These two nights represent explorations of the new style, with funk galore and a whole lot more. These Europe ’97 shows are very underexposed, in general, containing many a night glossed over. These are two of those nights.
DOWNLOADS OF THE WEEKEND: This weekend, I am featuring two shows from the game-changing tour of Europe Summer ’97. Fully realizing their transformation to groove, Phish explored slow, funky realms throughout the beginning of summer. Warming up to the point of sizzling over the course of a 19 show European tour, Phish then turned their …
The day had finally come. We hadn’t seen the band for six months- six months that had changed everything- and we had finally made it. We were in Virginia Beach, and it was July 21st! It was here. After waiting over half a year that seemed more like an eternity, we would finally see what this new funk was all about! Unless you were lucky enough to make it to Europe earlier in 1997, you were in the same boat- fiending for Phish and more curious than ever.
After finishing off 1996 with a smoking New Years Run, peaking at the Fleet Center amidst unreasonably cold temperatures in Boston, the band disappeared from the American scene. Only two months later they were off on their first of two European tours before we’d have a chance to see them in the states again*. Their twelve-show winter run continued the transformation to groove-based playing that had begun during the second half of Fall ’96. And once we got a hold of that 2.17 Amsterdam tape, we knew something special was going on. That “Disease” slowed down into some thick music we’d never heard before- and then segued into a dark, new song called “Lucy Had A Lumpy Head”- who was this band?! This was different music than we heard in Boston- that was for sure- and it was very engaging! Phish went on to play their infamous Markthalle show captured on Slip, Stitch, and Pass, but at the time, that Amsterdam tape was all anyone could talk about. *(Phish did play a small benefit in Burlington on 3.17)
6.19.97 Vienna, Austria
We got some of the other winter tapes as well, and then we waited. The band took off across the pond once again in June- this time armed with an array of new songs that spilled out quickly over their first two nights in Dublin. “Ghost,” “Twist,” “Limb By Limb,” “Dogs Stole Things,” “Piper,” “I Saw It Again,” “Oblivious Fool,” “Vultures,” “Velvet Sea,” “Water In the Sky”- and come Virginia Beach, most of us had never heard them! These were not the days of instant uploads and digital Phish; the tapers were all in Europe. With only ten days separating the last European show and Virginia Beach, most of us didn’t have time for a blanks and postage deal.
(R. Bleckman)
But while we weren’t getting Phish music instantly online, it was around this time that Phish internet space- and the internet in general- began to catch fire. On message boards and over email, we heard stories about twenty-minute funk jams played really, really slow; about this new song called “Ghost” that was all the rage; about bass led grooves coming from everywhere! But they were just stories. With each passing day and setlist, excitement amongst fans grew exponentially. After six and a half months of no Phish coupled with tales of legendary jams, our imaginations were about to burst- we couldn’t wait any longer. And we didn’t have to, because the day had arrived.
The Gorge ’97 (J.Schwartz)
When we got into the amphitheatre, the energy was palpable as the entire crowd seemed to be on the verge of explosion. How long would we have to wait before we heard all these new songs? As a rainbow appeared over the lawn, breaking the day’s inclement weather, Phish stepped on stage with the first stateside drop into “Ghost.” The music felt immediately addictive- its deep bass and slow grooves coursing through your veins. It was a new high you’d never felt before- and Wow!- it felt good. You had to dance, no matter how awkward it might have looked; this shit was funky! And as the band entered the jam, we experienced the first gooey excursion of what would be a stellar summer tour.
Following up with “Dogs,” “Piper,” and “Dirt,” the band was as eager to introduce their new material as we were to hear it. When listening to just the abbreviated version of “Piper,” you could feel the magic in that song from day one. And finally, to welcome everyone to their US Summer Tour, Phish ripped apart a funktatstic “Bathtub Gin” that saw Trey jokingly chant “USA! USA! USA!” at the end. Spirits were soaring; the band was as ecstatic to start a long US tour as we were, and a new era had truly begun.
Perhaps the greatest version of “You Enjoy Myself” from Fall ’97, this one will get anyone’s head bobbing. Coming in a show opening combo of “Curtain > YEM” to begin Worcester’s three-night stand, Phish got the party started right. While not necessarily a dark-horse, a run through the SBD of this impeccable jam brightens any day. With a fierce and funk-laced “Crosseyed” segment, this one is a keeper.
Keeping with the early-era soundboard trend of yesterday, here we have one of the greatest shows from the hallowed Spring of ’92. This Binghamton show was an analog staple back in the day, with a SBD source that circulated early on. In a show strewn with highlights, the “Antelope” stands out as one of the greatest early-90′s versions. The first set is absolutely flawless, and set two isn’t far behind. Enjoy this gem!
I: Wilson, Reba, Brother, Glide, Rift, Fluffhead, Maze, Lizards, Mound, Run Like an Antelope
II: Mike’s Song > I Am Hydrogen > Weekapaug Groove, Sanity, The Sloth, The Mango Song, Cavern, Uncle Pen, Harry Hood, Terrapin*, Possum
E: Lawn Boy, Fire
* Trey explains “Secret Language” before “Possum”
The day had finally come. We hadn’t seen the band for six months- six months that had changed everything- and we had finally made it. We were in Virginia Beach, and it was July 21st! It was here. After waiting over half a year that seemed more like an eternity, we would finally see what …
