MR. MINER'S PHISH THOUGHTS

TTFF: Reader’s Picks—Alexander Papadonis

7.4.2012 Jones Beach (George Estreich)

All selections and text by Alexander Papadonis, aka @DryIceFactory

“Bathtub Gin” 6.28.00 II, Holmdel, NJ

From a consistency standpoint, 2000 might just be the best year for “Bathtub Gin.” Here’s my pick for the best one of the summer. Straight fire all throughout.

***

“Cities” 7.31.98 II, Columbus, OH

What would a @DryIceFactory playlist be without – what I would consider – the best version of “Cities” ever played? Bumping summer groove session gives way to supersonic Trey-shred. Must hear Phish from top to bottom.

***

“Sand” 6.11.11 I, Columbia, MD

Everyone loves to talk about the Portsmouth “Sand,” but does anyone else remember the Merriwether 1st setter that took place a week before? Trey absolutely attacks the Ocedoc in this version, masterfully creates some fierce tension and brings the jam to a head before moving into the ending. The highlight of a banging 1st set in an otherwise disappointing weekend in the Mid-Atlantic.

***

“Tweezer” 8.1.98 II, East Troy, WI

Musical perfection, a must-hear highlight from Alpine ’98.

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“David Bowie” 11.26.94 II, Minneapolis, MN

The Minneapolis “Bowie” absolutely, 100% set the blueprint for what took place in Providence one month later. You won’t convince me otherwise.

 ***

“Light” 10.26.10 II, Manchester, NH

Sometimes I feel like the only people who appreciate this show were the ones who were there. Phish absolutely clobbered a rather rowdy week-night crowd at Verizon Wireless Arena on a Tuesday in New Hampshire. This “Light” (complete with an Alumni Reprise jam) really hit the spot, and might not even be the highlight of the show for many.

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“Twist” 2.24.03 II

“Twist” is a jam that can go, literally, anywhere. This one takes a slow and steady course to Saturn.

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“Piper -> What’s The Use?” 9.11.00 II

Why not pair a scary “Twist,” with a scary Piper? The highlight of a great show at Great Woods.

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“Harry Hood” 9.11.99 II, George, WA

Phish slams the door shut on yet another fantastic set at The Gorge. The crowd roars in approval from the composed section all the way to the final peak. This “Hood” is a personal favorite and is underrated, must-hear Phish.

 ***

“YEM -> Manteca -> YEM” 12.31.10 II, MSG, NYC

What’s better than a “YEM” paired with “Manteca” antics?

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All selections and text by Alexander Papadonis, aka @DryIceFactory “Bathtub Gin” 6.28.00 II, Holmdel, NJ From a consistency standpoint, 2000 might just be the best year for “Bathtub Gin.” Here’s my pick for the best one of the summer. Straight fire all throughout. *** “Cities” 7.31.98 II, Columbus, OH What would a @DryIceFactory playlist be …

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TTFF: 1996—The Transitional Year

8.4.96 Red Rocks

Inspired by some recent banter in the Twittersphere…

“Wilson > Disease” 8.14 I, Hershey, PA

Right off the bat in Hershey, the band dropped this opening sequence

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“Mike’s > Lifeboy” 8.13 II, Noblesville, IN

An adventurous mid-’90s “Mike’s” in the yet-to-be developed Cornfields of Deer Creek.

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“Tweezer” 8.14 II, Hershey, PA

Legend has always said it that this Herhsey show before The Clifford Ball wasn’t so hot. I never understood that assessment. Here’s another reason why.

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“Mike’s Song” 10.29 II, Tallahassee, FL

A percussion-drenched “Houses in Motion” jam laces the latter part of this jam in the final show before their seminal “Remain In Light” Halloween set.

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“The Great Curve” 10.31 II, Atlanta, GA

Speaking of “Remain in Light,” I saw this Tweet yesterday and I immediately agreed.

RT @pfcidb: there’s greatcurve from halloween96, and then there’s every other attempt at covering the heads, ever. #facts

— YEMblog (@YEMblog) March 7, 2013

If you’re not familiar…

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“Crosseyed > Antelope” 11.2 II, West Palm Beach, FL

The band began to shape-shift on the first night after Halloween as Karl Perazzo stayed on tour for a few.

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“Tweezer” 11.11 II Grand Rapids, MI

A post-Halloween signpost on the long road to Cow Funk.

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“2001 > Llama” 12.6 I, Las Vegas, NV

One of the early, jammed-out versions from the final night of tour.

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“Tweezer” 12.1 II, Los Angeles, CA

Three “Tweezers” on Friday? I dig it. This is a monster from the tail end of Fall Tour.

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“Slave to the Traffic Light” 8.17 II, Plattsburgh, NY

An all-time classic.

Inspired by some recent banter in the Twittersphere… “Wilson > Disease” 8.14 I, Hershey, PA Right off the bat in Hershey, the band dropped this opening sequence *** “Mike’s > Lifeboy” 8.13 II, Noblesville, IN An adventurous mid-’90s “Mike’s” in the yet-to-be developed Cornfields of Deer Creek. *** “Tweezer” 8.14 II, Hershey, PA Legend has …

TTFF: 1996—The Transitional Year Read More »

TTFF: 50 and a Short Poll

12-28-12 (Graham Lucas)

Here are ten more jams/sequences—unranked—that take the next ten slots in 2012’s Top 50. Below, I threw in a random reader’s poll. Take a few seconds to weigh in on some Phishy questions.

“Tweezer” 8/26 II, Charlotte, NC

This jam could be ranked higher.

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“Back On the Train -> Hold Your Head Up” 6/28 II, Noblesville, IN

A rare move outside the lines of “BOTT” brought the show to outer space.

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“Disease > Sand -> Twist” 6/29 II, Noblesville, IN

This sequence felt like the start of a huge set.

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“Stash” 8/22 I, Kansas City, MO

A first set scorcher, one of the dark horse chunks of leg two.

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“Golden Age -> 2001” 6/30 II, East Troy, WI

A hearty dose of whole-band funk at Alpine.

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“Crosseyed > Slave” 6/16 II, Atlantic City, NJ

Solid Phish through and through.

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“Twist > Piper > Billy Breathes” 6/15 II, Atlantic City, NJ

A quality, mid-set chunk of 6/15’s second set.

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“Run Like an Antelope” 7/3 II, Wantagh, NY

A full-throttle run through the set closer

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“Drowned > 2001 > Reba” 6/17 II, Atlantic City, NJ

Another high-quality start of a set.

***

“Tweezer” 6/10 I, Manchester, TN

The Bonnaroo “Tweezer.” The best of Leg One.

 

Here are ten more jams/sequences—unranked—that take the next ten slots in 2012’s Top 50. Below, I threw in a random reader’s poll. Take a few seconds to weigh in on some Phishy questions. “Tweezer” 8/26 II, Charlotte, NC This jam could be ranked higher. *** “Back On the Train -> Hold Your Head Up” 6/28 …

TTFF: 50 and a Short Poll Read More »

TTFF: Rollin’ 40 Deep

8.28.2012 – Chaifetz Arena (Jeremy Renda)

Rounding out 2012’s Top 40…

40. “Sneakin’ Sally > Ghost” 7/6 II, Saratoga Springs, NY

The meat of SPAC’s first night, one of the strongest two-setters of Leg One.

***

39. “Piper” 9/2 II, Denver, CO

Dick’s “Piper” is short, sweet and to the point.

***

37. “Golden Age” 6/25 II, Atlanta, GA

A dirty, underrated jam of Leg Two.

 ***

36. “Down With Disease” 6/22 II, Cincinnati, OH

Before this jam was inexplicably lopped for “Guelah Papyrus,” it was all glory.

***

35. “Seven Below” 6/23 II, Burgettstown, PA

Though an afterthought to Star Lake’s massive “Mike’s Groove,” this jam is quite unique and noteworthy.

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34. “Twist” 7/4 II, Wantagh, NY

This mellow, ambient jam provided the improvisational centerpiece of July 4th.

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38. “Light” 6/16 II, Atlantic City, NJ

The band is totally hooked up in the first “Light” of the year, and it was laced with “Manteca.”

***

33. “Light” 7/8 II, Saratoga Springs, NY

A spectacular version which, in retrospect, I think is better than the “Piper” later in the set.

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32. “Golden Age > Prince Caspian” 9/1 II, Denver, CO

The beginning-of-the-set lead in to the Denver “Light” with smoking playing throughout.

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31. “Chalk Dust Torture > What’s the Use?” 8/25 II, Atlanta, GA

This outstanding “Chalk Dust” foreshadowed what would go down at Dick’s a week later. This jam certainly should have been in the previous ten jams if not higher.

Rounding out 2012’s Top 40… 40. “Sneakin’ Sally > Ghost” 7/6 II, Saratoga Springs, NY The meat of SPAC’s first night, one of the strongest two-setters of Leg One. *** 39. “Piper” 9/2 II, Denver, CO Dick’s “Piper” is short, sweet and to the point. *** 37. “Golden Age” 6/25 II, Atlanta, GA A dirty, …

TTFF: Rollin’ 40 Deep Read More »

TTFM: The Third Ten of 2012

12.28.12, MSG (Graham Lucas)

These jams are getting increasingly hard to put in any logical order, but the bottom line is that here we are with ten more very strong pieces of improv from 2012—and Friday I’ll lay down ten more.

30. “Sand -> Nellie Kane” 6/8 II, Worcester, MA

An experiment in fusing robo-funk with bluegrass results in some very melodic groove interplay that evokes the feeling of late-’70s Grateful Dead dance jams.

***

29. “Carini” 8/31 I, Denver, CO

This was the first sign that IT was going down at Dick’s.

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28. “Tweezer” 8/17 II, San Francisco, CA

The underrated “Tweezer” of the year moves from hard groove into filthy, storage-esque ambience.

***

27. “Ghost” 12/31 II, MSG, NY

Overshadowed by the golf gag, this “Ghost” is actually quite gorgeous.

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26. “Golden Age” 7/3 II, Wantagh, NY

Jones Beach’s “Golden Age” migrates into a final passage of downtempo, psych rock.

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25.  “Simple” 8/18 II, San Francisco, CA

An abstract and melodic excursion in Bay Area psychedelia; a severely underrated jam.

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24. “Wolfman’s Brother > LDB > Wolfman’s” 12.28 I, MSG, NY

Unconventional dance grooves merge with “Little Drummer Boy” tightly woven into pocket.

 ***

23. “Tweezer” 8.22 II, Kansas City, MO

A cathartic second set opener in the Heartland with quite the peak.

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22. “Piper” 7/8 II, Saratoga Springs, NY

This locked in version reprises the “Light” jam from earlier in the set.

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21. “Runaway Jim” 8/31 II, Denver, CO

Though not the most focused jam in the world, this “Jim” certainly hits some sweet spots along the way.

These jams are getting increasingly hard to put in any logical order, but the bottom line is that here we are with ten more very strong pieces of improv from 2012—and Friday I’ll lay down ten more. 30. “Sand -> Nellie Kane” 6/8 II, Worcester, MA An experiment in fusing robo-funk with bluegrass results in some very …

TTFM: The Third Ten of 2012 Read More »

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