This show wasn't the train wreck the previous reviewer claims it was. Well, the second set did get real silly. I enjoyed the first set a lot, specifically Birds through Loving Cup. As we know, Jibboo can really go to fantastic places, but in 99-00, they were beating us over the head with it on a near nightly basis. This one is weak. The Bowie was pretty nice, but before long, "Bob Weaver" was actin a serious fool on stage. It is fun, but will not translate all these years later into anything worth listening to. I look at it like I got to see a vacuum solo live and it would actually be the only time (I think). So for that I look back at this show feeling ok about it. Twist-Waste is slow, dark, and typical of a somewhat lazy jam by the band from this period and their insistence on trying to close out a set with a mellow tune. Especially in Philly, that doesn't go over so well (see 7/3/00 and 7/30/03 encore). Ride Captain Ride was really cool, actually, and well-received. All in all, this was a pretty typical show from this period. High expectations, that were not totally met, but everyone still had a good time. It also showed that when they play Philly, one night usually kicks the other night's ass on the run...for example...11/24/09 over 11/25/09, 7/31/03 over 7/30/03 and imo 7/3/00 over 7/4/00.. This is the show that got its ass kicked by 12/11/99.

My first time in Philly except for hitting the airport back in the early 90's. The venue is huge IMO, seems like a MSG the way the seats and the crowd responds to Phish in a bigger arena scene. SET ONE- Tweezer, continues to have no boundaries and continues to keep the energy alive like they did in the early 90's. Bouncing was next, a rather nice tune and always allowing a good early break for the band to save energy for whats to come, Horn > Heavy Things and Dog Stole Things, eh, Three songs which IMO are just average, not to much coming from these Three. My Minds got a Mind of it's own, My first time hearing this somewhat blue grass, ditty. Roggae > Birds, Guyute, Loving Cup. Good way to end the First Set, I really enjoy Roggae it trances the masses and seems like Phish is continuing to pump out Story of the Ghost as they did for a majority of songs in Albany about a few months ago.
SET TWO- I'm Calling Bowie, Jibboo, nice tune nothing to fancy just average Studio Farmhouse here, Wedge, love the intro with fish on the drums keeping the echoing rhythm, always enjoyable, then my Bowie, This David Bowie was special, continued into a Phish 2.0 Jam. Have Mercy > HYHU > ROsie, Wow! Fishman on Vocals, Fishman going nuts, this is classic Phish. Twist held energy what was not lacking, to close the show, Waste. Not a bad song, just took away the pumping energy of Phila. Encore- Ride Captain Ride, The energy was restored. Good solid Phish 99 show, Keep em coming and ask yourself what will be played next.

The Tweezer opener is worth a listen just to note the similarities to the Cypress version. The band seems to hit the snooze button for the rest of the 1st set.

Jibboo 2nd set opener is OK but nothing special.
Bowie has a nice segue into Have Mercy but outside of that it lacks fire.
Rosie was a treat with Fish running laps around the stage and if you listen really closely you can make that out from the AUD.
I think the band finally woke up for Twist because it seems like the only song for which they are all synced up.

The Ride Captain Ride encore really got the crowd back into it after the Waste lullaby S2 closer.

On a positive note, the band played better than I could have and without a doubt this is the best show they have ever played on 12/10/99.

after portland i wasnt expecting much ...i had a feeling this stand would open up w/Tweezer since Tweeprise closed out the CCCC ..besides this Tweezer this set isnt a keeper..
2nd set was a struggle as well,trey kept stopping to wipe his nose every 20 seconds,the Bowie->Mercy->Fish antics were fun...and closing w/Twist,Waste..worst show of tour!

Ok, so I'm jaded rating this show so high... because it was my first show. Prior to this I had declined a ticket to see them in Albany; the 20 minute blocks of noise my college roommate played just didn't make sense to me yet. It sounded more like the blurry gray haze of old analog channel 3, then of musical magic. But a road trip to Philly? Sure, I was down to give them a shot... and I never looked back.

I've never successfully found a copy of this show, so I'm yet to relive and digest the performance, but from what I remember it was the atmosphere that changed me and my music interests forever.

The lot scene. Wooks. Shakedown. Everyone cheering, dancing, before the lights even went down. The vibe was amazing. The playfulness of the band during Fishman's vac solo with the BAH cymbals, sprinting in circles around the stage.

The funk. The soaring jams. It all finally made sense.