Hard to believe it has been almost 6 years since I saw the boys in Hampton for my very first show. Didn't know what to expect, but looking back on it I don't think I realized how big the hype was to this late addition show in the Summer of '04. For one, it was their "last tour" and it was The Mothership. It was, and still is, one of the most Phistoric and Phishiest venues they play at. The experience of the show at the time was unlike anything I had seen. One of the most disappointing things now though is how much this show gets hated on by everybody, or at least forgotten. I have heard everything at Hampton (minus the post hiatus '03 run) and understand how read icculusly sick they all pretty much were, but if you go back and listen to this show, I think you'd enjoy it and give it some credit, at least for the first set. The one thing, listen to the second set first, and the first set second. It seems to me that they mixed up the sets because the first set is all jamming, and the second is more like what you'd expect a typical Phish first set to be. The Chalk Dust opener went for 20+ minutes, and gets Type II around the 7 or 8 minute mark. The play between all four members is just beautiful. Page and Trey are going note for note, and Mike and Fish hold down the backbeat perfectly. Probably the most underrated jam of '04/post hiatus #1. The 20+ minute Gin that follows gets off to a slow start, but really starts picking up when the jamming happens. Another Type II, it gets really good after 9 minutes, and Trey starts killing it a few minutes later. Gin segues into a short but sweet Runaway Jim before they start Walls of the Cave. This might be the best version they have done in the short history of the tune, but the jamming is really amazing, especially Trey, who is ripping at the peak of the jam. Loving Cup was a good high energy close to the set, well played, and a good fit to the rocking first set. The second is where people start to really hate on this show. All of These Dreams got the set off to a slow mellow start, followed by solid but standard versions of Limb by Limb and Lifeboy. Crowd Control was uninteresting, but a good song and short. The Seven Below went on for about 15 minutes, and had some goods moments in the jam until Trey had some tech problems. An unusually uneventful Stash followed, which seagued into the always fun NICU. A standard Bug slowed it down again, before Contact. I had never heard the song at the time, but I am big fan of the tune now. Just makes you feel good. Never really liked Character Zero, but it's a pretty rocking version to close out the set. The David Bowie encore was awesome. I think it was like the 2nd ever or something. This one might be my favorite version of the song. It rocks hard. To wrap, the guys played great all night, and the energy from the crowd was there especially in the first set, but the second set just got too mellow, and that's what killed the energy and led to a disappointing show overall for some. But I loved it when I saw it, and I think it gets better ever time you hear it. Only if they played the mellowed out second set in the first, and the jammed out first set second, and kept that Bowie encore, we might be talking about this show as the best of '04, and another classic night at The Mothership.

Clearly this is a show where context makes a huge impact on how it is experienced. For many whose first listening exposure was in the context of Phish's imminent (or recent) retirement, the ugly side of grief undoubtedly filtered their perceptions. Even outside that context, it would understandably be a letdown to attend a show where the first set was loaded with raging improv but set 2 was a patchwork of mostly mellow songs + even mellower jams.

On the other hand, it's an entirely different experience to give the show a fresh listen long after the band's triumphant 2009 return. All in all, it's not a spectacular show, but the highlights (especially set 1) are well worth hearing.

The opening Chalkdust has been appropriately praised - it's huge! The structured portion of the song is plenty intense, and the lengthy jam is both focused and exploratory. A bit of a hiccup transitioning to the reprise chorus is readily forgiven, as this 21-minute behemoth crunches to a satisfying finish. Bathtub Gin is another improvisational monster in the 20-minute realm, but mostly rumbles heavily through the murk with dark and edgy vamping before unexpectedly coalescing into Runaway Jim. The transition serves as an inspiring springboard to an energetic and modestly explored Jim. Walls Of the Cave is the 3rd 20-minute epic of the set, and the closing jam absolutely bursts at the seams with intensity - especially aggressive guitar work from Trey. Loving Cup is a typically strong version to end an above-average 1st set.

The ballads to start Set 2 are a well-executed trio, and Lifeboy in particular is imbued with extra emotion. Not much of a jam to Limby Limb. Crowd Control is scarcely noticeable in its brevity and indifferent execution. Seven Below begins a short and reflective jam sequence, dissipating into an airy space that is interrupted by Trey's praising his guitar tech Brian Brown. Stash is uncharacteristically introspective, with quiet and sinister exploration that skips the customary finish and winds into NICU instead. Solid enough NICU, with heavy-handed repetitive chords deliberately replacing "Leo"'s usual nimble-fingered solo. Bug is a very strong version, delivered with extra gusto. Contact is tightly executed, and noteworthy for Little Drummer Boy jamlet at the end - which becomes progressively more twisted before rumbling into a typically hard-charging Character Zero. Bowie encore is definitely a satisfactory version.

worst show i ever saw, you could tell it was time for the boys to take a break

:You know things are amiss when the first set contains only five songs:
-From Above-
that may be the dumbest statement ive heard in along time!!!

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drove down from ct.w/long time tOOr friend.

set one was actually pretty good
Rocking Chalkdust to open the set,Bathtub->Runaway Jim was fun..i thought the roof was gonna explode during Walls.Lovin'cup was a great way to close the set...2nd set,couldnt tell you what the hell happened,or what the hell went on backstage at setbreak,but this was the roughest set i think ive ever experienced..the frustration on the band memebers faces is something i wont forget.contact was fitting since,we did go out to our car to find out that it was towed!

This is in my top 5 worst shows that I have seen live. It may even take the top spot... at least as I sit here today, and reflect (8 years later), it was the only time the band's actual "playing of music" ruined a show for me. So depressing to do at Hampton of all places.

This was not a stellar night for the band. You know things are amiss when the first set contains only five songs. Impending doom was the theme of the evening. I did, however, enjoy Contact. Give this one a listen, and I believe you will find many painful moments. I had more fun in the hotel room after the show.

:You know things are amiss when the first set contains only five songs:
-From Above-
that may be the dumbest statement ive heard in along time!!!

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Proper punctuation and capitalization are your friends.

I'll take the 5 song 11-23-1997 Set II over this Set I.

Decide for yourself:
Set I: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7VquBxKRJQ
Set II: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrWnr3eCWCA

thx to ThePhishJams

This show gets hated on for its slow 2nd set and even I admit it isnt a strong overall show.

the first set is very strong. A bit short but 5 very strong songs. I missed chalkdust but heard it was the song of the night besides the bowie encore. The Gin was very strong I did make it in for this and good Runaway. WOTC was a top version and always good to see loving cup in a diff spot the the encore spot (i think we all can agree). The 2nd set starts off slow and makes me wish they wouldve taken 2 slow songs and put WOTC and Gin in the 2nd set. If they did that I bet this show would have better flow.

But Its the only Lifeboy I've ever had and that song is awesome as well as only AOTD. The NICU>Bug>Contact made up for the slow start. And i still feel in NICU page has one of his strongiest wail outs as we all know page always does well in the jamming and techincal side but he really shreds this song almost like a heavy guitar. and yes Zero and Bowie are amazing too.

so even tho the show was not the best. It had strong moments and the Little Lamb tease was tight

This has the distinction of being one of the worst regarded Phish shows of all time. For that reason I think it should be on every fan's "must hear" list. I myself am definitely a fan of some of the more blurry passages.

Set 1.

chalk dust: fluent and high energy. a blast right off the bat. this jam begins hot, meanders and slides around for a while and eventually starts to break through to deep space. Unfortunately, the ending is botched during the transition to bathtub, and it turns into a sloppy outro.

bathtub: a seriously fuckin rockin intro, a monster slop-fest from the get-go, page tears this song to shreds, as trey rocks against the current for a while, and its as though he is just slapping his guitar to a violent rhythm; a strained uphill battle. Meanwhile, mike and fish keep the jam from decaying and maintain the flow coherent. the jam segment struggled to dissolve into type II status (to me), and it hovers at verge of breaking through, a true struggle from start to finish.

jim: a surprisingly smooth transition from the flailing bathtub jam. from head to toe a solid and short jim.

walls: one of my personal fav versions, of one my personal fav songs. it staggers and stumbles along, with an exceptionally eerie beat (even for walls standards). the second jam segment gets intense and culminates into an enormous slap to the face. the intensity wavers and slips around through the cosmos and, for me, becomes a lucid experience.

cup: a nice tight cutesy bow to wrap this beautiful pile of slop.

set 1 tl;dr:
the meat and potatoes; chalk dust, bathtub, and walls are a sloppy heaping pile of transcendent jamming, with a loving cup filler tossed in to please the masses.

I took a 7.5 hour train ride from NYC to get to the show. Nothing doing but the 1st set. I was glad I was able to take a 1 hour plane ride to Boston the next day. Great Woods was lots of fun!