From: Aaron Rumack INTSP96
Subject: review 12-16-95

Anyways, I have a review for you-Lake Placid,Ny 12-16-95.
What a show this was!
Set I opened with a basic Buried Alive but it was a greet choice for a 
opener.This then went into Ac/Dc Bag that was fantastic. I don't remember 
exactly the other songs from this first set but onto set II that was 
absolutely out of this world!!

Set II started off with a great Sample that bulit up tension that was 
released when it ended and Reba then popped up.This Reba was unlike any 
other that I've heard before-the tempo was so fast and then the jam 
came-unbelievable! They just kept bulding tension then releasing it over 
and over.Whew! Then they crept into Scent with the volume steadily 
increasing until it was overwhelming. The jam in the middle was fantastic 
with Trey and Page adding some vocals to the instruments. Cavern then 
exploded after this into what would be the cream of the night. Mike's 
Song jammed smoothly into a fine Simple that then transitioned flawlessly 
into the most incredible Weekapaug I've ever heard!! Trey jammed on his 
drum pad during the Weekapaug jam and then it got really spacy until the 
band went into the last song of the night-a Squirming Coil that just 
ended the night perfectly. The encore was a Fire that was also played 
rather well.

So here is a review that I hope you can use. I would also appreciate it 
if you could send a short reply to me so I can be sure that you got this.
My address is [email protected]

Thank You and I hope that you can use this!!


Sincerly, Aaron Rumack
          N. Andover,Mass.
------------------------------------------
Date: Mon, 3 Feb 1997 14:57:49 -0500 (EST)
From: Jonathan Epstein
Subject: 12/16/95

12/16/95 - Olympic Center, Lake Placid, NY

If any of you saw my review of the Providence show, you can tell I was
very disappointed and I was very skeptical of driving 4-5 hours in
horrible road conditions for this show, but I figured itd be worth it,
and sure enough...

Security was very cool. They were pretty much all on the floor just
keeping folks from sneaking on the floor. In fact those with tickets
for the floor had a separate entrance and got wristbands.
The venue itself reminded me a lot of Broome County Arena, though I
havent been there since 4/9/94, so correct me if Im wrong.

Set 1       
*****

I was psyched for the Buried alive opener. I knew this show would
excellent with that to open. And AC/DC canned any notion of
disappointment for me. I knew this would not be another Providence.
Great Taste/Fog. Ive heard this like 5-6 times this tour and this one
was one of the best. Yamar was solid. Trey got nice and quiet and the
band faded out and it was just Trey. Very nice. Sloth was a great
fucking call!! Definitely one of my favorite tunes. In fact it was the
first Phish song I ever heard and I've been hooked ever since. Divided
was very good. Much better than Prov. (but what isnt?) The 3 song (Dog
Faced, Julius, Suzy) closer was ok. Nothing outstanding. Page did a
cool synth solo during Suzy.

Set 2
*****
Sample opener was kind of weird. I just sort of shrugged and knew the       
next tune would be the real opener... Reba. Very good Reba. Got me
back into the show which was excellent so far. I've seen the same
Scent gimmick (Trey's Oteil solo) 4 time already and its getting kind
of old for me. It was cool at the Fox. Much better at Umass, but by
now Im ready for something else. Page won the duel anyways. I have
never been as psyched for Cavern as I was tonight!! Very rocking
Cavern. I love it when Trey doesnt sing the last word of the verse,
but just wails put a note on his guitar. Like "...you worthless swampy
(Waaah!!!! -- guitar screamer!!) " It makes for a very intense Cavern.
Check out 5/8/92 to see what I mean. If there has been one tune Ive
been dying to hear since the Fox it was Mike's. And sure enough, I got
it. (Mikes: 17 ; Bouncing: 17) I think this is my favorite to see
right now. Last year it was Harry, then Reba, now Mikes. Excellent
excellent Mikes. Very good jamming. Didnt lose the crowd at all (like
6/30/95 which is another excellent, yet meandering Mikes) then right
into Simple which was also excellent. The jamming out of Simple was
very tight and very intense. Very good.. very very good. Trey looked     
at Mike and shrugged his shoulders, then at Page, as if to say "I dont
know whats happening." and then he shrugged at Fish and Fish starting
playing Weekapaug. The only thing I would have liked to have heard was
Mikes bass solo intro to Groove, but Fish and Trey went right into
Weekapaug. Weekapaug also had some major major jamming. Trey played
percussion for most of it, but it was very very intense. These last 3
songs (Mikes->Simple->Groove) was easily the highlight of an
incredible show that renewed my faith in this band (see Providence
disappointment).

Encore
******
Even though it was repeat from Provdence,  Fire is a good closer.
Capped of a great f'ing show.

Later.               

Jon.