12-2-99 -- The Palace, Auburn Hills, Michigan

Date: Tue, 14 Mar 2000 17:21:34 -0500 (EST)
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: 12-2-99 : better late that never
 
 
Where to begin... It was a while ago, but I want to contribute.
 
I aquired two tickets form an onLine auction, and ended up paying a little
under face value for them. This was my first show at the palace. We arrived
with only 20 min or so to go up and down shakedown street. Some how I ended up
trading my extra with someone for a glass piece. However, I never met this
person, I just did the trading through one of his friends. On the way inside I
drank some Psilocybin Orange Juice. Got in and found my seat; to the right of
the sound board on the floor. A much nicer view that I am used to. Eventually
the light dimmed, the curtain went up and IT started. Like the consensus I
found the first set to be averagePhish, yet it was STILL mindblowing. At the
set break there was an erie atmosphere arround me. No one in my direct
vicinity was talking. We all sat there waiting. I remember looking all arround
and seeing all the many unique individuals parading arround. I looked up to
see the banners on the ceiling wave as if they were under water. Once THEY
came back out I knew I was only gonna get better. During the second set I got
REALLY into it I was jumping and howling. REALLY in to it. However every once
in a while my calf would land on a metal strip on the seat. My leg hurt for
days. Did anyone else notice that the seats were VERY close together? Anyway.
During the height of the second set and my experiance (idunno during which
track) I belted out one of my IEEAIEEAIEEAIYIYIYIYIYIYIY's, and the strangest
thing happened. I heard a sound unlike anything I have ever heard. The only
way I can think of explaining it is that frequencies of my howling were
canceled out by/added to phish. wow. I've listened to the mp3s of that night
several times so far. I can hear my self howl, but I haven't quite found the
place where this duo-harmonics occurs. May be it'll occurr again in
DeerCreek2000! Look for 4 ah ha 3 ken ken on my right arm.
 
BTW: that glass piece was confiscated in the windy ciy at a rave a week later.
]:^(
 
keePonPhishin'
halluciphile

Date: Sat, 4 Dec 1999 21:21:43 -0500
From: David Vincent [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Kid Jumper
 
Taken from the Oakland FreePress;" A 17 Year old Davison man who plunged
head-first off a balcony at The Palace Of Auburn Hills durning Thursday
night's Phish concert was listed in stable condition at POH Medical Center
inPontiac laste Thursday night. He was being treated for head and sholder
injurys, including a possable broken clavicle."
 
Wow.. lets not let this happen again.. Was this the reason the encore was so
short? Any ideas?
 
-Dave

Date: Sat, 04 Dec 1999 13:33:28 -0500
From: Crispignani [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Palace Review
 
hey everyone,
 
I'm gonna keep it short and simple.  By far, the absolute, most cosmic
2001 i've ever heard.  I've heard the song tons of times at shows, but
something was different this time. One of the best 2001s ever!! No
doubt.
 
-pvc

Date: Mon, 06 Dec 1999 12:26:52 EST
From: Mike Van Antwerp [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Palace review
 
Howdy,
 
Good to hear the guy who fell off the balcony is okay.  That was a real
scary moment.  To the one guy who asked, I don't think it affected the
length of the encore because it happened during the set break.
I was curious to notice if anyone else noticed that Page had a few new solos
in there?  Especially in Poor Heart, Trey's solo was replaced with one from
Page.  It seemed to be the case in some other tunes as well. Page really
seemed to dominate this show- which is nice.
Great Boogie On to start set II.  Also nice to hear some of the Trey solo
tunes. Gin was incredible as was the Antelope....
Sorry to hear about bottle throwing in Cincinatti.  I don't quite understand
that...
 
Mike

Date: Fri, 3 Dec 1999 13:39:58 -0800 (PST)
From: steve the dude [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: 12/2/99 The Palace Show Review
 
Hey kids, Stevo here with your tour opening show review. God, this show was
one of the sickest shows I've seen (and heard) in a while! The band just blew
my fuckin head off with a few those jams. Anyway, let's get to the show.
 
Setlist:
12/2/99 - The Palace, Auburn Hills, MI
 
I: Runaway Jim, Farmhouse*, Heavy Things, Roggae, Run
Like An Antelope, Wading In A Velvet Sea, Poor Heart,
Sample in a Jar -> Free, The Squirming Coil
 
II: Boogie On Reggae Woman, Jiboo, Bathtub Gin** ->
Also Sprach Zarathustra -> You Enjoy Myself*** ->
Little Drummer Boy
 
E: Bold As Love
 
* - With slightly different vocal arrangement (refrain
at end)
** w/ 2001 Teases
*** w/ Chant Jam & Vocal Jam
 
I left MSU around 1:00 or so to go home (in Utica, close to Auburn Hills) once
I as done with my morning classes and got a lift with my brother who was also
going to the show. On the way, we played the first few songs from 4/4/94
(Divided Sky, Sample and SOAMule (which I played for good luck since I REALLY
wanted to hear it)). After getting a quality groove going for a short while we
made it home. After arriving at home, around 3:30 I met up with this cool
fellow, Mitch, who I met online. We talked about how we we're gonna hook up to
ride to NYE. After talking to him, things are really looking up in me actually
making the trek down to Florida. (Mitch, you're one cool phriend and fellow
phan). Anyway, I got home, ate some wonderful homemade macaroni (for energy),
and waited for my fashionable-late buddy, Dave (also going to the show) to
arrive. He arrived (predictably) about twenty minutes late so we got on the
road later than I wanted but not so late where we'd miss the show.
 
My brother and my buddy Dave both drove separate cars since my brother (along
with myself) would be heading back to MSU after the show while Dave would be
heading home. Anyway, we made it to the venue but we didn't have time to run
around the lot and see the wares. I'd really wanted to see if I could get a
lot shirt or something but we arrived right aroung 7:30 (the starting time on
the ticket) and figured that we'd better get to our seats, just in case the
band actually came out on time. We headed to the gate which had two
"checkpoints" instead of the just one like they usually have at most Palace
events. As we were in line we met up with a bunch of guys from my floor at the
dorm. We knew they'd be there but we didn't go with them to the show so it was
a cool coincidence that we met up with them there. Anyway, we just had to show
the tickets at the first gate (no pat-downs, etc surprisingly) and we stood in
line by the front doors to get checked in. It was funny how they were ripping
tickets at the front door rather than by the staircase inside (I love these
lame procautions). Anyway, when I got to the gate with about three people
ahead of me this guy started telling everyone that all mail order tickets had
to be checked at the East Gate!! (I was currently at the West Gate). I just
went nuts and said how stupid that was and that I wasn't going to go around
the whole fuckin venue. They read someone else's ticket and saw the "reserved"
part of it and figured out that only the taper tix had to be checked at the
East Gate, not all the MO tix. I guess they didn't realize that MO did regular
tix too. No problem, I made my way through. Strangest thing was how there were
no pat-downs, no metal detectors, no nothing! These Palace guys weren't even
trying to keep the illegal items out of the venue!
 
Anyway, we made it to our seats. Eighth row on the floor, snap-dab in the
middle of the stage. Great view, we were right at the edge of the huge light
set up towering over our heads. The band was fashionably late as usual and we
must have sat around for about ten minutes before they came out. Me, being as
jacked up as I was, was singing Minkin to anyone who cared to hear my terrible
rendition. At the end of our row we saw a guy holding up his neon yellow sign
which simply said "Dog Log" (need he say more?). He was showing it to some
buddy of his at the other end of the row and smiling like crazy. Meanwhile,
there was no one in the seat next to me so I reserved my room, making a
complete mockery of "Antelope Greg-types" by loudly declaring that none shalt
enter my dancing space. I couldn't keep a straight face however. Anyway, the
background music that Paul had playing would stop and the crowd would cheer
like crazy and Paul would laugh and play more background music. He must get
his kicks that way. Eventually the lights abruptly went out and the show
began.
 
SET I: The band walked out (what do you think they swam out?) and Page,
walking the length of the stage to his keyboard set, looked extra-debonair in
his black shirt-coat and black pants. He definitely looked like groovin dude
and I tried to congratualate him on his new arrival but of course, over the
noise, he couldn't hear me. As my brother mentioned Fish looked "clean cut"
since he had short hair instead of his usual scrggly locks (but still with a
small beard). Mumu included. Trey and Mike dressed like, well...Trey and Mike.
Shirts, jeans, you know the drill. The set-up is the same as the new set-up
started this Summer: Trey on the right, Mike in the middle front, Fish taking
up the rear stage and Page in his usual spot on the left. Anyway, they looked
around at the crowd and Trey played with a few notes. For the last three weeks
I was calling Tube as the the show opener (and thus the tour opener) but hell,
what did I know? I'd never heard it live so I wanted to hear it. Doesn't
matter though, I got something better:
 
RUNAWAY JIM: Whew! I jumped like an ass to the opening licks of this tune.
What a way to get the crowd started than with an old fav like Jim. Standard
version of chorus, typical middle jam, and with the crowd singing along at the
appropriate parts. It was a lot of fun. The jam was a lot higher energy than
usual (a sign for things to come) and it ended with the usual chorus reprise.
It was the show opener so it wasn't too crazy but I'm glad I heard it.
 
FARMHOUSE: Jim ended and after some quick nods to the rest of the band, Trey
started this beauty up. It's Farmhouse, what can I say? You love it, I love
it. Even my brother likes it (if you knew him, you'd be surprised). He thought
he had heard it before from SOTG but I had to explain to him that it wasn't on
an album at all. Anyway, it really cool when our whole row sang along with
Fish when he did his "ooooohhh" during Trey's "stinging lash" lines. It was in
this song that the vacancy of the seat next to me was filled by the guy
actually was supposed to sit there. He showed me his ticket and I politely
moved over, less dancing room but it wasn't that bad. He was like some 40 year
old guy and we were talking back and forth the whole show, a really cool guy.
Anyway, it was the final chorus that threw me off. Instead of singing the same
four line chorus over and over like before, Trey just kept singing "Welcome
This is a Farmhouse" over and over instead while Page did what I think is the
"Cluster Flies" line over and over as well. It was really cool and an
interested variation. (IMO, this is a sign that Farmhouse was recently worked
over in the studio and that the band was trying out the new version. What does
this mean? Farmhouse in the next studio album! Just a guess...) Anyway, it was
a typical Farmhouse except for the ending solo where I was disappointed at the
lack of wah wah during the jam. Trey wasn't putting that heavy wah wah on his
solo that I love so much. I miss it. In between this tune and next and during
the pause after Jim I could see the "Dog Log" sign guy waving it around close
to the the front row on the side of the stage Page was at. Both times you
could see that the band saw it and I specifically saw Page give the sign a
weird look as if to say "You're crazy" You knew they wouldn't play it but they
found it amusing at least.
 
HEAVY THINGS: I only had a few Trey solo tapes of this tune (I didn't get
around for the Fall tour and I have only one Fall Tour tape) and had heard
them only a few times so I didn't recognize it at first but the "Heavy Things"
line turned on the light bulb for me. After this tune, I implore all those who
are down on Heavy Things to see this song live. It was just so...dancable!
Man, what a cute little melody with some nice lyrics. During the setbreak, out
of all the other tunes I'd just heard, I actually found myself singing the
first two lines of this song! Anyway, it was typical length for HT so nothing
new in that department. Very catchy, though.
 
ROGGAE: Man, while I'd never heard a live Roggae before and when I heard the
opening licks to this tune I was pretty psyched, I was kinda disappointed at
the song's placement. Putting Roggae after a tune like Heavy Things was kind
of a bad choice for me. As if on cue, the 40 year old next to me mentioned
this to me, also. Still, I put the placement out of my mind and enjoyed the
song. CK5 put the spotlight on each singer during the opening four lines as
the song got under way. Normal Roggae but very beautiful as always. The guy
next to me asked what the name of the tune was and when I told him he
mentioned how it was so hard for him to get the tunes on the "newest album"
(SOTG). He then mentioned how these were the best seats he'd ever had except
when he would see them in "small venues" (but those venues were "crap" as he
said). It was cool to see a guy around from the theatre days. He was much
older than the rest but he was having just as much fun.
 
RUN LIKE AN ANTELOPE!!: As Roggae ended the guy turned to me and said "I'm
gonna go Split Open and Melt" (I assumed a bathroom break) and he left. It
would've been cool if he could've seen this tune but I fee a little guilty
since I saw kinda glad that he was gone since I had all this dancing room. And
man, would I need it. I went nuts at the opening licks of Antelope and it
started off typically. Lots of goofy jumping around from the fans during this
one. Still, it went on as usual until the jamming got under way. Having left
the original melody of the tune Trey turned up the notch and blew the roof
off. The song was just insane! Fish was going crazy on the drums and Trey was
playing these amazing machine-gun speed notes right along with it. Turning
around and looking at the roof, I saw the huge light show CK5 was displaying
across the third deck. Really breathtaking. The lights (CK5 should've gotten a
bonus for this tune), the intense jam, it was just too much. I was jumping all
over the place and the jam just increased in intensity until I finally let a
huge yell of "Oh Yeah!!!" when it reverted back into the slow Antelope jam.
They let Page hit a solo before Trey let out his lines (the guy next to me
came back around now) and the final chorus took place before it ending to a
HUGE ovation and me letting out another huge yell. I was standing there, a
huge ball of sweat from head to toe (I still haven't taken a shower yet, see
what I DO for you guys???). My buddy Dave turned to me, having heard my scream
at the end, and told me he wasn't sure if I was having fun (he was joking, it
was obvious that I was).
 
WADING IN THE VELVET SEA: I was completely beat after Antelope huge jam so I
thanked the band greatly for the placement of this slow tune. Unlike Roggae,
this was perfectly placed. I had time to rest and enjoy Page's beautiful
lyrics. But, lo and behold the guys in front of me starting passing a joint
around and offered me some. I of course, excepted the offer and it went around
again. But when it came around to me again, the 40 year old next to me tapped
my shoulder showing how he wanted a toke too! That was sooooo cool! This guy
was smoking along with all the rest of us kids! What a trip! I missed the
middle part of the tune when I was busy with Mother Nature but I listened
again for the final jam which was very cool. Typical Velvet Sea jam but
they're always pretty cool
 
POOR HEART: Surprisingly, the joint was still going around when the song
started so I was a little distracted for the first verse but it was great to
hear the only "Mike Song" of the show. I had worn my "Mike's Song" shirt for
the purpose of actually hearing either Mike's Groove or one of the other Mike
tunes on the back of the shirt (SOAMule, Mound and Destiny in particular). My
brother asked me if this was the one we'd listened to in the car (referring to
SOAMule) but I corrected him. Anyway, typical bluegrass Phish. Ya gotta love
it! And it woke us all up from Velvet Sea.
 
SAMPLE IN A JAR: The band figured that we were awake enough to handle this
tune and I was highly excited since in just plain rocks! Plus I'd listened to
it on the way home so I thought it quite appropriate. I turned to my brother
and told him "THIS was played in the car!" seeing as how he asked about that
in the last song. We were imagining how out buddy Brett (who lives on out
floor) was liking this song since he plays the Hoist version 24-7. Anyway,
basically the Hoist carbon copy was played as usual but it got me dancing
that's for sure. Then it ended but Trey continued noodling on the breakdown
jam instead of letting it fade off like usual. Without notice, they started
playing:
 
->FREE!: I'd heard this at the last show I was at (Columbus) and I was happy
to hear it again. They extended the intro a little before the first verse by
playing it twice instead of just once. Man, I love how calm the lyrics of tune
have become over the last year. They tone down on the music and quietly move
the crowd with the lyrics. I swayed back and forth to the beautiful tune.
Another new addition I like is the new Free jams. Now they're all based on the
"bum bum.....bum bum....bum bum" middle part that they play before they sing
the finale. This time, like in Columbus, they just played it over and over,
and it really got the crowd going when they realized that the band was playing
it a little different. It was about this time that the guys in front of us
started passing another blunt around so me and my new buddy next to me partook
in their generosity; they even let me finish the thing off when there was
plenty to go around one more time (thank you guys, wherever you are now!).
Anyway the band jammed on it for about five minutes when they suddenly stopped
and Trey noodled around solo for about a minute before they jumped back into
the same "bum bum" beat. They stopped again and Trey noodled for a shorter
time this time and they jumped back into the same jam again! It was driving
the crowd crazy! Then the original jam started to resurface and they started
singing the "Blimp a lot" line which was followed that cool declaration of
"Freeeeee"dom that makes so much sense when you're in the midst of fellow
phans. It ended normally, almost a completely opposite of how the middle of
the song was.
 
THE SQUIRMING COIL: There was a short pause and the opening lyrics of this
tune started up what I figured would be the set closer. Having never been
previously blessed with a Squirming Coil before, I was elated. The song went
as normal with the crowd singing along basically (but not too loud of course,
it was a good group of folks, they let the band do the shining at this show).
During the Jimmy lines I just crazily shouted "Jimmy!!" in reverence to
everyone's favorite cat lover. Anyway, after the final chorus, the song almost
instantly quieted down with Trey noodling and Page taking over the direction
of the jam. Since the piano solos have been cut down over the last year I
wasn't sure where it would go but eventually the song got quieter and more
ambient and Trey eventually stopped playing and unplugged his guitar. Mike and
Fish followed suite and we were left with Maestro Page, having a solitary
spotlight on him to romance us with his beautiful finger-work. It was only bad
when the guy (the same guy) next to me felt the need to tell how at New
Orleans they had played Tweeprise without playing Tweezer. I wondered why he
was telling me that now and I really tried concentrating on Page even though I
still aknowledged him but telling him how they'd done the same thing at the
Palace in 97 (of course, I was wrong, they HAD played Tweezer but I think I
was thinking of some other show at the time). Anyway, he got the idea that I
really wanted to hear Page and he left it at that. Beautiful playing, the kind
that I really can't describe. The crowd went nuts when Page hit the powerful
notes and eventually it was all finished up and the crowd exploded in a
standing ovation for the man. Like Poster says, "Page Rules" He grabbed the
mic and said it was good to be back. Then he said something about the band
coming back for another set or something (everyone when nuts when he said
"good to be back" so it was hard to hear). Then Page made his way across the
whole stage off the right and the crowd drowned him out with applause as he
made his way. After what he had just played, he deserved it.
 
SETBREAK: I was in total brainshock and basically flying as well at this
point. That set had been quite an experience. Anyway, the three of us made our
way up out from the floor in search of a bathroom and a cool drinking
fountain. It took us forever to get around the venue to find a somewhat
available bathroom. I was especially hard at one point when on one side we had
lines of people at the restaurant and more people gathered at the Waterwheel
table across from it. Nothing against Waterwheel, but that was a terrible
place for their table to be, there was virtually no movement around it and the
lines for the restaurant. Anyway after finally making it to a bathroom, I
happily churned out "Time for my Meatstick, Pee from my Meatstick..." as I
relieved myself in the stall. My brother later told me he saw that someone had
written "Fishman was here" on the wall inside his stall. The faucets where
strange in that there were no knobs, you had to wave your arm under to get it
to turn on. I tell ya, this technology just doesn't work under some
circumstances; in my condition, I just couldn't figure them out. Anyway, we
headed back to our seats and sat around, remembering how last year's setbreak
(at Van Andel) was almost an hour long. Looking to my right there was this guy
with a different neon yellow sign, this one saying "Peaches en The Palace." A
very cool idea, indeed.
 
SET II: Anyway, we sat another ten minutes or so and the lights abruptly went
off. Once again the band came out as I went nuts with much of the cheers
directed to
 
Mike who was last in place.
 
BOOGIE ON REGGAE WOMAN: They chatted briefly and then Trey busted out the
intro to this tune. We had just mentioned they hadn't played any covers in set
I during the wait and yet here one was...and a good one at that. The crowd
definitely was grooving to the max to this funking tune and there were lots of
hoots and hollers to the terribly suggestive lyrics. Gotta love it! Anyway,
the ending jam was generally slow and funky but it followed the night's trend
of breaking from the song's rhythm and speeding it up about ten times more
intense. The jam didn't exactly sour like the Antelope but he was a bit more
active than the usual Reggae Woman. Trey was facing Mike during much of the
song and he was smiling ear to ear. He was having a ball!! Well, eventually
the song went back to the original beat before it ended. I was shocked at the
lack of a segue since this song is so easy tp do it with and considering what
the next song was I figured that they could pull it off. Still, who am I to
complain? It rocked. Anyway, afterwards Trey conversed with Fish and Mike
about the next tune.
 
GOTTA JIBOO!!: I recognized this one instantly and damn, do I love it! I'd
never heard Phish play it however (only Trey) so this was a new treat on a
personal favorite. Once again I found myself Gotta Jibooing all over the
place. The lyrics are so groovin you can't help but dance. What was new from
the original was how Page was allowed a few breaks in between verses to play a
small jam, thus giving a piano aspect to this song not in the Trey solo tour
versions that I'd heard. Anyway, the opener was fun but soon the lights got a
dark blue and Trey hit the first digital delay loop of the night much to the
excitement of the crowd. What surprised me about the jam that followed was
that it wasn't the funky jam that I was used to in this song from the Trey
solo tours. Trey was doing the standard David Bowie-ish jamming with more long
guitar licks as opposed to the machine-gun rhythm of the Trey solo tour. I was
shocked and happily amazed at the new direction and Trey jammed his heart out.
Eventually it shifted back to the original beat and they sang the chorus again
and ended (again without a segue). I was imagining myself telling everyone in
the review how Phish may be giving up segues seeing as how they had done
virtually none at this show. Luckily they proved me wrong...
 
BATHTUB GIN: I'd worn this shirt two days before this show, maybe it was sign.
Anyway, if you'll note I don't have as much detail for the jams on the first
two songs. They were great, don't get me wrong, but it was just because they
were so overshadowed by this song, I can barely remember the details. I'm a
huge BG buff and I've heard many versions of this song either on tape or
otherwise, and despite all those I can still say that was the BEST Bathtub Gin
I'd Ever Heard!! Better than Went, better than Palace 97, it just blew my
mind. Bathtub started with the usual pounding of the keys by Page as he began
what would be the song of the night. Yet another joint from those wonderful
people in front of me made its way back to me and the guy next to me and we
enjoyed more of their generousity (they even lent us their water bottle for
drinks as well; man, I love you guys!!). Anyway, they sang the first verse and
they let Page do another breakdown piano-bashing solo since his first one
hadn't been as high energy as it should've. Still, the basic tune had me
jumping as the crowd loudly proclaimed along with Trey how we loved to take a
bath. Still, once the jam got underway, the original song went out the window.
In probably one of the sickest explosions of raw energy that I've ever
experienced, the band, the arena, and the light show just erupted. Trey's
machine-gun jamming combined with some super fast drumming from Fish got the
crowd jumping around. But it just got strong and it intensified. CK5 arranged
even more complex flashes of light to blur my senses as Trey switched between
long drawn out notes and his fast rhythmic jamming. The rhythm prevailed
overall as the song continued to built. It just got louder, the lights got
faster and I lost complete control. What's even sicker is that it wouldn't
stop either (not that I wanted it to of course)! The band and CK went at this
insane rate for at least 20 minutes straight. It just blew my mind and when
the band wound the jam down to a slow, delay-loop-filled, ambient jam, the
crowd roared in approval. Wondering where it would go I called "What's the
Use" since the loud loops combined with the ambient feedback. Two people down
from me, my brother quietly mentioned "2001" but it didn't register in my head
until Fish hit the familiar drumbeat.
 
-> ALSO SPRACH ZARATHUSTRA: Whew...my brother had found a glowring on the
floor and it had been around his neck the entire second set up to this point.
Needless to say, when the entire upper deck rained various glowing objects
onto the level below as this song got underway, he unlatched the ring from his
neck. Within a minute the air was FILLED with glowrings, and sadly glowsticks
as well. The floor area were I was was the prime area for landings as sticks
and rings rained down on us from all directions. I found all sorts of various
glowing objects as they landed next to me and tossed them back into the mix.
I'd look at the band as well who were as usual, shrouded by shadows, with the
blue light shining behind them. I couldn't look back for long as I had to save
my own skull. At one point I somehow picked out a certain glowstick that was
flying in the huge mess and saw it landing right in my area. I reached out and
caught in flawlessly, right in from of the faces of the people behind me. They
smiled at it and I held the stick up and said "Ya gotta watch out for these
things" before I threw it back into the mix. My buddy Dave said that in the
mess, he had actually throw one of the glowsticks onto Page's piano (luckily
he was on the organ at the time). I told him to throw them backwards next
time, not towards the stage. Of course the band had been jamming their hearts
out the entire time and most likely enjoying the light show before them. Page
was playing this new effect which sounded like someone "rapping" on a record
(on a turntable) but it had more like a "flip" sound to it. Either way, it
added a new effect to the regular jam. The glow-object war had basically died
down by the time they had worked their way to the first "verse" It was played
beautifully with CK right on cue with the rising lights. The second jam wasn't
nearly as long as and as phenomenal as the first half but it still kept me
moving and they played it with all they had until they made their way through
to the second "verse" Phenomenal lights from CK this entire song (the whole
set actually). He really impressed me tonight. Well the jam winded down but
not completely as that familiar organ melody shocked the hell out of me.
 
->YOU ENJOY MYSELF: I nearly fainted! In my crazy elation I ran over and
hugged my brother for no real reason other than that they were playing this
song. I immediately lit a smoke (for the nirvana part) and enjoyed the
wonderful intro. When they made their way to the nirvana part, I raised my
arms to the sky, swayed back and forth and took some puffs of my smoke, as is
my ritual for this song. But this nirvana was different. They jammed it as
normal but suddenly, when Page started playing his piano part which would lead
back into the song, the whole song just faded away! I mean completely! All of
the lights went out completely and the crowd cheered at the band, shrouded in
complete darkness and now no longer playing at all. I turned to the guy next
to me and said, "What is this? Divided Sky?" It was exactly like it too. They
stood there almost motionless (it was hard to tell since it was completely
dark onstage) without playing, almost exactly like the Springtime part in
Divided Sky. I'm not sure if they were doing this in the Fall Tour but I have
9/17/99 and they don't do it in that version so this may mean that this could
be a totally new direction for this part of the song. Anyway, after about
three minutes or so of not playing, Fish started up the drum beat again and
they went right back into the Nirvana part. I had finished my smoke already by
this time, that shows how long they were standing there! This time, Page led
the melody into the rest of the song. Pretty standard with the crowd going
nutty when the tramps were brought out. During the second "rotation" of the
tramps part Trey did a complete 360 on the tramp and it ended up getting him a
jump ahead of Mike who was trying to match him like usual. Mike saw it and
corrected his own jumping to match the twirling Trey and they finished up
completely in sync. Myself as well as much of the crowd was leaping along with
them. As always, it was fun as hell. Still, the fireworks came when the tramps
were removed. Once again, the band quickly abandoned the original beat and the
song took a strange turn for a YEM. Soon into the jam Mike started teasing
some song with his bass notes. I couldn't place it but if someone knows that
heard it let me know. Next Trey started teasing guitar licks. The guy next to
me (yup, the same dude) mentioned that it sounded like "18" by Alice Couper
and listening to it closely I thought that it did. I told my brother this but
he didn't think so. Then Trey started playing this Guitar Gently Weeps-type
jam where it was four or five powerful notes played in a strong melody but
this one was played over and over. It didn't sound like "18" much anymore but
my brother was sure he knew the tease from somewhere, he just didn't know the
name. Soon the tease became the whole jam as Trey centered all of his jamming
on those same notes. To make us all think that he was seguing to another tune,
he starting singing "oooooohhh" into the mic right along with his guitar
notes. Fish joined in as well singing the same line but a few seconds later
than Trey's (plus he held his note longer). I thought it was traces of the
vocal jam but it was way too structured and it sounded too much like it
belonged to the tunes that Trey was playing. However they soon stopped the
singing so that it showed that it was more than just the vocal jam. What's
stranger is that they ended the jam with a breakdown (kinda like they'd just
finished Farmhouse or something). It was not at all how the typical YEM ended.
Still, the background noise was still in playing when the band started
chanting into the mics. I thought it was Kung for a second since I thought I
heard a "Nazareth" line (I think that's a Kung line, right?) but then,
listening closely I could hear then vaguely saying "Ufitzi" so I knew it was
the vocal jam (they couldn't let this one end without it now could they?)
Still, CK once again impressed me to hell during this jam. He almost made the
lights "dance" in tune with what the band was singing/chanting. The vocal jam
would change and CK would be right in tune with it by changing the lights
accordingly. At some point, the crowd was clapping along with the chant while
CK waved the lights back and forth in tune with the chants. I almost swayed
along with them too. Still after a while you could vaguely hear those famous
notes: Ba Bum Bum Bum Bum Bum...
 
->LITTLE DRUMMER BOY: I wasn't sure the first time I heard them hum the line
(they didn't sing it yet) but the crowd noticed and it was amid the loud
cheers when I heard them hum the melody again, this time with the whole band
behind it. They kept humming the line until Trey started singing the actual
lyrics to it to which the band quickly caught on. They sang about eight lines
before they finally finished up and the crowd went nuts. The band was done but
amid the applause you could hear that Fish was still singing. Trey looked back
at him with a weird look but I think it just encouraged him as he kept
singing. Trey figured it out and he unplugged his guitar and left the stage to
the right. Around the same time Page left to the left side of the stage. Now
we were left with Fish who was still singing quietly and Mike, who didn't seem
to notice that Trey and Page had already left. He looked to his left and
figured out what was going on so he then also unplugged his guitar and walked
off. This left Johnny B Fishman center stage and he took complete advantage by
standing up and pounding on his one tom drum as he sung lines from the song.
It was hard to hear his lyrics (which were not the original lines, but
probably goofy made-up stuff as usual) since the crowd was roaring so loudly.
Finally Fish finished up his song and said "Thank You" or something and left
the stage by sneaking away to the back. The crowd went insane in approval of
such an amazing yet strange set. As we cheered during the short encore break,
my brother remarked that Phish would get fined since they had run past the
Michigan curfew (of 11:00pm). I wondered if they would use that as an excuse
to play a longer encore since they had nothing to lose, basically. It was just
a thought that I pondered as the crowd eventually made its way back onstage.
 
ENC: BOLD AS LOVE: My first Bold As Love was a bit of a disappointment when I
first heard it since I was hoping for a rocking finish but the boys soon
lifted my disappointment. Page sang the song beautifully and Trey produced the
first actual old-fashioned rock and roll jam of the night. He played the tune
as Jimmi intended and it just rocked the house. They stopped the song for the
usual pause then continued to jam like crazy to close the tune. It was an
average BAL but the jams that Trey produces in this tune are always
phenomenal. The band took their bows and left amid huge response. The lights
stayed off for a short while until the house lights came on immediately which
quieted the cheering in a second.
 
POST SHOW: We just sat down since we knew we couldn't leave through the huge
crowds anyway and took a breather. I shook hands with the guys in front of us
and the guy next to me. Both of whom, were very cool. The guy next to me was
great to talk to and we had a lot of fun. And the fellows ahead of us kept
providing the MJ as well as water to the two of us. Just shows how cool and
generous the people at these shows really can be. Anyway, we finally said our
goodbyes and made our way out since there were less people now. I left the
venue (I didn't get a shirt or anything) and got my Mountain Dew from the car
before I wandered around the lot in search of lot shirts or something. Right
when I started "exploring" the lot, I bought a "Gotta Jiboo?" sticker from
this group of guys for a buck. My buddy, Dave, bought two burritos but he
could only eat one so he gave the other away. Overall, I had a feeling that I
should've tried to make it to the lot before the show but oh well. I got in
the car and my brother drove us back here to campus at MSU. This is show is
definitely up there as one of my top shows I've been to so far.
 
I recommend that everyone get a tape of this show. The Gin is, like I said,
The Best Gin I've Ever Heard and the Antelope is out of this world. The
unusual YEM with the unreal vocal jam as well as the rest of the songs (the
setlist speaks for itself) all are good reasons to get this show. And as a
little grovel (I gotta have one somewhere), if there's some Michigan taper or
something who can hook me up with a tape of this show I'd be greatly
appreciated. Of course it's most likely a little early for me to grovel but
I'm just throwing a bone into the field to see if anyone fetches it. Anyway, I
thorougly enjoyed this show. The lights, tha fellow phans, the atmosphere and
of course, Phish, all made my night. Thank you and I'll hopefully see you all
at Big Cypress.


Date: Fri, 10 Dec 1999 13:33:46 EST
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: palace review

I have been to many a phish show.  This was my third at the palace.  Let
me just say, by far, it was phish's best palace ever.  I cannot remember
the first set to clearly, all I know was that I had a huge smile on my
face. I was so pumped for the start of the tour- man I love those guys.  
I was very happy to see/hear that Page kinda dominated this venue-HE IS
PHENOMENAL!!!!!!
 I went to high school with the jackass that decided to dive off the
balcony head first.  Even though that was probably the dumbest thing I
have ever heard of, I am very happy to hear that he is doing fine and has
returned back to school.  Like with most of you, the second set was THE
BEST!!!!  I hadn't heard 2001 since Houston, it was amazing.  The light
show was one of the best I have ever seen.  Thank you guys for another
wonderful PHISH experience.


Date: Fri, 10 Dec 1999 00:32:56 EST
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: auburn hills

Just a short note about the show.  Trey took me to new heights on the Gin
Jam.  Anyone who was there has to agree that Trey and Fishman were locked
in!
 And to go into 2001 was simply magic.  What a way to start the tour!

Mike Gags

Date: Mon, 06 Dec 1999 19:52:10 -0500
From: Craig MacLellan [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Auburn Hills revue
 
The show at auburn hills was as dank as a sweaty pair of fatty goo
balls. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm! tasty.

Date: Sat, 4 Dec 1999 16:10:59 EST
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: 12/2/99
 
Hi there!
 
Just wanted to get my thoughts in.  The first set to me was extremely
disappointing.  No good jamming, some pretty bad choices, it seemed as though
they were playing to their "radio" fans.  It seemed like a bad frat party.
Anyway, second set was best I've heard in a long time.  2001 could be best
ever, unfortunatley tapes can't give you the great light show.  Fish's little
drummer boy was great also, basically second set was definitely highlight of
tour so far.
 
Tom

Date: Sun, 05 Dec 1999 14:46:13 -0500
From: Mike Probst [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: smokin show
 
All I have to say is that the second set was mind boggling.  We were
lucky enough to spend the whole show in a luxury box with free food,
free beer, and an easily accessible bathroom...plus, plenty of room to
groove.  The 2001 was absolutely sick!!!  The BORW was a sweet surprise
as well.  I only got to see this show and Cincinnati, and this show was
definitely the best of the three.  Later.

Date: Sat, 04 Dec 1999 19:58:59 EST
From: Terry Dwyer [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: palace review
 
I don't know if anyone else was seated near me (section 112), but the
security that I encountered could not have been shittier.  Brought my ma to
the show, she wanted to "pop" some security punk, if that's any indicator.
I thought the first set started pretty strong.  The first five songs
(Jim>Antelope) were all well placed and played, IMO.  Free was very solid,
and I was pleased to hear a Coil.  I'm in agreement with this MG guy that
kids need to quiet down sometimes.  It's kind of shitty not being able to
hear beautiful, delicate music like Page's solo out of Coil because of all
the screaming and clapping.  How cool would it be to hear those notes in
absolute silence?
The second set blew my mind.  Sick, sick, sick.  I've not seen a set that
included not only a great song selection, but that maintained such energy
and tight jamming throughout.  As a person that wasn't a big Gin fan before,
this jam converted me.  I can't express the beauty, then raw fire and power
that it was in words.  Nice to see big smiles from Trey and Page throughout,
and classic Fishman is always a treat.
Phish is good, this I know.
 
td

Date: Sat, 4 Dec 1999 11:27:41 -0800 (PST)
Subject: 12-2-99 WOW
 
Ok I have to write this down cause I never want to
forget it.
 
Left MSU about 4...almost forgot the tickets!!!! We stopped at my friends
house in Rochester Hills - her mom made us lentil soup and we had a nice
pre-show dinner...but I was too excited to sit around there so we left and hit
the lot! Not for too long, cause I wanted to find our seats and see how we
were going to get down to the floor from where we were (alas, we never did)
But down to business-
 
Show starts with a little bit of a pleasant surprise (for me, at least) as
Runaway Jim got everyone on their feet. The first part of the set is kind of a
blur for me, but I remember thinking "Phish just made Farmhouse one of my
favorite songs" ...Heavy Things next...didn't recognize it until 1/2 way
through, but elated to hear it...again all a blur until Roggae hit! Man I felt
this complete wave of calm wash over me (it seemed a little out of place, as I
was ready to dance mad crazy) and then it seemed like Antelope was the wave
that came crashing down, it nearly knocked me down but it was a great crazy
picker upper, if that makes any sense. Out of breath and tired, I then was
moved to tears by Wading in the Velvet Sea...the part of the song right before
the instrumental, where it seems to peak and fall^� "I took a moment from my
day-->solo) --aaahhhh.  OK Poor Heart, very danceable, upbeat, had a great
time, got me so ready for SAMPLE!!!Geeked to hear this song, I had been
playing it at 7:30 pm every night for a week in hopes Phish would play it.
Right into FREE!!! It seemed a little better that night, a little not quieter
but maybe that was it. Just different. I thought they would finish the set
with that and that would be perfect but then Squirming Coil to take us down
gently and close up the set. At this point, i have to say something about
Page. WOW. When he ended the set with that piano solo I felt like I was on
another planet.
 
Thoughts during intermission: We went to get something to drink, ran into a
few kids from my Case (my dorm) and sat down for a while...I was hoping for a
YEM :) and also I would have liked maybe a Harry or even a Down with Disease
BUT^�
 
The second set did not disappoint. Danced straight from the 1st cover of the
show (Boogie) right into GOTTA JIBOO! That song seemed to have been
specifically chosen, the perfect song to hear right then. It was a perfect way
to build into Bathtub. I have so much to say about that song...the jam was
wicked, so wicked at one point I had to sit down and hold my head up with my
hands. The jam GOT INTO ME, you know, when you can feel the music in your head
and body and you can almost predict but not at all in some weird way where the
song is going to go next. I literally lost control of my body, the song took
it over. No, that didn't have anything to do with the J's we smoked before and
during the show...! OK back to business - In all honesty, I think I was the
only person not to hear the 2001 teases. The guy in front of me said something
about it and then I realized it and then it hit!! The glowstick war, from
where I was sitting in pretty lame seats, was rocking. It seemed the floor had
opened up and was spitting glowsticks everywhere. The jam was a little more
spacey, not spacey like that but Outer Space spacey, cosmic or something. I
hate to use the word techno but they were leaning halfway in that direction in
a very small but profound way. YEM starts and the crowd goes wild. The 3 or 4
minute silence in the middle only raised my excitement, and when they went
back into it, the jam had a few variations I had never heard
before...trampolines were great! Some people next to us were trying to follow
Mike and Trey...it was fun...and the next thing I remember is another wave
washing over me as Drummer Boy came on and there was Fish, by himself and it
was beauty. Encore - you know, I never like it when the end with a cover, I
always want a blown out, full-fledged, classic Phish song with a evil jam.
Bold As Love was cool, but sort of a disappointment.
 
The lights went on and we slowly left. I don't remember what was on the PA but
I remember singing along to it as we left out of a different exit and we
couldn't find the car! Went to Denny's say some folks from the show. Man, I
was cashed at Denny's, so worn out from the show...got back up at MSU around 3
or so...one of the best nights of my life.
 
I was all set to hop a ride down to Cinci for the next two shows but then I
remembered these 2 papers due Monday...argh.
 
In general, the show was pretty energetic yet relaxed if that makes sense. The
boys sounded great and I was glad to have them back. My only problem is that
I'm not going to NYE...It's gonna be a while before I can see them again. Have
fun on this tour, I can feel it's going to be a great one.
 
AND if anyone is leaving from the Detroit area for NYE and wants to give me a
ride, let me know!


Date: Sat, 4 Dec 1999 10:04:01 EST
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected], [email protected]
Subject: millenium style
 
palace show... for as much as this venue sucks, they always play great shows.
 always much better if your on the floor as i was.  as the show progressed, a
new concept dawned upon me.  the concept of the new millenium style that
phish has displayed.  teh first set was sort of a psuedo-greatest hit set
with very familiar tunes, none i hadn't seen before.  but each tune had a
different vibe to it during it's jams.  farmhouse had a new vocal ending,
roggae had new places it went to , etc.  it seemed to me that phish now on
the winter tour has reaced millenium style. ( millenium being used as an
adjective)  they have their songs but they go to new cosmic places with them.
 
    Free was sick.  at the end of the song, the band dropped the whole tune,
vocals as well as instrumentals, a few keys lower into an erie minor key.
the went on with the "freeeeeee" bit in this minor key for a bit and then
somehow brought it right back into the major key ending of "freeeeee" without
a hitch. i couldn't believe it.  free was for sure the first set highlight.
 
set II---->  ultra millenium. this set blew everyones mind.  the drawn out
cosmo-space jams were so out there yet so amazingly tight.  Mike Gordon is a
ROCK.  he laid down the base and held it in check all second set.  he simply
nailed everything he touched.  so hard, so tight.  almost as if it all were
rehearsed it was so tight.  being so tight gave page and trey the chance to
be completly out of this world.  gin was sick as anything i'd ever heard,
YEM solid.  NO SILENT VOCAL JAM.  they just waited for 2 minutes before
resuming  real great vocal jam at the end. completly new with trey laying
down some steady, ba ba bam beats.  then fish took over with little drummer
boy and altered the words to say, " i want to make love to you..." classic
fish.  one of the best second sets i've seen next to shoreline night two, set
two with haynes and lesh.  atta way boys.  this new style can only be called
"millenium"
 
 
  see y'all at NYE

Date: Fri, 3 Dec 1999 19:41:39 -0500
From: P. Thompson [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: palace 99
 
Hey Now!
 
Thought I'd just add my .02 cents.
First of all, I must say, I've seen Phish and the Dead play at the Palace
every time they show up (and that's not easy being seven hours away).  But
every show, the security and the cops are really out of hand.  Not last night
though....the cops and security were very reasonable.
At least from what I saw.
 
Anyways, time for a quick review....
 
Set I:  A bit uneven I thought, the Jim opener was great and farmhouse was
one of the better ones I've seen.  and the antelope was rockin too.  but
velvet sea? roggae?  sample?  free?  c'mon this month should rival december
95 for shows, but that set was a little on the light side for my tastes.
played fairly solid anyways.
 
Set II:  Now this was off the freakin wall!!!!!
BORW...sweet...damn since dayton 97 i've been soooo happy they've brought
this one back from retirement
Gotta Jiboo.....good
GIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  this was amazing!!!!  and i don't say that very often
either.  I can't even explain it....just listen to it....i can't wait until I
get to again.
2001>YEM  great!
 
E: Axis  I was hoping for a kick me in the nuts, show stopping encore. But
this topped the evening amazingly.
 
See ya in Rochester & FL

Date: Fri, 03 Dec 1999 15:42:25 -0500
From: DBB [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Review of 12/2/99 Michigan Palace show
 
Hey all,
 
Wow.  The show was such a great blend of building up a nice comfortable bed
of warmth and them really getting conceptual with the strectches.  The "YEM"
vocal quartet at end was fantastic, it becoming an almost symphonic piece
where 2 of the guys were just looping a 1 note beat ( "BAHP") over and over
like Trey's guitar tricks when he loops a vlume trick and lets it go.  It
sounded like a classical piece done on a synthesize.  They scare me how much
better they get musically and melodically.  The "Little Drummer Boy" they
went into had the crowd roaring.  What perfect way to start the December
tour.
 
Being the first show of the December tour, we didn't know whether to expect a
barnstormer "We're Back!" style show or something mellow to get back into the
swing of things.  Besides the dude who dove from the upper bowl rim to the
cement walkway of the lower bowl stairway during intermission, the show was a
great way to start the tour.  He hit head first and the THUNK of his head
hitting the cement could be heard around the arena.  I saw him airborne but
not the launch, it almost seemed like he did it on purpose, but then passed
out in midflight, his body went limp and he just flailed like a dummy into
the seat and rolled down the steps.  Pretty F'd up.
 
The "Free' was absoluetly mesmerizing, the low-down riff they morphed into
sounded like something Ozzy Ozbourne would have played in the late 80's.
Mean like the main vamp of "No More Tears.  Huge, simple, epic, sinister.  We
couldn't believe it.
 
Every vibe was captured in the show...some sinister riffing, some grand
conceptual/almost symphonic soundtrack jams, some good mellow jams to relax.
They paced the show beautifully.  Many, many moments inducing an exhuberant
"DO YOU F*'ING BELIEVE THIS??!!"  when they would modulate into something
inspiring and powerful.
 
This was my 5th show, all having been Palace shows here in Michigan every
Fall its become tradition for my school friends that we all hit the show no
matter what.  I wish they would hit Michigan more than they do.  They never
come around in the Summer, though they hit everywhere else nearby (Deer
Creek) religiously.  If anyone reading this knows why this is, feel free to
let me know if you want.  I had heard the Dead sometimes didn't care for
Michigan venues due to over-hassling security not letting people just hang
and dig it.  Hmph...who knows.
 
And of course, the lights get better every time I see them.  Bravo to that.
 
Overall it was a very, I don't know, heartfelt warm show.  It just seemed to
be the perfect December/Holiday time vibe to it....cozy, warm,  intense in a
mellow way.  I had a blast.  I get to see them once a year unfortunately and
every time seems 10 times better than the last...and thats what I said about
the previous one(s).


Date: Fri, 3 Dec 1999 15:26:17 -0500 (EST)
From: Derek Belanger [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Palace review
 
-The first set had a great song list, but the band sounded a bit off, maybe
because it was the first set of the tour.  Farmhouse was definatly great,
and it was great to end the set with Squirming Coil.
-The second set was amazing! First, to start with Boogie On was genius.
Bathtub gin was the best I've ever heard it, and I loved the 2001 teases.
Y.E.M was great, exept the glowstick war was lame.  But the light show more
than made up for it.  The vocal jam at the end was great, although it lacked
something that the one at Oswego had.  It started breaking down a little
when Fish had to sing by himself, although it was fucking funny.  I was a
little dissapointed with the encore, mostly because of the length.  I'm not
sure if there was a Farmhouse tease at the end or not.
-I go to the Palace alot and it may have been the most full and loudest I've
ever seen.

Date: Fri, 3 Dec 1999 15:48:42 -0500 (EST)
From: Jennifer Lauren Cabrelli [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: review 12/2
 
First set. Coasting through peaks and valleys.  Up-down-up-down, Like 'number
four' on a stairmaster. Oh man, the peaks were the Peaks though.  Jim opener =
fun. Starting to really dig Heavy Things... classify this tune as
"chickenshack gumbo" music. Antelope. Please. Some one get me a napkin. Some
sick shit on the Free jam.
    Second set. Speechless. What planet are these guys from anyway? The funk
levels went through the stratosphere. Smokin' Boogie On opener created a
burning sensation that shit was goin' down. Gotta Jiboo is destined to be a
'ganja goo' classic. If the "Comic Book Guy" from the Simpsons had been there
he might have been heard to say, "Best Bathtub Ever". The jam was truly
extra-terrestrial. They picked up the palace and drove it into the
nether-regions of the Universe. Every time you thought they hit the peak, they
found a way to take you higher. At the end of this mind altering jam we were
floating, just bobbing gently in space. What better a place for the Star Wars
effects-laced 2001. This is the Future of Music.  Man! Sweatin' like a whore
in church.  The whole place was pulsating to the seemingly endless Funk. When
they busted into YEM I knew I would be sore tomorrow. Awesome. During the
supposed "silence", I cupped my ear and swore I heard them whistling. It
sounded like Amazing Grace. Course I was rollin' like an 18-wheeler on a six
day ride.  The 'Gregorian Chant' vocal jam was almost surreal. To close, a
holiday tune from the funny man in the back. Too much.
    Encore. Sorry guys, sounded a little rusty.
 
                            JL
                               from
                            EL

Date: Fri, 3 Dec 1999 16:20:47 EST
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: 12-2-99
 
Phish, December, The Palace. They are revving up for new years and tonight
was a transcendental show, truly a turning point for the band. I am talking
about the 50-minute brain melting experience that followed the second set
Bathtub Gin. Phish has made their next revolution - Space Tecno. For the past
few tours, funk has been the theme of most jams, and now they are going
electric. Trey looping his guitar and moving to keyboard?!? Page abandoming
keys to turn knobs on a VSC3 signal processor?!? The Palace was turned into a
rave for most of the Bathtub, right into 2001...could the sign be any
clearer? This new way of jamming is going to gain pace throughout the
december tour and climax in Florida. You all watch. That six-hour set on new
years eve will be drenched in this new way of jamming, electro-space-tecno,
Phish style. Could they be any more progressive? Any more receptive of what
direction their phans are moving in? My god, they have reached the next level
:)
The rest of the show was off the hook as well........but you can read the
setlist elsewhere.
-corey in Kzoo

Date: Fri, 3 Dec 1999 15:05:46 EST
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: thoughts on the palace
 
greetings,
 
first off, i shall give none of my phish accolades, that is i shall not tell
you how many shows ive been to, how many times trey has winked at me, or how
many times ive seen buried alive as a second set opener on full moon days in
october.  just let it be known that im a big fan.  You can go look at the
setlist for yourself, ill just give those who were'nt there the highlights.
1st set was not overly memorable.  your token 1st show of tour 1st set.  in
fact, i was'nt very pleased.  an above average antelope and a great free were
redeeming, but i was'nt wetting myself.  2nd set, however was incredible.  no
energy let up at all from start to end.  first 2 tunes were all fine and
dandy, but the bathtub gin was insane.  so well played, and spiraled upwards
into a sound frenzy so thick, i could cut it with a knife.  great gin.  that
died down into 2001, and the light show was...well, you should know.  after
the visual aid, came YEM.  now, this yem was stellar.  dont be fooled by this
phish.net setlist.  there was no silent jam, but during that "nirvana"
section (as it is known)  they stopped for a minute or two a la the break in
divided sky.  it was really funny.  then they continued on with the tramps,
et al.  but the jam in this particular yem was fabulous.  i wish i could hear
it again, because i had the perfect word to describe it, but it escapes me
now.  anyways, it was awesome.  they found this theme that they played on
throughout the song.  it was really good.  somewhat 12.9.95-esque, but
12.9.95 was better, according to me, and that had a REAL silent jam.  some
oohs and aaahs over this theme.  this died down with no drum & bass, and
ended kinda like they end things like ghost or gin.  it just ended.  then
they started up the voice jam, so i pulled up a seat.  it was pretty
uneventful, until i thought i started to hear some drummer boy in there.  but
you know how sometimes you think you hear things that arent really there.
but this was there!  they started doing drummer boy collectively, then
fishman took the reins with the band backing him, then the band left, with
fishman in the spotlight singing drummer boy and tapping on his snare.  it
was hilarious.  then he said something at the end which i couldnt make out,
but im sure it was funny.  whew!  i was really pleased.   then came bold as
love, then we left.  fun was had by all.


Date: Fri, 3 Dec 1999 15:06:14 -0500
From: Jim [email protected]
To: [email protected]
 
Hi
    How to review a show? well the Palace parking lot was nice, people were
QUITE friendly! there was NO sight of any form of law enforcement.  2 hours
of the lot we enough for me. Getting in the venue was fast and simple, no pat
downs, no searches.. this was going to be one good show!  Opener like Runaway
Jim, wow.. nice, Farmhouse was excellent too. moving on to Heavy things. not
one of my favorites, but it was a nice break. Antelope was VERY nice.. good
lead, nice jam, and sweet lights.. Sample, free, Coil.. wow.. what a first
set ender! during the intermission some one dove off the lodge level  down to
the first level, dont know the extent of their injuries.  Raggae Woman was
nice to hear, but we heard it on the way down from the UP of Michigan..
Hampton Comes Alive. Gotta Jiboo.. First time I ve seen this song live.. VERY
NICE! Bathtub could get NO BETTER! with a jam in to 2001, with all the
teases.. wow.. mind blowing! YEM was good, it had a silent moment where every
got out their lighters.. it was brighter then the encore lighter vigil. but
as much as I dont wanna say it... its starting to get old. I was at MN and
they did the silent Jam with YEM and the trampolines too.. hrmm.  Little
drummer boy.. it needed a vacuum solo!  Bold as love for the encore.. I was
confusing for me.. I dident think it was your normal Encore song but hey,
make due with what you have.


Date: Fri, 3 Dec 1999 15:21:54 EST
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: THE KID JUMPED
 
Were we the only ones who saw the kid jump at setbreak?
Has anyone heard if He is OK or anything?

Date: Fri, 3 Dec 1999 15:11:42 -0500
From: Matt & Shannon Griffin [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Shut Up

Hello,
 
                    No first set 'this' and second set 'that'.  But when Page
plays out Coil nice and quiet-like, SHUT THE PHUCK UP!!  When YEM silent
vocal jam is in progress, really SHUT THE PHUCK UP!!  Thanking you in
advance,
 
        MG

Date: Fri, 3 Dec 1999 12:58:10 -0600
From: Charles Voeltzel [email protected]
To: "'[email protected]'" [email protected]
Subject: 12/2/99 review
 
Checking in after the show in Auburn Hills.  Not much going on in the lots
and many empty seats inside.  First set was decent but nothing outstanding.
Jim is always a fun opener. Farmhouse had a new twist and i kind of dig
Heavy Things.  Highlight of the second set and the entire show was Bathtub
Gin--->2001. The jam was pure space funk techno with a glowstick war and
all.  The YEM was also nice with a tripped out vocal chant, trampolines and
even a 3 or 4 minute long moment of silence in the middle.  I thought
ending the set with Fishman doing Little Drummer Boy was kind of weak.
 Bold as Love is always welcome as an encore.  Let me just say that the
light show was absolutely insane and gets better with every show.  Get the
second set on tape.  Take care and see you all in Cincinnati.  -Chuck

Date: Fri, 3 Dec 1999 00:58:21 EST
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: (no subject)
 
hey there
 
 just thought i'ld drop a line, raving about the last show, this is the first
time i've lived in  a town where phish played,  auburn hills mi. great show
as always, i won't bother you with a set list (some old, some new, some i've
never heard before) it doesn't matter the name of the song, they're all good,
what matters is the people you are with, i met newbies from grandrapids (an
indian woman who never met Ja until i introduced them), old friends, new
friends,  i LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!!!!
 
 see you in big cypress,
peacemonger


click here to return to the 1999 reviews page


hits (many)