Date: Fri, 15 Aug 2003 18:45:47 EDT
From: GONEPHISHIN126@aol.com
Subject: 12/29/98
� Let me start this review by saying that this is one of the most underrated shows in
phishtory.� It contains some of the best jams of the year.� Well non-gin jams that is,
because as we all know 98 was the year of Bathtub Gin and strangely enough it was not
played at all on the new years run.....Anyway...on to the show.� Rock and Roll opened up
and although it was quite short it was very fiery and full of passion.� Funky Bitch
followed on the heels of r&r.� What a great version this is.� The funk is pouring on
full force during Page's solo with Trey adding killer riffs.� The closing solo soars and
carries on into Punch.� This Punch is ultra clean and tight.� One of the best intros
I've heard and the composed section is nailed.� Horn is always welcome, and the rest of
the set is standard save for a dark and frightning Melt and the first 1st set Freebird
which was fantastic.� I remember having a "feeling" about this next set while attending
this show.� First of all I was dying for 2001 as I usually am and I knew we were gonna
get a big one.� Free kicks off the second set and is standard.� This was the last
standard piece of music played at this show.� This second set takes off here for the
moon.� I mean it's fucking hot man.� LimbxLimb is a personal favorite of mine and this
is simply the best version out there.� Trey's solo is spellbinding.� It's so good it
hurts everytime I listen to it.� In an orgasmic way of course.� I just can't get enough
of this LimbxLimb.� And this is only the begining of my favorite set of 98.� After
closing out Limb the boys start noodling and develop this trippy jam that eventually
gives way to what I will unbashfully claim to be THE 2001.� Sure it's not as long as the
Gorge 2001 from the summer or the Went 2001 but the soloing between the peaks is the
essence of Phish.� It's one of THE all time Phish jams, up there with the Albany 95 Yem,
the MSG 95 Weekapaug, the Went and Hampton 98 Gins, and the Denver 97 Ghost.� The C&P
tease is SICK.� The whole fucking thing is SICK.� Strap yourself down while listening to
this 2001...its heavy.� This unreal jam comes to its second peak and yeilds to Boogie
On.� I always love hearing this as it's one of my favorite Phish covers.� This one is
short and sweet but again it's so tight just like everything else in this show.�
Tightness was definately the theme of the evening.� I know some of you prefer the loose
Phish jamming that goes all places and spaces and I love that shit too, but it's amazing
when they jam with this kind of cohesion.� Speaking of� tightness and cohesion...YEM
closed the show on a fantastic note.� Again this is one of the greatest versions of this
tune out there.� The pre nirvana section is so flawless and beautiful it's a slice of
heaven.� And the JAM it insane.� What interplay between Trey and Mike.� This YEM is the
second best of the year behind the Worcester YEM.� The encore............Are you kidding
me???????????
How is it possible that after a set like that, the best set I saw that year they bust
out my all time favorite Phish song???� Divided sky is the song that sunk its teeth into
my brain in 10th grade and changed my life forever.� That's what was going through my
mind during this surreal piece of music.� I was in heaven.� I knew I was witnessing
musical history and I was loving every minute of it.� This show is, in my opinion, the
best of the year.� It beats out the NYE, Utah, and Gorge shows.� LimbxLimb and 2001 are
*best ever* versions and the YEM is up there. Divided Sky as an encore is like a dream
and the phlow of this show is like no other.� Best of 98!
AJ
Date: Wed, 30 Dec 1998 00:47:48 EST
From: Harleyyork@aol.com
Subject: 12/29/98 SETLISTS/Timings
Rock & Roll, Funky Bitch, PYITE, Horn, Ginseng Sullivan, Split Open,
Brian & Robert, Guyute, My Soul, Freebird (acapella)
SET ONE=1:09
Free>Limb by Limb, Jam>Also Sprach>Boogie On Reggae Woman, YEM
SET TWO=1:07
Divided Sky
ENCORE=0:17
Also Sprach had Crosseyed & Painless teases & 6 costumed dancers onstage
Date: Tue, 05 Jan 1999 17:03:33 -0500
From: Matthew O'Malley mdo7@cornell.edu
To: dws@protos.lifesci.ucla.edu
Subject: NEWYEARSRUN98_REVIEW
12/29/98 MSG Review:
To preface this review, my first phish show was 12/31/89 at the Bayside
expo center in Boston, MA. I probably number in the 40s with show's
attended, so I think it's fair to say that I have a decent basis for
comparison. I attended the 29th and 30th at MSG.
SET I:
ROCK AND ROLL: Took me a minute to catch on to what this was, but it
was a strong opener. Page was solid on vocals (as usual) and Trey took
over with some nice rips when it went into the jam. I thought that
Trey's guitar was a little heavy in the mix (and drowing out Mike) but
that could have just been where I was sitting. MSG is not Carnegie hall.
FUNKY BITCH: It's great that a song that phans used to practically beg
Phish to play (e.g. 7/1/95) has worked its way into the regular
rotation. I liked this one better than the Worcester (11/28/98) version
I had just seen. Mike was grooving really well.
PYITE: Yes! This one took the energy level a step higher from F.B. and
kept all 18,000 moving. Excellent work on the lights by Chris,
especially during the opening part of the song. Hearing a packed
Madison Square Garden yelling HEY! in unison with the band was quite the
experience. I was thinking to myself...I wonder what some tribal Zulu
from Africa would think if you brought him to America for the first time
and took him directly to a Phish concert. This one played itself out
very tightly (esp. the landlady segment with Trey and Mike's little
jig). -->
HORN: I was expecting something with a more moderate tempo after PYITE
and this was an excellent choice. Trey was ripping the opening E
chord. I thought the solo/jam part of this song seemed longer than
standard but I'l have to hear the tape to be sure. I'm always amazed at
how well Chris knows the changes and time signatures of Phish's songs.
He was right in sync with this.
GINSENG SULLIVAN: Can't complain about a hearing another Mike tune. I
really like the vocal harmonies in the chorus of this song, but I must
confess that I haven't seen another version that stacks up to the
Worcester 12/31/93 version with Trey on acoustic and "Greasy Fizeek" on
washtub. After Horn and G.S. I was primed for something big.
SOAM: This wasn't exactly what I had in mind, but I was willing to give
the band the benefit of the doubt and see what they did with it. The
"Lawn Boy" part of the song was played tight, if standard, but what
happened after that needs to be heard to be understood. This version was
almost the opposite of the 1993 version that appears at the end of Hoist
(date?). Rather than locking into a tight, drum-driven groove, the band
decided to take a trip to outerspace with this jam. The jam was so out
there, I was wondering if (or how) they were going to finish the song.
It completely broke free from its time signature and dissolved into some
dissonant, atonal spacy jamming for at least 6-7 minutes. Trey was
glancing at some of the band members with a look like: "Where do we go
from here?" on his face Fish finally pulled the band back into the
groove and they finished it up. If space is what you're into, then this
is the SOAM for you.
BRIAN AND ROBERT: I collected myself and smoked another bowl during
this one. Don't hate it, don't love it. You know what I mean.
GUYUTE: Nice! After such a tweaked and space SOAM I was glad they
decided to play a more structured, extended piece. This was the first
one I caught since the Went and it didn't disappoint. GUYUTE's don't
vary a whole lot for me but I've yet to hear one I disliked. I guess
Paul had turned Mike up because his bass sounded awesome during the
middle up-tempo part of the song. This set was definitely a showcase of
the different styles Phish can play.
MY SOUL: Definitely a letdown after GUYUTE, but what are you gonna do.
There really isn't a lot to say about this tune. It's always the same
and rather uninteresting. Maybe they were saving their energy for ...
FREEBIRD: Wow! I try to avoid Dead comparisons with Phish as much as the
next phan, but hearing this made me think of Bill Graham's timeless
adage about the boys from Marin: They're not the best at what they do,
they're the *only* ones that do what they do. This was fantastic, vocal
guitar solo and all. Ronnie Van Zant would have been proud.
This was a very strong first set. PYITE, SOAM, GUYUTE, and FREEBIRD
were definitely the highlights. I don't bother with scales becuase
everyone's got their own idea of what a ten is
SET II:
FREE: Excellent call to open the set. I doubt too many folks saw this
coming to open. I really like Trey's guitar work when he's not just
ripping away at full volume, but focuses more on note selection and
melody. This free was a showcase of the latter. The F->G->D arpeggio
right before the verses sounds so thick live, you can barely discern it
on Billy Breathes. This is why I still come to see this band 9 years
later! The jam was rocking. Very tight and really played with
conviction and seriousness. Fishman showcased his John Bonham
idolization during the ending jam. He was just pounding away with a
steady 4/4. Maybe the best Free to date.
LIMB BY LIMB: Definitely one of my three fav's from SOTG. Kind of
thought they might be saving it for NYE, but I was wrong. Again, Fish
was really on top of this one -- how does a white dude from Syracuse
play the drums like that?. More great light work from Kuroda as well.
The jam was kind of structured around the rhythm, much like Free, and
finally petered out into Fish's closing solo. By this point it was
clear that the band was playing with a lot more focus and precision than
they did in the first set, which is saying a lot!
SPACE JAM: Seemed like the band was trying to shift into some more open,
spacy playing and when this began I figured it could have gone anywhere
(except Bowie which was played the 28th). I was too baked to say how
long this lasted, maybe 7-10 minutes. It featured some nice ambient
playing with Trey fooling around with his Delay and then Fish dispelled
any doubts about what was on the way ...
ALSO SPRACH ZARATRHUSTRA: I challenge people to find a better version
of this song than this one. Fish was so locked in to the groove on this
version. Trey was noodling around with some really nice sounding minor
key fills during the opening part of the song, kind of eerie-sounding
but with a distictive funk quality. Mike was following Fish's lead and
laying the groove on Bass. The composed part of the song built to
insane climaxes and had the crowed dancing as hard as it had all night
(until the next tune, that is). Some of the extended versions of 2001
kind of loose interest for me (e.g. the Went version) but this one was
different. It was tight, spacy, funky, and reached some intense peaks --
pretty much the reasons everyone one of us likes Phish.
BOOGIE ON REGGAE WOMAN: I loved this song years before Phish debuted
it, so I was especially psyched to hear it for the first time. Page was
right on with the piano part. This is just a great bouncy song and kept
up the pace after such an intense version of 2001.
YEM: I doubt this was planned on the setlist. Right after BORW wound
down Trey walked over to each of the band members and then ... Wham!
arpeggios galore. This YEM will undeniably go down as one of the best
ever -- has there been a bad one? Seeing a packed MSG yell BOY! at the
beginning of the phunk part was something else. Moments like that are
why we mail order tickets, drive for hours, sit in traffic, pay parking,
deal with security and annoying fans and all the other b/s that goes
along with attending shows.
This set was a little short by Phish standards but I was totally
satisfied with what I had just seen. And with a shortish second set,
that usually means they have something special in store for the encore.
ENCORE:
DIVIDED SKY: First time since 11/24/90 I'm told. I was shocked.
I will gladly send postage and blanks to anyone that has this one on
tape. I no longer maintain an updated tape list, but I can probably
plug a hole or two in your collection if you would prefer a trade. Drop
me an email at mdo7@cornell.edu if you can help
I beg it all true for you,
Matt O. <><
Date: Wed, 6 Jan 1999 10:11:01 EST
From: JCraemer@aol.com
To: dws@protos.lifesci.ucla.edu
Subject: NEWYEARSRUN98_REVIEW
I was just about to sit down and write a review of the 29th, but after
reading matthew O'malley's which follows I do not feel the need. Matt,
you said exactly waht I was going to say. The first time I saw this band
was 6-7-90 at the bayou in Washington D.C. I remember walking out
thinking those are the goofiest mothers i have ever seen, just a little
rough around the edges. Almost a decade later (and about 30 shows) I am
amazed at how far they have come and continue to progress. I hate to use
he words "best" and "flawless", but that show was as close as I have seen.
Up til know I have put 12-6-96, and 12-30-97 down as my favorites that I
have seen live. I think this show just bumped them back. The show had
everything that makes this band my favorite, excellant musicianship, and
an goofiness that says, "hey, were here to have fun, and make sure you do
as well." After the show my partner in crime, Park Place Paul and myself
went to the SoHo Grand for a couple of Bass, and met a great couple from
England. after a cople of pops we decided to go outside, fire one up, and
head o another pub. Walkinh out he door we bumpe into Mike, and I just
shook his hand and said, "Thanks for a great time." He nodded knowingly.
Matt, great job on the review. You hit the nail on the head.
Date: Mon, 04 Jan 1999 14:19:33 -0800
From: Lizzie Sobel lizzie.s@snet.net
To: dws@protos.lifesci.ucla.edu
Subject: NEWYEARSRUN98_REVIEW
well, this is the first show review that I am writing, so I'm not sure
how it will come out. The 29th was the only show that I saw this holiday
tour, and my first show since the wheel. I've read the other two reviews
already, because I'm writing this on Jan 4, and I think that I can add
something. I am also glad to say that this was my 8th show, and the
forst one where I recognized all the songs they played right away, and I
wrote down the setlist during the show. also, I'm not going to comment
on all the songs, just the ones which I feel like I have something to
add.
from the first set:
SOAM: I have heard the song a lot, and it is not one of my favorites, but
the jam in this song was the highlight of the set up to this point. It
was really incredible, nothing like any other SOAM I had heard. after
finishing up a great SOAM, they went into Brian & Robert.
Brian & Robert: This is a slower song that I really enjoy, and after a
SOAM, I can understand why they might slow it down for a song or two.
well anyway, throughout most of this song, all I was hearing was Trey's
guitar, I'm not sure what it was, it was just too loud and I didn't think
this song was in balance, oh well.
Guyute: This was the one that I was hoping for. Before the show, I told
my friend (who is not as crazy about Phish as me) "I hope we hear
Guyute." As soon as Trey played the opening chords, I screamed with
delight. You'll probably hear me on the tapes, because I was near the
tapers. well anyway, this song was the next highlight of the first set,
it was incredible. Played to near perfection.
My Soul: I hadn't heard this one since the april tour. and I was psyched
to hear it. This song really has so much energy, it really is a lot
different live than it is on tape. During this song, I noticed extra
microphones set up on the side of the stage, so I knew that we were in
for a treat.
Freebird: This was the first time I heard it live, and it was incredible.
It was all we were talking about during the setbreak, just great,
everyone should have the experience of hearing this live, I'm sorry for
all the people who missed out.
Set 2:
Free: I hadn't heard this song since New Haven in 95. and back then, I
didn't really know too much about Phish. I love this song live, and I
wish they played it more often. this is a great set opener.
Limb By Limb: This song rocks, there is nothing more to say.
2001: The jam before this started from nothing, and resembled 2001, but I
wasn't sure what they where going. Then about 10 minutes into the jam,
they went into the 2001 drum beat, and I was psyched, this song rocked.
Chris always does a great job on the lighting with this song.
Boogie On Reggae Women: Trey started this one, and at first I wasn't sure
what it was, then when everyone else came in, I realized what it was, and
this song was perfect right after 2001. If you were there, you know what
I'm talking about, if you missed this show, get it on tape, so you can
hear it.
YEM: This is always great. Somewhere in the middle of the Jam, Trey and
Mike got on trampolines, just like the show on the 29th last year. I was
also at that show, so I remember, and I thought it to be an odd
coincidence. Exactly a year apart, at the same venue, during the 2nd set
both times, and during the same song. Well anyway, they first were
jumping then they turned to each side of the stage, which is great,
especially for the people behind the stage.(where I was last year, this
year I was on the floor)
Divided Sky: hearing this song at the wheel was my first time, and
hearing it on the 29th was only my second, so I was psyched to say the
least. I can't think of any better song to encore with. After the
second set ended, I thought back to the previous year, when they encored
with Good Times Bad Times, then I thought about the encore from the april
show(Carini -->Halley's-->Tweezer reprise) and I just was hoping for
something that could top that. Well The Divided Sky nows gets the honor
of the best encore that I've ever seen, and I was actually surprised to
see that they hadn't played it as an encore since 1990. well, as always,
this is a great song and left me a very happy person. Usually after the
encore, I always hope for at least one more, but I didn't have that
feeling this time. Maybe it's just that I've seen so many shows, but
more likely it is because the Divided sky is one of my all time
favorites.
well that's it,
Jason Sobel
Date: Wed, 30 Dec 1998 09:06:22 -0500
From: Michael lipari michael@joineei.com
Subject: FALL98_REVIEW
Last nights show will go down as one of my all time favorite shows
ever!!!! When I tell ya Phish was in there "enlightened zen" there were
in the zone. The crowd was the best I have seen in a long time. I was
15 rows on the floor lookin into Trey and boy I am glad I was where I
was. When I tell ya Phish feed off the crowd to make the 28 th one of
my top 5 of all time.
Rock and Roll: First time hearing it live and thought it was a pretty
good opener. Got the crowd hopping and the boys looked like that they
were starting to warm up.
Funky Bitch: Played really well. Heard it in several other venues that
were better, but played really well. Mike was booping on base last
night and make was he on fire.
PYITE: Couldnt pick a better song to get the phans flowing. Trey was
whalin on his septar last night and was really into it.
Horn: Came out of nowhere and was a treat to here. Brought me back to
the Worchester days and was played very clear and precise.
Ginsing: Glad he puttinn blue grass into the rappore. Excellently
played and was delightful.
SOAM: Was the shit. I love when they get into Spilt Open. I must have
seen about 15 people loose there shit last night and this was one of
them that was really put people in a daze.
B & R: At this time I was thinking Phish needed a breather. I was
looking at Page rippin and several times his hands starting to cramp.
SO we needed to slow it down a bit. At this time I was thinkin, "Man
there have to rip with something here."
Guyute: Always good to hear. Was fitting for the set. Played it very
clear and drew it out well. Looked like Phish was coming back to there
chorus like they in each others head knowing where to go.
My Soul: Not a fan favorite of this one because of the way they stepped
on this song in the fall of 97 but was good to hear. Havent heard in a
long time and was pretty funky.
Freebird: When I tell you that I have been waiting 3 long years for
this song and I am glad that I can die a happy person now. Fishman's
expression before the song was so funny that He was like you ready
guys.... Excellent first set. I could have went home a happy phish fan
at that point and could have beat a lot of the holiday traffic.
Set Break: Legs couldnt take much more.
II Excellent Free opener. Kept up with it and was glad to hear.
Havent heard in a while and knew that we would be getting some great
shit afterwards.
Limb By Limb: Good to hear, was waiting for that song to get the cement
out of my legs.
2001: Couldnt have come at a better time. Spacy and the lights couldnt
have accomdated the song any better. How many people were trippin on
the smoke that they let out on that song. Was fucking increbible.
Played very well, Trey and Page were in top form and liked the way Page
ripped on his onsomble of musical zen.
Boogie: First time and liked it very much. By this time the crowd was
so happy that they landed into MSG this particular night that you
couldnt have given much more. And then you think Phish cant do any
more. YEM that all I have to say.
YEM: Played ohh so good. Thay had soo much positive energy by this
time that we could have landed Phish on the moon. Played soo well I
was in a trance. Didnt need any hits last night, got a free trip
without having to take anything. There vocal jam was excellent and
could tell they could have played YEM all night.
Second Set couldnt have been any better
E Divided Sky: Where did that come from. Hopefully Trey was telling us
that there gonna bust into Gamehendge on the 30th. Trey was definatley
in the zone and this point and people couldnt take much more.
Overall one of the best shows I have seen probably since Philly of last
yr. When I tell you that the energy in MSG could have lit NYC for free,
it could have. The crowd put Phish in such a zone last night that I
think they impressed themselves. Every song had soul and funk in it, I
was thinkin that why they played it last night. Every song complemented
one anothere to a tee. I give this show a 9.9999999999999999999999 out
of 10. If the horns would have came out for SOAM and YEM and 2001, I
could die a happy Phish phan. Cant wait to see tonight. Wilson opener.
Michael
Date: Wed, 30 Dec 1998 15:13:00 PST
From: Michael Isenbek lizardking31@hotmail.com
Subject: NEWYEARSRUN98_REVIEW
Last night's show was totally wacked, it was the only show I could make
on the run, so of course my expectations were high. The preshoe scne was
the usually, and quite a few miracle seekers were around. Some really
loud guy was waving an orange around and offering it for a ticket, and
another loud guy had a five-dollar bill and a huge bud that he was
offering. Real great scene as I got inside, everyone was real mellow,
except for that guy with no shirt I was with who was running around
picking girls up (literally), and splashing people with water (yeah,
Phil, he IS crazy). Oh, by the way, I love some of the fashions around
the scene. Besides the dreds, those tiaras some of the girls wear are
really cute :). Onto the baccanal (sp?)
Fishman had a Viking Helmet on throughout the show
Rock and Roll: I didn't know the opening song, but soon found out. Great
jam, and a good way to get us all crazy (this show had the best crowd
reactions of all the shows I've been to)
Funky Bitch: Trey just went nuts on this one, whenbever a jam gets to
its absolute peak, Chris does the hail of white light thing. There were
a lot of those. Bitch got slapped about, and ripped into:
PYITE: WoooHoooo!!!! Even though it was the fourth time I have seen the
song live (out of 8 shows), it was totally killer. From my section (212)
I could see the whole front row going crazy, and a few strangely dressed
individuals near the stage entrance....
Horn: Completely unexpected, and really beautiful, coupled with Ginseng
Sullivan, they were the well-placed slow moments in the 1st set. the
slow silent interval was inerrupted when those drumbeats filled the
arena:
SOAMelt!!!!- Wacked out funked out, sick sick sick!!!! Much more
dissonant than the more rockish versions I had seen previously. At the
spaces between the lighting rigs there were little screens that Chris
projected psychedelic little sqaures going around and around... then
Brian and Robert: Good breather, I didn't buy SOTG, so I didn't know it.
The lyrics are pretty cool.
GUYUTE!!!!! YEEEE HAAAA!!!!! - Arevelatory moment from our boys , 'nuff
said.
My Soul: Well, I was ready to hate this song after hearing it on a tape,
and having it not go anywhere, but here it was really good!! They ttok
it to 'white light' levels. I thought that was it until....
FREEEEEEBIIIIRRRDDDD!!!!!: I lost it. They did this just to see the
reaction of a crowd of 18,000 lose their shit, but we were already there
at that point.
setbreak: We tried to get the sections above us to do the wave (I was
the guy with the long hair and beard) It didn't work.... I was thinking
at this point that the second set was going to be insane .
It was.
Free: Came out of nowhere!!!! Hadn't seen itr live since summer '95, so
this was the first one I'd seen of the new arrangement. Absolutely
killer!!! Funk and dissinance stood together to great effect.
Limb by Limb: White lights!!!! Holy shit, what a song!!! Hadn't seen it
since my last show (NYE '97) and here I am thining that that was the
best performance ever that time.... well I was dead wrong. At one point,
I felt inspired to conduct the band, seeing if my subliminal flailing
would actually lead the music, okay, I'll admit it now, I had two goo
balls.... Anyway, unbelievable song, the set was turning out really
nice, then it became out of control with the loopy spacy intro jam to:
2001: The grand dame, magna mater, heir apparent, ass kicking throat
throttling total sickness of the night. Funk, climax, white lights,
wickedety wackety fun!!!! Someone said they did a Ctrosseyed and
Painless jam in their, but to me it sounded like what the band was
playing while the girl with the two tails coming out of her head was
dancing during the Jabba the Hutt scenes in Return of the Jedi. Oh,
yeah, at this point, those dancers with the costumes came onstage. The
rest of the show had them around on the floor section.
Boogie on Reggae Woman: Didn't know it, wicked funk, suggestive dancing,
the show got, from what I said 'sexy' from this point on.
No topless dancing girls though (at least, not in my section) :(
YEM: the nailed it, funk, climax, tramps, Trey on Fire, instant jam
stop, wild vocal jam (with the 2001 Monolith Chorus at the end). This
was definitely the 2001 show, and being a really big fan of the movie, I
was in heaven (or Jupiter, whatever you wish) Chris had the craziest
lights at the end of this (the whole show had the best light show I've
ever seen). The white lights were spinning at high speed around the
whole arena during the monolith chorus, and sent me over the edge. I had
to scream. The dosers were already screaming, so I went unnoticed...
encore:
Divided Sky: The end of show Junta fest! Nailed this one to, a revisit
the the intensity of the Halloween '94 one I've heard on tape. Amazing
end to the show, best show ender I've heard, and a great way to send me
waiting for the Summer Tour.....
the all who were there, I say hi, and to Ian the taper from Rhode Island
I hope you came down from the trip okay...
Kristen: maybe I will try acid one day :)
Phil: yeeahh!!! Maybe next time we can attempt mass crowd control.
Oh, and I forgot your friend's name, I'm sure you understand.
Poit!
-Pinky