7-25-99 -- Deer Creek, Noblesville, IN

Date: Thu, 29 Jul 1999 02:21:10 EDT
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: FIRST NIGHT AT THE CREEK
 
I have never written a review before, nor had I ventured that I would, but
after a show like this I couldn't resist. I was entirely blown away.........
I caught Sandstone at the beginning of the tour, and must say I walked out
shaking my head....the boys seemed a little off, and since Deer Creek was my
next show I was worried, why I can't say now...........
This was my sixth show, and I believed none would ever compare to Sandstone
'98, but unpredictability is Phish's trademark..........

Meat.......nice.......I'd only heard it on Story, so I was impressed with the
way it came across live. I loved the way boys kept teasing us with the
ending......3 or 4 times I was sure they'd rock into the next tune, and
boom--pow, Meat...........

My Friend, My Friend.........well, my friend who was with me said on the way
to the show that he hated this song (???), but after this rocked out version,
he is a conformed phan of the guy with the knife......Mr.Gordon had us all
bouncin' through this one, and the whole show...........

My Left Toe.....well, I wasn't even aware that this was anything more than a
phunky, phreaky jam until I read the set on phish.net, but I remember dancing
my ass off to it nonetheless.................

Whipping Post.....GODDAMN!!!! I was just blasted away with this!! I've only
heard the Fishman versions, and damn was it nice........especially being the
recent recipient of a broken heart as I am.........a little sound trouble
with the drums, but Trey's screaming guitar filled the
gaps...........definitely a highlight for me........

Makisupa.......one I'd wished to hear, thanks guys.......loved Trey's "
gooballs--brownies--stink kind---nugs----------keef "....SWEET!! Then Happy
Birthday to Chris, with the audience singing along.......Fishman's solo song
to Chris...." You roll 'em big spliff, and pass it to no one mon " I was rolling!!

I Saw It Again.....nice, but maybe lacking some of the fire burning through
the other tunes....still Mike was all over it........

Boogie On.....damn, I love this tune.....you could tell Trey was having fun
with this one.......a rocker from pop to drop........

Cavern......nice closer, my first one, but ruined because the guy I was there
with kept arguing that it was called Picture Of Nectar........wish he'd have
just shut up and enjoyed the song......

SET 2.....

Birds....well, my sixth show and my fifth Birds, so I was a little let down
when I heard the opening chords, was hoping for Wilson or 2001, but I have
gotten a new appreciation for this tune....the jam at the end of this version
had my feet a-movin'......kick ass jam.......

Walk Away....thank you Page....this was a real treat...Page was flowing
nicely and the rest of the band was right there lending a hand....I dug this
one alot.......

Antelope....Fuck yeah!!!! Definitely the highlight of an awesome show...the
jam swirled around for eternity before dropping into the vocal part...then
took off again.....HELL YEAH!!!....pulling right into Suzy....

Suzy Greenberg.....definitely one of my wish list tunes....I danced my ass
off to this one.....tight and crisp, it was a grade-a rocker......funny
aside, my buddy hadn't heard this one until the drive up, and was like wow,
what a cool song, hope they play it.......

Purple Rain.....oh, yeah.....classic Fish with great lyric flubs..." I just
can't remember the lyrics to this one, but I'm going on just like Prince
would want me to...."...and then the classic.."I just wanna thank you for
feeding my habit and letting me play my vacuum...."
I loved it......another aside, my buddy had never heard this one either, and
on the drive up asked me to play it, and then fell asleep......so, the band
made it up to him........also must comment on the great running around the
stage antics of Jon B. Fishman.....I was roaring in hideous gales of
laughter.........

YEM...I hate to say it, not one of my favorite tunes, but a nice one here for
sure........the vocal jam was great, with Kuroda's lights reaching new
heights......I enjoyed.......

ENCORE........
I was not sure what it could be, and thenm the opening notes......

Loving Cup....all I can do is smile about this one....what a treat......Page
was alive for this tune, and it was his moment for sure.....what a beautiful
buzz.........
All in all a great show, leaving me yearning for more...........

Date: Sat, 31 Jul 1999 14:10:52 EDT
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Deercreek show 7-25-99
 
    I must begin by saying I am a Phish virgin. My friend is a disciple, and
he bought me every studio album for Christmas. Then he told me we were going
to Indiana for the two Deer Creek shows. Without any other words to describe
it except the cliche, "IT BLEW ME AWAY!" I must honestly say that I was
nervous that I wouldn't get it, and I would be stuck there for two hours
listening to one song, but that couldn't be further from the truth.
    When they walked out and went into "Meat," a song that I luckily knew, I
was relieved, but I was amazed at the energy of every single fan bobbing
their heads in unison. Seemed like some sort of cult, I must say. After
that,
I was hooked on anything they had to play.
    "My Friend" was nice and hard, and I suddenly realized, I was at a ROCK
show, not some trippy jazzfest that some of my friends have said would
happen. This was intense.
    When they brought out the reggae,(Makisupa Policeman, Boogie On...) I
tried to decide if this was in fact the best concert I had ever seen. "Birds
Of A Feather" is not my friend's favorite song by a long shot, but we both
rocked out to this version. "Purple Rain" was comedic brilliance. Ending the
second set with "Cavern" was awesome. Hearing 25,000 people screaming A
PICTURE OF NECTER!!! was incredible. And "Lovin' Cup" was perfection to
finish the night. My first Phish show, but definitely not my last.

Date: Wed, 28 Jul 1999 10:17:53 -0600
From: "Gagliano, Michael (Cahners - CHI)" [email protected]
To: "'[email protected]'" [email protected]
Subject: deer creek 7/25
 
I'll start by saying I disagree with another reviewers' comment about
Alpine.  I was lucky to have 8th row center via Mail Order and was within 20
feet of Trey.  He was not messed up.  I was sober and so was Trey. Period.
 
 
On to Deer Creek.  The scene was simply awesome.  Although the Gorge is
consistently voted the #1 venue by some stupid survey, both phish phans and
deadheads alike will tell you DEER CREEK IS THE REAL SHIT!  Half the size of
Alpine, and twice the acoustics.  Phish picked the perfect spot to close the
tour.  Although a little hot(low 90's) we had no rain.  PERFECT!!
 
The show opener Meat was great.  Totally unexpected as an opener.  It's
great when they trick the rookies into the false ending!  My Friend is one
of my favorite Phish songs.  In my opinion, tonight's was best ever
performed especially if you include the JAM that followed(I guess it's
called My Left Toe?).  This jam snaked thru many different grooves led by
Mike.  Trey made the 1996 Alpine Whipping Post(sung by Fishman) look
pathetic.  This Whipping Post was how Whipping Post was meant to be;
jamming, rocking and excessive!  I hope Fishman never sings this one again.
Makisuppa was good with the light solo by Chris, but nothing special.  Saw
it Again was really awesome.  I'd never heard it live before, but hope to
hear it more often.  It really is a great song.  The Boogie on Reggae Woman
was the best I've seen or heard.  Mike and Page were laying down the
funkiest beat.  Trey alternated between rhythm and solos.  He had the
coolest tone going on the guitar. Jam included, this Reggae was about 15
min.  Cavern closed this excellent set with Trey doing his now familiar
Theramin stunt with the guitar.
 
The second set Birds took this song to a new high!  The multi-themed jam
that followed had my friends and I spellbound!  Trey simply went OFF!!!!!!
This jam led into Walk Away.  Classic Rock the way it should be played:
LOUD!  The Antelope that followed was good.  Nothing extraordinary, other
than the familiar "slow down to silence and then pick it up" section.  Suzy
Greenberg was awesome with Page taking a well deserved solo with hints of I
Wish(S. Wonder).  Suzy was rusty but kick ass!  I personally hate when
Fishman does his little "Schpeel" and tonight was no exception.  Purple Rain
SUCKS!  What the fuck?  C'mon.  I say let Fishman play the drums and drums
only(other than back-up vocals).  I know many phans dig it, but I personally
do not.  Y E M finished the set in fine fashion with both the jam and vocal
jam kept relatively short.  Loving Cup put the 1st Creek night to rest.  All
in all I'd give the show a 7/10.  Mon. would prove even better!!!
 
Mike Gags

Date: Tue, 27 Jul 1999 18:47:16 -0500
From: Kevin Hanley [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Phish Review 7-25-99
 
Hey now,
 
I just returned from Columbus -> Creeks and I'd like to give my two
cents about Deer Creek.   They're my 16, 17th shows, my 3rd year at the
Creeks.
 
First set:
 
Meat as an opener, so I hear the 1st time, is rather strange, but it's a
cool warmup tune....and then MFMF was great to hear next, well-played.
The segue into My Left Toe went unnoticed by me b/c I don't have nor I
have I heard the Siket Disc.....but Whipping Post was killer!   Trey was
all over this one, giving shit-eating grins left and right!   Makisupa's
key words were some long stretch of "ice-cold-kind-veggie-nugs" or
something to that effect, rather funny in that he tries to stick in the
most-used adjectives from the scene.  What made the Makisupa, is the
one-minute LIGHT solo, by Mr. Chris Kuroda!! It was basically him
panning a set of lights aimed at the audience left to right, up and
down, in circles, etc...but it was very cool b/c it was played to no
music -- Trey had told the audience that it's Kuroda's birthday and that
they'll be getting him "wasted after the show....just kidding" and that
they would sing happy birthday to him and that he'll get to do his own
solo as well!!!   It was quite amusing, and Chris even came on the PA to
thank Trey and the band.
 
My first "I saw it again" was cool to hear live -- I heard the outtakes
version from bearsville earlier -- and Page does some nice work
there.    But Boogie on raged!!!!!   I was highly surprised that we got
that tune for the 2nd year in a row at the Creeks and it did not
dissapoint -- it was jammed out longer this year as well.  Caven encore,
standard, closed it.
 
Second Set:
 
I'll admit, when I heard the Birds opener I wasn't as happy as I would
be with a, say, 2001 opener, especially since they just played it in
Columbus, but this version was justified by a different jam at the end,
and that jam going into WALK AWAY instead of the standard Birds
closure.    Walk away --- once again, Trey pounded this one out with
force, the same kind of energy (x?) present at Columbus and Alpine.
Then Fishman begins the familiar drum beat to Antelope and I knew this
set was something extraordinary -- a mid set Antelope (couldn't be the
closer after only 2 songs!) -- and it was delivered fresh, hot, and
quite tasty!
 
But I bet no one was expecting the Suzy after the last beat of Antelope
was completed -- and this Suzy was all PAGE.....one of my personal fav
Suzy's is 12/30/95, with that incredible Page solo -- and this one,
while at a slower tempo (a recurring theme this tour), was highlighted
by a LONG solo by the chairman, in which Trey just gave him a delay loop
to play over and then just watched Leo bang it out.
 
So what could come next...oh, how about a Fishman tune?!   Trey takes
off his guit, walks over and talks to Fishman, and we get a "great"
Purple Rain --- great in that it's Fishman at his finest, flubbing words
so badly he makes stuff up on the fly and says that the song is
basically an excuse to just play the vac, which he does, and it's longer
than most solos i've heard.
 
So what could close such a great show?   I wanted a Slave, but YEM more
than satisfied me -- the jam was fast and furious, and the vocal jam
featured very nice Kuroda work.     Loving Cup encore, what more can you
say?   Even after last night's amazing FOUR song encore (Alumni!), the
Cup was a great ending to a beautiful show at the Creeks....the buzz was
downright gorgeous tonight!
 
.02,
Mike
 
www.public.asu.edu/~mjhanley       <--- tapelist and more

Date: Wed, 28 Jul 1999 09:29:51 -0500
From: Robert Timlin [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: 7-25-99 Deer Creek Review
 
I didn't make it to Deer Creek until 5, but it worked out that we were able
to set up camp and relax for a couple hours as we had great pavilion seats
for once. We picked up some nice garlic grilled cheese on the way in and
settled in our seats about 7:30.  I was amazed to find that Sec A Row M was
not 13th row but actually 8th from what I could tell, off to page's side but
still the closest I have ever been.  Now Meat is just a cool song and a fun
way to get the groove going.  I must say now that I was very impressed with
the way Mike has been playing, I have heard tapes from the tour and you can
notice it there but being able to watch him up close was amazing.  I really
like My Friend, My Friend and enjoyed it > Whipping Post, big surprise here
and they did not disappoint, very rocking version.  Now not only were they
rocking the place but also having a great time doing it as was evident in
Makisupa>Happy Birthday (Reggae Style) >Light Solo.  Very fun, chatty Trey
talking about Chris and getting him wasted after the show.  I saw it again
is a good tune, first time I've seen it, but the highlight for me was the
sweet jam off of Boogie On Reggae women.  I really like this song and they
had a deep groove going, in fact it was going so well I think they had to
revisit it during YEM just because it was sooo good.  Cavern was good but I
was soo happy already they could have played Chumbawumba and I would have
been ecstatic. Second Set (How can it be any better then the first?).  BOAF
(OK it cant be better then the first I said to myself)  but the jam in this
version was great and all in all I enjoyed it > Walk Away, this is a great
song and I had been waiting to see it since they teased it at a show I was
at in 96 :o).  Sweet Antelope had the crowd and the glowrings rocking, but
closed circuit to whoever hit Mike Gordon in the chest with a glowring in
the middle of a sweet Antelope jam shame on you.  The jam was going great
but almost seemed aborted after that incident, could be just the timing but
shortly after Mike was hit the were out of the jam and back in the tune,
good Antelope all in all.  I had completely scratched Suzy off my list of
songs to see, and it was a nice surprise a good version too and the band
looked to be having a lot of fun. Now I knew something was up, there was
this strange pause and I was waiting for the Umpapa Umpapa Umpapa Umpa
PAAAaaAAAAa!  of Harpua, but no Trey walks back behind the stage and
whispers in Fish's ear, and the familiar HYHU baseline starts, its not
Harpua but I'm not complaining.  Now I'm not even gonna try and remember
what fish was saying as he forgot the words to Purple Rain but I was
laughing my ass off.  After making some incredible sounds on the Vaccum.
They kept stopping HYHU and fish would pretend he was going back to the
drums and they would start HYHU again and each time Fish would do something
crazier.  First Bowing to the crowd, then Running side to side on the stage
screaming and shaking his hands, then running full speed in a big circle
around the setup, and of course eventually flashing the crowd.  The girl
camping next to me after the show said she always pictured Fishman being a
Boxer guy, but those were not boxers;o). YEM, great as always with a nice
vocal jam to highlight Chris's skills on the lights once more, back into the
great Boogie on Jam towards the end of YEM, and a Loving Cup Encore and call
it the best show I've seen, bravo!  Lots of energy and fun, with Trey
pumping his fist in the air after the show.  Pretty decent lot scene after
the show, except everyone was too drunk and kept burning my food. Thanks to
everyone there for a great time!  See ya next year.

Rob Timlin


Date: Mon, 26 Jul 1999 14:11:46 -0400
From: "Rubin, Scott" [email protected]
To: "'[email protected]'" [email protected]
Subject: 7/25 Deer Creek review

I didn't see anything posted, so I figured what the hell.  I'm at work and
very tired from driving back to Chicago after the show last night - plus
I've never reviwed a show, so bare with me.......Let me start out by
saying that Alpine was the most disappointing Phish show I've ever seen
(minus the encores of course).  Trey was a mess - end of story. I spoke to
some people that were backstage, and let's just say that Tequila and golf
carts don't mix well.  He wasn't playing guitar on his back - he flat out
fell down. But anyway, this is about Deer Creek.  They came back with a
vengance last night - the best show of the tour.  The scene was awesom,
and contrary to Alpine, getting in and out of the venue was simple (for me
at least)  The show - First Meat of the tour -a fine opener and personal
favorite.  First My Friend of the tour as well - nuff said!  We're getting
off to a good start now. My left toe and then boom - Whipping Post - I
think the first time with Trey on vocals (I believe Fishman sang it the
last time they did it).  This rocked hard and everyone knew to get ready
because this was "the" show.  Then came an extremely fun Makisupa (Woke up
this morning, goo balls, brown, stanky, dank nugs.......Keefe! - or
something like that)  Trey then sang /played Happy Birthday to CK, then
Fish sang Happy Birthday, Rasta style of course (something about rolling a
spliff was thrown in there), Mike did a Happy Bday bass solo, and finally
CK did a 1 minute silent light solo (per Trey's request).  Trey then
mentions something about how wasted they're gong to get after the show (oh
no, not again!) - the whole Happy Birhtday thing was a lot of fun for both
the band and the crowd.  I Saw it Again, Boogie on and Cavern brought this
awesome set to a close.

After what seemed to be an abnormally short set break (maybe it was just
me), they came out and did BOAF, this was as good as BOAF gets with a
tremendous jam at the end.  My friends and I have been calling Walk Away
all tour and we finally got it - a great version - I really can't do it
any justice typing, so I'll let the tapes of this show do the talking.  
Next came a sick Antelope - the crowd erupted only to to get a Suzy
next!!!(another first for the tour).  It was great to hear Suzy - a little
rusty, but still awesome.  Next was

HYHU-->Purple Rain-->HYHU - funny as hell - Fish forgot the lyrics and
sang something like "I don't know the rest of the words, but hey, I'm
being honest, just like Prince would want me to" Then he thanked everyone
for supporting his habbit of playing the vacuum cleaner - before busting
in to one of lengthier vacuum solo's I've ever heard.  After Purple Rain,
he came out for applause numerous times before raising his dress to show
us all what was under there - at least he had underwear on.  Then a YEM to
close the set - this was great as always and there was even a little
Boogie On Reprise towards the end.  Loving Cup tore the place apart for
the encore - so much fun and sent me on the road feeling awesome.

"Just one drink, and I'll fall down drunk"

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