(Published in the second edition of The Phish Companion...)

This was my first show. Reviewing it nine years and 53 shows later is pretty interesting on many levels. I got all geeked out for the show in funky clothes and a stupid Phish hat. Times seemed so innocent then in the scene and the band was right there in the small sealed-off section of the Memorial Gym.
My first taste of Phish was a true segue-way fest of Simple>My Friend>I Didn’t Know. Simple was still a work in progress then but it rocked out for the opener. The My Friend was very strange and slippery with a whacked out (more than normal) vocal jam at the end that led into I Didn’t Know. Guyute was a real treat because it was still a fairly new song then being the 5th time played. It was raw and exciting and felt like a real treat. The biggest thing about this part of the show was how I couldn’t figure when they were onto something new. I was so enveloped in the sound and the newness of Phish that I was kinda lost. In a good way. The second set featured a blazin' Bowie and the popular Reba. I really got treated to a great 1st show when Bela Fleck came out and rocked the banjo. If your a fan of Bela this is a must show. Just some good ole' bluegrass. In hindsight, THE main reason for hearing this show is the Llama that begins acoustic and slams into electric. One by one the band members switched back, flawlessly of course. A rippin' Llama that converted me through and through! This show was just a fun show with lots of shakin' and movin'. One of those had to be there shows. But for Llama fans or bluegrass (Bela) peeps, this show is a nice addition!