You haven't really heard Phish if you haven't heard some of these five shows, I've heard 4/16 about a million times but have finally heard the other 4 (4/16-4/21) a few times now. I'm not saying they didn't play well afterwards, obviously they have and did, Island tour and fall 97 is simply amazing (I love Rochester Fall 97 - for me a perfect 5.0/5.0 show, perfect first set, perfect second set and perfect encore!)

However, to appreciate Phish and where they came from you have to hear these shows, they have their goofiness and weird moments that makes them uniquely Phish but also throws a ripple in the energy of the show throwing you off balance. But in my opinion, the moments in these shows, like Buried Alive-->Possum (4/16) is quite simply the best Phish has ever played!

The band is composed of 4 complete scholars of music. They are each master musicians at their instruments. With that said, the band is still a Trey - Guitar oriented band. When he is really going off AND the band is really going off in a matching way, like a few moments in these shows, it is perfection. I think it is the youthful restless Trey going "Marty McFly in Back To The Future" on the guitar that really sparked these genius moments of playing. Post 2001 Trey has gotten a little older, more mature and just doesn't quite have the same ability in his fingers anymore. Great expressive and mindful jams, but that 1992-1998 ripping ability is fading!

Anyone new to Phish that is learning about them and has heard Livephish releases, or offical realeases HAS TO HEAR THESE SHOWS- YOU WILL BE BLOWN AWAY!! Get good sounding SBDs at www.etree.org