This was almost my first show. As sophomores in college, we had precious few friends with cars, and we basically had to beg a friend who hated Phish to go. We waited til after his last class and arrived just as they wound up the Star Spangled Banner...just in time to hear the opening notes of Sample.

This really was an average show. Set list wise, it was pretty much a best-of-fall-1996-greatest hits show. Nothing rare at the time. No truly stand out jams. But perhaps thats what makes this a great starter show. When I want to introduce a n00b, this is a great show to play them. The songs aren't really too long (I find long jams aren't good for introducing someone new to Phish), lots of lyric based songs (again ideal for newbs), some classic instrumental with pretty jams (Sample and Cars Trucks Buses are both great great songs to introduce the band with), some great intensity (Bowie, Chalkdust)...

But all is not lost on this show for the more experienced fan. While the song run times tell a tale of songs played as written with little script departure.... my face absolutely melted during Stash and Chalkdust. Chalkdust particularly....maybe it was the first show thing....but my jaw nearly hit the floor and I was left saying "whoa". I even had to sit down as the song climaxed for seemingly the 10th time in a 7 minute period. I looked over, my friend who hated Phish, bobbing his head. I look over the other way, 75 year old security guards with the meanest looks on their faces all night...bobbing.

A great show to keep in mind if wanting a greatest-hits show or to introduce to a newbie.