I saw all the Starwood shows and this was my favorite. I went with my buddies Will C. and Will P., who as crazy as it sounds, were born in the same hospital on 5/3 of whatever year that they were both born in--you know its gonna be trippy going with two characters like that as your show companions on their birthday. The year before in the beer garden/veranda was insane with the band entering on golf-carts and we knew we could not miss this one and loaded up the Yukon for the drive from Knoxville.

Arriving in the parking lot, the scene was very subdued because of the rain. We stayed in the truck and watched people arrive and one of my buddies from Knoxville joined us and we proceeded to clambake the truck with some true East Tennessee headies. Running into the venue we ended up 3 rows out right in front of Page and had ample room to jam and enjoy a different side of PHiSH jamming thru Hank Jr's rig. It was a bit different sounding because of the different PA--the first time I really thought the sound was BIGGER--foreshadowing of daze to come--which back then, it still was "mini-tour." Paul did a great job harnessing that monster rig.

What seems like on paper a typical 1994 first set, actually its chock full of great highlights in Guelah, Maze and Sparkle (which I love because if you really look at it, its a bluegrass song on steroids!) Stash, Scent of a Mule and Sample were also fun and the Barbershop Quartet Boys did well with Sweet Adeline.

Second set was like a different show however. Blowing out of the doors with Bowie was awesome--full of teases and overtones of massive energy, rocked the birthday boys completely. If I Could is a mellow choice after that rocker, but, with Allison Krause doing her vocal part from the album, and as her only time playing live with PHiSH, it was incredible. Fluffhead and DwD were awesome choices--my memory is foggy (rather groggy) but I remember that was one of the versions of DwD where I actually knew all the words and loved it from the bottom of my dancing feet--not as long and jammed out like the ones in later years, but great knowing that was their "MTV" song.

Harpua to follow is spectacular. I remember thinking Will C was gonna lose his mind as Trey did a "Mash-Up" of The Cream's "Sunshine of your Love" while singing the words from Stevie Wonder's "Sunshine of My Life"--complete mastery of music and total tomfoolery presented in the middle of the epic Harpua. Then, my second favorite Fishman tune (only topped by Getting Jiggy with it from Hampton 98) with Jungle Book song "I wanna be like You" was so over the top Henrietta campage I can't describe it here. My god that was so funny!! Slave finished off in fine form with its power and oldschool jam. The encore Bluegrass/country Nellie Cane was a great tip of the hat to Nashville and of course, Fire is almost Punk Rock PHiSH. Definitely get a copy of this show for your listening enjoyment. One of my phaves--soon to be one of yours, too. Cheers!