SET 1:

The Wedge: Great opener. But after a careful listen, I don’t get why this would be a jamcharts version. But this definitely set a nice tone to open this Saturday show.

Foam: Nice! Trey has slight difficulties in his opening part. No big deal, but it’s there. Not played since Alpine 8.9.97, 17 show gap but with a difficult song like this, that makes it that much tougher I am sure. Some of Trey’s first half of the solo seems a hair off. But once he gets rolling and shifts into high gear, he rips it all to shreds. Good stuff. The ending is a bit jacked up when they transition out of his solo. Can’t agree with this being a jamcharts version.

Simple: Mesmerizing, so chill and patient. Short but fantastic in its own right. Would recommend. ->

The Man Who Stepped Into Yesterday > Avenu Malkenu > The Man Who Stepped Into Yesterday: 67 show gap and Trey’s rust is apparent.

The Sloth: Another bustout, not played since 2.23.97 – a 55 show gap.

Ginseng Sullivan: Played fast as lightning, impressive. Trey picking and grinning.

Saw It Again: Typical version. This tune has one of the coolest openings of any tune they play. Wish they would jam it out.

Horn: Interesting little space jam before they start this up.

Water in the Sky: Standard.

David Bowie: Super solid Bowie. They definitely ramp up significant tension on this one. I bet this would have been a ton of fun to have witnessed live. On tape, it doesn’t quite have that it factor that would cause me to seek it back out for a relisten. But still, this was a great way to end the set.

SET 2:

Runaway Jim: Subtle tease of Beauty of My Dreams by Del McCoury at 2:10. Supposed tease of Super Bad by James Brown at 3:14 but I didn’t hear it. Trey triggers a big loop at 6:37 and things get very quiet for 30 seconds or so. Very aggressive jamming though from there with Trey leading the way. Things do settle and wind down into a bluesy space in the mid 14’s. Late in the 18’s we are still in the same basic space but it sure sounds like it’s about to go into Harry Hood. Like, big time. At 21:50 things have transitioned into an upbeat, Trey led sojourn. Big arena rocking type stuff. Lots of trilling, briefly sounds like the return to the DWD theme. Really sick! Supposed tease of Weekapaug Groove at 23:35, but I never heard it – even rewound once and nope. By the early 26’s things have backed out of that power jam (incredible segment) and things are getting a little quirky. By the mid 29’s things are getting dark and intense. This is an incredibly heady space. Just listen to the power this band could wield at 35:05. It’s unreal. On the fly, without a net over a half hour in they are creating soundscapes that are unique and beyond interesting. 3.0 Phish would have resorted to at least three different bliss sections by this point. Not 1.0. Dark. Nasty. Evil. INTERESTING. By the mid 42’s this lengthy intense 13 minute section has petered out into space. It takes awhile but this turns into a psychedelic soup, things are definitely getting scatterbrained, and it sounds like they are starting to run out of ideas. Sounds like something from one of those huge Tweezers from late 94 and summer 95. They find their way into the Weekapaug sounding stuff at about 47:40. By 52:00 Trey is straight up soloing fiercely. By the late 56’s they are winding down that juggernaut of a jam. What’s the Use would have fit so well into this place but of course this was before WTU ever debuted. Tons of feedback and then >

Strange Design: Placement perfection right there folks. Absolute perfection. God, I love this band. >

Harry Hood: Absolutely smokes! Great Hood would recommend. >

Prince Caspian: Rocked this one out pretty well.

Suzy Greenberg: The beginning is muffed. Page’s solo out of the chute just sounds so great. Complemented by Mike thumping hard, Trey playing porno funk, and Fish pushing the envelope, yelling and egging everyone on. Great stuff!

ENCORE:

Buffalo Bill: Before they go into this – they play around with effects and egg the crowd on. Then from Trey “This is Fish’s favorite song and he wants to play this song.”

Moby Dick: Crowd eats this up. Big ‘bust out’ – 435 show gap, fun stuff. >

Fire: Standard.

Summary: Set one is pretty good, very enjoyable Simple and Bowie. The meat of the set though is pretty much just standard fare if you will. Set two, wow. That Runaway Jim is incredible. Not easily consumable though due to the length. I love it and try and listen to it once a year. Obviously, it dominates the set. Hood is very enjoyable. I concur with the rating of 4.437/5 (247 ratings).

Replay Value: Simple, Runaway Jim, Harry Hood