PHISH, THURSDAY 06/15/2000
BIG CAT
Chuo-ku, Osaka, Japan
Soundcheck: Heavy Things, Uncle Pen, The Happy Whip and Dung Song, Windora Bug

SET 1:

NICU: Standard. >

Chalk Dust Torture: As mean as a river otter. Be careful, this one has some teeth for a short, ‘standard’ version ????

AC/DC Bag: Fun jam but the peak feels a little forced. Love the old school ending though! >

Uncle Pen: Trey struggles with the intro.

Ghost: Think pre 2017. And what it meant to get a bliss/hose jam kicked down. That’s what happened here. Late in the 10 minute mark Trey plays with it and then runs with it for the remainder. Just kills it. Dance Party USA. Molly vibes for days. Would recommend.

Frankie Says: Standard.

Divided Sky: Incredible how much respect the crowd shows this version. Wow. You could have seriously heard a pin drop on this audience recording if in fact a pin would have dropped. I am utterly amazed. Japan rules! Not the cleanest version but has so much soul. Trey gets caught up in this beautiful duet with Mike. They bust out of that and into the typical ending. Would recommend, cool version!

Farmhouse: How appropriate after that soul inspiring Divided Sky. This is a Farmhouse indeed. Love Trey from 3:47 through 4:12. So understated in between to fiery solos. Hell yes!!!

SET 2:

Down with Disease[1] > Very rhythmic grooving that lends itself to Crosseyed and Painless vibes in the 11’s – big time in the late 11’s. From here, this one is just Dance Party USA type stuff through about 18 and a half. Very engaging and fun. All the while you have the same loop continuing to run through this whole jam. From like 19 through 22 – it’s very intense and edgy, weird stuff. Can’t dance to that section and it’s awesome, face melting stuff in a strange way. The next six minutes serve as a chill, come down section. Man, tough version to judge. Would recommend. Just not sure of all time status.

The Lizards: Fantastic placement, doesn’t get any better.

Bike > Hold Your Head Up: Standard.

You Enjoy Myself: Funky. Trey uses that same basic effect that set the world on fire in the Piper from 9.27.00. Good version here, another groove monster.

ENCORE:

Gotta Jibboo: Standard.

Summary: One all timer and two strong additional highlights so I would be comfortable hitting this as a 4/5. Very good show!

Replay Value: Divided Sky, Ghost, Down with Disease

[1] Unfinished.

Ghost contained a Live and Let Die tease from Mike and Oh Happy Day teases from Trey. Disease included a Birdland tease and was unfinished. Bike was preceded by a vacuum solo and followed by several runs through the HYHU theme, with each faster than the one before it. The soundcheck's The Happy Whip and Dung song contained lyrics and Windora Bug included alternate "we got really drunk last night" lyrics and a Lively Up Yourself tease from Mike.
JAM CHART VERSIONS
AC/DC Bag, Ghost, Down with Disease, You Enjoy Myself
TEASES
Oh Happy Day and Live and Let Die teases in Ghost, Birdland tease in Down with Disease