I was at this show in 1995, and although I remember the music pretty well I don't remember much of the scene. However, this review is coming from a relisten of the spreadsheet version, which is quite nice audio quality-wise.

Set 1:
My Friend, My Friend is a pretty cool opener. I didn't realize quite how many times it has been in that spot, but checking the charts here at Phish.net it is surprisingly often. Drops right into a short and sweet Ha Ha Ha which as a novelty song is a precursor of things to come. A fiery Stash is next, played with all the exactness one would expect from a 1995 version. Trey drops a "Ha Ha Ha Ha" during the first woo-ooo-ooo-ooo-ooo part - not sure I'd call it a tease, but cool nonetheless. This is a short Stash, but it packs a nice little Type I jam in. Trey gets a little talkative about Elvis and a thankfully short f***erpants follows. Pretty jam in the Reba, great great guitar work by Trey.

Then the hilarious Dog Log banter commences. One of the main things I loved about Phish at the time (and now) was their sense of humor, and I was really excited to be involved in a prank like this. As an impressionable 18 year old I really truly believed the Dog Log album was going to happen (in fact I still wish it would). I was thrilled to hear my first Tube even if is was just played totally straight up. Rest of the set is pretty standard, just goes to show they played two set closers in a row in 1995 too.

Highlights from Set 1: Stash, Dog Log sequence.

Set 2:
The Curtain is a great set opener as always, and then (and now) a personal favorite of mine. Fun stop-start into a very spacey Bowie hi-hat opening that dragged the tension to the breaking point. Cool, very chill interplay between Page and Mike in this part, with Trey hitting the effects hard. Nearly 5 minutes until they hit the opening riff and they hit it hard (this was the longest hi-hat Bowie opening up to this point, FWIW). There's a neat little moment early on where Trey sings along with his guitar. When the jam proper kicks off, Trey immediately drops into some menacing lower register playing that sounds incredibly cool. Definitely a pretty dark jam for Bowie, especially led by Trey's playing, but Mike goes some pretty interesting places as well. Halfway through the jam it slowly starts to climb toward the light. Verges on Type II at times, but doesn't quite blast through the wall, mostly held in check by Fishman's steady hand - which isn't to say that he doesn't add some awesome fills throughout the jam. Very cool staccato playing by Trey about 16 minutes in. Extremely high energy finish, I'd be dancing if I wasn't at work.

Mango is a well-needed chill out tune. Taste that Surrounds is notable only for being one of the few Taste that Surrounds. At the time, the evolution of the song seemed really important, a way to show how much you knew as a fan, now…it doesn't. Kind of a cool Mule duel, as far as they go, but I much prefer them as a first set thing. A sublime Harry Hood follows - this was an early favorite in my Phish career and has stood the test of time, but then again 95 was a great year for Hood. I always love Fishman tunes, and Suspicious Minds was no exception. Warren Haynes sitting in on Funky Bitch and WMGGW was a very unexpected and awesome treat to experience live, and he is right at home dropping some blues in Funky Bitch (dare I say his guitar's tone is more appropriate to the tune than Trey's?).

Highlights from Set 2: Bowie! Harry Hood. Funky Bitch, esp. if you like Warren Haynes.

This show has almost everything one could want in a Phish show: an awesome jam, tight playing, banter, some antics, a Fishman tune, and a great guest appearance. 4 out of 5 stars. Check it out!

The most amazing live music experience of my life. I was 13 years young and front row center for this one. My mom scored tickets from someone she worked with, and surprised me with the tickets the day of. (Love you mom) We got to the show early and I told her I would meet her after the show. I ended up front row center stage....still the only time this has happened after countless shows. I remember someone named Nustley asking me how old I was. He told me that this show would change my life forever. Boy was he right! I still can't believe how much time, money, and energy I still put into this band!

I vividly remember Trey and Mike walking out on stage with huge shit-eating grins on their faces. They proceeded to melt my brain after that. I swear Mike kept making direct eye contact with me, almost like he couldn't believe I was there. At the time, I probably looked like I was 10.

Best show opener (MFMF) Directly in to Ha Ha Ha...amazing. The Reba was incredible. The boys were in a great mood for this one, as evidenced by the banter in the 1st set.

Second set was amazing top to bottom. The Bowie is a must-hear and the Hood and Scent are top notch. Throw in a mango song and two songs with Warren Haynes and you get one hell of a show.

Wish they would release this, but I'm not holding my breath. I would pay top dollar to hear a quality recording, and I think the rest of the Phish community would enjoy this one. I would take this over Niagra 95 all day long. Come on Kevin, let's get it done!! Please!!!

Yet another early dubbed cassette from my collection, but I listened to this one quite a lot. As far as setlists go, this show has everything I could ask for: banter, breakouts, solid jams in both sets, Henrietta and Warren Haynes guest appearance, all meat, no filler (with the possible exception of Cavern). And the performances do not disappoint: a loooong intro in a crazy Bowie is as good as any other "weird" December '95 jams (e.g. 12/1 Mike's, 12/12 DWD, 12/8 Tweezer, 12/7 SOAMelt, but not necessarily 12/2 Tweezer or 12/9 YEM). Hood is not quite as awe-inspiring as the 12/5 or 12/30 versions, but is still a good version. Download this show and hear for yourself.

WOW!! I was taping, entire show was OK, then the encore came. The Civic Center exploded with energy! Sound & lights completely changed! One of my most memorable songs played by phish, most likely because Warren Haynes was on stage. My taping buddy Dave Minor (RIP) almost fell asleep, the encore blew him away. Great closing!

Scott

THis show at the CCCC was so fun with the Dog Log album invite from Trey and the great jams that flowed that evening. We say the 1st set on the floor beside the sound boards (Mike's side, left) then went to the center stage in the back to smoke our way thru set II
Bowie was amazing the Elvis tease with suspicious minds was awesome and a personal favorite Funky Bitch to close the set!! Warren to help on slide guitar for the encore come on!!!
Great show, again
KK

This was my very first Phish show, and remember having an absolute blast. We met and hung out with some other guys that were doing the whole tour, and can distinctly remember them saying, "This wasn't your normal Phish show" after it was done. After going to dozens of shows myself in the following years, I can now confirm that was absolutely true.

The My Friend opener was great, launching straight into a brief Ha Ha Ha. Scent of a Mule was awesome as always, and Suspicious Minds was a real treat. Probably to this day the best Fishman singing performance I've seen live. Plus, the humorous 'dog log' crowd interactions were really fun, and can remember us debating whether or not a 'Dog Log' album would actually be coming out. lol. Warren Haynes showing up was also entirely unexpected. Not sure why he appeared in Portland Maine of all places, but it was great to see him on stage with Phish. I wound up seeing him play with the Allmans a few times shortly thereafter.

This show really illustrated the fun the band was having at the time, and it absolutely transferred over to the crowd. They were clearly this whacky, uncannily talented band, that didn't seem to take themselves too seriously, and were still somewhat flying under the radar. (somewhat, and not for much longer). So this was my virgin Phish experience, and I still look back on it nostalgically.

December 95' never disappoints.

I really like the MFMF>HAHA 1-2 punch to start the show. Very strong and cohesive Stash, great build and intensity. Reba is well played but pretty standard for this era. Dog Log has hilarious banter that would not be topped until the famous Big Cypress "Cheesecake" banter. Llama bursts out of Dog Log in flames and is quite powerful. Tube is a very strong 3 minute ripper.

Curtain is pretty solid. Great Bowie intro, very tense yet cohesive jam that slowly develops into some awesome peaks towards the end. Great Mango Song. Fun ScentOAM. Gorgeous hood with some very patient playing and it unfolds just as it should into an epic outro very good version. Funky Bitch has a great sit in by Warren Haynes as him and Trey tag team it and play like they have played together for years. Trey would say later that Warren is one of the only other guitarists he can properly link up with and play "Over and under" and this is proof.

Overall a very good show with a ton of different things to offer.

Really great balance of goofy antics, great song choice, tension release jamming, and even a guest appearance. Almost a “jack of all trades” kind of show only exception is that the Bowie is in no way a “jack” this Bowie is an ace in the hole and probably the best Bowie in fall 95, it’s a true masterpiece

SET 1: My Friend, My Friend[1] > Ha Ha Ha: Standard.

Stash: Rock solid! Seems to be an underrated version. Would relisten!

Prince Caspian: Standard.

RebaP: Pretty good version but not one that I would recommend or go out of my way to replay.

Dog Log, Llama, Dog Log: Absolutely hilarious antics in here. You have to listen to this or watch the YouTube’s.
Classic!

Tube: Nice kickdown – one good turn deserves another.

McGrupp and the Watchful Hosemasters: Page is amazing in this one.

Julius > Cavern: Standard.

SET 2: The Curtain: Standard. >

David Bowie: Very long intro. This one is a BEAST! Not quite as some of the big versions from the summer but magnificent in it’s own right. This is a must hear version and an all timer.

The Mango Song: Check out the cool jam they tack on to the end of this Mango… >

Taste That Surrounds, Scent of a Mule: Standard.

Harry Hood: Extremely uplifting Hood, this one will definitely knock your socks off!

Suspicious Minds > Hold Your Head Up: Standard.

Funky Bitch: Trey and Warren Haynes pair well on this and rip it to shreds.

ENCORE: While My Guitar Gently Weeps: Trey and Warren again play nicely off one another. Very cool!

Summary: Another amazing December show. Not quite to the level of Hershey and Niagara, but not far off those heights either. Stash, Bowie, and Hood have plenty of replay value. The gag in Dog Log is just fantastic. Never miss a Monday show in Portland, ME! I would score this as a 4.4 out of 5.