11/16/12 - This show was replayed in thePhish room on Turntable.FM

An awesome show here that is well-known for its Bela Fleck sit-in. What more needs to be said about a show with a monster Slave w/ Bela sitting in? A decent amount, actually...

Third song in we are hit with a Reba that means business, already off to a very great start. The sequence of If I Could > Ice > Theme is excellent and flows very well. Acoustic Army is always a treat and then we go in to a humorous Fee, with a nice amount of stage banter after Trey flubs some lyrics. A tight Melt closes the set.

Timber > Sparkle > Simple > Possum is just awesome. All of these songs go together perfectly and each have their own highlights within. It may be worth mentioning that the Possum is 17 minutes long. We get a nice YEM with extended sections in the intro. More magic happens when Bela joins the band. He is a little drowned out in Taste but still adds some nice layers. Poor Heart gives Bela his first chance to really shine, and he certainly does. We then drop in to some acoustic bluegrass that warms the soul... before finally reaching the aforementioned Slave.

Not discrediting the Bag or Ya Mar, as they serve their purpose and get things going, but this show just doesn't quit after Reba.

This recording has been remastered: http://www.mediafire.com/?1dis64h7c2o34

Every time I hear a new Fall '95 Possum it immediately becomes my new favorite version. Fall '95 was Possum's heyday; they consistently raged that shit hard that tour. 11.29 is no exception. This one also has a pretty long and entertaining intro taboot, but it's still all about the jam. My first impression after hearing this jam was that it is the most intense one I've heard. That prompted me to do little survey of all the Fall '95 Possums I have heard (10.22, 11.12, 12.2, and 12.7). I re-listend to all of them back-to-back and concluded that my initial impression was right: 11.29 is king. October 22nd used to be my favorite, but now it's number two.

This version is so intense that I think it took something out of Trey, seeing as he doesn't take a solo in the following YEM. Worry not, though, Page takes two solos. He plays his normal organ solo, then moves over to the grand and takes another. It actually works out really nicely and the bass and drums jam is great too. And on top of all that we get a six (that's right, SIX) song Bela sit-in. Needless to say, this is a super solid second set. Worthy of multiple listens for sure.

The first set isn't too shabby either. The jamming highlights are a pretty good Reba and a usually tense Split. Theme is also nice.

Overall, a very good show with an especially raging second set. As Mike Gordon once said: "On a scale of 2 to 3, I'd give it a 3."

Excuse me. The Simple is pretty "important" here. It's not the usual sing-songy see-saw jam. Nor is it a shred-fest. Trey grabs a nice little ascending figure and rides it all the way up. Dismount is a bit jarring, which might be the only thing keeping it off the jam chart, but I'd recommend giving it a good listen.

SET 1: AC/DC Bag: Raging out of the gate. >

Ya Mar: Gets out there a bit.

Reba: Starts off very, very fast. The Chill is so, so, so good. Page is super groovy for like what feels about 30 seconds without Trey even playing a note. When he does, he fires off a couple of quick notes and that sustains one. Very cool in here to start this jam, super patient. Check out Trey at 12:48, hits a gorgeous note and then sustains it for a few seconds! 13:28 a big release right here, gave me major goosebumps. This Reba is an all-timer, incredible version!

If I Could: When the jam starts check out Page and Trey trading links. It’s like they are thinking with the same brain. Beautiful Phish. >

It's Ice: Good jam, Page is great. >

Theme From the Bottom: Standard.

Acoustic Army: Check out the super weird, very loud unhinged cackle from someone in the crowd at 0:34.

Fee: Trey mumbles the first couple words, then hits the eject button and skips this altogether: Milly turned and began to scream at Floyd said "You think you're pretty mean" - And though she was as thin as a small string bean - She slammed him in the face with a nectarine. LOL then at the end Trey “That was the abridged version, the readers digest version, the original version was banned at bookstores all across the country, it was all that nipple slicing part that was bad for America’s youth, we are going to breed a generation of teenagers going around slicing people’s nipples with envelopes. Next time I sing it I will have him jump off the boat voluntarily so that there is no violence, the nice version.” >

Split Open and Melt: Page is still laughing at Trey as this one starts up. Decent version.

SET 2: Timber (Jerry the Mule) – Rager, awesome version. Intense. >

Sparkle: Standard. >

Simple: Absolutely beautiful. You need to hear this version. So pretty. >

Possum: One of the all-time greats and the longest version ever. The intro is very long, the All Fall Down piece goes on forever and they generally just jam, and jam, and then jam some more.

You Enjoy Myself: Not sure what happened here but Trey doesn’t take his customary solo. Instead, Page just crushes his own solo that is quite fantastic! Would love some insight here…

Taste That Surrounds: Trey drops out on the lyrics in the intro and is bailed out by Page. Must have had something to do with Bela coming on stage? Bela crushes it. He sounds so good in this tune. > Heart and Soul: Very cool, brief yet awesome. >

Poor Heart: Ripped – made for Bela.

I'm Blue, I'm Lonesome, My Long Journey Home: I think before MLJH, Trey dedicates it to Sue and Nicole.

Slave to the Traffic Light: Magic, pure magic. When Trey and Bela trade licks in the beginning of the jam – goosebumps and tears. It’s incredible. Embarrassed to guess how many times I have heard this, but every time is like the first time.

ENCORE: A Day in the Life: Standard.

Summary: What a difference one show can make! As dull and boring as Knoxville was, Nashville was the polar opposite. Reba, Timer, Simple, Possum and Slave are all versions that I would revisit. What a show! I would rate this as a 4.3 out of 5.