The Bowie is not to be missed.

Set 1 sounds like it could be an On Stage recording. The mics seem closer to Trey and Page as they’re more up front in the recording. Good sound on this one even though it has handful of generations in it’s lineage. Unfortunately, there are warts and some tape warble in spots. Also, the pitch seems to be a hair sharp. Gin is missing a good portion of it’s midsection. Most likely a tape flip. Set 2 is noticeably better! It actually sounds amazing! I would say it’s a first generation source.

I must say they came to play tonight! I feel this show is stronger than Townshend. Both sets are top notch 1989 Phish. Divided Sky had a Gamehendge rap that preceded it. Bag>McGrupp combo kept the Gamehendge theme going with two solid versions. Gin had an extended intro. PYITE sounds far tighter than the first two versions played. This segues nicely into Wilson and features another brief Gamehendge rap. Nice debut version of MSO! I had high hopes for Bowie tonight given that the last two were so adventurous. It’s a solid version but doesn’t reach the heights of the last two.

Set 2 is a real treat! For one the sound is incredible and two they really bring their A game to this one. Check out the YEM->Alumni. Beautiful jam that segues out of an entertaining vocal jam! Kind of reminds of what they’ve been doing with YEM recently. The segue into Alumni is butter! Extended pause during LTJP. Split Open is fantastic and features the OG Fish solo prior to the ‘Steam Dream’ section. There’s a tape flip following Melt. Unfortunately, the start of Hood is cut (about 20-30 seconds) The jam is absolutely exquisite. :::chefs kiss:::. Walk Away and Possum round out a fine evening of music. Definitely check this one out!

This show has its share of sloppyness (Foam, Gim, and PYITE). But it also has some Strength in Bowie, Parts of YEM, and Hood. Melt is also fairly strong for its infancy and a great taste of what is to come. And it’s also cool to hear the Rhombus Narration as well as a cool little Reba tease to start Bowie.

Not a super memorable show. But it teeters just at 3 stars for me.

This show is known for having a good early "Bowie", but also contains a YEM that is WELL worth the price of admission. This YEM is bonkers. Also appearing are a cool, *very* early edition of PYITE, the messy debut of MSO, and a worthy Split Open and Melt. 4 stars here!

Probably my favorite show from 1989. This is the rare kind of pre-1993 1.0 show that is meaty enough jam-wise to satisfy even 3.0/4.0 fans. Every version is goosed with a little more energy than was common in 1989. The Foam, Ya Mar and PYITE are quite tight and strong for 1989, the McGrupp reasserts Phish's prog bona fides, and this show sounds surprisingly modern at times. Both the Bowie and the YEM are rightfully well-regarded - these are strong versions (Trey's solo in YEM especially), and not just by the standards of early 1.0.

Downsides? The Bathtub Gin just ends right after the vocals, so there's no jam; it's not even 5 minutes long - this wasn't uncommon in 1989, but it's jarring if you're coming at this show from the 2020s. Also, the first set is only available in a degraded, hissy form - the 2nd set, however, sounds pretty good. This is one of those shows that I wish could get cleaned up sonically somehow and officially released.

Also of note are the SOAM (with a short, weirdly placed little Fishman drum solo within the composed arrangement) and the gorgeous Hood, both of which are hot versions, though admittedly neither truly breach containment and go Type II - they're just played with precision and fire, and an extra spark of spontaneity and creativity that permeates this whole show and vaults it past the bar 1989 typically sets for Phish. If you're looking for a good place to start digging into 1989, you could do worse than this.