This was my first show. A little over a month into my freshman year of college, and 5 days after my sister's wedding - the first really big milestone in our family outside of graduations - I started a thirty year on and of love affair with this band.

The musical highlights are far superior at my third show, 3/20/92 in Binghamton, but one thing in particular stands out thirty years later.

But first, some context. I was a first year percussion major at Ithaca College, and our professor was the marimibist and composer Gordon Stout. It was our weekly rep class the week after this show, and a grad student got up to play a marimba piece composed by Gordon called "Elegy." He dedicated it to Miles Davis, who died two days after this show. At the school of music, all anyone was talking about was Miles Davis, and I think Gordon was sick of it, so before the grad student started playing, Gordon butts in and says, "I'd rather have you dedicate it to Dr. Seuss. Hey, it's my piece..."

Miles Davis hadn't yet died on 9/26/91, and clearly Phish owes a debt of inspiration to him. His "the hardest thing is to sound like yourself" is huge for them.

And yet, I can't help but feel that in some ways Dr. Seuss is an equal if not greater influence. Clearly Jon Fishman was feeling that in the 1st set closing Bowie with his chanting, almost howling, "Dr. Seuss" counterpoint. It's actually fairly poignant, as poignant as a chant of "Dr. Seuss" by a guy wearing a donut mumu during a song with the lyrics "David Bowie, UB-40" can be.

Anyway, Dr. Seuss and Miles Davis died 4 days apart in September of 1991, and in the middle of that I saw my first Phish show. Two artists who changed what children's books and jazz music, respectively, could be, and one band who keeps changing what live touring music is and can be.

Where is the board of this high energy raging show? We have crappy audiences.

This was my 4th PHISH show. I'm trying to remember if this was the show where the security confiscated my freshly packed pipe and then I saw him smoke it later in the show. What a douche!

This show was awesome. I distinctly remember the Dr. Seuss chant replacing the "David Bowie and UB40".

(Published on the legacy Phish.net site many years ago...)

As for the setlist last night in Ithaca, at the State Theater (sent to me by a friend, so I assume no responsibility for mistakes):

I: Llama, Bouncing R the R, Divided Sky, Fee*, It's Ice**, My Sweet One, Geulah Papyrus (w/ The Asse Festival), Lizards, Foam, David Bowie***

II: Golgi Apparatus, Squirming Coil, Brother#, Sparkle##, ?????###, Mike's Song, Lawn Boy, ?????###

E1: Memories (a capella) You Won't Steal My Poor Heart Again (?)

E2: Sweet Adeline (a capella)

NOTES: * Trey pulls a boner and sings verse 2 instead of verse 3 -- that's one for you tape collection. ** New song *** Fish fills in with "Dr. Seuss" # Another new song ## Third new song of the evening ### Sorry, but I nor a few tapers knew the titles of these (but I have heard them both before

A mellow crowd, many people not dancing (like maybe it was their first show?) during the first set. Things picked up for the second set--the band was definately into the jams in Mike's Song, as was I.

A sell out scene, i had no problem getting rid of extra tix.

Divided Sky jam was good. Page went nuts on a jam in Squirming coil

GOOD CONCERT.

Their new disc will be out in January on Electra records (but they did not sign any contracts!). Lawn Boy out of print until MAYBE December (says the official Phish vendor). I bought a Junta tape (still $8) and I am not impressed with the sound quality, seems to have gotten a little hot... it *breathes* and is generally lacking in the mid and high frequency depts.

Ah, one more thing (or two).

Set times: I--1:12 II(incl encores)--1:10 approx.

Crispy digital audience recording available for this show.

Things open with an electrifying Llama! Trey is on fire! Beautiful Sky. Nice mid section to Ice. After Guelah Trey disclosed the name of It’s Ice and gave a shout out to Mr. & Mrs. Fishman. Joking they’d be giving away a car later in the night as this was the same venue Fish gave away the (old) family vehicle back in February. Strong version of Foam. Red hot Bowie to close the first half. In between David Bowie/UB40 Fish screams “Dr. Seuss!” lol

Set 2 starts off with a Golgi opener. Trey gets a little loose in the composed section. Coils outro has what sounds like vague DEG teasing from Trey. Killer Trey solo in Brother. Trey introduces Brother and Sparkle afterwards and says they’ll be a quiz on the way out on what new songs they played tonight. lol It’s amazing how much Trey has dialed in his playing on Landlady even since summer tour! Destiny Unbound is a welcome treat after a summer hiatus. I was hoping Mike’s would feature a strong second jam after some of the nice versions over the summer, but alas they color within the lines on this one. Groove rages per usual. A straightforward but solid Chalk Dust closes out set 2. The band performs Memories without a microphone. Poor Heart would’ve made for a nice way to end the evening but the band decides to treat the crowd to another a cappella without a microphone to wrap things up. Paul cues up “Unomathemba” by Ladysmith Black Mambazo as the walk out music.