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Songs like Chalk Dust Torture and Simple have provided amazing moments in 3.0 (particularly CDT of course) so it makes sense that they delivered two of the finest versions of the song during this historic run. The 8/6 Simple glides from the traditional jam to blissy territory, than hits an incredibly cerebral and danceable space funk section. This is a band firing on all cylinders...and they're not worried about where they're going next because they have completely surrendered to the improvisational flow at this point. This thing moves with the confidence and swagger of days gone by and eventually finds itself to the mother of all bliss peaks. Seriously...this is IT. The HOSE.
You could feel it in the room when the ambience had faded out into Rise/Come Together. After 13 nights (plus the fantastic 5 nights that preceded NYC) of extensive improvisation you might think that they'd be tapped out. But this was 2017 Phish, at the Baker's Dozen. The experience only made them stronger, and this Simple is arguably the crown jewel of the run.
Oh yeah...stay for the rest of the set, particularly that mid-90s Trey revival in YEM. In my mind, it's perfect.
A jam for the ages.
Very overlooked.
Anyway, back on topic; their Vegas stint on December 6th, 1996 was anything but "plain" or "sterile." This is high-velocity Phishy action. But I don't wanna talk about the whole show (may as well just post a show review). I wanna talk about this Simple from this non-plain/sterile show.
Fans of Simple NEED to listen to any/all Fall '96 Simples, because if nothing else, Phish always delivered the goods with Simple in Fall '96. And there's no shortage of Simples from this period! And this Simple is no exception. Starting out in a rather blissful territory that is all too familiar for Simple jams, the jam takes a sharp turn near the final minutes to an upbeat, gritty, almost Type II (Type 1.5?) riffage. Everyone is on-point. And then once the climax is past, the falling action and resolution continue. Simple is taken once again back to a land of bliss, only this part is a little different; more serene I think.
Definitely check this Simple out. And if you have 3 hours to kill, listen to the whole show. Even the encore is worth hearing.
Find the "Road to Vegas" Bonus Disc for a fantastic SBD of this gem (and many others)