Saturday, 04/16/1994
Mullins Center, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA

I don’t know why, but Runaway Jim openers just never get old to me. It’s a good thing, too, or I’d be a miserable crank by the end of this year!

So, today I’m as busy as I can be with work. But I’ve got the show cranked up a little too loud, honestly. Even at volume, work brain pushes most of the first few tunes into the background. The first thing that has really pulled my attention out of work is this Stash. Holy cow!! They dive right into it. It locks into this groove that is almost unnerving, but so satisfying. Stash really peaks in 1994, doesn’t it? I have a feeling I’m going to be constantly surprised by stellar versions I’ve never heard before.

I mean, as much play as the Beacon show just one night earlier has gotten for me, it’s sort of shocking that I’ve never given this one a proper listen. But that gets to the heart of why I’m doing this project anyway, doesn’t it.

Of course, there are similar blogs out there doing similar things. The Daily Ghost was a prime example of a project like mine… and when I hear a Stash like this one I start to think about what it would mean to do a Daily Stash in similar fashion. But I’m more interested in hearing the BAND transition than a single song. I’m more interested in exploring this year I regard so highly in it’s entirety. I see it as a monumental but rewarding task for me. And the blog is as much a way to keep myself on-task as it is a way to share my mundane thoughts with the world. Still, it’s daunting to me.

As crazy as my task seems, it pales in comparison to what this guy has set out to do: http://phishshowaday.com/. I mean, that’s just insanity. And if you read his posts, they are filled with historical goodies and detailed analysis of the music, etc. That’s an epic task!!! Makes my little 1994 blog look like a hobby. And, really, it is.

Then there’s Lenny Stubbe who is determined to listen and blog his way through 1994 just like me (see:http://dead-phish.com/). He’s another one who makes me look like a casual fan. The guy has probably taped more shows than I’ve seen. But just try and explain to my wife that I’m anything short of insane with this project and she won’t hear you. That’s one of the great things about Phish. I’ve seen almost 150 shows over the last 22 years and I’m just like a medium Phish-head.

But I digress…

This first set is energetic fun. The Fluff is typical great… the Antelope has a fun intro with Fish focusing on the blocks a bit more than usual. Great stuff!!

Second set – well, let me just ask this: Is there anything better than coming out of dark and intense Tweezer with The Lizards? Beauty!

And another Julius. Man, I love this tune. I really do. Every version so far has been solid as hell. The rest of the set is solid great Phish. The Coil outtro is over five minutes of beauty. The Fire is, forgive me, FIRE!

Another great show on the books. Thanks for reading!

Saturday, 04/16/1994
Mullins Center, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA

Set 1: Runaway Jim, Fee, Axilla (Part II) > Rift, Stash, Fluffhead, Nellie Kane > Run Like an Antelope

Set 2: Sample in a Jar, Poor Heart > Tweezer -> The Lizards, Julius, Bouncing Around the Room, You Enjoy Myself -> The Vibration of Life -> You Enjoy Myself, The Squirming Coil, Tweezer Reprise

Encore: Fire

Notes: Trey sang the verses of Fee through a megaphone. This show included the debut of Axilla (Part II). In Trey’s place, Brad Sands was the substitute trampoline jumper during YEM.

Setlist courtesy of Phish.net.

Key tracks:
http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/1994-04-16/stash
http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/1994-04-16/tweezer