Monday, 05/23/1994

Civic Auditorium, Portland, OR

 

Is it Friday yet?!?!? I am so done with this week. I’m exhausted. Can’t this shit wait ‘til I’m old? Can I live while I’m middle-aged? It’s funny what this song does for me at 40. I still feel young when I’m listening to Phish, but I feel old when a flight of stairs wipes me out for a few minutes. To be fair, that doesn’t happen to me normally, but this past week I was up in the mountains of Utah for work and the altitude has a way of making a single flight of stairs feel like a day of hiking. That never used to be a problem, but I’ve lived at about 500’ above sea level for the last 20 years and my 40-year-old self can no longer handle high altitudes. It’s the main reason I have not attended any of the infamous Dick’s shows. It sucks getting old.

Sorry for the rant. I’m really happy to be back at my desk listening to Phish again while I work. Chalkdust is a great way to start the day, too. Sample I could do without. Foam “features” some sweet floundering by Trey who gets pretty lost early on but redeems himself with a lovely solo.

The rest of the set has flown by while I’ve been catching up on emails. The Reba is a standout, though. I was sucked-in for Reba. “Typically great Reba” perhaps, but that’s still a great Reba!

Wilson starts the second set… and it takes a while, but some Wilson chanting can be heard eventually in the crowd. Was Trey egging that on? Was it someone in the crowd? HMMMM…

Then Holy Antelope, Batman! I’m only six and a half minutes in and it’s already intense! Then there’s the breakdown section. Trey gets all demon-possessed. Dude, I don’t have any of your fucking SPIKE, man!! Look elsewhere. You’re freaking me out!

If I Could is absolutely gorgeous again! I’m smiling and just thinking about this long weekend that’s about to begin! Is it happy hour yet??

Then the chill section in YEM has some whistling again… Love that theme!! Can’t wait to get to 12/29!!! But back to YEM – Holy Page piano solo, Batman!! I don’t think I’ve ever heard a YEM with a scorching piano solo like that. Fuck yeah!! Then a Trey solo that starts out super low-down and builds like mad with Page on the Rhodes! Hot shit!! Great YEM!! Listen to this! Then the Possum just doesn’t fucking quit. Holy shit!! Great second set!

And, once again, Phish does the good/evil juxtaposition I love with Amazing Grace (with a very quiet and attentive crowd) followed by Highway to Hell. Perfection!

Today was one of those days I’ve loved this project. There is no way I’d have listened to this show today if it weren’t for this project.. and I’ve loved it!! Great show. Happy listener!

Thanks for reading. Take some time to remember why we have an extra day off this weekend and enjoy it! Remember, you can’t drink all day if you don’t start in the morning. Also, take a cab if you need.

Monday, 05/23/1994

Civic Auditorium, Portland, OR

Set 1: Chalk Dust Torture, Sample in a Jar, Foam, Fee -> Maze, The Horse > Silent in the Morning, Julius, Reba, Cavern

Set 2: Wilson, Run Like an Antelope, If I Could, Sparkle, Punch You In the Eye, You Enjoy Myself, Possum

Encore: Ginseng Sullivan, Amazing Grace, Highway to Hell

Notes: Trey sang the verses of Fee through a megaphone. The YEM vocal jam included quotes of Psycho Killer. Ginseng Sullivan was performed acoustic and featured Fishman on washboard.

Setlist courtesy of Phish.net.

 

Key tracks:

http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/1994-05-23/reba

http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/1994-05-23/run-like-an-antelope

http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/1994-05-23/you-enjoy-myself

http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/1994-05-23/possum