Friday, 05/27/1994
Warfield Theatre, San Francisco, CA
Another travel day for me meant listening throughout the day but never taking notes or writing until now. Usually I’m writing as I listen, so this is pretty different.
The Wilson features the same sort of late-to-the game chants we’ve heard at recent shows. It hasn’t 100% caught on yet, but it’s getting to be more and more. Good stuff!
After Wilson we drop into the typical 94 “start” with RunJim, Foam, and Bouncin’. No complaints here, especially with a nice-sounding Foam. Then there’s Bowie in the middle of the first set… and it smokes!! I actually just went back to listen again because I really wanted to verify what I was thinking earlier. Yes, it smokes. It reminds me of Fall 95 versions that get almost Stash-like in the jam. Page is just hammering away the whole time with all his might. It’s intense! Amazing Bowie!
Follow it up with another beautiful If I Could! A solid PYITE, and another soaring, but short, Hood. What a set!
Really, though, it’s this second set that brings the whole 3-night run home. Starting with a Suzy that plays like an encore right off the bat, this set is chock full of my favorites! Check out the Reba jam for some more of the intensity we saw in Bowie and Hood of the first set. Then there’s all the craziness that starts with Mike’s Song. From the early prototype Simple to the opera singer to the shaking Mac & Cheese boxes. This is one of those sets that only partially translates on tape, but must have been tons of fun in person. Even if it’s tough to really hear what’s going on the whole time, you really should listen to it. It’s Phish being Phish.
I remember reading about this show on rec.music.phish shortly after it went down. The fan recollections at the time were hilarious. Oh, to have been there for this one!!
Two more shows and I get a week off!!! Thanks for reading.
Friday, 05/27/1994
Warfield Theatre, San Francisco, CA
Set 1: Wilson > Runaway Jim, Foam, Bouncing Around the Room > David Bowie, If I Could, Punch You In the Eye > Harry Hood, Golgi Apparatus
Set 2: Suzy Greenberg, Peaches en Regalia > My Friend, My Friend > Reba, The Lizards, Julius, Nellie Kane, My Mind’s Got a Mind of its Own, Mike’s Song -> Simple -> O Mio Babbino Caro, Possum
Encore: Fire
Notes: This show marked the debut of Simple and the Phish debut of O Mio Babbino Caro. Reba did not have the whistling ending. Nellie Kane and My Mind’s Got a Mind of its Own were performed acoustic with guest fiddler Morgan Fichter. O Mio Babbino Caro, a Puccini aria, featured opera singer Andrea Baker singing unmiced. Before Possum, the band handed out boxes of Flintstones macaroni and cheese for the audience to shake along with Possum and Fire. Possum subsequently included a Flintstones theme tease.
Setlist courtesy of Phish.net.
Key tracks:
http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/1994-05-27/david-bowie
http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/1994-05-27/harry-hood
http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/1994-05-27/reba
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