Thursday, 06/30/1994

Classic Amphitheater, Richmond, VA

Monday mornings are the worst. I am working, but I cannot focus. I leave Wednesday for my first three shows of the summer at SPAC. I cannot focus. I can’t even focus on Phish, much less work. FAAACK!!

Set 1 slid by me as I caught up on emails and started my day. Luckily, the usual barrage of Monday calls has been canceled as many took the entire week off for vacation. I could not afford the days off, otherwise I’d be headed to Great Woods tomorrow before SPAC. Man, I cannot even focus on writing this stuff… stream of consciousness only works if one is conscious of what one is doing. I am not.

Back on track… Set 1 slid by me much like that last paragraph. The Gumbo was a welcome treat that had me getting down at the desk. The Melt was… hard to describe. I mean, it was great. It was intense. But what did I hear, exactly? The rest of set really didn’t grab me. I’m too tired.

Set 2 opens with Wilson, of course. Gone are the Wilson chants in favor of syncopated clapping from the crowd. Nice! Maze is a scorcher, as they all have been lately. Then YEM drops right there at spot #3 in the set!! And they’re off!

Nobody could expect a Jewish chant in the early quiet section of YEM… Nobody… but it’s perfect here. Perfect, I say. Later in this YEM  we get one of the craziest “Mike” segments I’ve ever heard… and, of course, the bone-chilling “REDRUM” screams.

After a little interlude from Sparkle and Axilla we’re right back into the insanity with a great Harpua. Kudos to Sean Hoppe as the “karaoke segment” of the Harpua could very well have been a train wreck. Turns out, this is Poster Nutbag “the right way.” I love a good Harpua! I also love a crazy Antelope. This one qualifies.

And you can tell the band is having a great night when the Fish segment gets loose and not just perfunctory. This one is fun as shit. Dig it.

Finally… and at the risk of repeating myself… there is no better encore tune than Sleeping Monkey. That is my opinion, but I’m sticking to it.

Oh man!! I am beyond ready for Terr to kick off this week!!! YES!!!! See everyone at SPAC!

Thanks for reading.

Thursday, 06/30/1994

Classic Amphitheater, Richmond, VA

Soundcheck: Dog Log -> Jam

Set 1: Down with Disease > Gumbo > Rift, Guelah Papyrus, Split Open and Melt, Glide > Scent of a Mule, Bouncing Around the Room, Frankenstein

Set 2: Wilson -> Maze, You Enjoy Myself -> Yerushalayim Shel Zahav -> You Enjoy Myself, Sparkle > Axilla (Part II), Harpua -> Kung -> Harpua > Honky Tonk Women > Harpua, Run Like an Antelope, Hold Your Head Up > Love You > Hold Your Head Up, Chalk Dust Torture

Encore: Sleeping Monkey > Poor Heart

Notes: Sean Hoppe, an audience member, was invited on stage during Harpua to sing Honky Tonk Women as Jimmy. The Antelope intro and HYHU subsequently included Harpua teases. Split Open and Melt included a vocal jam. Love You contained band intros and an unusually long vacuum solo. Both the YEM vocal jam and Sparkle had “Redrum” screeches from Trey, referencing the movie The Shining. Trey also used his megaphone during YEM.

Setlist courtesy of Phish.net.

Key tracks:

http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/1994-06-30/split-open-and-melt

http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/1994-06-30/you-enjoy-myself-yerushalayim-shel-zahav-you-enjoy-myself

http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/1994-06-30/harpua-kung-harpua-honky-tonk-women-harpua

http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/1994-06-30/run-like-an-antelope

Wednesday, 06/29/1994

Walnut Creek Amphitheater, Raleigh, NC

While I was not at this show, I’ve actually been to shows at Walnut Creek a handful of times. It’s a typical outdoor shed, but it has a little character. It surrounded by NC woods and just kind of feels like you’re out in the country a bit. I dig it.

I’m pretty sure I’ve never heard this show before this morning. After the last week of shows that are all pretty stellar, I’m a bit surprised to come across one I’ve never even heard before. Let’s see as I’m listening why this one was not heavily traded. Is it weak?

Starts out strong with Curtain, but the drop into Sample is upsetting (probably not for everyone, but certainly for me). Reba saves the day here! Listen to the early quiet section of the jam as Trey flitters around maniacally yet quietly. Wow. Never heard him do anything like that before or since. That was really cool.

Then there’s a Bowie worthy of late-Set-2 glory… a serious contender of a Bowie. Wow.

Set 2 is anchored by a big Tweezer that is pure rock and roll for the first half then breaks down into an interesting little jam before slowing down to nothing at all. Interesting, to say the least. Then this set rides on 94 cruise control… in the best of ways. Ice has settled down a bit from it’s spring madness. Lifeboy is beautiful as usual. And a late Set 2 Divided Sky with an insane pause that drives the crowd into frenzy (and that happens after the final note from Trey while waiting for Fish to play the two quick cymbal hits to start back up again)?? Hellsyeah!

Then another Set 1 staple pops up in the encore? Not only that, it’s a fierce version! I love these guys!

Thanks for reading.

Wednesday, 06/29/1994

Walnut Creek Amphitheater, Raleigh, NC

Soundcheck: Funky Bitch

Set 1: The Curtain > Sample in a Jar, Reba, Mound, Julius, The Horse > Silent in the Morning, David Bowie -> Catapult -> David Bowie, I Didn’t Know, Golgi Apparatus

Set 2: The Landlady, Poor Heart > Tweezer > It’s Ice > Lifeboy > Divided Sky, Suzy Greenberg > Cavern

Encore: Ya Mar, Tweezer Reprise

Notes: Trey teased Julius in the intro to The Horse. Catapult was sung as the Bowie hi-hat intro started. I Didn’t Know saw Fishman play his bass drum pedal on his knees, and also used Trey’s megaphone, instead of taking his usual vacuum or trombone solo. Ya Mar included a brief Dixie tease from Trey and a Simpsons signal.

Setlist courtesy of Phish.net.

Key tracks:

http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/1994-06-29/reba

http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/1994-06-29/david-bowie

http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/1994-06-29/tweezer

http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/1994-06-29/ya-mar

Saturday, 06/25/1994

Nautica Stage, Cleveland, OH

Wednesday and I’m finally feeling like I’m back into my normal routine. Can we talk about the debut of NO2 for a minute? WTF?? I mean, I can’t imagine too many people knew what was going on when they walked out onstage and opened with a bunch of noise. I wouldn’t have known until Trey started with the “Don’t bite. Don’t bite.” I do remember seeing this on the setlist on rec.music.phish after it happened and wondering what it sounded like. I had the White Tape back then, so I knew the song, but I had a hard time imagining what it sounded like live… a question I couldn’t answer until I actually saw them “play” NO2 at Sugarbush later in the summer. Remember, there were no instant downloads back then!

I haven’t really discussed Julius since the first month of the touring year because it has settled into a groove with very little variation at this point. It’s worth noting that every Julius I’ve heard from 1994 so far has been freaking great. This one is a fine example. It’s a short Set 1 version, but it rocks. Mike’s walking bassline is just so solid and Trey is pure fire.

It’s also great to see NICU return just a few days after the first version in a long time. In hindsight we know that NICU has remained in the regular rotation ever since, but at the time it could have been a one-off. This performance proves it wasn’t. Not only that, it leads into another intense Stash! Yes. The rest of Set 1 is great, too. Tela is always a crowd pleaser!

Set 2 opens innocently enough, but check out Page’s solo in Maze for some out-of-the ordinary fun followed by pure heat – Pay Jorgan, indeed! The rest of the set is fairly pedestrian by 1994 standards. Not bad, but nothing to write home about. Typically great Hood, for sure, and Highway to Hell always makes me smile.

Thanks for reading.

Saturday, 06/25/1994

Nautica Stage, Cleveland, OH

Set 1: NO2 > Rift > Julius, NICU > Stash, The Mango Song > Sample in a Jar, Scent of a Mule, Tela, Chalk Dust Torture

Set 2: Suzy Greenberg > Maze > Sparkle > Bathtub Gin, Axilla (Part II) > You Enjoy Myself, Hold Your Head Up > Cracklin’ Rosie > Hold Your Head Up, Harry Hood, Golgi Apparatus

Encore: Highway to Hell

Notes: Though written many years earlier, NO2 made its first known appearance at this show. Suzy contained a Heartbreaker tease and Gin included a Caravan tease from Page.

Setlist courtesy of Phish.net.

Key tracks:

http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/1994-06-25/no2

http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/1994-06-25/maze

http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/1994-06-25/harry-hood

Friday, 06/24/1994

Murat Theatre, Indianapolis, IN

The Murat calls to mind something in the Phish world, right? Is it the Run Like a Diseased Antelope? Of course, it’s not. The Murat Gin is a thing of legend. But had the Murat Gin not happened, this show could be the Murat show we all talk about. It’s that good!

I’ve been working my ass off today, so I have very little time to write. I DID listen, though. This is just a great show through and through. The Divided Sky opener is tight as hell. The Reba kinda blew me away again (I’ve heard it a bunch before, but it blew me away again today).

Then there’s the second set. The ‘lope simply must be heard. It’s out there! The Simple is odd because, for the first time ever, it’s not born out of a Mike’s jam. It just sort of appears out of the tail end of McGrupp. Any show with Sanity is a keeper. And the acoustic segment, though hard to hear on tape, is just plain stellar! I mean, Cavern acoustic? That’s the stuff!!

Another great summer 94 show! Yes, indeed.

Thanks for reading.

Friday, 06/24/1994

Murat Theatre, Indianapolis, IN

Set 1: Divided Sky, Wilson, It’s Ice > Fee > All Things Reconsidered, The Sloth > Paul and Silas > Horn > Reba, Sweet Adeline, Sample in a Jar

Set 2: Demand > Run Like an Antelope, Halley’s Comet > The Curtain > McGrupp and the Watchful Hosemasters > Simple -> Sanity > Llama, Dog Faced Boy, Poor Heart, Cavern, Carolina, Down with Disease

Encore: Rocky Top

Notes: Wilson included a Simpsons signal. Trey sang the verses of Fee through a megaphone. Reba did not have the whistling ending. Sweet Adeline and Carolina were performed without microphones. Dog Faced Boy through Cavern, which contained the older, alternate lyrics, were performed acoustic without microphones. This hot Antelope included a Disease-style jam segment.

Setlist courtesy of Phish.net.

Key tracks:

http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/1994-06-24/reba

http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/1994-06-24/run-like-an-antelope

http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/1994-06-24/simple

Thursday, 06/23/1994

Phoenix Plaza Theatre, Pontiac, MI

Monday morning – back to work. I woke up at 3 o’clock this morning. My body is seriously fucked. Jetlag didn’t used to bother me this much. Life at 40! Fat, bald, and cranky. Do I really need to listen to Phish today? I’m really not in the mood.

The first set flew by while working through a week’s worth of emails. I’m not even a third of the way through at this point, but the first set is over! I did notice the little transition from DwD to Silent with no Horse. Interesting!!

This Bowie has grabbed my attention, though!! It gets into a segment that is very similar to many of the Stashes from this summer tour. What I mean is they get locked into this pattern for a while that featured Mike on the highest registers of the bass and Trey just locked into repeat mode. Brilliant!

The closing segment of Tweezer>Lifeboy>Slave is freaking brilliant, too. What a great way to close out the show. The Slave, in particular. It builds kinda fast, but then it peaks forever and ever! Dig it!

Thanks for reading.

Thursday, 06/23/1994

Phoenix Plaza Theatre, Pontiac, MI

Set 1: Buried Alive > Poor Heart > Split Open and Melt, NICU > Foam, Bouncing Around the Room, Down with Disease > Silent in the Morning > Punch You In the Eye > Julius

Set 2: Frankenstein, David Bowie, The Mango Song > Axilla (Part II) > Uncle Pen, Tweezer > Lifeboy > Slave to the Traffic Light

Encore: Sparkle > Tweezer Reprise

Notes: The first set included the first NICU since May 1, 1992 (248 shows). Silent was performed without The Horse. Tweezer included Sunshine of Your Love teases.

Setlist courtesy of Phish.net.

Key tracks:

http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/1994-06-23/david-bowie

http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/1994-06-23/tweezer

http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/1994-06-23/slave-to-the-traffic-light

Wednesday, 06/22/1994

Veterans Memorial Auditorium, Columbus, OH

Recovery day. Jetlag sucks balls, I tell ya! It’s good to be home, but I can barely see straight today. Listening is not my priority (laundry is). But this second set is nutso!! Also, I’d love to pull out my Live Phish 10 CD’s and load them into my CD player for a proper old-school listen, but they are a goopy mess. Worst Phish packaging ever. I have every one of the first 20 Live Phish releases in that stupid green binder and not one disc is listenable at this point. Sweet! Thanks Electra!

Anyway, I love this show… and it’s a great example of why I love SBDs. I know why people love AUDs and I will never complain when I get a great-sounding AUD of a show, but this recording is so stellar. Every nuance is there for you. Listen to Mike’s bass in Guelah. Listen to Page’s organ in Gumbo and Maze… hear the Leslie speaker fade left to right with every spin! Greatness!!

Anyway, if you haven’t heard this show, you really must. It’s non-stop great. Phish firing on all cylinders. Not going to say much more, other than this is why I love 1994. This show is a shining example of why I’m doing this project at all. So many gems!

Thanks for reading.

Wednesday, 06/22/1994

Veterans Memorial Auditorium, Columbus, OH

Soundcheck: The Wedge Jam

Set 1: Llama, Guelah Papyrus, Rift > Gumbo > Maze, If I Could > Scent of a Mule, Stash, Golgi Apparatus

Set 2: Also Sprach Zarathustra > Mike’s Song > Simple -> Midnight Rider Jam -> Catapult -> Simple -> Icculus, Simple -> Mike’s Song > I Am Hydrogen > Weekapaug Groove -> The Man Who Stepped Into Yesterday > Avenu Malkenu > The Man Who Stepped Into Yesterday > Digital Delay Loop Jam > Fluffhead, My Sweet One, Big Ball Jam > Jesus Just Left Chicago > Sample in a Jar

Encore: Carolina, Cavern

Notes: My Sweet One was performed acoustic and, along with Carolina, without microphones. Catapult was sung over the Midnight Rider jam. Icculus was played for the first time since March 25, 1993 (127 shows). Weekapaug was unfinished. Cavern contained a Voodoo Child (Slight Return) tease. This show was officially released as Live Phish 10. The soundcheck’s The Wedge Jam was released as an iTunes bonus track called “Columbus Soundcheck Jam.”

Setlist courtesy of Phish.net.

Key tracks:

http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/1994-06-22/gumbo

http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/1994-06-22/stash

http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/1994-06-22/also-sprach-zarathustra (just listen to the whole second set. Seriously)

Sunday, 06/26/1994

Municipal Auditorium, Charleston, WV

I still have four write-ups in the bag that I need to post, but with two days off from tour tomorrow and Saturday, I figure I’ve got time. I really wanted to post about the Gamehoist show TODAY. It happened 20 years again today, after all, and this is one of my longest and most inspired posts yet. So, here it is:

Today’s show is another “infamous before most have even heard it” show. Much like the OJ show, the fire alarm show, and the Bomb Factory show, people were abuzz about this one almost immediately after it let out.

Of course, this show turned out to be pivotal in the band’s history. Out of this show is born the Halloween tradition of playing whole albums… and the what-if questions around playing the new album live before releasing it. I know they revisited this thought when they returned with Round Room at the end of 2002, but Electra wasn’t having it. Phish wanted to play the new material live as Set 2 on NYE. Electra wanted a studio album to sell. Electra won.

Then in 2013, freed from contracts of any sort other than tour management from Red Light, Phish was finally able to see this concept through to where it all began: They played their new album live before releasing it physically. Fitting, then, that Fuego was released 20 years almost to the day after this pivotal show. #20YearsLater, you know what I mean?

But before playing the new album for the second set, they played Gamehendge…

Gamehendge is a special thing for all of us. I, personally, have never seen a Gamehendge set. I’m not hopeful that I ever will. It seems very unlikely that they’ll ever play one again. In 1994, however, I feel like the band really wanted to do something with Gamehendge and this was the first shot at it. I have no insight into the inner-band discussions beyond what I have read, but I have a theory…

It’s clear the band wanted to release Gamehendge in some format in the mid-90’s. It was such a big part of who they were and represented some major tunes in their repertoire. There was even an announcement in the Summer 95 Döniac Schvice that Gamehendge would be released in both CD and CD-ROM sometime in the fall of 1996. Before this, though, I think they were toying with releasing a live Gamehendge set around the time they release A Live One. I believe this is why they recorded the Great Woods Gamehendge show to multi-track. I don’t think they recorded anything else from the Spring or Summer to multi-track. It was the fall tour when they invested in multi-tracking each night for A Live One.

My theory, then, is that the “live album” they were going to release was intended to be the Great Woods show with the full Gamehendge. However, I think they weren’t that thrilled with the recording and scrapped the idea in favor of releasing A Live One instead. Then there were rumors of them recording an acoustic Gamehendge album followed by the announcement of the CD and CD-ROM. Eventually they decided to let Gamehendge be. I think Trey was even quoted at one time saying they decided to never make Gamehendge a commercial release to keep it pure… whatever that means.

Thankfully, they had a sweet multi-track recording of the Great Woods Stash to use! Notice Stash is the only non-fall tune on A Live One. It was also added thanks to fan requests solicited on rec.music.phish. More on that when we get to the Great Woods shows, though.

Enough theorizing… I am listening to this show today! We have a great AUD of it, don’t we? Sounds fantastic. Mike’s bass on Tela is just so clear. I’ve never heard him sound quite like this anywhere else. His tone here is reminiscent of Jack Cassidy. I love it! Plus this is a great Gamehendge narration. It’s perfect, really.

Then there’s the Hoist portion of the show. I wonder how long it took folks in the crowd to realize what they were doing. Was it a similar buzz to the “S” show or the “Fuck Your Face” show? I wasn’t there, so I have no idea. I know nobody was following along at home and tweeting about it like they would the Dick’s shows.

It’s worth noting that they didn’t just play Hoist… they crushed it. Every track is played with fire and beauty. The If I Could and Lifeboy may be one of the best versions of either song they ever played. The “Shine that thing in my face” segment of Axilla goes on as long as the song itself. The Wolfman’s is unique with it’s vocal jam outtro. The Melt jam is sick. Everything is just perfect, really!

Finally, there’s the encore.. Debuting new bluegrass cover tune in the Encore? Sure, why not. It’s already a crazy show! Dig it!

All I can say is, if you haven’t heard this show, you should. NOW!

Thanks for reading.

Sunday, 06/26/1994

Municipal Auditorium, Charleston, WV

Set 1: Kung, Llama > The Lizards > Tela > Wilson > AC/DC Bag > Colonel Forbin’s Ascent > Fly Famous Mockingbird > The Sloth > McGrupp and the Watchful Hosemasters > Divided Sky

Set 2: Julius > Down with Disease > If I Could > Axilla (Part II), Lifeboy > Sample in a Jar, Wolfman’s Brother > Scent of a Mule, Dog Faced Boy > Demand > Split Open and Melt Jam, Yerushalayim Shel Zahav

Encore: The Old Home Place, Amazing Grace, Tube, Fire

Notes: This show is commonly referred to as “GameHoist.” The first set was the Gamehendge saga, including narration in between songs from Llama through Divided Sky. The second set was the entire Hoist album, save Riker’s Mailbox. This show marked the Phish debut of The Old Home Place, the first complete Gamehendge since March 22, 1993 (106 shows), and the first Tube since April 12, 1993 (119 shows). Divided Sky included Wipe Out teases. Old Home Place was performed acoustic and both Old Home Place and Amazing Grace were performed without microphones.

Setlist courtesy of Phish.net.

Key tracks:

All of ‘em, but if you want one interesting highlight, check this out:

http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/1994-06-26/demand-split-open-and-melt

Tuesday, 06/21/1994

Cincinnati Music Hall, Cincinnati, OH

Much like the OJ show, this show was infamous on rec.music.phish almost immediately. Also like the OJ show, it wasn’t for some outstanding jams or anything, just for the craziness of the fire alarm. It’s another one I had tapes of early on, too. I know this show.

That said, I listened on the plane while traveling back to the states. I’m exhausted and writing about it on Sunday. Jetlag is a bitch!

Not going into great detail here for those reasons… but check out the Melt. It will surprise you! Also, the Hood is intensely great with a unique quiet section and the BBFCFM fun is worth checking out even if the acoustic segment is hard to hear.

That’s all for today. Thanks for reading.

Tuesday, 06/21/1994

Cincinnati Music Hall, Cincinnati, OH

Set 1: Runaway Jim, Mound > Sample in a Jar, It’s Ice > The Horse

Set 2: Fire, Poor Heart > Down with Disease > My Friend, My Friend, Split Open and Melt, Esther > Chalk Dust Torture, Big Black Furry Creature from Mars, Ginseng Sullivan, Big Black Furry Creature from Mars Reprise, Dog Faced Boy, Sweet Adeline, Julius, Sparkle > Harry Hood, Suzy Greenberg

Encore: Amazing Grace

Notes: After a few lines of The Horse, the fire alarm went off. The band kept playing but the house lights came on and the building was cleared for 20 minutes. The music resumed with Fire, and that was the only “set break.” My Friend included a Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo jam and a brief Moby Dick tease from Trey. SOAM subsequently included additional Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo teases and an atypical jam. Chalk Dust contained Barracuda teases. Suzy contained a Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo tease from Trey. Ginseng Sullivan through Dog Faced Boy were performed acoustic and without microphones, and Sweet Adeline and Amazing Grace were performed without microphones.

Setlist courtesy of phish.net.

Key tracks:

http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/1994-06-21/fire

http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/1994-06-21/split-open-and-melt

http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/1994-06-21/big-black-furry-creature-from-mars

http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/1994-06-21/harry-hood

Sunday, 06/19/1994

State Theater, Kalamazoo, MI

Tonight is the wedding. We have most of the day to relax and enjoy Tel Aviv (read: eat, drink, swim in the Mediterranean). This show actually received some attention from me! I loved it, too. Holy Stash, Batman!!! I mean, the “WOO’s” are a bit annoying, but the Stash is so good.

Faht to open Set 2 is odd, but hilarious! I saw one Faht back in the day at my second show. It was just plain funny. I loved it.

Antelope here is as intense as Antelopes come. I’ve been talking a lot about Stash as we lead up to the Great Woods Stash that is my favorite. I haven’t really spent much time dissecting Antelopes. Some of that is because I wasn’t really a big fan of Antelope back in 1994. I have always loved the studio version from Lawn Boy. To me, the studio Antelope is as close to Zappa’s Gumbo Variations as Phish was ever able to get. But live I felt like Antelopes often built to this place where you couldn’t really follow each member’s playing at all… it became cacophonous noise to me. This one is a perfect example. Only now I kinda love it. I don’t know what changed, but I dig these crazy ‘lopes these days!

I should mention this Reba, too. Wow!! It peaks and peaks. Late Set 2 Rebas are the greatest. The Makisupa that follows is great, too. The rest of the set is fun as hell. Great show all around.

Now off to the wedding. Can’t wait!! Thanks for reading.

Sunday, 06/19/1994

State Theater, Kalamazoo, MI

Soundcheck: Gumbo, Reggae Jam

Set 1: Suzy Greenberg, Julius, The Lizards, Axilla (Part II) > The Curtain > Fast Enough for You, Scent of a Mule, Stash, Golgi Apparatus

Set 2: Faht, Run Like an Antelope, If I Could, Reba > Makisupa Policeman, The Squirming Coil, My Sweet One, Highway to Hell

Encore: Free Bird

Notes: Suzy contained a tease of How Many More Times. Faht featured Fishman on acoustic guitar. My Sweet One was performed acoustic and without amplification.

Setlist courtesy of Phish.net.

Key tracks:

http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/1994-06-19/stash

http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/1994-06-19/run-like-an-antelope

http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/1994-06-19/reba

Saturday, 06/18/1994

UIC Pavilion, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL

Today the same crew boarded the same bus and headed from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem to tour the old city. Fascinating trip. Amazing, really. Here’s a panoramic of the whole scene.

I tried my best to listen today. I did not want to listen on the bus, though, as we really wanted to spend time with everybody, plus listen to our tour guide. I did manage to hear much of the first set this morning via headphones before waking the wife for the day. Wilson opens the show with zero chanting. Those on West Coast tour earlier must have dropped off by this point.

Elsewhere, the Maze is a keeper! The Ice features a bluesy little breakdown segment worth checking out.

The second set I put on as I lay down to sleep. After walking as much as we did in Jerusalem I was exhausted. Pretty sure I slept through most of the set. Looks like a winner, though. Gonna revisit this one sometime soon!

Thanks for reading.

Saturday, 06/18/1994

UIC Pavilion, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL

Soundcheck: All Things Reconsidered, How Many More Times

Set 1: Wilson, Rift, AC/DC Bag > Maze, The Mango Song > Down with Disease, It’s Ice, Dog Faced Boy, Divided Sky, Sample in a Jar

Set 2: Peaches en Regalia > David Bowie -> Mind Left Body Jam -> David Bowie, Horn > McGrupp and the Watchful Hosemasters > Tweezer > Lifeboy, You Enjoy Myself, Chalk Dust Torture

Encore: Bouncing Around the Room, Tweezer Reprise

Notes: Bowie (after the Mind Left Body Jam) included Three Blind Mice, Dave’s Energy Guide, Voodoo Child, and Purple Haze teases. YEM included Frankenstein and How Many More Times teases, as well as a Monty Python “Spam” vocal jam. The vocal jam also contained a Point Me in the Direction of Albuquerque quote. Chalk Dust subsequently contained a full band tease of How Many More Times.

Setlist courtesy of Phish.net.

Key tracks:

http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/1994-06-18/maze

http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/1994-06-18/it-s-ice

http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/1994-06-18/david-bowie-mind-left-body-jam-david-bowie (went back and listened to this one. Great intro with MLB Jam plus a killer out-there jam that just keeps going and going)