Friday, 06/17/1994

Eagles Ballroom, Milwaukee, WI

Today we boarded a tour bus and headed out to Masada and the Dead Sea. Touristy, no doubt, but special in so many ways. The bus was filled with folks who had flown in for the wedding, including the two grooms.

Masada is an interesting place. You can google it and read all about the history. Again, this ain’t no travel blog. That said, check out this amphitheater at the base of the mountain! There was a poster advertising a sunrise opera concert there! Holy shit. This place would be so insane for a Phish show!

Anyway, we spent a few hours on the bus, so I listened to the OJ show in between friendly conversations with friends. I didn’t take notes, but I know this show pretty well already. I love these early Simples. Seriously! By fall, Simple is polished and presentable. The first few are just craziness. This one has an “OJ” verse, too! “RUN, OJ!!” Then there are the Simple jams in Hydrogen and Harpua. Sofa king great!!

Speaking of Harpua, this one’s a classic! Great narration with lots of band interplay on the build up to “POSTER NUTBAG” and to the fight. Just a classic Harpua through and through.

Really, if you haven’t heard this show, you should… at least the second set. It’s a keeper!

Thanks for reading.

Friday, 06/17/1994

Eagles Ballroom, Milwaukee, WI

Soundcheck: The Wedge, Funky Bitch

Set 1: Runaway Jim, Foam, Glide, Split Open and Melt, If I Could, Punch You In the Eye > Bathtub Gin, Scent of a Mule, Cavern

Set 2: Also Sprach Zarathustra > Sample in a Jar, Poor Heart > Mike’s Song -> Simple -> Mike’s Song > I Am Hydrogen > Weekapaug Groove, Harpua -> Kung -> Harpua, Sparkle > Big Ball Jam > Julius > Frankenstein

Encore: Sleeping Monkey > Rocky Top

Notes: This is the infamous “O.J. Show,” played on the night of O.J. Simpson’s Bronco chase. 2001, Mike’s, Jim, Simple, and Poor Heart all included references to O.J. Mike’s Song also included a Mission: Impossible theme tease and Hydrogen included Simple quotes. Weekapaug contained a Nellie Kane tease from Mike. Harpua included a Simple quote and Voodoo Child tease.

Setlist courtesy of Phish.net.

Key tracks:

http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/1994-06-17/also-sprach-zarathustra

http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/1994-06-17/mike-s-song (keep listening through Harpua for the highlight reel).

Thursday, 06/16/1994

State Theatre, Minneapolis, MN

Today, I woke up to this beautiful view of the beach in Tel Aviv…

…and to the NPR first listen of Fuego!! What a great start to a day. I listened to Fuego before grabbing some breakfast and hitting the beach for a quick swim. Jetlag being the bitch that it is, we didn’t do much else today.

That said, I didn’t actively listen this show. I put it on for a bit in the background. The wife hates phish, though, so it was not loud. I didn’t take any notes, and I didn’t get all the way through it. I listened to the Gumbo, though! Heck yeah! Also, I made sure to hear the Stash while she was showering. We’re just three weeks out from the “A Live One” Stash and they are building so nicely!

That’s it for today. Thanks for reading!

Thursday, 06/16/1994

State Theatre, Minneapolis, MN

Soundcheck: Gumbo (x3)

Set 1: Bouncing Around the Room, Rift, Julius, Fee -> Maze, Gumbo > The Curtain > Dog Faced Boy, Stash, The Squirming Coil

Set 2: Suzy Greenberg, Run Like an Antelope, Colonel Forbin’s Ascent > Fly Famous Mockingbird -> Kung -> Fly Famous Mockingbird, Big Ball Jam, Down with Disease -> Contact > Big Black Furry Creature from Mars -> Purple Rain > Hold Your Head Up, Golgi Apparatus

Encore: Ginseng Sullivan, Amazing Grace, Good Times Bad Times

Notes: Trey sang the verses of Fee through a megaphone. Gumbo was played for the first time since April 21, 1993 (103 shows). Stash contained a brief Dave’s Energy Guide jam. Disease was preceded by a Bowie tease, subsequently contained a Swingtown tease, and was unfinished. BBFCFM was unfinished. Ginseng Sullivan was performed acoustic and without amplification. Amazing Grace was performed without amplification and was dedicated to David “ZZYZX” Steinberg. GTBT included Heartbreaker teases.

Setlist courtesy of phish.net.

Key tracks:

http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/1994-06-16/gumbo

http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/1994-06-16/stash

Tuesday, 06/14/1994

Civic Center, Des Moines, IA

I mentioned in my last post that I would be traveling for a week. After a long week in Israel where I attended a beautiful wedding and saw many amazing things, I am back at home and working. Yesterday was insanely busy as I tried to dig myself out of the hole a week away from work left me. Today is more of the same, but I’ve gotta get this blog back on track, so I’m starting now.

What I will do so that I’m not just piling posts on top of one another is post a couple of shows a day until I am caught up. As promised (to myself mostly), I adhered to the daily routine of listening. I didn’t write every day, though. It has taken some to to catch up on the writing side of the project. But I’m almost there.

Starting with the 6/14 show:

I listened to this show during a flight from Chicago to Madrid on our way to Israel for a wedding. I didn’t take notes, but here’s what I remember.

Great sounding soundboard with full bass. Sounded great through my Westone custom-molded monitors. If you travel as much as I do, you should really look into custom monitors for listening on the plane. 24 hours of travel from Austin to Tel Aviv and these things were comfortable the whole time! No joke. Plus, they block out crying babies, talkative pilots, engine noise, etc. all while sounding fantastic. Worth every penny!

What stands out most in the first set is, of course,the Guelah! Couldn’t really hear the Sweet Adeline, but the short Delay Loop jam is fun and the slam back into Guelah is unexpected and great!

Don’t remember much from the second set, other than ALWAYS loving Bike from Fish!

Sorry but that’s really all I’ve got on this one!

Thanks for reading.

Tuesday, 06/14/1994

Civic Center, Des Moines, IA

Soundcheck: Makisupa Policeman (different than usual; not reggae)

Set 1: Llama, Guelah Papyrus, Sweet Adeline, Digital Delay Loop Jam > Guelah Papyrus, Rift, Down with Disease -> Fee -> My Friend, My Friend, Uncle Pen, I Didn’t Know > My Sweet One > I Didn’t Know, Split Open and Melt

Set 2: Frankenstein, Demand > David Bowie, If I Could > It’s Ice > Sparkle > You Enjoy Myself -> Hold Your Head Up > Bike > Hold Your Head Up, Possum

Encore: Sample in a Jar

Notes: After The Asse Festival segment of Guelah, the band launched into Adeline and then moved into a Digital Delay Loop Jam before finishing the song. Adeline was performed without microphones. Trey sang the verses of Fee through a megaphone. My Sweet One was peformed acoustic without microphones. YEM included On Broadway teases in both the jam and the vocal jam; it was also teased during Possum. HYHU segued out of the YEM vocal jam and included Fishman talking about how much he hates that song (though he has nothing personal against Argent, who wrote it). Possum also included Dave’s Energy Guide teases.

Setlist courtesy of phish.net.

Key tracks:

http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/1994-06-14/guelah-papyrus – let this flow through the end of the second “guealah” track. Worth it!!

http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/1994-06-14/bike

Monday, 06/13/1994

Memorial Hall, Kansas City, KS

A quick housekeeping note before I dive into today’s show. If you have been following along at home you know I have thus far updated the blog as soon as I have finished listening and writing about the show of the day. There have been exceptions. Sometimes I listen and write in the air and post whenever I’m back on land and online. Well, I’m about to leave the country for a week which will probably blow the schedule all to hell. I am committed to listening and writing each show day, but I may not be able to post for days at a time. I may not have an opportunity to post at all until I get back to the States. But I will eventually post all of my thoughts on the shows. I promise!! Don’t give up on me.

OK – on to this KC show!! Buried Alive opener is always welcome, as is the mid-set Divided Sky. Wolfman’s is short… almost a toss-away version, really. Disappointing. Stash is serious business, though. I couldn’t really hear Ginseng very well. Julius is definitely in a rut at this point. No real variation. Great set closer, nonetheless!

Second set opens with a bomb-drop!! Mike’s Groove is here is near perfection. Not as out-there as some Mike’s, but intense and dark with a machine-gun ‘paug that everyone loves. Esther is beautiful and the mid-set Cavern just seems strangely out of place.

Reba is perfectly placed, on the other hand. Oh how I love Rebas that are creative and different. This one starts with a proto-plinko jam led by Trey with Page on his Rhodes and Mike slapping away. Very different and fun. Follow that up with JJLC and we’ve got a killer set so far! Both Trey and Page take gorgeous bluesy solos in JJLC.

While I’m sad that I’ve heard the last I Wanna Be Like You, I love Terrapin. I really love it… I mean it.

Finally, the Slave is one for the ages. It’s funny to me that just as the newer tunes like Sample, Wolfman’s, Julius, etc. are settling into failrly rote renditions at this point in the year, classics like Slave, Reba, Hood, etc. are really starting to break out and go interesting new places… I guess what I’m saying is that once again I’m reminded why I’m doing this whole thing. It’s because sometimes you have to wade through some stuff. Sometimes you’re just not gonna be in the mood to listen to Phish. Sometimes you really should be packing for a trip. But then you get fed a beautiful Slave to the Traffic Light and everything is worth it. All is right with the world, if only for a little while.

Is it tour yet???

Thanks for reading.

Monday, 06/13/1994

Memorial Hall, Kansas City, KS

Soundcheck: Jam -> Dog Log, Frankenstein

Set 1: Buried Alive > Poor Heart > Sample in a Jar > Divided Sky, Wolfman’s Brother > Dinner and a Movie, Stash, Ginseng Sullivan, Julius

Set 2: Mike’s Song > I Am Hydrogen > Weekapaug Groove, Esther, Cavern, Reba > Jesus Just Left Chicago > Scent of a Mule, Big Ball Jam, Hold Your Head Up > Terrapin > Hold Your Head Up, Slave to the Traffic Light

Encore: Golgi Apparatus

Notes: Ginseng Sullivan was performed acoustic, without amplification. The encore was preceded by a Voodoo Child tease.

Setlist courtesy of Phish.net.

Key tracks:

http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/1994-06-13/stash

http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/1994-06-13/mike-s-song

http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/1994-06-13/reba

http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/1994-06-13/jesus-just-left-chicago

http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/1994-06-13/slave-to-the-traffic-light

Saturday, 06/11/1994
Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, CO

Night two on the Rocks!! Wilson opener. Wilson chant is happening for sure at this point. Takes a couple of rounds to get started, but it’s happening!

Sometimes, when Phish plays multiple night stands, the first set of the second night just seems like the third set. The early YEM confirms that this is no standard first set of toss-aways. This set rocks from note-one straight through the killer Stash. Really, there is no low-point! Check out the Tela, too! I know I’m not getting too detailed here, but trust me… This set has been a great listen.

Second set is more of the same. It’s almost shockingly great. This FM broadcast recording helps, for sure. It’s got this great mix of sbd and crowd noise. Dig it!

It’s worth noting that Fluffhead in 1994 could absolutely anchor a second set. It’s big here even after the intense ‘lope. It works when people aren’t expecting Type II jams every night. Jaded 3.0 fans would be disappointed, I suppose, with non-jamming song in the heart of Set 2. Not me!

It’s also worth noting that the Mule Duels are starting to get stretched longer now. Page is taking them out there. Trey’s not yet really trying to one-up Page yet, but the “duel” is stretching out a bit more than it did in the spring. Entertaining to my ears… especially knowing how crazy they’ll be a year later.

The rest of the set is simply great Phish. Melt blows away the Melt from the other day, imo. Maze is great, and the first Frankenstein in almost 3 years had have been a treat for all those in attendance. It certainly shows off Page’s new keyboard really nicely.

Great show, as usual. This summer is gonna be fun!!

Thanks for reading.

Saturday, 06/11/1994
Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, CO
Set 1: Wilson > Chalk Dust Torture, You Enjoy Myself > Rift, Down with Disease, It’s Ice > Tela, Stash

Set 2: Also Sprach Zarathustra > Run Like an Antelope, Fluffhead, Scent of a Mule, Split Open and Melt, The Squirming Coil > Maze, Contact, Frankenstein

Encore: Suzy Greenberg

Notes: This show marked the breakout of Frankenstein, which hadn’t been played since July 26, 1991 (331 shows). Suzy subsequently included a Frankenstein tease. Fluffhead was played after a group of fans had been requesting it since the beginning of the show. Antelope included a tease of the Odd Couple theme.
Setlist courtesy of Phish.net.

Key tracks:
http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/1994-06-11/tela
http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/1994-06-11/stash
http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/1994-06-11/split-open-and-melt
http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/1994-06-11/frankenstein

Friday, 06/10/1994
Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, CO

I remember when the summer 1993 Red Rocks show was announced it created quite a buzz on rec.music.phish. This was the big time… and not just in New England where Phish was from and Great Woods made sense… this was Red Rocks! This was the EDGE!!! How quickly things change. By the summer of 1994, two nights on the Rocks made perfect sense to everyone.

This show starts off predictably with the classic RunJim Foam combo. I love how the quiet section of Foam at the beginning of Trey’s solo really gives us a glimpse into what kind of crowd we’re dealing with. Are they quiet and attentive. Are the so amped up that they let out some steam when the band gets quiet? Are they chatty? Here we mostly have the second answer. You can sense the electricity in the crowd. The previous year’s show at this glorious venue was so great that the folks there on this night are giddy with anticipation. Nice!

The heart of Set 1 is really the Bowie and Lizards combo. That’s when the band starts to let on how excited THEY are to be there. Bowie is intense, and the Lizards is playful and sweet. Also, I love that Julius is strong enough a tune at this point to earn its spot as a set closer! Perfect.

Second set opens with Axilla (Part II). It’s funny… I’ve heard so many (Part II)’s this year thanks to this project that it’s gonna sound strange to me if and when I hear the original lyrics this summer.

Axilla’s followed by everyone’s favorite, The Curtain, which serves up Tweezer on a silver platter… and what a Tweezer! Nothing crazy different from others in the last two months, but so very good. I love how this one breaks down toward the end, too. Dark and brooding, this Tweezer becomes! Then, perfectly placed as it always seems to be in 94, Lifeboy is there to lift us out of the darkness. Then Possum rages with abandon – and sort of feels like a set closer here. Of course, there is a ton of music left, but it just feels like the cap of something.

The Hood is a thing of beauty. Hoods are just going to get better and better as this year trucks along, aren’t they? I think every time I start to question my decision to listen to 94 like this a great Hood will remind me why I’m doing it. Hoods like these inspire kids to drop out of school and hit the road. I’m tellin’ ya!

The rest of the show is a well-deserved victory lap. Tweeprise, Sleeping Monkey, Rocky Top… yessir! Exactly how I like it.

Thanks for reading. Buckle in for another breakneck month+ of stellar Phish!!

Friday, 06/10/1994
Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, CO
Soundcheck: NICU, Funky Bitch, Blues Jam, Ginseng Sullivan

Set 1: Runaway Jim, Foam, Sample in a Jar, Nellie Kane > Demand > David Bowie, The Lizards, Cavern, Julius

Set 2: Axilla (Part II) > The Curtain > Tweezer > Lifeboy > Sparkle > Possum, Hold Your Head Up > I Wanna Be Like You > Hold Your Head Up, Harry Hood, Tweezer Reprise

Encore: Sleeping Monkey > Rocky Top

Notes: During Lizards, Trey talked about the rocks that looked like a giant lizard and referenced the last time they played at Red Rocks (8/20/93). Lizards also contained a Fanfare for the Common Man tease from Page. Possum contained a Random Note signal.
Setlist courtesy of Phish.net.

Key tracks:
http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/1994-06-10/david-bowie
http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/1994-06-10/tweezer
http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/1994-06-10/harry-hood

Thursday, 06/09/1994

Triad Amphitheater, Salt Lake City, UT

Here we go again! 29 shows in the next 37 days. What am I doing? What’s wrong with me? I am traveling like crazy. My job is kicking my ass. Now I’ve got to dive back into 3 hours of Phish per day, too? Seriously? I’m too old for this shit.

Today’s show feels nothing like a tour kick-off show. They come out swinging! The soundboard recording sounds amazing, too. Clear-as-a-diamond bass, especially on Guelah where, let’s face it, it’s all about the bass line! Everything here is just flawless. The Ice breakdown is another fun one. Again, it’s all Page here. If you missed my last post, I highly suggest going back and listening to KHalpin’s It’s Ice Spring Tour Mix. It’s fantastic!

Back to this show, though… If I Could is absolutely beautiful. Trey’s solo in Maze features Fish hootin’ and hollerin’ as Trey builds to the peak (as if the old ‘doc weren’t screaming enough on it’s own).

Fish’s hootin’ and hollerin’ became a theme for the night, I think. It definitely shows up at a few key points in the second set. Nice.

For the first time in a few shows, the Melt isn’t particularly a highlight, though. It’s not bad, it’s just sort of unremarkable. The Mike’s Groove, on the other hand, is solid! The H2 is cut short on this recording from some reason, but the Mike’s and the ‘paug are both high-energy great versions. Check ‘em out!

Finally, Highway to Hell will always be a favorite of mine. AC/DC is responsible for at least half of my current hearing loss predicament.

That’s all for now. It feels good to be listening to 1994 Phish again today. I’d be lying if I said I missed it during the week off, but I’m happy to back at it.

Thanks for reading.

Thursday, 06/09/1994

Triad Amphitheater, Salt Lake City, UT

Set 1: Llama, Guelah Papyrus, Rift, Down with Disease > It’s Ice > If I Could > Maze, Fee, Suzy Greenberg

Set 2: Split Open and Melt, Glide > Julius, Halley’s Comet -> Scent of a Mule, Ginseng Sullivan, Mike’s Song > I Am Hydrogen > Weekapaug Groove, Golgi Apparatus

Encore: Highway to Hell

Notes: Trey sang the verses of Fee through a megaphone. Ginseng Sullivan was performed acoustic without microphones and featured Fishman on Madonna washboard.

Setlist courtesy of Phish.net.

Key tracks:

http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/1994-06-09/guelah-papyrus

http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/1994-06-09/maze

http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/1994-06-09/mike-s-song

http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/1994-06-09/weekapaug-groove

Sunday, 06/01/2014

Spring/Summer Tour Break

So, Phish took about 10 days off to separate Spring Tour from Summer Tour. I’m enjoying the time away from listening to and writing about Phish. I’m getting to know my vinyl again. I watched the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. I’ve been digging some old school funk and soul like I used to. I’ve listened to a few episodes of WTF with Marc Maron. I’ve managed to spend some much-needed time with the wife. All in all, it’s been a great break.

Why, then, am I posting today? Well, two reasons. One, I have a musical treat I’d like to share with y’all. Two, I feel like it’s a good time to check in with my readers and see what I could be doing better, what they like, what I should add or delete, whatever. I’d love some feedback, in other words.

First things first… My buddy KHalpin put together this mix of It’s Ice breakdowns from Spring Tour 1994. I’ve gotta say, the one thing that stands out from this tour is Ice. Every version is different and fun. I think I said at one point that while I wouldn’t call It’s Ice “the song of the tour” I would definitely call this tour the best time for It’s Ice. In other words, there are other tunes that provided greater highlights along the way, but every It’s Ice was a highlight from that show. They all need to be heard for what they are. And here’s your chance. It’s all the Ice highlights from the tour in one place! If you follow the link to soundcloud, you should be able to download the mix, as well. Enjoy!!

Oh, and here’s what you’re hearing:

Which brings us to the second reason for this post. I really would love to hear from my readers. I feel like most of my posts are pretty much just stream of consciousness ramblings. I’ve read blogs that are pure rambling and I’m not a huge fan of that style, so, I hope that’s not how mine comes across. It’s hard to say, though. I know what styles of writing I like and what styles I do not. However, I have no way of assessing my own style. I’m too close to it.

I am not a trained writer, as you can probably tell. I have no dreams of a future in journalism or anything like that. What I have is a desire to add to the daily Phish conversation. I’d like to think I’m doing that here, but I have no idea how successful I’ve been.

So, here is my request: Let me know what you think!! Reach out to me via Twitter (@20YrsLaterBlog) or Facebook (20YearsLaterBlog) or simply comment at the bottom of this post. If you want to reach me privately, you can do so via the Facebook page above.

Thank you for the input… and though I am asking for it, I reserve the right to delete any comments that are offensive or not particularly constructive. Remember, I’m not a writer, I’m just a Phish head, like you!

As always, thank you for reading! I’ll be back in just over a week when Summer Tour kicks off!

Sunday, 05/29/1994

Laguna Seca Raceway, Monterey, CA

This is such a great show that I cannot even imagine it as part of a festival with OTHER bands playing. All I can think about is how it feels like a tour closer and how great it would have been to have camped out for these shows! What a scene it must’ve been, indeed!

The first set here is really fantastic, if a bit generic. A great Divided Sky gets things rolling right away. A string of great tunes follows. And a super-intense Bowie closes it out.

The second set is even better with a standout Melt that really must be heard. It goes into some really dark territory for a long long time. Band members are screaming. Trey and Mike are locking into patterns for minutes at a time. It’s almost maddening.Then it just gets quieter and breaks down toward the end without ever losing any energy at all. Outstanding!

A great Chalkdust and a stunning McGupp are clear highlights of the middle section of the set. Then theres this HUGE Antelope! Whew!

So, when it comes time for the encore you can hear a group in the crowd chanting “ONE MORE SET! ONE MORE SET!” Wishful thinking, to be sure, but they cannot have been disappointed by what transpired…

They start with Wilson and the chant starts immediately for the first time. It’s only a handful of people, but there is no delay. Thay are definitely chanting “WIIILSON!” right out of the gate! Cool.

Throw in Golgi and Rocky Top and everyone would assume they’re done! Not so fast!! The band comes back out (sans Trey who needs to “take a leak”)!! Fantastic. I was at one show where this happened. We’ll get to it this fall and I will tell the tale.

Not only did they come back out, but they played an EPIC Hood. The last few Hoods have all been stellar, but this one just feels really good. Cap it off with GTBT… great encore to a great show.

Now I get a full 10 days off!! I don’t know what I’m gonna do with myself. Will I listen to any Phish? If so, will I listen to 1994 Phish? Will I just not listen to much music at all and spend more time listening to podcasts like WTF? Only time will tell.

Thanks for reading. I’ll be back on June 9th!!

Sunday, 05/29/1994

Laguna Seca Raceway, Monterey, CA

Set 1: Divided Sky, Guelah Papyrus, Halley’s Comet > Down with Disease > Sparkle, Julius, I Didn’t Know, David Bowie

Set 2: Nellie Kane > Split Open and Melt, Esther > Chalk Dust Torture, Horn > McGrupp and the Watchful Hosemasters > The Oh Kee Pa Ceremony > Suzy Greenberg > Run Like an Antelope, Free Bird

Encore: Wilson > Golgi Apparatus, Rocky Top

Encore 2: Jam, Harry Hood, Good Times Bad Times

Notes: This performance was part of the Laguna Seca Daze Festival that also included Four Non Blondes, Big Head Todd and the Monsters, The Mother Hips and Meat Puppets. The jam at the start of the second encore is often labeled as “Trey Taking a Leak Jam” because Trey was in the bathroom when the band took the stage. Wilson was played by request.

Setlist courtesy of Phish.net.

Key tracks:

http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/1994-05-29/david-bowie

http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/1994-05-29/split-open-and-melt

http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/1994-05-29/run-like-an-antelope

http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/1994-05-29/harry-hood

Saturday, 05/28/1994

Laguna Seca Raceway, Monterey, CA

Laguna Seca Daze!! I definitely remember hearing about these shows from folks who were there. Everyone spoke very highly of the scene at this festival… and of the Phish shows. The biggest highlight was the Les Claypool sit-in, of course! As much as Les has become a staple at Jam Band fests these days, he most certainly seemed to be “of” a different scene in 1994.

Unfortunately, as much as I heard about how great that sit-in was, it doesn’t really translate on tape. The rest of this show is so good, though, I cannot complain! The Stash is almost as intense as the Great Woods Stash I’m so looking forward to. The Sloth is always welcome in a first set. The Maze is really great, too.

But it’s Set 2 that takes things up a notch. The whole set is downright inspired!! Another great Ice breakdown. The Tweezer hits a locked in groove at one point that VERY reminiscent of the 12/30/93 Mike’s, at least in style. It’s a great Tweezer by any measure. The Reba gets so out there, I pulled a “What song is this again?” moment while listening in the car. It almost sounds like they’re headed into 2001 at one point… a completely unique Reba jam, that’s not just great, but “out there.” It simply must be heard!

And then the famed YEM… well, it’s great, to be sure. I just don’t think it’s “all that.”

On a personal note, I got to eat dinner with a couple of my favorite people tonight… one of whom I’ve seen more Phish shows with than anyone else on the planet (roughly 80 shows together!). Sometimes traveling way too much for work has it’s benefits! Love that kid.

Tomorrow night is officially the end of Spring Tour 1994. Of course, that only buys me a week off… jeebus!! 1994 is brutal.

Thanks for reading.

Saturday, 05/28/1994

Laguna Seca Raceway, Monterey, CA

Set 1: Rift > Sample in a Jar, Foam, Bouncing Around the Room, Stash, The Horse > Silent in the Morning > The Sloth, Maze, Cavern

Set 2: Axilla (Part II) > It’s Ice > Tweezer, Lifeboy > Reba, Fee > Llama, You Enjoy Myself

Encore: Poor Heart

Notes: This performance was part of the Laguna Seca Daze Festival that also included Sausage, Gin Blossoms and Freddy Jones Band. Trey teased the theme from Popeye (Sailor’s Hornpipe) in Tweezer. Reba did not have the whistling ending. Trey sang the verses of Fee through a megaphone. YEM featured Les Claypool playing on a second bass guitar and Fishman on vacuum, and included a band-accompanied bass duel between Mike and Les and a Gimme Some Lovin’ tease from Page and Dueling Banjos teases in the jam segment. YEM ended without a vocal jam. Dueling Banjos was also teased before and during Poor Heart.

Setlist courtesy of Phish.net.

Key tracks:

http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/1994-05-28/stash

http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/1994-05-28/tweezer

http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/1994-05-28/reba

http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/1994-05-28/reba

http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/1994-05-28/reba

http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/1994-05-28/you-enjoy-myself

(Seriously. Listen to that Reba three times! I did)