04-15-86 University of Vermont, Burlington, VT
*AC/DC Bag, Dear Mrs. Reagan, Prep School Hippie, Quinn the Eskimo, Slave to the Traffic Light, Makisupa Policeman, Have Mercy, Dog Log, Possum, You Enjoy Myself, Anarchy, Camel Walk, Alumni Blues
Earth Day concert. *Preceded by Trey announcing, “Let’s hear it for my dad, all the way from New Jersey!”
Having a show start off with Trey’s dad playing ukulele and singing Fresh Rutabaga is the only way to start a show anymore.
Then The Phish start off with a very relaxed AC/DC Bag. The little intro jam is still there, and Mike really dominates this version. The jam found its way to a “plodding” section, which was the best I could describe it, and then Dear Mrs. Reagan appeared just about out of nowhere.
Prep School Hippie really took me by surprise, there were some extended musical sections in between the verses, and it really added a lot to a simpler song. Quinn the Eskimo was moving along nicely, until it kind of came crashing to a halt, and Mike did the second verse solo, before coming to a complete stop. The band eventually picks up at the jam, and Mike throws in the line “… and the cats meow, you know I can’t recite them all.”
The final Quinn jams leads amazingly into Slave to the Traffic Light. This is an unbelievable version, and Trey takes an unbeatable solo at the end. His “sound” is really starting to show.
Once again, Page really shines on Makisupa Policeman. Keyword was “woke up this morning smoked a lil herb, woke up this afternoon smoked a lil herb.” There is an unfortunate cut in the tape but the reggae continues on the fade in with Have Mercy. This is just such a great song, and a very strong version is played here.
Trey lets everyone know to get ready to dance, as the Bob Dylan Band Jam is played while Trey goes to tune his guitar. A nice and simple jazzy piece which led its way into Dog Log, dedicated to all the dogs in attendance, especially Marley the Wonderdog. Very upbeat jam with the band warning people to watch out while walking for what the dogs do.
Possum arose out of the jam, and the Companion claims there is a Music Never Stopped jam, but all I heard was Mike playing the opening notes of Help on the Way in the very beginning. So either I missed it, or it is noted incorrectly. Trey is once again “groaning” over Jeff’s verses, which really just needs to stop.
A solid version of YEM is next, and it contained a very short vocal jam, less than thirty seconds I would guess. Then appears a dedication, and they dip into Anarchy. Followed by Nazi Trustees. And then Killer African Bees. Gotta love three “songs” that total less than thirty seconds.
Jeff intros the next song as “another one he wrote about animals,” and a very laid back Camel Walk is played. There was one section during the jam I can swear I have heard before, and I think it may be Rush. But, it could always be nothing. They finish it off with a requested Alumni>Letter to Jimmy Page>Blues.
Overall a good show, the recording is very hollow unfortunately.
Highlight for me was the Slave, and the lowlight was the Quinn train wreck.