08-12-98 Vernon Downs

Phish Live Shows
#1

08-12-98 Vernon Downs, Vernon, NY

Soundcheck: Runaway Jim, The Old Home Place, Ginseng Sullivan, Treat Me Like a Fool

1: La Grange, Makisupa Policeman*, Funky Bitch, Possum, Roggae, Character Zero, Ramble On, Slave to the Traffic Light (1:10)

2: Mike’s Song > Simple** > Rift, Loving Cup, Sleeping Monkey, Weekapaug Groove, The Squirming Coil

E: Burning Down the House+, You Enjoy Myself++

Apparently this show was close to Fishman’s hometown (Syracuse), and they were urging him to sing a song. *Keyword was “Burnin’ Down” (see encore). **With “Jesus Just Left Chicago” tease. +First time played (Talking Heads cover, from the album “Speaking in Tongues”); with alternate lyric “Vernon Down the house.” ++With “Hold Your Head Up” and “Mission Impossible Theme” teases; alternate lyric “drive me to Vernon.”

#2

Woke up this morning… Burnin Down

What a well played and fun show. Every song was perfect and this show just flowed from start to finish. The Roggae was a highlight for me, a perfect end of summer song. Was fortunate to only live 20 minutes from the venue so it was extra special, seemed like I knew everyone there. Also one of the most beautiful sunsets I’ve ever seen as they put the finishing touches on one of the best Slave’s I’ve ever heard to finish out the first set. The Mike’s>Simple>Rift to start the 2nd was just ridiculous with some incredible jamming. Even the Sleeping Monkey didn’t dissapoint. The band was extra loose this night with no expectations from anyone considering it was a Wednesday night with the Lemonwheel to follow that weekend. Quite a bit of banter from the band throughout, often teasing Fishman about growing up nearby. A Great Squirming Coil to finish out the second set (kind of a sad feeling listening to just Page finish it out, knowing it was the last show of Summer Tour '98). We slept off one hell of a night in the cornfield across the street, woke up to a beautiful sunrise and hopped in the car and began the 12 hour drive up to Maine.

I’ve seen quite a few shows throughout my years, and this one remains my favorite. I never get tired of listening to it; hoping one day I’ll get my hands on a pristine soundboard copy.

Stream it here: stash.nugs.net/phish/summer98/de … &cmd=shows




#3

Totally agreed-- thanks for posting the story and the pics! Brings back good memories!

#4

Really fun first set. Lots of banter, lots of trying to get Fishman to sing.

Funky Bitch was absolutely electric. Strong soloing from Trey, and Mike was playing his butt off. And that energy carried right over into Possum, and then the strongest part of the set I think in Roggae. What a jam that was. Ramble On was a treat, as I haven’t listened to Summer '98 in quite some time. It also featured an excellent jam. I think I heard elements of JJ Cale’s Cocaine very quickly by Trey, but that could have just been part of the usual Ramble On. After that really rock n roll type part, they fade into a very spacey almost Roggae-type jam. And that jam after a couple minutes leads perfectly into a set ending Slave to the Traffic Light, which Trey absolutely destroyed.

#5

Whoever knows me knows how much I talk about this show :laughing:

This might be one of my all time favorite recordings to listen back to…still in my permanent rotation.

Every song is jammed to perfection. Set 1 highlights for me are the huge Roggae, just a super-dreamy late summer version, and then the ending Jam of Ramble On into Slave. It really doesn’t get any better than that.

[size=200]I LOVE THIS FUCKING SHOW!!![/size]

#6

Most excellent second set.

Mike’s Song is such a strong opener, those first notes just get the crowd right into it. Strong jam, which led awesomely into Simple. Simple was played really well, with two distinct jams. The second jam kind of called back the Ramble On jam from the first set. And an even better segue they float into Rift. Rift was played well, and the Loving Cup to follow was played even better. Sleeping Monkey was enjoyable, which says a lot because I am not a fan of the song. Anything to get Fishman to sing during this show I suppose. Weekapaug was above average, and the Squirming Coil to close the set was beyond average. The jam on the end of this version was supreme.

Burning Down on the House was a fun encore choice, and they could have easily ended there. But a few more Fishman jabs, and some Hold Your Head Up, and the crowd is treated to what Fishman wants to play, You Enjoy Myself. Love the HYHU tease by Trey early on, and just a strong version all around. Great close to a great show.

Highlights for me:
Roggae
Ramble On -> Slave to the Traffic Light
Mike’s Song -> Simple -> Rift
You Enjoy Myself

#7

Ah, my first show. Won’t go too far down memory lane but this night will always hold a special place in my heart. It was the last summer before my senior year of high school. We left Syracuse early that day to check out the venue and had my first experience with a lot scene. Anyways, we got in line early and sprinted to the stage when the gates opened. Ended up 5’ from the rail between Page and Trey. A few hours later the excitement began…

Great opener! Being the last night of a summer tour filled with covers La Grange seemed appropriate. They followed up with a fun Makisupa and a rocking Funky Bitch. Even though I had hundreds of tapes Possum was probably the first song they played that I was very familiar with. This one did not disappoint. They slowed things down with Roggae but this version is one of the best I’ve heard. Trey kills the solo and overall it’s just a great version. Sad to say I enjoyed the Character Zero a lot during the show though it’s a pretty standard version. By the time the 2000 summer tour rolled around I couldn’t stand this song. Ramble On and Slave are the main reason why I selected this show for LSD. The jam in Ramble On is exceptional and it melts perfectly into a very well played Slave. I really enjoy Slaves where everyone (cough Trey cough) is patient and doesn’t force the build up too quickly. The slower building ones always seem to lead to ripping peaks and this one is no exception. Trey kills it!

Second set kicks off with a rocking Mike’s Song. The jam gets a little dark that transitions smoothly into Simple. One of the four guys in my group bought a Simple shirt in the lot so everyone was pretty happy when we heard the opening notes. Surprisingly, Simple leads way to a face paced Rift. Back in 1998, and probably even now, Rift was my favorite album. It was definitely the album I played most front to back in high school. This is a pretty solid version too. Loving Cup was new to me so I had no idea it was a cover at the time. Most people around me were pretty pumped about it which made me enjoy it even more. Sleeping Monkey followed. Very surprised they waited this long in the show to put Fishman front and center. After harassing him all night it was long overdue for a Fishman tune. I remember him standing up behind the drums for the solo lyrics section and everyone was cheering a ton for the hometown boy (who grew up the town over from me at our rival high school). Weekapaug Groove kicks in and they absolutely rip this one. Seemed like that would likely close out the set but being the last night of summer tour, and a beautiful summer night at that, they decide to close things out with Squirming Coil. I really enjoyed this version and always like it when the band exits one at a time until it’s just Page soloing.

During the encore break we were speculating the song they’d likely play. One kid guessed Crosseyed, due to fishman signing the lyrics, another thought HYHU and Purple Rain. No bullshit, I guessed YEM. It was the song I wanted to hear the most all night even though I knew it was probably too long for an encore. I think the last kid guessed Reba or Maze. Anyways, the first kid wasn’t too far off…Vernon Down the house! This was awesome in person and everyone in the front was rocking hard to it. As soon as Trey started talking we figured they’d play something else. Seemed likely it would be a HYHU but we were all ecstatic they chose to play YEM instead. I got so many high fives from not only my group but a bunch of people around us who overheard my YEM encore call. This, along with the YEM from MSG a few months later, is easily one of the best YEM I’ve seen live. The composed sections are nailed and the jam section is top notch. It’s probably one of the only YEM I’ve ever listened to the vocal jam on too.

What a night! At this point I was hooked. Though, being 17 it was tough to get on the road but our group saw them at Albany in Nov and the first two night of the new years run down at MSG. Guess I went way down memory lane but every time I listen to this show it always puts a smile on my face. Glad everyone else enjoyed it too.

#8

The way they yell the first verse of Burnin Down the House is great. They’re just going for it.

#9

Being a local and Summer 98 vet, this show holds personal significance for me as well. I had done the whole tour and this was the last show before Lemonwheel. I was tired and dirty and it was nice to come home and see all my friends at this show. Unfortunately, someone stole my bag from our pile of stuff during the show and I lost all my stubs from the summer, as well as all the rolls of film of pics I had taken all summer. It still hurts to this day. Not trying to bring down the mood, because this show kicked ass and it is very special to me.

#10

That sucks Katie :thumbdown:

Someone stole my wife’s bag from out of our tent at the Went. It had all her stuff…it sucks.

#11

^It really does. Losing all my money right before going to Maine definitely made the remainder of tour a struggle, but the loss of the stubs and pictures still sucks to this day.

Anyway, to the music. Just starting my listening here…segmented thoughts:
LaGrange is a great cover fit for them. Mike nails that first part. Nice rocking jam to kick things off.

I love Page’s short but sweet section right before they come back to “policeman, kingston…” in Makisupa.

I had forgotten about the summer of Bob Weaver.

Trey really loves to talk about Fishman’s early days when they play Syracuse-area shows. Does this happen with other band members? I get a kick out of it.

Ramble on is a sweet tune. I like where it goes in the jam with the lovely cascading notes. Nice way to cool and quiet it down while keeping it interesting and great lead in for Slave.

#12

This Mike’s is a killer second set opener. Patiently dark and determined. You could listen to it on repeat to the 100th power. Wow. The end, with that driving guitar and very low bass in back and then the spooky almost ‘talking’ guitar voice, is the stuff melted faces are made from.

Boy oh boy, this Simple! The first half-2/3 is absolute restrained beauty, as Simple does so well, then the remainder is like traveling different avenues of one city, or the same block of a city during different seasons; blending many styles and sounds into one cohesive jam.

The encore is the perfect topper to this show. Burnin’ down is a fun and funny treat. The instrumental jam in YEM is funky fresh and the vocal jam is really nice. I generally don’t go for the yelling at the end but I like how they alternated it with the rhythymic Bobby McFerrin-esque chanting.

The band is in great spirits here, which is always good to hear. Twas a fantastic tour and this show was the icing on the cake. Thanks for taking me back LSD! It’s an LSD flashback show (in more ways than one)!