An amazing sounding recording from what sounds like an amazing party. And everybody brought their dogs which can be heard throughout the entire thing. This isn’t terribly distracting, and leads to a lot of audience banter, or Trey replacing a lyric with “Marley!”
Dog Log starts things off, and it isn’t until the end when it kind of falls apart you realize they are soundchecking. Peaches is run through, and the same is realized, as they spend a couple more minutes tuning up their gear.
Divided Sky may be the true start to this show, and if so, it begins with a bang. A dog can be heard running in stereo pass the tapers mics right after the lyrics which is entertaining. And unfortunately, DSky finishes up at the silent segment. The band picks right back up though, with a ripping Funky Bitch which Trey is really showing off for. Unfortunately, this one also finishes up with the need to tune up some more as the powerful buzz makes it seem an amp has blown. This is made up for by Trey teasing and singing some of Trenchtown Rock.
Once everything is back on track, a very slow and deliberate Harry Hood opening is played. This must be too much for the dogs, so they let the band know they are present. Fishman ends the tune rambling on about something, before Trey mentions “that is why we don’t give Fish a microphone.”
A pretty standard, but still great, Clod comes after. Trey mentions that “this one begins with the word ‘swift’”, which he says on the first note of the song. A With-less Curtain follows, which contains some very “Pat Metheny” type sound for the jam section. And Light Up Or Leave Alone features Trey and Mike trading licks at their best, which also happened to really rile the dogs up afterwards.
Phish goes on to play Shaggy Dog, which does not calm these rowdy dogs down whatsoever.
Next is a really interesting moment, which has Phish chanting “Wilson” for the first time in the intro. Also interesting is that the chanting comes before the “duh-duh” section of the song. And, instead of the usual “blat boom” part, we are treated to Trey continuously repeating “ribbity bibbity bippity boo”. If I could add a joint picture right now, I would.
Camel Walk was really solid with some ad-libbed lyrics thrown in. Also with a few different lyrics is Mike’s Song. This gets really interesting as the band is kind of plodding along in the jam, before Trey and Mike really take this thing to a few different levels. The jam goes through numerous tempo changes and starts to head out to the ether. It is all wrapped up nicely with a Hold Your Head Up Jam, which is a first appearance of that song.
The first recorded Harpua has to be restarted after the first “oom-pah-pah” because the band (mostly Trey) is laughing too hard because of the crowd reaction. This one had the oom-pah-pahs sung during the song intro as well, and instead of any story, it leads into the first Bundle of Joy, before heading back to Harpua.
Golgi is solid once again, and the crowd asks for Fee. Trey says, “Fee-ish?”, and they start jamming on Sparks while mentioning how Fishman can’t quite hold it and has to piss on the side of the stage. Once he is finished, the band launch into a full on Sparks with a Smoke on the Water tease from Trey.
Trey mentions the next song is called “The Saga of Pink Floyd”, and Mike throws in that they “learned this in the service.” Flat Fee->Fee is a fun combo, and is followed by Trey repeatedly saying “slice your nipple” in a whisper.
A major highlight of the show is Skin It Back, which carries its blues-rock beat into a jam that gets really out there much like the Mike’s Song earlier in the show. It finally leads into a Low Rider Jam which goes even further out. “La Bamba” lyrics are sung to the tune of Low Rider, after which the band goes through many different changes in the jam. From slow to fast, frantic to calming, it had a little bit of everything. Finally it hits its last frantic pace, and switches into a bluesy jam. Then The Sloth comes out of nowhere, the lyrics appearing as if they were part of the jam.
Trey intros the next song as “I Got A Brand New Set Of Rollerskates”, and as I mentioned during the last Anarchy, Big Black Furry Creatures From Mars couldn’t be too far away. Lyrics were sung fairly slow and very concise which was very nice. Overall with the approach of the lyrics, it reminded me a lot of Black Flag and some Henry Rollins. Trey mocks the song kind of afterwards, which brings about another Hold Your Head Up tease, which Fishman does not find amusing. I believe I heard a few notes from Eyes of the World as well, but I couldn’t be sure.
McGrupp, or “The Gala Event” is next, and it leads to a very atypical jam for this one, which Mike leads into a Stir It Up jam. This gets very laid back, and eventually turns into a “reggae jam”. Trey is singing some lyrics about a mouse and a house, which may be reminiscent of Skippy the Wondermouse, but nothing really matches up. The band sings “policeman” once, so the “Makisupa Jam” is just a continuation of the “Reggae Jam”. Trey leads an amazing segue into David Bowie over a very dissonant reggae jam. The first few minutes are filled with Trey noodling over the band slowly jamming. Now, I wish I knew my Rush more, because I am 99% positive Trey started teasing a well-known Rush song, which the band quickly picked up on, but I can’t remember what it is. I want to say Limelight, but I can’t say for certain. This is followed by a marching-type jam, which sounded somewhat like it came from Star Wars, but once again not knowing Star Wars that well, I will just suggest it sounds like it.
This leads to Sanity, and Trey is definitely having fun singing the lyrics in different timings and volume. Trey starts yelling “KAPOW” and other comic book phrases during the “Boom Bang” section, which Page replies with an “ouch.” Zeppelin is requested after, followed by “a lullaby”, and then “FUCK YOUR FACE!”
A lullaby must have been chosen, as they finish off with the fairly standard Swing Low Sweet Chariot Jam. Overall, a REALLY musical set three.
Highlights are Mike’s Song, Harpua>Bundle Of Joy>Harpua, and the McGrupp>Stir It Up Jam>Reggae Jam>David Bowie.
There really is no lowlight to this show. Possibly Swing Low since it wasn’t much of a staple on this great show… plus there is always something to complain about.
Best show to this date, confirmed.
