10-30-85 Hunt’s, Burlington, VT
Harry Hood*, Dog Log -> Possum, Slave to the Traffic Light**, Sneakin’ Sally Through the Alley*#, I Wish, Revival, Alumni Blues, Prep School Hippie, Skippy the Wondermouse
*First time played. #With vocal jam. **Dedicated to “Grinkle.”
This one starts off with Trey welcoming everyone, and hoping they are ready to dance. The first Harry Hood is intro’d as “about someone who lives across the street from us.” Perfect Hood beginning, and Trey continues talking about their friend Brian, who when he closes the fridge door always asks himself a question… Cue the Hood lyrics. Fun time, especially since it is the first go-around. The Mr. Minor section is similar to what would become regular, but very odd in some way or another. Different timing. Jeff handles the “good about Hood” lyrics and they are really drawn out. Afterwards, I believe it is Page can be heard saying, “We are going to get a sponsor one day if it kills us. One day they will pay us to do that.” Pretty funny to look back on.
Dog Log continues the show, and it is relatively standard throughout most of it. During the beginning of the jam, Trey mentions “let’s take it around one time”, and the band really kicks it into another gear. This jam leads into Possum, which has a very loose beginning. Almost unrecognizable as Possum, until Jeff begins the lyrics. Trey is constantly doing an odd groan over each of Jeff’s lines, and on the tape he is completely overpowering. Takes away from the performance if anything (think Yoko). Page takes a secure solo after the first set of lyrics, and really, not much else to mention.
Afterwards, Trey thanks anyone who saw them last week at Goddard, and it feels good to be back in the real world. Probably in reference to the “Halloween Fest” four days prior, which was supposed to be their first Halloween show, but it would be seem the band was incapable at the time to handle their instruments. Mmmm… trails.
Slave to the Traffic Light is dedicated to Grinkle, who Trey welcomes back to freedom. This is the first Slave on tape with Page in the band, and the difference is immediately felt. Much fuller sound throughout the entire tune. Sneaking Sally, much like Possum, has a very loose and funky intro. The band is showing off a really nice harmony section, with Trey taking the lead. The jam leads into a very upbeat vocal jam, which quickly turns into the band mimicking their instruments the best they can. The vocal jam leads seamlessly back into an instrumental jam on Sally, and Jeff takes a really nice lead.
“A dance tune,” and “Hippies have a right to dance, too”, are the intro given by Trey and Page to I Wish. This Stevie Wonder song is perfect for Page, and has Phish delivering a really funky time. Only thing I can really say about Revival is that it works perfectly with two guitars. Afterwards they thank everybody for coming out on a Wednesday night.
Alumni Blues has the established beginning, and right off the bat in the jam Trey starts taking this to a higher level. Too short to really go too deep unfortunately. Page is giving the keys a good tickle during the second verse, and even adds the line, “I’m gonna take this diploma and get some pumpkin pie.” Letter to Jimmy Page is once again included, and when they return to Alumni, Page takes off on his own solo. Jeff is called out for a solo, and well… I kinda wish he wasn’t. Lackluster describes it pretty well.
After the song, I believe it is Jeff explaining that they don’t really know why they are called Phish, and if anybody had any suggestions, they would gladly listen. Seriously, get out of the band already.
Prep School Hippie is an overly simple song, and not too impressive. Page, once again, really shines through it.
Finishing the tape with McGru… Oh, it is Skippy the Wondermouse again. Great. At least this time there is no Dude of Life, Trey handles the vocals. The second half of the song has a really nice mixture of going through the movements, and jamming. Towards the end, I didn’t even mind it was Skippy.
Highlight would be Harry Hood, while the lowlight would probably go to Revival by default. There really is nothing terrible about this show.
On a side note, one thing I have noticed, Trey has completely dropped the “Garcia-esque” playing I had noted in earlier shows. I can hear his true sound peaking out, but it really isn’t completely there yet. Either way, the fanning, or shredding, is gone. And I don’t mind.
Came here to basically say the same thing. He doesn’t add anything of value to this show. At least in Skippy Trey gets the jam going even though Jeff seems to just be playing for the sake of playing as he doesn’t appear to be listening to the other members. If you tune out Jeff, the jam in Skippy is quite good especially for 1985.