Well, as many of you may know, I had fallen away from Phish. I listened to them very rarely, if ever. I would often skip them if they appeared on shuffle. I was totally burned out. Even with this, I still claimed to be a big Phan, sporting my YEM and Antelope shirts with pride. They were pretty far back in my mind, however.
but always back there.
Last weekend, I didn’t know what to listen to, and then I thought of Phish. I knew winter was my favorite time for Phish; as the weather get bland and the nights get long, it’s GREAT to pop in a show and act like you’re there. It makes time fly, and the jams make winter pop out.
So with this in mind, I popped in the first show listed in iTunes, 3/22/93. I really dug the papyrus. Got into the Pen. Loved the Stash and Rift. I knew it was really feeling good again. This made me think… what is a show in my collection that really stands out in my mind, one that I always latch onto? And after listening, I now can say that one date is responsible for my rekindled interest in Phish:
November Twenty-Seventh, Nineteen Ninety Eight.
This is, hands down, my favorite Phish show, and from my favorite year.
Everything is just great. Funky Bitch starts it off in a rockin’, rollin’, groovin’ ball of energy. The Ya Mar is smooth and sounds great; smooth, authentic, clean. Carini is goofy and fun. The Runaway Jim is my one of my fave Jims, and works great in that melodic, 98 form. It flows eloquently, bit by bit. I get caught up in it every time. Meat is meat; personally, I love it. The REBA is also a great standout; its true to 98, very melodic and tight. Expressive and clean, just how I prefer them. Old Home Place and Dogs Stole Things are nice as well.
Vultures is a favorite song of mine, and this one is off the hook to me. Clean, tight, stunning. Circus is pretty and smooth. The BIRDS is FANTASTIC; I LOVE how Birds works in 98 style! It’s another favorite tune of mine, and I think this one takes the cake. Fun Buried. And then you hit the big stuff: The Chock Full 'o Chalk mini segue-fest. Chalk (sweet) -> Mirror in the Bathroom (GREAT; wish it was longer) -> Chalk (this section RAGES!) -> Dog Log (Blueeessyyy) -> Buffalo Bill. Its a thrill, and fun to listen to as well.
This show, which was released as LP6 I believe, is responsible for reingiting my love of Phish. I HIGHLY Suggst it; 98 is SO underrated, always overshadowed by 97.
You guys can argue it out, but I thought many of you might be interested to know that I’m back into Phish, and you’ll probably be seeing me in the Phish discussion boards a lot more.