you make me want to listen to 12.29’s second set, which IS better than 12.30’s second set, imo. And the Antelope alone makes 12.29 set 1 better than 12.30 set 1.
Doesn’t set 2 go Disease–>Bowie–>Possum–>Turn you loose–>Possum, Tube, YEM…? or something close to that…
Is there a segue between Bowie and Possum? hmm I forgot…must listen soon…
Yes thats the setlist
Yes, but its more of a “slam” type segue.
And finally , Yes you do indeed need to listen soon.
Go ahead Listen…you know you want to
LIIIISTEN! (Shakes Fist)
-Desmond
Oh yeah, now I remember it vaguely.
Later on tonight I’ll have the chance to listen…although I don’t have the recently released livephish source.
Granted I haven’t heard 12/29 yet, but I’m willing to argue for 12/30, at least for its significance. To open a show with a HUGE and hugely appropriate bust-out like Sneakin’ Sally is unheard of, and the band apparently enjoyed it so much they not only put it back into rotation but they reprised it during the encore. The first set may not have much ‘meat’, but this is more than made up for with the second set opening (and personal favorite version of) AC/DC Bag and Harpua. As it was the only full Harpua of the year (the Went version is more of a completion of the Ball version), that made it all the more special. And finally, yes, the encore, which is (if I recall) the longest in Phish’s history and arguably the coolest.
In the end, I wish they’d just release the whole NYE97 run, either in full audio/video, or in a 4 piece set like the Island Tour.
Yeah, but with the Sneakin’ Sally opener, you’re talking more about setlist quality than actual playing. 12.29 has spectacular playing throughout, while 12.30 is more known for the eye-popping setlist quality of Bag–>McGrupp->Harpua. Plus, My Soul and Guyute late in the set is kind of a downer, for me anyway, if we’re talking about setlists.
The 12.30 Bag is probably in my top 6 or 7, but the jam is a little too drawn out to be my favorite. 11.21.97, 11.7.98, and 8.10.04 are better “longer” Bags, imo.
Cheers to that Greg!
And yes the ‘Bag’ is epic, as well as the show on a whole.
Am I the only one who is NOT a fan of 1997-12-30 ‘ACDC Bag’?
That could go down as the most over-rated tune ever, IMO of course.
i think 12-30 is overrated as a whole.
a HARPUA doesn’t make a show and like phg said, it sputters out towards the end.
the Hood, My Soul, Monkey, Guyute is a big throwaway.
It is kind of obvious that they were trying to top 12-29, but they didnt even come close.
The bag is overrated, the Sally was a great bustout, but you gotta be able to keep that energy up after that, which they really didnt.
I think the only “breather” tunes from 12-29 were Train Song and Dirt, both aptly placed.
12-29 has always been a top 5 attended show for me, and i’m glad it’s finally getting the attention it deserves.
(the Neumann u89 source owns the SBD 
)
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I will agree as well. I think that the 29th is a way better show. Second set from the 29th is gold from start to finish.
the 12/30 Bag is a little aimless, but I love twhat Trey palys towards the end…
Where is my friend who loves the 12/30 Bag as much as me?! Help me!!
he’s been taken care of.
a
I have no qualms calling the 12-30-97 “Bag” one of my favorite versions of that particular song. It’s not my favorite jam or anything like that, but I really enjoy it, and don’t consider it overrated. I like the first half of the jam better, as it sort of gets repetitious near the end, and the “Crosseyed” jam has no novelty to it because of the 12-7-97 show, but whatever. I like this “Bag.”
i like the 12/30 bag…it’s not one of my all-time favorites, but i like it. i enjoyed the 12/30 show more at the time, but opinions change, now i like 12/29 a lot more…12/30 has the setlist, but 12/29 has the meat and potatoes.
Haha, ewwww… that Ronald McDonald picture is GROSS augustus!
carry on…
The funny thing is, the much loved 11/21/97 Bag that most people prefer doesn’t do much for me. At any rate, I don’t want to hijack this thread, so let’s go discuss favorite Bags in the Individual Song board for it.
The debate over the relative merit of these two shows will probably go on for many moons. But let’s face it - part of the price of seeing Phish, especially later in their career, was an almost predictable inconsistency within shows, within tours, and sometimes even within songs. It was, however, also part of their irresistible charm since it was an aspect of the mechanism that kept their music alive like no other band before, or since.
I’ve heard both shows a number of times, and was in attendance at 12/29/79 (btw, it always amazes me when I realize some of you were also there, and I think, with futility, which one were you?), and possibly because of that bias, believe that 12/29 is the better performed show. But this is personal preference stuff and it’s really hard to argue about, especially since there were so many factors outside of the music that made the show meaningful.
I’ve got a little time this morning and feel like tapping on keys, so if you don’t mind I
your posts are always great fone! 
and thanks for offering up the pics of ellis and kristen, it’s good to finally put a name to the face. i didn’t get a computer until hiatus, so i never posted on rpm, but always heard there names being thrown around at shows.
send me a pm when you get a chance, i have a question for you.
great story fone.
forgotten in all the 12.29 v. 12.30 discussion is 12.31’s 2nd set, which is spectacular.