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.
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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.
Well, I finally got around to watching all of 1997-12-29 yesterday, and just wow.
That Antelope is greatness.
I was telling Thom I forgot what Antelope is like with the lights going.
Wow.
On the day of this show, Michael Corleone died.
I just found that out.
That’s how fucking good this show was!
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