Best "runs"

Phish Live Shows
#1

…or maybe some underrated ones…

I was thinking about the week of 7.15–>7.21.98 today, and how that is one of the more solid runs of greatness I can think of. A LIVEPHISH release and really fun tour opener, two memorable Gorge shows (7.16 VERY underrated show, not to mention sickness of 2001–>Mike’s–>Weekapaug), and what I think are two of the best back-to-back shows ever, 7.20 and 7.21.

7.19 is the only show I would even consider calling “average,” and its still pretty damn good.

To me, that week is much more consistent and interesting than the whole Europe summer tour.

another one I wonder about is the April '92 run on the West Coast. how high do y’all rank that one? The only one I’ve heard enough is 4.16, which is fucking great.

#2

This has always been one of my favorite shows!

04-15-92
Opening Act: Widespread Panic

Set I: The Oh Kee Pa Ceremony > Suzy Greenberg, Foam, Guelah Papyrus, Sparkle, Stash, Uncle Pen, Cavern, I Didn’t Know, All Things Reconsidered, Runaway Jim

Set II: Chalk Dust Torture, You Enjoy Myself, Reba, The Landlady > NICU, Cold as Ice > Cracklin’ Rosie > Cold as Ice, My Sweet One, Golgi Apparatus

Encore: Memories, Sweet Adeline, Rocky Top

Show Notes: Uncle Pen was played, according to Trey, “with all due respect to Bill Monroe.” It was also explained at this show that All Things Reconsidered is a variation on National Public Radio’s All Things Considered. YEM included a Sunshine of Your Love tease segment and the vocal jam centered on a “rolling” theme, including the quote “Rolling on the River” from Proud Mary. It also included quotes from the theme to “Rawhide.” My Sweet One was announced by Trey as being written by the third greatest songwriter of all time while Fishman took a bow of recognition. Memories and Sweet Adeline were performed without microphones.

#3

As far as runs go i cannot disagree with your summer 98 assessment as i saw all of those but Phoenix. If you want underrated try 10-4-99 thru 10-10-99.

What?

Well fuck you too!

#4

I didn’t say anything!

#5

Pretty much most of Summer '98 has sweet runs throughout.
I’m not a fan of Portland, though.
Even though it’s an opener, it’s real sloppy.
The Tweezer is the only enjoyable part for me.

07-28 > 08-03 is a great run from that Tour.

Pretty much all of December '95 and August '93 were fat.
Not really one dud in the bunch.
a

#6

I don’t think I’ve heard anything from after 10.2 from the first half of fall '99 tour.

#7

I listened to 10.3.99 today.

That is all.

#8

I love the Shows in the beginning of July 94 form the 5th to the 13th.

The Two Canada shows are great. They both have solid playing and a bunch of rarities.
I love that curtain->LTJP, followed by two nights at the Good woods with a gamehendge and a second set on 7/9 that I’m addicted to right now.

end it all with the Craziness of Big Birch and you’ve got yourself quite a run.

I know some may disagree, but I am partial to 11/98 up the east Coast. Alot of people may think the Hampton and Centrum shows are overrated, but I’m not one of them. I am admittedly biased as I was at most of the shows from Murfreesboro to Worcester that fall.

But most of all the middle of 12/95 is where its at IMO. The 12/09 YEM, The 12/14
Curtain->Tweezer->Timber(or Halleys->NICU->Slave,take your pick),
The 12/15 Bathtub->Rotation Jam->2001->Bowie.

I wish I couldve gone to more late fall 95 shows

Top it all off with the holiday run.

12/29>12/31? Maybe? Possibly?

#9

phish never had good back to back shows imo.

#10

I had a pretty good case of the runs about two weeks ago.

#11

^^ I’ll begrudgingly take that as a joke.

For my money it doesn’t get better than this:

[b]11-17-97 McNichols Arena, Denver, CO

1: Tweezer, Reba, Train Song, Ghost*, Fire

2: Down With Disease-> Oblivious Fool-> Johnny B. Goode-> Space Jam-> Jesus Just Left Chicago, When the Circus Comes, You Enjoy Myself

E: Character Zero

*Jammed out “for your listening pleasure.”

11-19-97 Assembly Hall, Champaign, IL

1: Julius, Bathtub Gin-> Llama, Dirt, Limb By Limb, Funky Bitch, Theme From the Bottom, Ginseng Sullivan, Fee*-> Meatstick-> Run Like an Antelope

2: Also Sprach Zarathustra-> Wolfman’s Brother**-> Makisupa Policeman#, Taste

E: Possum

*Trey looked around the stage for the megaphone, but didn’t find it. **With “Walk Away,” “Tweezer,” and “I Feel Free” (Cream) teases; and with “Crosseyed and Painless” jam. #With space jam.

11-21-97 Hampton Coliseum, Hampton, VA

1: Emotional Rescue*-> Split Open and Melt, Beauty of My Dreams, Dogs Stole Things, Punch You in the Eye-> Lawn Boy, Chalk Dust Torture, Prince Caspian^

2: Ghost-> AC/DC Bag-> Slave to the Traffic Light, Loving Cup

E: Guyute

*Rolling Stones cover (first time played). ^With digital delay loop jam.

11-22-97 Hampton Coliseum, Hampton, VA

1: Mike’s Song-> I Am Hydrogen-> Weekapaug Groove, Harry Hood, Train Song, Billy Breathes, Frankenstein, Izabella

2: Halley’s Comet*-> Tweezer > Black Eyed Katy > Piper > Run Like an Antelope**

E: Bouncing Around The Room, Tweezer Reprise

*Before they started the set, the crowd chanted the beginning of “Destiny Unbound” (in hopes that the band would play it). Trey acknowledged the chant by saying that he couldn’t hear what was being sung; that it sounded like some kind of “death chant”; and asked if this was the point in the show where they do the human sacrifice. No “Destiny Unbound” was played or teased. **With “Mike-O-Esquandolas” (instead of “Marco”). [/b]

I go out there and say, one of the best EVER (top 5 versions for sure) versions of: Halleys Comet (single best Halleys), Tweezer (11/17 and 11/22), Mikes Groove, Wolfman’s (#2 best ever behind 11/30), Makisupa, AC/DC Bag (easily my favorite), Emotional Rescue, Down With Disease and two raging Antelopes. There are so much more to those shows too than meets the eye.

I know it’s only 4 shows, but if I only got to go to 4 shows in a row, those would be the ones I’d pick.

#12

^ I remember thinking after the first set, first night of hampton. Man that set really sucked balls, they better make up for it quick!

#13

I would have a hard time picking a string of shows from Fall '97 as my favorite, but that comes damn close.

#14

I was involved in some epic runs when I was in college.

Mostly due to eating cafeteria food and drinking heavily.

#15

On the way from Washington to oregon in 99 my buddy Rob got the runs. So bad he skipped the show to head for the airport and an earlier flight home to San Fran. I’ll never let him live that one down!