Big Cypress

Phish Live Shows
#9

Left work early today just because I work hard most of the time and I felt I deserved an afternoon off. Stopped at the liquor store to pick up some wine and beer for tonight. Our youngest and her man invited us over for rib steaks on the barby tonight, and all we have to bring is the drinks. Ha Cha!

So I’ve been laxin’ this afternoon with the system cranked, and guess what show? Doh, that’s right BC, only the 12/30 sets because it’s one of my all time favorite shows. They are just sooooooooooooooooooooo happy playing this show. Everyone is charged and into each song. And the crowd is with them every step of the way. What a farging experience, what farging great music.

I’m feeling a definite need lately to talk about this band again. I want them so much to return to the greatness they once had together. I want for them to be happy on stage together again like they were on 12/30/99. I don’t give a shit what they play. When this band was tight and together, it really didn’t matter. They could take any shit song and make it great.

And did I ever tell you that the Hood from this show is one of my all time favorites? I did, huh? No wonder. It’s farging great.

#10

Best week of my life. And the music was pretty good too! ;D

#11

Is 12.30.99 really on par with 12.31? I’ve only heard 12.31, so if that’s the case then I’m definitely missing out.

#12

^ 12-30-99 IMO is better than any of the 6 shows they have played in Limestone Maine!

#13

yeah i’ve only ever had the midnight set, which is mindblowing to me. it’s like, all i’ve needed for some reason. hell, i hardly remember the rest of the music. i need to get the rest of that event.

#14

Certainly 12/30/99 is not on par with 12/31/99, but what really is? You guys definitely need to check this show out. Tons of highlights. Fun first set. Rocking Second Set. And the most amazing Mike’s Groove ever. Smoked covered the boys and the jam just got darker and darker. Good stuff.

#15

^ Okay, yeah, that’s what I always kinda assumed. I will definitely check out 12.30 when I get a chance. Thanks!

#16

I’ve listened to 12-30-99 more than 12-31. That show kicks ass, indeed!

#17

I think a lot of the 12/31 jams are kind of reserved, possibly trying to just save energy to stay up til the sun gets up.

12/30 is a party for sure… the Light Up is epic.

You really can’t go wrong with either date though.

#18

Does anybody think that any jam from 12/31 falls in the “best ever” category?

The “Melt” is pretty damn good, IMO. There are some really good second set jams…“Drowned -> After Midnight” is bone-chilling…and there are other good ones. Top-5 and top-10 material to be sure, but “best ever?” Not quite, I don’t think. The “Melt” is the closest. To me, anyway.

#19

I find many/most of the jams from 12.31 to be especially hypnotic. “Down with Disease” comes to mind as one in particular, but the last time I listened I remember feeling “hypnotized,” if you will, pretty much throughout the show. As far as “best jams ever,” I don’t think I could even begin to narrow PHiSH’s library down to the top 5 or 10 or 50. There are too many and I haven’t heard them all and I am constantly discovering new gems. (…cop out, I know.)

Regarding 12.31, the one thing negative that I will say about it, at the risk of committing heresy, it is too long!! (I know, I’m a pansy.) But to fully absorb a show, I like to listen to it intently in its entirety… if not all at once, at least all in the same day. With 12.31.99, I have to dedicate a weekend, if not a week to this practice, which honestly, I haven’t even ever done (yet).

#20

I sort of see where you’re coming from on the second paragraph. I’ve only listened to BC straight through twice. I wouldn’t want to break it into segments, but rather hear it in all it’s glory. So I have to dedicate basically an entire work day with little to no interruptions, which is hard to do sometimes.

#21

Agreed. I’ve also thought if “The Show” was officially released on DVD, it’s very unlikely I would ever watch it in its entirety…

:-/

#22

It’d be one of those things that you have to physically, emotionally and psychologically prepare yourself for.

Taper your Phish listening, eat a big pasta dinner the night before, stretch thoroughly…etc.

#23

For me it helps that I was there since all the memories come flowing back…it’s also sweet that the band was able to truly let loose on basically every song and just explore and fool around and let the music take them where it goes. It’s true jamming freedom without worrying about the clock or anything.

Of course I’ve never listened to the entire thing straight through except for when I saw it live…I usually just don’t listen to seven straight hours of any music.

Stevo

#24

I’ve been thinking about this and wondering how much of the praise that BC gets from fans is really just due to the fact that Trey has been quoted as saying that it is, in his opinion, the best show Phish ever played? Certainly that quote alone is enough, in most people’s minds, to hand the heavyweight championship belt over to Big Cypress. But how heavily have fans’ opinions been influenced by that quote?

I do concede that Trey’s opinion on the subject carries much more weight than any average fan’s, though. Or does it?

#25

Yes, it does.

Unless that fan is me.

Or anyone on this board.

#26

Except me.

Edit: goddammit, this post doesn’t make any sense out of context (starting the second page).

#27

if it was released it would be the best music dvd ever

#28

does anybody have soundboard recordings of these two shows? I was there and loved every minute of it, and the audience recording just isn’t cutting it for me…