You’re perusing your collection of shows. You just can’t seem to make up your mind. Are you in the mood for a long, spacey “Tweezer?” A raging “Bathtub Gin?” A funky “Tube?”
If/when you can’t decide, what’s YOUR “go to” show?
I was just thinking about this the other day, actually.
Mine are 12/7/97, 2/28/03, and 7/15/98. If you’re like me, you only listen to shows over and over if you can get them on soundboard quality, and naturally I have all of these in that. But beyond that reason, which is small, they’re just front-to-back great shows. 12/7/97 you can’t go wrong with, and it doesn’t go too out there–just funky and rocking with great segues. 2/28/03 is my favorite post-hiatus show and both sets are money IMO. I put on set two when I want a spacey, out there show. 7/15/98 is a go-to show for me because it’s just good Phish. Longish first set, excellent segues during the second set. Funky but pretty mellow and semi-ambient at parts.
Always go with a good Tube and you shall never be sorry! I’m spent on Tweezer and while I do love Gin, I never seem to wanna listen to it for some reason, wierd.
The year of 1993.
I pick up my spindle, close my eyes, and select a disc.
7-4-99, 7-17-99, 7-25-99, 9-18-99, 12-11-99 or 11-27-98. All shows i attended and listen to frequently! No matter how sweet a show was if i was not there it does not hit me as hard on disk!
10.14.95
6/18/94!
11/12/94
12/30/93
or
11/22/97
5/8/93 set 2
7/16/94
11/28/97
I often just shove in 12-31-92. It’s the first live Phish I ever had that was any good, and so I know it cold like it was a studio release.
Plus it’s got - Buried Alive!, Forbin’s>Mockingbird, Harpua, the Dude of Life and some sick versions of Divided Sky, Wilson & Antelope. Oh - this is my favorite Mike’s ever too. Just the Mike’s part anyway. The jam is so great, and whenever I hear other "Mike’s Song"s, I always miss hearing some of the riffs from this version. There’s one bass run in particular right as the last chorus ends and the bouncy tramps part begins. It should be in every one, man.
It’s one of those random fret runs that you sometimes whistle to yourself, and then you realize you just whistled an improvised bass part from the middle of some Phish show you’ve heard too many times. You know those fret runs.
12/31/95 - since the release this is definately it…or if I’m just entertaining and I don’t know what people would enjoy…how can they not enjoy this.
11/22/97 SET 2 - Halleys with Zappa teases, and just ridiculous funk following that. Definately not SBD, but I can just listen to it over and over again…
12/31/99 THE SHOW - Any disc of this at any time just gives me the biggest hard on ever.
Nice topic! 12/31/95 has everything I need…
In terms of whole shows, if I can’t decide I’ll go with 7-11-00 or anything from the Island Tour.
7/11/00 is a nice choice…but my problem with it is that the versions of the tunes aren’t exactly tip top. The Moby Dick theme is a nice idea and works perfectly, but I feel this just otherwise hides a pretty substandard performance…
12/7/97
12/9/95
12/29/98
I dunno man…the “Moma Dance” and “Drowned” are pretty good. A rocking “2001” to start set II, plus one of my favorite "Harry Hood"s. I wouldn’t call it a substandard performance by any means. I will admit that “Disease,” “Ya Mar,” and “Theme” are average at best.
prolly vegas 04…sick run
^ I agree, spooks.
its good to see ya back around these parts marley
Get a room, you 2.
When I FIRST started getting into Phish (99-00), HCA discs 1 and 3 were my “go to” discs.
thank you very much, mr. spooks.