The pause certainly is no where near as interesting sitting at home.
I hate the pause. Cause in the latter years the pause would take up to a minute and a half, and thats definitely shitty to try and deal with on disc. I’m sure its a quick minute if you’re there and cheering and stuff, but I prefer older recordings where they get right into it.
during the divided at the ball i became convinced that trey was staring me down from 200 yards away. when they stopped for the pause he just leaned his head out, started rockin back forth and locked into a stare straight ahead… now i was way back in the crowd at this point so there’s no way in hell he was looking at me but in my state at the time i was sure of it.
i did a quick look around to see if anyone else had noticed… and then decided it was on. i crucked my head out and locked in. if the man wanted a staring contest i’ll give him one to remember … ‘bring the shit, big red’… its on. everything else just faded away and i was zoned in… i even started rocking to mirror his… as if to say you wanna bring some rockin into this, my man? i’ll give you some rockin.
so there i am looking like a lunatic staring into space and bobbing back and forth.
well he eventually hit the note and i snapped out of it… suddenly realizing how rediculus i must have looked… but by that time the jam was starting to build and everyone was back on the groove…
oh and yeah… that shit is annoying on disc.
I’ve always thought that ‘the pause’ seemed much longer live in attendance than listening back to shows at home, in the car, running or whatever.
The pause at MSG 12.31.02 seemed like hours (okay, maybe not hours but especially long)…maybe the crowd’s energy and growing anticipation made it seem so. That show does have a real long pause but not nearly as long as I remembered it when I was there.
Totally agree Taboot. The wait feels like nothing Live because the anticipation is so great but waiting on disc is like, alright when is this shit gonna start up again.
everytime ive seen it they just stand still…
I don’t like the pause at all… I’m sure it was really fun on stage though.
The sustain of silence, or “The Pause”, is like being stuck at the top of a roller coaster lift just leaning over the edge and seeing the drop in front of you. Then the “Note” hits and the car drops and it is just such a sweet ride.
The pause is more annoying when you’re actively listening to it; if I have a Sky on when I’m typing a paper I hardly even notice it.
i like the pause in sky. he provides a buildup for the end of the song.
the pause is quite annoying, agreed, but they could have done more with it… maybe sat down and played cards for a minute and then get back up and played (just a thought)
All this being said, we all still agree that seeing DIVIDED SKY live was always an awesome spectacle, right?
I’ve seen some smokin’ versions back in the old days. And there are some stellar post-hiatus versions as well.
Great tune, always…
Divided Sky. YAWN. More like Bathroom Break.
j/k! 
at 12/31/02 the pause was really long. How do I know? Because there was a kid in front of me who was TIMING IT on his watch. After it was over, he claimed out loud that it was the longest pause ever!! Only at a phish show…
I enjoy it while I’m at the show… I guess the energy and seeing Trey into it with his eye closed. Not into it on playback…I just want to hear the next part.
The pause is loong but at a show everyone just keeps grooving but in a car you reallly notice how long the pause is.
sometimes i like the suspense of waiting for it while driving. but it really depends on the traffic flow and what kind of mood i’m in.
but that goes for lots of stuff too.
have you ever tried to dip into a “Dark Star” during rush hour? it doesn’t work so well.
I like the pause…it gives them a chance to let the tension build from zero…I prefer it on Soundboards just so I’m not bombarded by idiots yelling and ruining the silence, but I believe that silence is as integral a part of music as the notes themselves are.
I think it would’ve been hilarious for them at one time to have opened with Divided Sky, get to the pause, then say “good night” and walk off the stage.
(Of course it would totally suck if they didn’t come back.)
one word…“GLIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIDE” just fuckin sing it allready and play the next song please!