^Yeah, I would agree that the late fall/anniversary run looked less-than stellar musically, but I would take '03 over '04 any day.
Also, the Vocal jam from YEM at the Gorge (7/13/03 I think…second night) is kind of spooky and hilarious at the same time, and the Ghost from the night before was pretty great IMO.
I try not to listen to anything after 2000. The cd’s you sent me match up with my taste (84-2000). Thanks again for them (I have been listening to them nonstop).
03>04 for sure. But PH overall was the worst era of Phish, hands down. And hopefully it will stay that way.
The only thing from 04 that is listenable is SPAC. The rest is like listening to them urinating in the audiences of their listeners…
lol, Brett. Nice.
Trey’s shoddy playing is really what ruins the '04 shows for me. Mike’s playing is absolutely phenomenal, and there are some great jams, but Trey’s tone and sloppy playing stands out above everything.
^That was a huge part of the problem too, they need to Trey WAY the fuck down when they come back, bring back equal sound for everyone.
I am personally a Person for a Louder Page, but thats just me, or maybe not…
^yeah, but you have a man-crush on Page, so you’re not exactly the most unbiased opinion on this matter.
eats cereal out of Page’s haircut
Glad to hear they made it… Was starting to wonder.
Any dud CDs yet? 
I don’t care what anyone says I was at the Burgettstown, PA show in 03’ and it was great. It actually sounded more like pre-hiatus Phish. I don’t know if Trey was just less f-ed that night or what but it was a great show. As far as most the other shows expect some sloppy guitar and a band greatly effected by it. You can tell the other band members have a hard time playing along with Treys sloppy, heavely distorted guitar. I got Hampton tickets and i’m hoping for a major change.
I think Post-Hiatus is definately hit or miss, but I really enjoy the shows where they hit.
From the Spring 03’ tour my favorites are 2/15, and 2/28 (2/20, 2/26 and 3/01 I also like, but a little bit less than the other two).
For the summer tour my favorites are 7/13, 7/15, and 7/29
Don’t feel like getting into details for each one but they all are shows I frequently listen to and really enjoy.
I Dont know the end of 03’ and 04’ shows as well but I like the SPAC shows (6/19 & 6/20) and the second set from the last night at Alpine is fantastic (6/26)…all worth checking out in my opinion.
As much as I get sucked into phases of nothing but Cow-Funk from summer/fall 97’ (All-time favorite Phish era), and the Heydeys of December 95’, I really enjoy the good Hiatus shows and don’t think completely overlooking PH would be a good idea.
By the Way, see everyone at the Mothership, and The Valley in 09’!!! Hell Yea!!
Just listened to the 2/28/03 Gin, and man it is definately at the top of best PH jams, great interplay between all four (they are def. firing on all four pistons for this show, a PH rarity)
Other individual jams that I would say are PH’s Best
-2/28/03 Tweezer - maybe the best of them all, complex improvisation throughout, sounds like a choreographed epic, so many unique segments that flow between one another flawlessly.
-7/13/03 Seven Below - Epic
-7/15/03 Mr. Completely -> Low Rider Jam -> BBFCFM -> Buried Alive -> BBFCFM -> Ha Ha Ha -> BBFCFM -> Mr. Completely -> Spread it 'Round
- Okay maybe I shouldn’t have included Spread it ‘Round, but this jam is a monsterously rocking monster. The main Mr. Completely jam is fantastic and reinvents itself so many times, only to lead into a good ole’ seguefest reminiscent of the olde days…
6/19/04 Piper - This is one hell of a jam, enough said.
Honorable Mention::
2/26/03 & 7/30/03 YEMs - I haven’t heard every PH YEM, but out of the group I have heard these are tops and can trade blows with any of PH’s best jams.
8/2/03 Ya Mar and Reba - this is IT
7/29/03 Crosseyed and Painless - really rocking
2/15/03 Ghost, Reba, Wolfman’s Brother, and Harry Hood - REALLY great show, lots of REALLY great jams fill it up.
2/28/03 Destiny Unbound and Harry Hood - Unbound not just because it’s breakout was made such a big deal out of, but because I really like it ALOT. The Hood is pure bliss.
2/20/03 Gotta Jibboo and Seven Below - Both sprawling rock epics
7/30/03 Scents and Subtle Sounds - Not a real rocker, but great jam development and interplay between the boys.
8/3/03 Chalk Dust Torture - This is like 15 unique mini rock Jams linked together in this beast of a Chalkdust.
2/26/03 Ghost -> Low Rider Jam ->Makisupa Policeman -> Ya Mar - Good Stuff
6/26/04 Boogie on Roggae Woman -> Ghost - More good stuff from a great 04’ set.
The jam out of “Crosseyed and Painless” on 7/29/03 is my favorite - and gets my vote for best - jam of PH Phish.
The 7-12 & 7-13 2003 Gorge shows are awesome! Great jamming and song selections. I also like 7-30 - 8-2. Yummy stuff!
^^^That 7Below at the Gorge WAS Epic. My buddy had a mild seizure to to the epicness of that song, I had to play EMT for a little while. A little scary really.
pulls out tape recorder
Note to self: never party with jeffmcfarland or accompanying parties.
^LOL. I was in a different place back then. And to my credit, he was an undiagnosed epileptic…sometimes it just takes a CK light show to find out.
That’s kewl…pre-existing conditions are allowed!
Star Lake, SPAC, Deer Creek - Huge jams in bold
07/29/03 Post Gazette Pavilion, Burgettstown, PA
Set I: Daniel1, Camel Walk, Gotta Jibboo, Cool it Down, Scent of a Mule, Fee> Timber> When the Circus Comes to Town, McGrupp and the Watchful Hosemasters, Golgi Apparatus
Set II: Crosseyed and Painless> Thunderhead, Brother, Harpua2> Bittersweet Motel, Harpua2, I Fooled Around and Fell in Love3 4 5> HYHU> Harpua2, David Bowie
Encore: Farmhouse
1 Not played since 2/23/97 or 281 shows
2 Not played since 11/2/98 or 167 shows
3 First time played
4 Fishman on vocals
5 with vacuum solo
06/19/04 Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Springs, NY
Set I: Reba, Runaway Jim, NICU> Scents and Subtle Sounds1, Wolfman’s Brother, Walls of the Cave> David Bowie
Set II: Song I Heard The Ocean Sing, Piper2> Gotta Jibboo> Limb By Limb, Cavern
Encore: Wading in the Velvet Sea
1 did not include the introduction found on the album
2 with Tweezer Reprise tease
[b]
06/20/04 Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Springs, NY[/b]
Set I: Rift, Julius, Won’t You Come Home Bill Bailey1, Waves, Gumbo, Water in the Sky, Horn, Poor Heart, Drowned
Set II: Seven Below> Ghost> Twist, You Enjoy Myself
Encore: Good Times Bad Times
1 with Dr. Jack McConnell, on vocals & tap dancing (last played 7/3/99)
[b]
07/22/03 Verizon Wireless Music Center, Noblesville, IN[/b]
Set I: Punch You in the Eye, Beauty of my Dreams, Gumbo, The Divided Sky, Boogie On Reggae Woman, Carini> Magilla, Possum
Set II: Split Open and Melt> Free> Friday, The Lizards, Walls of the Cave
Encore: Bouncing Around the Room, Frankenstein