Alright I’ll call…you should send me that show and we shall see.
I hate when greg gives away the ending.
My 2nd and 3rd shows of the 5 I went to (7/8/03 in Chula Vista=boring and Brooklyn x 2, a lot of fun). I’ve been to hundreds of concerts since 1969 and in only a few other cases have I seen a crowd explode with energy like when the first notes of Reba on 6/19 came through the PA. As I was heading back east for the shows, I thought “Well, they’ll never play The Curtain With, so I just hope I hear Divided Sky, Reba, YEM and Slave”. Only missed the Slave as it turned out. 
I thought the 6/19 was the better show, mostly because 6/20 I was kind of weak. I agree, the Bill Bailey kind of sucked the air out the proceedings. It was great to see Page so happy, but that should have been the first song in the encore.
Highlights for me on 6/19, besides the Reba opener, were the SASS, a raging Walls of the Cave, the 18 1/2 minute ASIHTOS (the jam monster that never was) with amazing Kuroda lights and the Limb by Limb. For 6/20, the Drowned, of course and the whole second set. I started to panick a bit after the Twist, because I knew this was last Phish show I’d be able to make and they hadn’t played YEM. They debated for what seemed like ages about what to play and when those glorious first notes came through, I nearly came. The kid next to me handed me a joint and I was baked for a cool YEM. One of the best things I’ve ever experienced at a concert (the YEM, not the joint, though that was cool too). Those Kuroda lights during the vocal jam, woah.
Only complaints: after the epic Piper, I felt a short punchy rock song like Sample or especially Golgi would have been perfect–Jibboo was too similar to the jam and a lot of people sat down. I was in the last row of the balcony and the glowstick war during Piper was fun to watch from up there. A lot of people groaned about the Wading Sea encore, but I knew that Phish usually doesn’t do killer epics or jam monsters at that point, so I was cool with it.
Saratoga Springs was gorgeous, I had the nicest lady as hostess at the B&B I was staying at, the venue was amazing, the lot scene chill, I had a great chat with this dude about bass players in the beer tent and I finally got to taste Magic Hat #9 (not available here in California yet). All in all, an amazing four days with Phish, and it makes me really bummed out that I didn’t get in to the band in the early 90’s–I would have been one of those 100+ shows people easily (my favorite years are 94-95).
^I know exactly what you mean. If I’d gotten into Phish in like 96… shit, I’d have run away from home and lived on tour until hiatus.
Im still new as hell to OKP but if you look at my posts a whole lot of them have something to do with 6/20/04…I only saw 4 shows…2 at the pepsi arena in Albany (one before and one after the hiatus), and this double header at spac. 6/20 completely changed the way I feel about music forever, and I dont remember who said it but I agree that I still get chills when I listen to the YEM buildup, and the Ghost->Twist…I challenge anyone to find some funkier hose post hiatus than those two songs on that summer night
Just got these discs from RastaJeffy this morning.
Just starting to come into the Piper. First set is alright, got to love a Reba opener.
I have to admit this 18 minute ASITOS kind of scared me just from the thought of it… And it didn’t really pick up to my taste until about 13-14 minutes in or so…
But man do I love a good Piper! And this one is raging, and I am only 4 minutes in…
Updates after I find my brain.
Thank you Jeff. Now that I own both shows, I believe this was the run of the year in 2004! Possibly even all of post hiatus.
Highly rated by the VERN indeeed…
Two of the best shows I saw back to back post-hiatus, next to 2/26 & 2/28. Piper!!! :o
OK, nearing the end of set one of 6/20.
I think this Saratoga Jam is my favorite part so far. And yes, more than the ASIHTOS>Piper, but of course this is my first listen through.
This Jam just seems to be full band synch. Unbelievable, I think Trey has been just going off the entire time. So far, I think 6/20 has my vote, and I haven’t even heard the second set yet!
After the second set, it will be.
^True dat!
^^That jam out of Drowned epitomizes the term “face melting.”
^^^^I agree wholeheartedly, Vern. I’d say that they are the best two shows of post-hiatus, at least of what I’ve heard. Without a doubt the crowning glory of '04…
OK, finished the shows.
7 Below->Ghost->Twist and the Saratoga Jam is my favorite parts. So I guess I WOULD vote for 6/20, but I already voted for ‘Never Heard Either’.
Oh well…
^
jam out of “Drowned” IS face-melting
these 2 SPAC shows ARE the crown of '04 Phish
but the best 2 post-hiatus shows? meh…
thank you! thank you! thank you! for this thread… it convinced me to grab the 6.19 and i am loving that piper… coventry gave me my doubts but my faith in post hiatus has been restored.
BUMP.
I just listened to 6/20 at work today, and the Drowned/Saratoga Jam is unreal. Gets better every time. If I could change my vote, I think it’d go more towards both equally as good.
I can’t wait for GRAB this summer on 7/2!!!
I think I’ve mentioned this before in other threads, but I thought I would mention it in the official SPAC 04 thread.
One morning while driving, I was raging to the SPAC Piper and drove right through a red light. Didn’t even stop, blew right through it not even paying attention. Once I realized what I had done I just about shit my pants. I’m lucky it was early in the morning and there wern’t many people on the roads.
So, what I’m saying is: HANDLE THESE SHOWS WITH CARE, ON AND OFF THE ROAD.
Thank you.
The 6/19 and 6/20 shows are pretty tame until the latter part of set 1. 6/20 doesn’t really get cooking until the Waves IMO.
^ yeam but when that waves comes around, all hell breaks loose!! ilove that jam, one of my favs of summer 04 for sure
I’ve got 6/19 going. “Piper” just started up.
fastens seatbelt