Subject: Seattle, 11/27/96! Woo Hoo!!!
From: yuf@sequent.com (Kyle Grieser)

11/27/96
Key Arena
Seattle, WA

I.

Julius
My Friend, My Friend
Ya Mar! (Page rage!)
Chalkdust Torture
Sloth!
Uncle Pen 
Free
Theme From The Bottom
Bold As Love

II.

Down With Disease ->
Jam (long) ->
Jesus Left Chicago
Scent Of A Mule! (w/ Brady Bunch)
Tweezer ->
Sweet Emotion Chorus ->
Down With Disease Jam ->
Can't You Hear Me Knockin' Finale!
Star Spangled Banner
Fire

E: Waste
   Tweeprise!

----------------

This was the stuff.  The vibe was in the room for something like
this and I'm glad I suffered in the cold rain and wind in Seattle
to see it.  A sense of order never seemed to take hold anywhere in
the crowd from what I could see, standing next to the soundboard.
The GA made it more chaotic than Portland.  I think that both the
Portland and the Seattle shows tended to reflect the crowd/venue/vibe
for the evening.  Portland was much more orderly, controlled, and
defined.  Seattle tended toward the more chaotic and unexpected,
in a mellow kind of way.  Seemed like more diehard fans at this
show than Portland as well.

This show was very spacey, exploratory, and laid back.  Marsha
Brady would have been proud to exclaim about the groovyness... I
think Trey could feel her presence.  The whole band seemed really
into it.  Just some highlights I remember from the second set...

This is no ordinary mule.  Highly Recommended.  Page gets better
all the time, and I can never believe it.  I can still smell this one!

This Tweezer was the slowest I've heard, and I say keep it that
way!  I just love slow Tweezer's.  There, I said it.  The way this
song jams out and then slowly builds up into Sweet Emotion,
immediately working into Down w/ Disease (Trey knew where he was
going), is just butt-kickin'.  Thing is, then it gets better.  This
finale they stick on the end makes for some wonderful drama when
they come to a complete stop.  Another reviewer said it best:
"BANG"!  This is a fantastic hunk o' music.  I'm probably not the
only one that was standing in silence wondering if I'd just witnessed
what I thought I'd witnessed.  The Tweeprise to follow soars.

About Waste.  Trey could really do something with the ending solo,
but doesn't seem to have that intention.  I wish he'd let loose
with one of those long jammed out FEFY type of solos.  This song
could jam with emotional weight.

Enough... till next time I catch a beaut...

-yuf

Phishing credentials available upon request.
-----------------------------------------------
Subject: Seattle Review
From: goldberg@netos.com (Joe Goldberg)

Hello Everybody,

Well, since this was my first show, this is obvously my first show review.
So take it with as many grains of salt as you would like.

Pre-preshow:  I was supposed to meet some friends across from the Key
Arena at Chichago's Pizzaria but they never showed up (more on that
later), so that put a damper on the pre show activities, since I had to
spend my time looking for them.

Preshow:  I met up with some OTHER pals, and we all started to look for
the first pair of friends outside.  We finally gave up and went inside and
who did we see there but Mike Gordon.  He starting talking about using a
pick vs no pick with his bass, the sound quality, etc. and he signed my
ticket stub. When I was standing in line for some pizza I finally found my
friends and they saved me some great standing room (about 20ft behind
Fishman).  The security was very lax, I made eye contact with a guard
while smoking a bowl and he didn't seem to care.  Lots of smoke in the
arena!!  One snag about the venue:  They didn't allow backpacks in, so I
had to stash mine in the bushes outside the arena.  That REALLY pissed me
off!  I saw someone try to sneak his pack in, but the security caught him
and kicked him out and WOULDN'T LET HIM BACK IN!! that really made me mad.

Pre-show music:  Some sax-featuring jazz, and MMW
The Show:

I was hoping for a Buried Alive opener but instead we got Julius.  I know
how it's typical for people to say that the Julius they just saw was the
best ever, but this one certinly wasn't.  It was smokin though.  Got the
croud dancing faster then I've ever seen.  Julius went right into.....

My Friend My Friend.  I'm not really a big fan of this song, but they
played it quite well.  The lights were great.  Every time they got into
the "My Friend, he's got a knife" all the lights went red.  It was very
evil.

Ya Mar.  A nice suprise.  We were listening to the Jazzfest Ya Mar going
to the show (the traffic was TERRIBLE) none of us figured we'd get to hear
it, but I guess Phish prooved us wrong.  In the middle of the song they
stoped and Mike went up to the mike and did that auctioneer thing again.
Weird

Chalk Dust Torture, The Sloth,Uncle Pen, Free > Theme from the Bottom:  I
don't really have much to say about these.  Mostly because I don't
remember anything in perticular standing out about them.  Not to say that
they weren't great versons of the songs.  If you read someone else's
review, they probably caught something that I missed.

The set closed with: Bold as Love.  I'm a big fan of Hendrix, so this was
a nice treat.  I was hoping for a long Coil, but this was great too.  Trey
went wild during the solos.

Set Break:  God I really had to pee.  Tried to find the Phish.net both,
but I couldn't find it.  Did they not have it there?  There were about 4
Greenpeace, but no Phishnet :(

Set II:  

Down With Disease:  I've heard about how this song has developed into
quite a great piece, and that couldn't be closer to the truth.  Everyone
was on the ball tonight.  It lasted forever and finally went into......

Jesus Just Left Chicago:  everyone around me was going "huh?" but kinda
grooving to the blues beat.  None of my friends knew the song, but I was
singing along.  Nothing special, but a well played version.  It went
into....

Scent of a Mule:  OH MY GOD THIS WAS AN AWESOME VERSION!!!  I've had the
Mule Deule (or however you spell it) stuck in my head for a long time.
The opening started off average, but the solo's were incredable.  Page was
going off in his own world.  He started calming his solo down and after a
few minutes it started to sound like a Coil solo.  Trey and Mike were
looking at eachother like "Oh, GOD, this is the best thing i've ever
heard"  Trey looked at Page and his jaw droped open about a foot.  When
Page was finally done, Trey steped up to the mike and started that "sing
along with what he's playing" thing.  After a couple of seconds I thought
to myself "he's teasing someithing, right?"  And sure enough, he was scat
singing the brady bunch theme song!  Fish had a vacuum solo, but it was
really hard to hear over all the other instruments.
I was thinking to myself, "what could top this?" and then the first notes
of....

Tweezer!! This went on forever.  It included a full tease of Sweet Emotion
by Aerosmith.  They went into another jam (I see on the offical setlist it
says "Down With Disease Jam", so I guess that's what it is).  No screaming
from Fish though.

Next a stagehand brought out the a capala mikes, and I was hoping for
Hello Ma Baby, but instead we got the Star Spangled Banner.  Trey
explained that they were going to sing this when the Sonics played the
Lakers (in LA) so it was only fair if they sung it here too.  Cool.  No
wrong notes.

They closed the set with Fire.  Wow, two Hendrix covers in one night.
That's allright because they played it perfectly.  Trey's solos were
increadible.  How about a new thread:  Who's better Trey or Jimi?  (I'm
not saying anything....)

Encores:   Waste.  I've read about what a letdown a Waste encore is, but I
really enjoyed it.  At first it was very un-inspirational, but towards the
end I was really grooving to it.  No matter how much you disliked it, no
one could be dissapointed by the Tweezer Reprise.  My friend said "They're
playing Tweezer again?"  I just laughed and put my finger to my lips as if
to say "shut up"  he got the point.

Show thoghts:  What a great show for my first ever.  I'm not making a
grovel because I plan to join the NW tree.  Page was really ON tonight and
he made me smile every time he soloed.  Thanks guys!!

Joe G
------------------------------------------------------------
Subject: NW tour in Review (cont.)
From: Victor Szalvay 

Hi everyone, 

OK, so here is the last peice of the puzzle as far as the NW tour is
concerned.  I have to say, I didn't expect this much out of the band but
was pleasantly surprised!  The last show was last night at the Key arena
in Seattle, WA.  I didn't post a review right away, because again, I
wanted to take a listen to the tapes before blabing away about my memories
and misconceptions so now I ready to report some actuality.

The Scene:  The entire arena was GA so that made it way more crowded then
Portland and the floor was shoulder to shoulder.  A bad move, I think, on
the concert promoters part, but anyway.  The security outside was totally
tight, the didn't want to allow any backpacks in and us tapers were up in
fury!  We demanded to speak with phish security and at this point the
local boys backed off and made an exception for those of us taping, OK.
BUT I was still stopped minimum five times on the way in asking for me to
leave the venue if I was bringing a pack, naturally I had to explain
things everytime, EEK!  So, even on my way to the floor I was stopped!!!

Anyway, here is what went down... quite a night and I have to say that it
does rival Vancouver (the holy show) but it was soooo different.  This
show was out of control and fun, the setlist sees a lot of cool obscure
stuff and the jams were outrageous and often lengthy and spacy, where as
Vancouver was wonderfully structured and well executed, there was such a
direction there and the playing itself was brilliant... Seattle was nuts,
just nuts!

OK SET I:
Julius:  OK, this was done in Spokane too and it was OK to get things
started.  I was hoping for a My Friend, but this was OK, I guess it was
pretty standard.

My Friend My Friend:- Here we go!! A nice smooth version and my notes
indicate some crazy strobe work from Chris near the end!

Yamar:  Oh yes, now we are talking!  I love this song and the groove was
right on tonight... Page had a nice solo and all was cool... but they were
just warming up, the plane was about to land!

Chalkdust:  OK, sounds good to me, but I heard this alot recently... still
a nice bloody jam.

Sloth:  Double exclam!!  Nice, I didn't see this one coming but who could?
Really well done and the veterans were all exchanging smiles.

Uncle Penn:  Pretty cool country/bluegrass tune.  I could have done
without it, but we are still in the first set right?

Free:  Wow... this song really set the mood for the night... the jam here
was so spacy and lengthy...  I really think phish has expanded into a new
realm with jams like this, they are using more musical depth and using
"musical space" as a key new element and it really is working out well.
I also think (and I don't know if anyone has noticed this yet) but this is
all possible because Fishman has really gotten better.  Compare this to
say 94 or even some 95 stuff, Fish is really on top of the double-kick and
his rhythm is so tight and wonderful, allowing for those almost techno
driven jams.  Free was hot.


Theme:  Ditto from above, the jam was loooonnnngggggg.... and the mood was
way out in the open, spacy, and very textural.  

OK, so it was 11/27 and it happens to be Hendrix's B-day and as a result
we see this next--

Axis: Bold as Love:- I just about fell out of my seat!  This was really a
treat, the jam was minimal but Trey did an excellent job of living up to a
Hendrix cover, a risky move, imo.  Sweet, just sweet!!

End of set I.

Set II: In essence this set can be added to the must have list.  Upon
relistening, I still like 11/23 a bit better but I have to say, this is
very close and very different.

DWD :- Wow!  The jam here just did't quit, there were some funky sections
and some utterly unbelievable and fresh jams.  They are very textural
throughout and this I am sure qualifies as on of the greats.
The jam slows down at one point and Page hints at the two notes that I
immediately recognize but then dismiss because it would be impossible!!
No way!!  That is just for ween and NYE!!! I don't believe it... wait yes,
it is!!!!!


>> Jesus Left Chicago:  !!!!!!!  Oh my!!  So nice to hear, this is my
second and this one just smoked like crazy... Page had a killer solo at
first and I thought he would do all the soloing in this one, because it
was sooooo incredible.  But then Trey takes over, you know how he likes to
do this one, quiet it down almost to silence and then erupt... well,
that's what happend my phriends!!! OH YES!!  I couldn't believe it!!!  The
ending was nice bluesy all the way.  It doesnt' segue but then we get:

SOA Mule:  OK, wait, before you dismiss this as a flop, please read on.
The beginning was standard, but then Page just absolutely in an animated
fashion explodes with his part of the dual!  It was really prime.  Then he
stops and looks over to Trey, Trey nods and accepts the challenge... He
turns to the mic and starts vocalizing with some efeects and a
recognizable theme emerges... Oh wow... it's the Brady Bunch song...!  Not
just a tease as Mikey's setlist indicates, but the ENTIRE thing!!  It was
so funny!!!  So, the rest was spacy and interesting but let's move on,

Tweezer:  I can say that I called this one so I was expecting it, but it
surprised me nonetheless.  A slow Tweezer, not to shabby, but not the Bomb
Factory, I am really no authority on Tweez so... anyway, then soething
utterly Bomb-factory-esque happens!!!  I couldnn't believe it... The segue
into something else and I couldn't put my finger on it but it sounded just
like Free... Trey starts singing and then all of a sudden I realize:

Sweet Emotion:  wow, pretty impressive.  I was blown out of the water,
end of story!  Then, as if this wasn't enough, they segue back into >>

>> DWD !!!!!  Wow, what a showing!  The strength and authority just
pounded down and I was leveled!  It was a heck of jam and better heard
then described.

After this the dismount the instruments and head for the front, I thought
it was over, but then Trey chucks a green glow ball out to the very back
of the Arena..  The stand for a while and then explain about LA and the
lakers Game:

Star Spangled:  Right on, it was really well done!

Fire:  Jimi's B-day brought us two covers and this version was rock solid,
up with the best of them, Trey talks about Jimi's B-Day and something
about Heaven as well.

E: Waste-  pretty nice and sincere, as if saying farewell to us up here in
the NW.  I liked the placement.

Tweezer Reprise:  Of course! :)  You know the rutine!


So that is it and I hope you all enjoyed the verbal interpretation.  Kind
of funny but in my last note I asked for no grovels and received minimum
30 at least.  So please folks, I just can't do it sorry.  Anyhow, I really
enjoyed the run and I hope they are back soon.  See you all next year,

-- Victor Szalvay
---------------------------------------------------------
Subject: Seatte review (20mins later)
From: chinacatlm@aol.com

<><

 II: Down w\ D>Jesus Left>SOAM>JAM>Tweezer>Brady Bunch Theme!>JAM>ouch i
forgot=(>StarSpangled Banner. Fire. E-Waste>Tweezer reprise.

the first set was ok. nothing really big. Julius was a very nice, and
jammed out opener. YaMar was great! i called it for the opener and got
that in the #3 spot.=)
Free is getting BETTER and BETTER! a lot better. trey used his all of his
kit! Axis Bold as Love was wonderful to hear! its jimi's bday after all!
(we got that Fire too)
the rest was just ok IMO. everything was solid nothing bad and nothing
crazy. i guess they had all their tricks in the bag and ready for the
setII.
DWD was a GREAT GREAT opener(aka was what Free is now..) the jam had Trey
on the three wonderfully different jams. + he was on his kit(his best work
of the night w\ the sticks)Jesus Left was amazing. trey and Page were both
in a great blues mode for this one. about a 8 min jam that knocked my wet
socks off!Then came the highlight of the night for me. SOAM was amazing!
period. they did a HUGE HUGE 15-20 min jam that had page doing a classic
piano jam(not kiddin' about CLASSIC!as in Brahams)that then  > into
Tweezer which EVERYONE and their grandmother expected(because it was
really due) Tweezer..some want to hear and and some don't...i liked this
one a lot. A long (but NOT too long) jam gave way to the crowd laughing. i
FINALLY got it..trey was doing the wierdest thing. THE BRADY BUNCH THEME!
the whole thing full and in glory!after that i forgot what came next(sorry
=( .. then the SSB which trey said they would do this for the LA v Seattle
Bball game in LA next week. (but we all knew that huh) it was nice.
Fire was good but it was plain as day..my friend already wrote it down in
his setlist pre setII! he just didn't know where to put it. Then the E's
where Waste>Tweezer Reprise..TR didn' stop at all. Waste was also very
fragle, the way it should be IMO. 
tonight was a trey night. he was on! Mike had that Green neon outfit on =)
and signed autographs before the show. Trey did a Kiss thing..where he
would stick out his tounge and shake it around..we all got a kick outta
that. he broke a string in Fire. And did a Chicken dance during TR.
THIS WAS A NEWBIE NIGHT! i would estimate that at least 40% of the people
there were at their first show. So they all yeld and screamed during
SSB.=( and yelled for BOUNCIN'(which was played last show at portland) I
had a front row seat for the whole show and me and my group got nearly
raped by people tryin' to get forward,(infact when the break came i sat
down and some girl would not move her crack outta my face! my friend
kindly said "seat it, please" but to no avail. nearly 70% of the people in
the first 20 rows where STILL on there feet throughout the set break. =(
didn't make for good vibe.
SORRY ABOUT SET I. i am cold,wet and VERY tired. =) =) =)
set II was the kind..go out and get that!

<><
Lincoln


------------------------------------------------
Subject: Seattle Diseasefest review(whooohooo!)
From: n9449849@beaker.cc.wwu.edu (Christopher T. Colyer)

Set two.....WHHHOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!  I only gave the vancouver show 
a 5.5 because it did not set me on fire.  It was as if the band had read 
my posts, and sent me a dream set.  DWD got me going. and it lasted 
forever.  i was begining to think it would be like FLPAC 95.  When they 
finally segued into Jesus, I was in segue heaven.  Trey and page just 
tore that one apart!  A definate song ending, then into Scent, where trey 
battled Page, with Mike sitting this one out.  Fish accompanied on vacuum.
Another great performance.  Felt the tweezer all night, and when it
came...
whew.       
         DAMN!     
                  AWESOME!
                  
It was a pure Tweezer.  They just all out WHALED on the thing.  Everyone 
was dancing so hard.  And right when they start to head to new 
terrritory, that ticklish riff from the DWD climax!  DISEASEFEST!!!  It 
lasted until everyone thought they would die of exaustion.  Folks were 
screaming in ecstacy  ( i was already in it!).  Then - BANG! Over.  No 
winding down in this one.  they came out to do a SSB, and some dork threw 
a glow wand past their heads.  Fish went over to the side of the stage 
and scolded the idiot.  Trey loved it, though, spun it spun it and 
launched it almost all the way to the back seats!  i think he wanted them 
to try to throw it back to him, but no luck.  Trey told us how we can see 
them on TV, because it will be a sonics game!  Then, Since it was Jimis 
B-day, Fire.  Wheeew!                 
   When they came out for waste, i was stoked!  Double encore!  i could 
just feel that Twereprise in my soul!  Another beautiful segue!  I nearly 
left my body.  They could have played the reprise for another 4
hours...iwas 
wishing 
the monment wouldnt end.  The crowd was about rabid at the end of that.
   On the wasy out, EVERYONE was smiles.  Outside it was 50 degrees, no 
rain, and a light breeze.  Overheard "Whoa!"  "What a workout".
                    
  Second set was best set I've seen since 6/11/94, where I was runnign up 
and down the seats.  every song was played to the maximum, by everyone, 
and trey seemed to have been possesed by the spirit of Jimi (including 
the feedback at end of Tweprise).  1st set was a straight 5.  Second set, 
9.5...overall 9.0, because the 2nd set was so great.

Man, this show restored my faith in the band, and had me thinking about 
hitchin a ride to Cali!
peace and TWEEZERDISEASE
troy 
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