Date: Thu, 31 Dec 1998 09:19:00 -0500
From: Dave Bristol dbristol@palisade.com
Subject: 12/28 review

Hi Dan - A friend of mine said I should send my review to you for posting
-
here it is, and thanks!  Could you do me another favor and forward this to
rmp?  I've tried emailing phish@phish.net, but my posts never make it - I
have to visit dejanews, and I don't have internet access.  Thanks! - Dave

        I got to see Phish last night!  I've seen them ten times, but it
seems like every time I get just as excited, and once again I wasn't let
down. . . although I will add a small disclaimer that your mileage could
vary greatly on this show because I enjoyed it for personal reasons, as
you'll see.

        Set I: Axilla Pt. II (sorta), Stash, Farmhouse, Taste, Sleep,
Albuquerque, Driver, Tube, Golgi, Good Times Bad Times (approx. 70 min)

        The Axilla was standard, although it was predicted by one member
of our group so it was well-received from the start, and the slightly odd
ending made it more interesting.  I though at first they might jam the
slow, dark part II, or perhaps segue it into Ghost for a powerhouse start, but
they moved abruptly into Stash, which was terrifyingly intense, but also
very short.   Stash being one of my favorite live tunes, I was still
batting 1.000.  Farmhouse was next, and my first.  I think it's a very pretty
tune, along the lines of Billy Breathes, and something I don't mind hearing at
all in concert, early first set :).  Taste was next, and this was a very good
Taste, although nothing unusual.  Just beautiful.  By this point, I was
totally into this set - everytune was well-placed without being what I
necessarily wanted to hear or being "huge" tunes - I was hoping for a Gin
or a Jim, maybe scent of a mule, and this set was quite different, but
totally satisfying.  Phish always finds a way to startle and amaze!
        The next three were performed on acoustic ministage!  So cute!  I
don't mind acoustic at all. . . and on the mini-stage, it's even better,
although when we saw piano and drums we thought MMW?  Still, mini-stage
was a treat, and it got me thinking about Mike's>simple>contact>weekapaug
from Clifford Ball.  This was another average tunesubset made special for me
by the situation.  Tube was a welcome funk after the big rest, and the jam
had wonderful tube jam promise only to be cut short, like the Stash.  My
first Golgi seemed set ending, which made the GTBT the first tune to get the
325/326 section really shaking!  I was totally pleased with the first set,
although I never would guess it if I hadn't been there, because it doesn't
look as special on paper as it was for me!  Longer Stash and Tube jams
would've made this set better for everyone who talked during the acoustic
bit - hi folks, you might never see mini-stage again, and I might not
either - lets enjoy it together!
        setbreak: loads of fun - hello to the new Ithaca people behind us.
It went by quick, and spawned the comment "great first set, I'd like to be
taken on a journey. . ." At the end of setbreak, these large larvae
(picture six foot long, neon chartruese, segmented ice cream cones with wide
staring eyes and gaping mouths) were arranged behind the amps on stage in a T
shape.
. . a good day to be sitting behind the stage!

        Set II: Carini>Jam, Wolfman's>Journey!, Birds of a Feather, When
the Circus Comes, Quinn the Eskimo, David Bowie (c. 75-80 min)

        Yeeeeaaah! Carini opener, and an awesome jam.  The larvae start
wiggling.  This jam twice wound down to ambient space, only to have that
ambient space-soundgrow in intensity and freocity until it was really
raging!  At lemonwheel day II set I, the jams wound down to space, and
segued, which resulted in my energy constantly being at the bottom of the
barrel.  I was pretty annoyed with the Ya Mar and Gin jams from that set.
Anyway.  They did this build twice, different of course the second time.
All of a sudden Trey looks at Page and out of nowhere comes the bumm bummm
of wolfman's.   Too bad to hear the Carini jam unfinished. . . but the
Wolfman's made up for it - I got my journey!  Larvae are now moving about
some now, crawling on their bellis.  Probably close to a half an hour,
although Ican overestimate jam lengths when I'm at the show - I just don't
like watches.  It was mostly amazing, although there were two or three
short moments where they seemed to be searching for a new direction. That was
rare, it was mostly just magical, incredible stuff!  This had some major
ambient/dissonant noise in it, and included many examples of Fishman
keeping things together when they other three get waaaay out there and need
something as a basis.  Best of all, it slowly wound down to a logical
conclusion and stopped like an old Tweezer, but done better.  The
Carini/Wolfman's combo needs tobe heard by anyone who likes the first ten
minutes of the Halloween Wolfman's.
        Birds just didn't jam like it did on island tour or even like
chalkdust usually does, so Circus was even more poorly placed - and we are
in my only show lowlight, and it's at a critical time.  I could've taken
one or the other (Fluffhead, then Circus, for example, or Birds, Slave)but
both hurt me.  So, we smoked a bowl to ease the pain. The larvae, at least,
were really getting off on birds, it almost seemed BOAF promotional, but
anyone there just for Birds would've left during Carini anyway. . . and good
riddance.
        Now, on my last day of work before I left for the christmas
weekend last week, the first caller in the morning was Jim Morrison and last
call, at 4:20 no less, from someone named. . . Quinn.  Deadly serious here, you
can't joke about this sort of thing or it will get back at you.  These are
the only times I've heard these names w/out them being connected to bands
I like.  No Doors showed up in my future, so I knew what was coming!  So
Mighty Quinn received impeccable points for placement and selection, and
added right on to my "tunes you haven't heard yet" list.  Bowie was
standard, rocking closing material.
        Been Caught Stealin' was also a first, and a great choice- not a
huge jam or huge tune, but something I'd wanted to hear, and got!  At the
end, large, free-form flowers lifted into the air from the rear of the
stage, and each larvae stared at one, fixedly, swaying. . . you people are
in for three wierd shows comingup!
        I was really happy leaving because I'd had an incredible time,
despite not getting many favorite tunes or "big show" tunes like YEM,
Antelope, etc.  No disrespect to Bowie, but it was nothing more special
than the average Bowie, which is of course quite special!  The jamming at the
beginning of set II really took hold of me.  I imagine some will find it
boring, and others transcendent, and we're both right!  I had a great
time, and can't wait to find out what those adorable little larval worm-folk
were all about. . . if they turn into butterflies and feed on those flowers
I'll be pretty happy! peace, dave
        ps - 4/3/98 - my pick for show of the year thus far but I haven't
heard 10/30 yet.  And there are many close runners up, like 8/1, 8/9, and
7/6.  11/27 II is breathtaking, but set I pales compared to Buried
alive>Acdc>Ghost.  If you read all this, I hope you liked it well enough
to hook me up with 10/30!


Date: Wed, 30 Dec 1998 11:13:55 -0500 From: breadcrumb bcrumb@ix.netcom.com Subject: NEWYEARSRUN98_REVIEW 12-28-98 After 5 and 1/2 years on tour, they finally played a great tour opener! The show was great. I'm just going to highlight the best parts of the night in this short review/personal experience account. The vibe at the show was great...more real phans than newbies out for a good time at MSG. Another positive was the fact that you could sneak a small child into the show if you really wanted to = no security! The whole first set flowed great, espcailly from the accoustic mini set through the end. The Good Times, Bad Times jam was mind blowing, easily the best I've ever experienced. Now to the sex filled second set. Yes, that's right SEX FILLED! Carini was slow and funky but it paled in comparison to the sick ass Wolfman's that would follow. During an amazing ambient/space jam, I realized that two girls near me spontaneously had started kissing and making out and even going so far as sucking on each others chests right there in the middle of this sick ass jam. They were going to town and so was the music...porno funk in full effect! Then the green worms came out on stage and I could have sworn that one was humping the other...for some reason, there was something really sexual about this show. BOAF was kind of lame, but aren't they all. Quinn the Eskimo was the only song that I really wanted to hear over the three nights that I was going and here it was. What a great tune with Trey changing lyrics to "everybody gonna wanna dose!" Right in the middle of the song, a topless girl ran up to me and started and dancing with me. I don't know what was going on, but I saw more bare breast at this show than all of my years on tour...kind of wierd yet very enjoyable! Been Caught Stealin was a great encore that really had everyone going. I didn't talk to one person afterwards that wasn't left saying, "I can't wait until tomorrow night." Needless to say, Phish couldn't successfully follow up this show, but that's another review in another section of this page. This show is in the top five shows I've ever seen. Get the tapes! And hey, maybe there are some pics out there too that might be of interest...
Date: Tue, 29 Dec 1998 02:16:57 -0500 From: Stephen Sauchelli sas6184@ritvax.isc.rit.edu Subject: NEWYEARSRUN98_REVIEW 12.28.98 Alright pholks, just got back from night number 1 with very high expectations but all things took a very twisted turn as I the doofus lost our eighth of beautiful stinking KBs, major BUMMER. But we couldn't keep the smile off our faces cuz the boys were coming on. Alright on to the show: Oh yeah, there were several things behind and around the stage. I will try and explain them the best I can: There were 3 tall white (looks like castles-according to my buddy- but I say they looked like white lighthouses, anyway then to the left of them was a white funny looking, paper plate chandelier- that blew bubbles out at the end of the show and the lighthouses rose really high during Been Caught Stealin'. Throughout the whole show, there were really cool lights being shown through and at them so it was a cool sight. Then came along these GREEN caterpillars? It looked like people were inside them and crawling over the stage. They had tails and were slinky like, they grooved to the whole second set. Set I Axilla: Came out strong, can't say much about it, standard. Stash: This being my 25th show and this was probably my 25th stash, not what I wanted but the ending was pretty cool. Farmhouse: Farmhouse is farmhouse, always a pleasure to hear. Taste: Really enjoyed this one, Page's majesty on the keyboards really amazes me. Very nice, about 10-12 mins. Then came something unexpectedly happened. There was alot of movement on stage, they started pulling Fishman's drum kit away and brought in this mini stage an acoustic stage. COOL! Sleep - I only heard this once and can't say much about it. Albuerqueque - This song is becoming attached to me, I really like this song. Driver - Always good to hear but I was expecting something else but hey this is only the first night, so it was a nice treat. They pulled it away and brought back Fishman's drum stage and proceeded into: Tube - Standard, I've heard better Tube's, but that's for you all to argue about. Golgi - Simple, nicely played. Good x's Bad x's - Oh well, not what I wanted but it closed out the set in a merely 63 minutes. hello? Set II: Carini - Whoa, weird placement but nicely opened and was jammed out beyond belief, this was the shit, then came along... Wolfman's - Alright, we're getting there, nowadays I love the jam in it, they have really stretched this song out and made it extra super phunky, If anybody listened to the Cleveland 11.13.98 Wolfman's, I think they both had the same feel, not sure if they teased Mind Left Body Jam, any comments would be cool! BOAF - Ok, not one of my favs, just care for the middle jamming. Circus - Really great song, good breather, could've been stretched out a little longer. GO TREY! The Mighty Quinn - ok, this was a first for me and I've not heard it on tape either so it was a really cool song, I enjoyed it. Bowie - Ok, not too shabby, the lights were insane, shit Chris K. is the BOMB! E: Been Caught Stealing - Cool, haven't heard this one live , they brought out the tramps which I think was a little unnecessary but I guess they wanted to show they can play anything and to humor Jane's Addiction. The Lighthouses went out and became really long and the white chandelier thing started blowing bubbles out. All in all, the stage had a NYE feel to it, which was nice, musically- they'll be bringing out all their guns either tmw, or the next night or a killer NYE show. Too bad I'm not going to NYE but oh well! We all have to grovel for tapes and it usually never happens but I have over 500+ hours and if anybody is still reading right now, thanks and please send comments or whatever to SAS6184@rit.edu peace -Steve
Date: Mon, 28 Dec 1998 16:10:13 -0600 From: Sean Gosine barr0n@msn.com Subject: NEWYEARSRUN98_REVIEW How about a short pictorial review of the evening... The acoustic set was phat and tight and the second set had some surprises, including the Green Glow worms that were "dancing" behind and on the sides of the stage and it all came together with the encore... see ya tommorrow <>
Date: Tue, 29 Dec 1998 09:36:40 -0500 From: Michael lipari michael@joineei.com Subject: FALL98_REVIEW Well I just rolled into work and boy am I tired. I dont know how this is going to last all week . We rolled into the Garden ready to kick down and as you all know, the crowd was hyped to see them. I didnt get to my seat until the lights went down but boy am I glad that I didnt because being near the entrance for the first set, it was time to get down. The opener was fitting, they jammed on Axilla to start things off bringing me back to previous NYE. I was happy to see that they got Stash out of the way, NYE Stash's usually end up having someone breaking there face. Was really happy to see that they slowed things up acoustically, was a nice treat. Havent seen acoustic since Clifford and then the BOMB, TUBE!!!! They ripped on Tube, I was happy to see them bring the crowd right up to speed. Golgi came out of nowhere and was ok and to end things with GTBT was a delight. Overall excellent first set, the band was off here and there but all in all I was happy to be sitting down at set break in a daze waiting for them to shut the lights again. Second set opener was great. The way Carini opens it soooo kewl, that I was liked in a daze and for everyone trippin, the second set was for you. The went into a slow, long Wolfmans which wasnt all I expected but they jammed for a while on it. This was my first Birds and thought it was good. Would like to hear it at another show to compare but for a first time hearing it, I liked it. Circus was circus, slow and light and then BOOM! The Mighty Quinn, that was the shit, waiting to hear that for a while now and we all knew Bowie was coming when they were teasing, thought it was really energetic and played it real well. I was sitting right next to Fishman and can see Trey and Mike and the rest speaking a lot on stage as if they were goiing to do something BIG and then they didnt. Encore was good, crowd liked it, would have liked something to follow it and thought it might happen until the last second when they finished that final note. Overall enjoyable show, Highlight for me were the openers, acoustic, Tube, and Quinn. We have a long road ahead so we should be in for a treat. Glad we didnt hear any Gamehendge, hoping they give us a set of it sometime down the road. Well see yas tonight. Michael
Date: Tue, 29 Dec 1998 12:34:14 EST From: BenWalk3@aol.com To: dws@protos.lifesci.ucla.edu Subject: NEWYEARSRUN98_REVIEW Review for 12/29/98: The Garden was packed today, everyone was looking for any and every ticket outside!! We thought the opener would set the tone for the whole run........ AXILLA: interesting and unexpected opener but it rocked....STASH was better than usual as it has been since this past fall in my opinion....FARMHOUSE was run of the mill but good--crowd very mellowed out at this point (probably trying to figure out what the hell was on stage!)...TASTE was a pleasure to hear. I hadn't heard this one in quite a few shows and it sounded great. The jam on this song where it just builds and builds and Page is poundin the ivory was intense.........Lights went out for a few minutes and then everyone was sitting around near Fishman's drums in an acoustic setting. Mini acoustic set starts with SLEEP. Never heard this song before but it was pretty cool......ALBUQUERQUE was next (sorry for spelling!) I like this song--the crowd was really quiet it seems as they closed the acoustic mini-set with DRIVER-another mellow song I like but alot of people seem to dislike this one. By the way, the entire show they were teasing us with the props on stage. I couldn't tell what they were so I won't even attempt to describe them. After they went back electric they busted into TUBE. Excellent call. I think Page's funky keys make this song.....great version that got the crowd going. GOLGI followed...haven't heard this one in a while too and it was great to hear again. The set closed with GTBT--another gem that the crowd got into...another song I haven't heard in a while. The set break was long, most people thought the first set was mediocre at best. Lights went out and they bust into CARINI!!! This song rocks (my first!)....my friend's seen every U.S. one! Long funky, spacey jam afterwards.....slows to almost nothing when they go into WOLFMAN'S-a slow, slow, funky version.....A long spacey jam followed this one too......it was probably a 30-minute start of the 2nd set before they hit their third song and both songs featured great, trippy lights....BIRDS was next...good version but I'm not a huge fan of this song. The crowd slowed down as they busted into Los Lobo's WHEN THE CIRCUS COMES TO TOWN...this song is growing on me (after almost 2 years!!)--pretty standard version. QUINN was next!! This song rocks--I thought for sure this one would be a one-timer but it looks like it made the rotation and I'm glad. This is a great fun, fun, fun song to hear and dance too. David Bowie closed the set....good version, average length....it stinks knowing a venue has a curfew...................... After just a few minutes the boys came back for the encore, BEEN CAUGHT STEALIN'....this is the first time I heard this and I also thought this would be a one timer but it was great to hear....this song gets everyone pumped because everyone knows it, plus, you get trampolines!!!! WHAT THE HECK WAS THAT ON STAGE?!?!?!?!?
Date: Tue, 29 Dec 1998 13:36:24 -0400 From: Kathleen Murphy murphy@psn.com Subject: NEWYEARSRUN98_REVIEW Last night, those funky jams were slammin.
Date: Mon, 4 Jan 1999 13:43:30 -0500 (EST) From: Stephen A Jasionowski saj@sas.upenn.edu To: dws@protos.lifesci.ucla.edu Subject: NEWYEARSRUN98_REVIEW Dan, here is an article from the New York Post for the 12-28 show. -jazz ROCK REVIEW PHISH GOTTA PRANCE, FANS GOTTA DANCE BY DAN AQUILANTE 12/30/98 New York Post All Editions Page 36 Copyright (c) 1998, N.Y.P. Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved. THE annual end-of-the-year Phish fry at Madison Square Garden opened Monday with the Vermont quartet scaling new heights, eager to please their fans who danced, smoked and danced for all of the four-hours-plus concert. For those who know this sometimes-extraordinary jam band, drummer Jon Fishman wore his usual Vermont muumuu Phish dress, accessorized with a horned helmet, and Trey Anastasio offered fluid guitar passages as he made some of the ugliest ugly faces in rock. On the more conservative side, Mike Gordon on bass and keyboardist Page McConnell were studies in focus, as if they knew that their instrumental passages were the glue that held most of the extended improvisations together. Phish are a throwback band. Once upon a time, when a band played, it was a dance event. Then something happened, and bands were required to be musicians and entertainers. People stopped dancing and started watching. Phish don't know any histrionics; they play, and the fans who can dance do. Phish 's concession to those who just like to listen 'n' watch is their terrific light show, and at this series, the super-sized props were meant to transform Madison Square Garden into a flower garden. The stage was edged with grass; odd, abstract perennials blossomed; and three dancers in very obscene, 6-foot-tall green-worm costumes wiggled and writhed to the tunes at the band's feet. There were no explanations Monday; the plan behind the garden within the Garden will be revealed to the fans who have tickets for tomorrow night's New Year's Eve concert. Because there are no set lists, and the songs change every night, those with tickets to either tonight's show or tomorrow's show can't expect the same performance peaks. For the record, Monday's show hit its mark with a fantastic cover of Bob Dylan's "The Mighty Quinn." It started with a little jazz noodling but soon worked its way into a wild party sing-along, with Anastasio in the lead. There was no doubt that this was one of the night's best, because during the lengthy version of the Eskimo ode, the concrete floors of the Garden bounced. Later, Phish made the building jump again when they played the funkified unity anthem "Birds of a Feather" from their just-released disc, "The Story of the Ghost." On this tune, McConnell's keyboard work and backing vocals were outstanding. Phish play tonight at 7:30 and conclude the concert series tomorrow. Show time for the New Year's Eve concert is 8 p.m. These shows are sold out, but scalpers outside the Garden were hawking tickets for double the face value.