10-8-99 -- Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, Long Island, New York

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Date: Wed, 13 Oct 99 11:27:58 -0600
From: Joshua Samuels [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: 10/8/99 Nassau

After the madness that went down the night before everyone was expecting
someting special tonight.

Piper - Quite a surprise to start. was this the first piper opener?
Started slow but drove into the tight jam that piper always is. Great way
to start a show.

AC/DC Bag - Great version, not too long with trey leading the way..always
atreat to hear any gamehenge

Suzy G - After a long pause with much discussion this was the perfect
choice, band was firery and the crowd now new that this would not be the
fast slow night we saw the night before. Nice new instrumental section in
the middle

Meat - Many people give this song a bad rap. I am a big fan, band enjoyed
playing with many stops and restarts before it was done

Meatstick - Phish is the only band in the world that can have a setlist
meat > Meatstick. Played well with a nice dance portion with the help of
sophie.

Antelope - Thought it was a little early for this but as always, the band
did not diasppoint. Tight with great jamming throughout. left us looking
for more but that would be the end of a short first set.

Halley's - Mike kicks it in from the start and this was one of the
longest versions I have seen. This easily passed the great version from
Great Woods this summer and took a long long jam at the end into...

Tweezer - Solid. Played great nice work by page and trey while mike
simply laid it down

Bug - Not a huge fan of this song, but it continues to grow on me.
Started rather slow but just keep getting stronger and stronger

Fee - What a surprise. I was at the point where I thjought I would never
hear this song again. This was perfect. I have not seen anything like
this version. Every note was nailed and the vocals were just perfect.
This was as close to perfection as I have ever seen this song.

Hood - The groove from fee had the place jumping and hood was the perfect
answer. Played nicely with very little glowstick action. Only problem was
one of the few glowsticks hit mike's bass and made a horrible noise. The
intensity picked up and this had the place in a frenzy

Were not gonna Take it - the only way to follow Hood. A nasty coer. Tom
MArshall came out sans shoes and socks and did the who justice in his
rock and roll stage presence. This was fun and kept building and
building, almost like it was going to explode. This would explain the
long set break because they must have been backstage learning this tune.

Chalkdust - Keeps up the emotion. Firery as always. Took the emotion from
the last song and carried it out of the arena.

Coil - Not my choice for an encore of a show like this but who am I to
complain. Page was nasty as always and his solo was short at the end as
they went into

Tweezer rep - Nice way to cap a firery show. Very fast and strong. Great
way to end a great two nights.

Nassau has a problem with air ventilation, it was soo hot and smokey but
it didn't seem to phase the band. Great time....Josh 

Date: Mon, 11 Oct 1999 16:24:53 EDT From: Lauren Lamonoff [email protected] To: [email protected] Subject: Nassau 10/8 This was my first show, but after listening to a lot of tapes I was psyched. The lot seemed cool; my friends and I bounced around there for a while before we went inside. I was kinda nervous about security b/c I just bought a cute little pipe in the lot, but the dude didn't even pat me down and just looked at the top of my bag. Finally, Phish came out around 8, and opened w/Piper. I've only heard this song a couple of times on tape, but I recognized the catchy tune pretty quickly. The lights were cool, and I was beginning to feel the effect of the mushrooms I ate a litte while before :-) AC/DC Bag: This song ROCKS. I was really happy to catch it at my first show, and the funky jam that came out of it kept me dancing and smiling all the way through. Suzy Greenberg: The highlight of set one b/c I called it before the show and no one believed me b/c phish hadn't played it all tour. He he. Suzy is one of my favorite songs and this was a PHAT rendition compared the ones I heard on tape. Meat: I'm not a huge fan of the GHOST album in general, but I liked the way the boys messed around w/the crowd by stopping and starting the song during the jam. It was a perfect time to sit and smoke a bowl and a cigarette before... Meatstick: This song rocked, and even though I never heard it before, I knew of it and recognized it immediately. The dance was a lot of fun, and the crowd seemed really into it. Someone got up and tried to get onstage, but they were hauled off by security. I wasn't sure if it really happened until I asked my friend sitting next to me if she just saw that. She did. Antelope: Another one of my faves. Did this have something to do with the dude who ran ontstage during Meatstick? A rockin' jam, although I was really upset when the set ended. Setbreak: Seemed really long, but I don't know if it really was (my first show, remember?). I was tripping pretty hard when I bumped into these prepubescent boys sitting a few rows behind me on my way to the bathroom. They were threatening to kick one of their friend's ass b/c he smoked all of their weed. NOT COOL...it flipped me out and I thought I stepped in a puddle of blood that really wasn't there. Halley's Comet: I got back to my seat just in time to smoke a cigarette and prepare for a kick ass opener. I was dying to hear Halley's and when I heard mike sing the opening notes, I FLIPPED OUT. I was dancing for most of the song until I got so overwhelmed by the jam, the lights and the crowd that I had to sit down...cool visuals. Tweezer: Yay! The lights during the vocal part added a scary little touch to this song. It rocked! The jam was cool, and I wished that Fish would play the vacuum, but I don't think he did. Otherwise, awesome. Bug: I didn't know what this song was until I checked the setlist, but it was a nice break. I sat and smoked some more, so I was totally ready for... FEE: My friend was dying to hear this and we didn't think the boys would bust this one out, but we were psyched that they did. The jam at the end was mad cool and I almost chewed off my right hand when phish started the play... Hood: Whenever I listen to A Live One, I feel really good about Hood. This version was even better, and the lights totally messed with my perception of things. The glowsticks looked awesome, only I wish there were more of them. Cool trails. We're Not Gonna Take It: I thought the second set would close with Hood, so I was really surprised when Tom Marshall came out to sing this. I really like the Who, and it was a rockin' song that got the entire crowd singing along (including me). I thought the set was over again, but no... Chalkdust Torture: Another phat tune that ended the set on a great note. I always liked the lyrics, and the lights were (once again) amazing. What a treat for my first show. Encore: I never really got into the Squirming Coil until I heard it live. When I heard the opening, I was a little disappointed, but I was really shocked that I was getting into it at the end. Tweezerprise: Even though it was my first show, I called the Tweezerprise encore. Phatty tune, fun way to end a rockin' show. After I got outside, I was sooo tired and dazed that I could barely speake. I was in complete sensory shock from the intense show...I couldn't get to sleep b/c I kept thinking I was hearing Phish playing on my clock radio...I can't wait until I go to another show! PeAcE
Date: Sat, 9 Oct 1999 01:27:10 -0700 (PDT) From: Bart Tantillo [email protected] To: [email protected] Subject: 10/8/99 Nassau Coliseum I. Piper, AC/DC Bag, Suzy Greenberg, Meat, Meatstick, Run Like an Antelope II. Halley's Comet>Tweezer, Bug, Fee, Harry Hood, We're Not Gonna Take It>Chalkdust Torture E: Squirming Coil, Tweezer Reprise In runs of shows on consecutive nights and in close proximity to each other, there always seems to be one night that doesn't quite live up to the other 3 or 4. I had a feeling that Friday was going to be one of those nights. Boy was I wrong. Few things in the history of mankind can compare to New York City traffic on a Friday night, it is a true test of will. After four hours of what was just one day earlier a three hour drive, I was still not on Long Island yet. I contemplated turning around more than a few times, trying desperately to convince myself that if I continued on, I would not get to the Coliseum until well after ten o'clock. By the grace of God, the use of every available highway shoulder, and a total of 17 (I counted) moving violations, I pulled into the parking lots at 7:50 p.m. A semi-sprint to the gates and I was in, quick soda purchase and I made my way to my seat about ten rows off the floor, almost halfway back on Trey's side. Aside from being very close, like in the first fifteen rows or so, I like the first level, a few rows up, halfway back, Trey side seats the best, so you can imagine I was pleased to be where I was. Anyway, after sneaking a celebratory cigarette, the lights went out and away we went. Piper, an unusually interesting show opening selection, began, and the crowd went crazy. A great version, followed by an even better AC/DC Bag, made it obvious early that this night would be no dud. Suzy three songs in? Awesome. I heard Mike say in an interview once that the band was sick of playing Suzy because they had done all they could with it musically, that there was nowhere left to go. Well this version proved Mike wrong, as Trey ever so slightly altered his parts, and the rest of the band took his cue and turned the song into something fresh and new. Meat was Meat, as it will always be, nothing too earth shattering, the usual stop/starts at the end, but I guess we were due for something of that nature. The band never looked back from there though, good old Meatstick, and a short rocking Antelope closed a veritable "Power Hour" of a set, clocking in at just under sixty minutes. I like Halley's Comet alot. When Mike steps to the mike (no pun intended), and starts that "dip-shoop-ba-ba-ba-di-doo", I get the chills, and when the jam is as good as it was last night, I am a happy camper. Tweezer, a song that seemed to be floundering over the summer, is back in a big way, as evidenced by last night's version. Bug is another song that has quickly made a name for itself in the rotation. Not played as often as the other new tunes, but equally deserving of praise for it's power and mysteriously meaningful lyrics. Fee was fun to hear, but all I could think about was a fraternity party I attended once where 25 brothers sang the chorus in unison, prompting a quick exit from me, and embedding their appalling performance in my head forever. Harry Hood was dissapointing, as it has been for me all year long. Maybe it's me, but I wouldn't really mind this one going on the shelf, along with those harmful glowsticks, for awhile. I'm sure Chris Kuroda knows what he is doing when he refuses to drop the house lights anymore, no matter how many glowsticks are flinging around. The morons who aim them at the soundboard and the band have ruined what was at one time the most beautiful display of the band/fan relationship I had ever seen. Anyone remember the Great Went, when a choked up Trey told the crowd to "Go get some more of those things!"? Now it is more of a nuisance than a novelty. Harmless glowrings are one thing, but those potentially harming sticks aimed for the stage are another story. Anyway, once we all felt "good" about Hood, Trey introduced Tom Marshall, and anticipation seemed to spread throughout the arena like the smell of....well insert your own cliche here. As Tom came dashing onstage barefoot, the band started We're Not Gonna Take It, from the Who's "Tommy". This was not the usual tongue-in-cheek Tom Marshall performance, this was a genuine anthem, performed in all it's glory. Sure he flung the microphone around his head like a maniac, and Trey did his Pete Townsend windmill on guitar, but the message, whatever it was, was there, and Marshall didn't disappoint. The guy actually does have a great voice, and with 20,000 backup singers screaming the chorus, it was another one of those magical moments this band always seems to provide us with at precisely the right time. Moving seamlessly from one anthem of youth and freedom to another, and as Marshall left the stage to rousing applause, Chalkdust Torture closed the set in it's usual in your face hard as hell style. Squirming Coil, nice to hear, not much to offer, just something to set us up for the Tweezer Reprise show closer, with it's head banging force, to send us home in awe once again. A terrific stand at the Coliseum, Trey even mentioned it had become a place he "loves to play". Some great moments, and two well balanced shows. They are, after all, still an east coast band. Ha-ha. Albany awaits, talk to you all on Monday.
Date: Thu, 14 Oct 1999 12:39:17 EDT From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Subject: 10/8/99 Long Island Review Hey, I suppose this review is a little bit late to be posted, But there were a few things that were not touched on by other reviews that I felt I should convey to the people. For a little background this is my first stab at a actual written show review, and I have seen my good share of shows. I attended this show with my girlfriend Christina. We drove out to Long Island from Western PA, a nice drive for a pleasant Fall day. After having seen the second night of the Island Tour at Nassau we expected great things from this show. It took us a little while to get to the show due to my bonehead driving, we ended up a half hour east on L.I. The lot seen was average, however it took me over a hour to find the french bread pizza that I strongly desired. One particular funny moment in the lot was when a Mr. Smoothy ice cream truck came through the main shakedown ringing his bells and flashing his lights, it was a riot. On with the show. For the opener I was really hoping for a breakout cover. However we got PIPER which was in a way a breakout opener, it was definitly unexpected. I thought it was a cool way to start the show, there was a lot of emotion. I felt that perhaps this was in some way due to the awesome piper of 4/3/98 being it was a second night show at Nassua as well. The lights were very dim for the first part of the song as it built up. I saw a lot of glow sticks and thought to myself what a cool time for a glow stick war, the first song of the show. It would just have been completely wacked. Then we got the BAG, This is such a cool song I absolutley love it any time I get to hear it. After piper the band talked for a minute or so(as they did all night) so I was hoping for a cool segue(AC/DC>Psycho Killer) but we never got the segue. In the jam at the end Fishman had this unbelievable drum beat. Next was Suzy Greenberg with her head caved in. This song has really became a rarity the past few years. And because of that I think the band rocks it out even more when the play it. The part that stood out to me most was near the end Trey would turn to the band and do his Meat esque strums and the band would stop and then Page would play a bluesy type jam on the piano. They did this a few times then ended the song. After this there was no doubt what would be next MEAT. They were basically playing this at the end of the Suzy. THis meat was a little different than past ones I have heard. When Trey did his strumming part Mike took a few bass solos and Page took a few as well, even Fish got in a few wood block numbers. I had never seen Meatstick before so I was happy to see it, nothing spectacular but a cool song. Then antelope. It was a cool antelope but a little short. Nothing like the antelope of 4/3/98. Overall a good set but short. Set break was well over 50minutes, to long after that short set. Set two opener Halleys(another of 4/3/98)as normally rocked. Personally I could have done without Tweezer, sometimes they go to long and slow at the end, by the end of this one most people were sitting and in Zombie states. I could have sworn that I heard Taste teases at the end of Tweezer and Trey looked at the band but it seemed the didnt want to play that. Bug was a first for me so thats always cool, and Fee is always nice to hear since they dont play it often. I sort of expected to hear Harry Hood and was not let down. During Hood we were sitting behind the band. When glow sticks were beginning to be thrown one stick in particular was thrown from the section to the right of me down to the stage. It hit some type of PA system right next to Fish and made this evil sound. I could only help but think if this had been five feet to the side it could have hit Fishman smack in the head, and I bet it would not have felt to good. I was afraid they were going to end the set here, but was pleased to get a treat that helped the show out. I saw Tommy on VH1 earlier in the week so "We're not going to take" was fresh in my mind. It was a first for me to see Tom Marshall, unlike others I have heard say that its annoying seeing him, I thought it was a fun song and he did a good job. Chalkdust ended the show, I am getting sick this song I think this was my 16th C.T., The encore was nice, but a sort of uneventful Coil, into Tweezer Reprise which definilty rocks. When they play Tweezer I am realy only happy because I know we get to hear the Reprise. It is short, sweet and to the point and downright rocks. Overall it was a good show, not the best, not the worst. I felt the Bag, Suzy, Meat run was the highlight of the show. Oh well, if you read this far, thanks and take care. See you in Flordia!!!! Tommy Ward
Date: Wed, 13 Oct 1999 14:33:56 -0400 From: "Sanseverino, Greg M, GRWMK" [email protected] To: [email protected] Subject: Nassau night 1 & 2 review 10-8-99 Uniondale, NY SET I: Piper, AC/DC, Suzie, Meat, Meatstick, Antelope SET II: Halleys, Tweezer, Bug, Fee, Hood. *We're not gonna take it, Chalkdust ENC: Coil, Reprise SET I: They venue was packed! Tons of anticipation all throughout. I don't think they came out till after 8. But worth the wait. The slow begginings of PIPER: Could it be? The second piper opener ever...the first US piper opener. It was. The energy level in the place was unreal. Trey kept building and building, they were on a mission. By the time the lyrics exploded almost everyone in the place was all over the place.. Not the longest piper but maybe most powerful I've heard. We all knew this was gonna be a special set. They moved nicely into AC/DC BAG: which was the second half of the one-two punch opener. Very tight. Once again the jam didn't extend past the normal length to much. Who would have thought it? After ac/dc there was a long pause while they huddled to discuss. It took quite a few minutes before Trey turned to the mike and just threw down into SUZIE as ifthey couldn't decided what to play and he really wanted to play it. It was tons of fun. Page was rockn out like a mad man. He just kept cranking at the keys and lead most of the jam coming out of suzie. Next up was my first live MEAT: love this song. Always will. It just never stops. There was one time when I just couldn't believe they were rolling into that funky ass beat again. I loved watching treys head bob to this song. MEATSTICK: came next. What a fun song. Lyrics, music, dance you can't beat it. Pages wife came out....she is a big as a house. What ever the meatstick is it certainly shocks the brain. Not to many folks were doing the dance in my section. I am guilty as well..but was enjoying that funky as beat. Next up came my long awaited ANTELOPE: I haven't seen it in quite a few shows...Ive just been missing it everywhere. So the opening note's sent my spinning. Fairly basic antelope..if you could even call any antelope that. It just smoked! No reagee part during Marcos' part. Just straight up old skool Antelope. The entire place was loving it. I was loving it. Sent me into set break with huge ass grin. We all knew second set was gonna be monumental. SET II HALLEYS opener was sooo sweet. They picked up right where they ended first set. The energy just carried through the break. The intr to halleys I picked up on trey doing the beep from heavy things. He's done this the last two halleys Ive heard. The jam coming out of halleys was nice and long...very funky. Next up was TWEEZER. I am really starting to appreciate tweezer these days. It took me many tweezers to get to this point. The intro was standard....the jam took off right from the start. Trey just jumped right up and didn't let it space at all. There was a constant underlying rhythm from mike/john. With page filler in nicely. They plowed through it without visiting any other themes except the initial. They speed it up and slowed it down but definitely kept in line with initial jam. Lights were mind boggling as always. This slowed into BUG: This was my first bug. Very cool song. If BOAF is the "Remain in the Light" influenced song then this s definitely the "Loaded" influenced song. A friend I was with said that it gave him insight to the meaning of life. I got a kick out of that. He was wigging and this song sounded comforting to him. This lead into FEE: audience reaction to this was huge. They played it nicely. No megaphone. The jam they added to the end really gives new llife to the song. It just gel's into this smooth relaxed jam for like 5 mins before they close it out. At this time they had the audience in their hand like putty. So what do they do, kick into HARRY HOOD: booo Yah! Nice hood. Nice ending. Trey flubbed the lyrics a little but hood is all about the music. The climatic jam exploding into "feel good about hood' was not only an exclamation point on the song but the entire, near perfect set. I thought this would be closer for sure. Didn't have watch on so didn't know how long set was. But then the started jamming a little then Trey says " we like to welcome Tom Marshall to the stage". They kick into WERE NOT GONNA TAKE IT by the Who. Tom was such a ham. Dangling foot over audience so they could tug on his pants. Swing the mike in Who fashion. Trey was doing windmills in classic Townsend style. When he sang the 'see me, feel me, touch me,' part there was only a white spotlight on him. It was too much, and Im not even a big who fan. When he exited the stage he high fived Page for covering him on the high notes. It was classic. I could believe it when they kicked into CHALKDUST: Nice chalkdust to close probably best set of 4 night NY run...if not definitely best show of all four. ENC: What could they encore to make this the perfect show. What else SQUIRMING COIL: It was perfect. The beach alliteration's, the sun, what a perfect way to leave Nassau. Page just kept trickling on the keys during his solo. Absolutely moving. A perfect show. 100 out of 10. [email protected]
Date: Sun, 10 Oct 1999 14:00:55 -0400 From: Michael D. Tinley [email protected] To: [email protected] Subject: Nassau 10/8 review Hello all, This is the first time reviewing a show, but I feel it was a great show and that a few things need to be said about it. This was my 15th show, and certainly one of my favorites so far. The lots were a bit of a mystery to me. I was never really able to walk around to check the scene. I arrived at the show late, having just found out that I didn't have a ticket. I fortunately found a ticket after a 10 minute search. I then had to wait for a friend who was late because he appearantly smoked a joint with the taxi driver who brought him. As I was walking around the arena to my section, I saw the lights go out and heard that beginnings of Piper- I love the energy that eminates from this song, What a cool way to start off a show. (I really don't think I've heard of a Piper opener before). I got to my seats while they were just starting to build it up to the first climax. They came back the vocal section 3 times! Also a first for my ears. The song came to the mellow ending. AC/DC Bag- I love this song. I was hoping for a long drawn out one like 12/30/97, but we got a slow by energetic medium legnth one. It came to a climax and ended in traditional fashion. I then remember there being a minute break after the song. Trey continued going over to Fish and chatting with him (also taking swigs from whatever it was he was drinking). Suzie Greenberg- Totally unexpected. A very good unexpected. I had never heard this live and it rocked. The long break between songs was seemingly due to the arrangement of the strange Page solo. Trey, Mike and Fish would slam the first four chords of the line, and then let Page finish it out, and they would do it again, a couple of times if I remember correctly. It was pretty unique. It was at this point I began to think that this was going to be a special show. Meat- Even though I sat down for this song, It is a good song in my opinion. Fairly standard version, although during the breaks at the end of the song, each of the members got a solo before they would start off the chords again (another unique touch). Meatstick- I love the chords to this song. They entirely chill out every muscle in my body. I must admit that I still do the dance, when I remember to. I think it's a fun concept. They brought Sofi Dillof out to dance it with them. Nice touch. Antelope- What a way to end a very short set. Danced like crazy to it. I was so possessed by the moment that I was knocking into my friends as I danced sporadically to the song. The lights were awesome, and they totally sent me spinning (Kudos to Kuroda). All in all I give the first set a 6 out of 10 (It was damn short) Setbreak: After driving up from VA all day and getting to the show later than I expected. I just passed out in my seat for the entire long set break. It was perfect rest for what was to be an amazing second set. Halley's Comet- OH MY GOD! Besides Harpua, this is the song I most wanted to hear before I die. And it came through in every way. Being in seats diretly parallel to the band ( on the side), I had a great view of the lights. I remember thinking that Koruda was making his own Space like things happen inside the Coliseum and I wasn't even on any psychadelics. This jammed for a long time, came to climax. And then faded away to a rockin' Tweezer- Great segue. The Tweezer was very slow and funky. These two songs were totally the highlight of the show for me. Bug- A fairly new song that I had never heard before. I like the catchy lyrics and I think this song has some potential. Fee- Where the hell did this come from. I actually still love this song. I know that there are a lot of nay-sayers about songs like this and BATR and Sample, but I still love the energy that they create for a show (when placed correctly). For instance, this was a random place in the set to put a Fee. But the mellow jam that followed Fee totally set up a Hood Hood- Nothing spectacular about this version. But a permanent favorite of mine. I thought this would certainly end the set. We're not going to Take it- This is the third time I've seen Marshall on stage. What a showman! He was twirling the mic in the air like he was a glam rocker. He stuck his bare feet out into the audience and almost got pulled in. My friend mentioned that he reminded her of a beach boy, the way that he pranced around the stage. I got a laugh out of that. The band played the song to perfection though. It really was well done. Chalkdust- A good way to end the set. This Chalkdust was nothing to write home about, but it still had the energy pumping. The jam ended fairly abruptly and they went off. Encore: Squirming Coil- Continued the predominantly mellow feeling of the second set. The band stayed on during the Page solo and the ended with Tweeprise- Rocked as usual. I suppose they felt they had to end the show on a rockin' note (seeing as though the covered The Who). I give the second set and encore a 7 out of 10 Post-show- Again, nothing spectacular for me. I waited at my friends car for 45 minutes while her friends transported stuff from another car to hers. Kind of a buzz kill, but what are you going to do? MikeyT
Date: Sun, 10 Oct 1999 22:01:54 -0400 (EDT) From: Erik Dennis Dempsey [email protected] To: [email protected] Subject: Nassau 10/8 Review Hi - Just thought I'd chime in with a quick review of the show from Friday night. For those out there keeping score - and I know you are - I've been to 9 Phish shows since 6/28/95, but haven't seen any in 1999. I used to listen to tapes prety heavily, but haven't heard any of '99 (or much of '98) on tape. I was very impressed by almost the entire show. While there probably weren't any jams that really moved my soul in any significant way, there was a lot of fun jamming, and a lot of real, group improvisation. Almost every version of every song was unqie in some way. The slower parts of the improv were generally the best, I thought. Well, it's also two days after I've seen the show, so some details may have slipped my mind. I'll try to include as many as I do recall. Anyway, on with the show. Due to some nasty traffic, I have absolutely no comment on the scene (don't really like the scene, anyway; if you saw some dorky guy sitting by himself with a copy of Joyce's _Portrait of the Artist..._, that was me). Anyway, I walked in just as the lights went out, and barely made it to my seat to hear the beginning of PIPER. I haven't heard any '99 Pipers, but believe me, this was an excellent version, featuring *three* vocals segments. The opening was mellow, and built nicely (and for a long time!) into the first vocals segment. Page and Mike directed the jam for a while, finding some interesting ideas, but keeping to the basic chord structure, while Trey waxed silent on the guitar. Finally, Trey hopped into the mix for am energetic, climactic solo. After the vocals, I'd figured they'd end it, but Trey ripped into yet another solo. Neither of these were the noise-fest repeated chords that Trey seemed to play so much in 97 and 98. Trey was deliberately very melodic for much of the night, in ways that remind me of his 93 style, with an added element of funkiness. The second was better than the first (if memory serves), and set the show going in a strong way. AC DC BAG was a big surprise for me. It was played sloooow, with a long, funky opening to the jam segment. Trey played muted chords for a while while Page, Fish and especially Mike funked along pleasingly behind him. The jam picked up at the end, with a fine, climactic guitar solo. Again, funky at first, then melodic in a 1993 type of way. After a long pause on stage (long enough that I figured the band had actually written a new song while on stage), they played SUZY GREENBERG. Nice, unique version - Page led all the way through. Twice, Page was given a short, lights-down, solo on the baby grand. He's playing with somewhat of a different style, and a lot of creativity. He didn't play flourishes (like I'm accumstomed to hear him play), but seemed to be looking for just the right chord, and accenting it by playing less around it. It made for some very fine (and n this case, bluesy) moments in the context of this pretty standard song. When the band kicked back in, Page continued to guide the jam, until the end and vocal reprise. MEAT was another treat; the first live Meat I've ever heard, by the way. I guess they usually do a lot of stop / start stuff. I found this version pretty enjoyable, with Page twice taking solos to fill the stops (both on organ, I think) that were somewhat ambient, somewhat funky, and definitely very cool. They broke it down again for a punchy Mike solo, and yet again for a Trey solo (which was VERY funky, and put a smile on my face). Nice song, nicely played. MEATSTICK was next. The first time I've heard it. I thought it was a fun song - not a great song, really, but a lot of fun - and I especially like the scales Trey plays after the chorus. A nifty jam segment, with a chord in there that reminds me of old-school Phish (like Junta era stuff). Well, probably everyone else reading this has already heard a bunch of Meatsticks just like this one, so I'll let it go. I could tell this was pretty standard - Sofi, Mike, and Trey did the dance thing (blah), and the jam kept to the chord progression before fading out into ANTELOPE. The best part was the opening of the jam segment, with some nice, subtle, and once again, Page led jamming. Pretty unique for Antelope. The acceleration jam and climax were only okay (danceable, but not too driven), and the set ended there. Overall, a very enjoyable set, with some interesting versions of songs (mostly the first four). Piper was the highlight for me; have they ever played it like this before? Anyway, if they have, it's not worth getting the tapes, though if you do, you'll certainly enjoy them. Loong set break, then a Halley's opener. A tremendous version. Not as good as 11/22/97, but similar in structure: a long, group jam (basically all four guys soloing over the chord progression; I love this kind of jam!) that lasted about 10 minutes. Then, it faded into some interesting, spacey improv, that perhaps could have gotten really good, but instead, fizzled, and wandered into TWEEZER. Tweezer was excellent. First, Mike and Fish laid down an excellent, very danceable groove, while Trey toyed with some gently funky, slightly melodic soloing over it. This was fun, and could have gone on a long time without getting boring. Trey would have none of it, though, and decided to plays the chords for the groove, forcing it to a climax. Again, no unnecessary noise; just a lot of good stuff. Finally, Trey dropped out of the groove, and found a charming, descending theme that he played over and over. Mike, Fish, and Page moved slowly away from their funk groove, and grew more and more dissonant. Eventually, the whole jam faded into something very much like My LEFT TOE from the Siket Disk (in fact, I think this actually WAS My Left Toe), but with Trey continuing to toy around with his little theme. I found this very enjoyable, but very weird: the only thing the whole night that really wasn't danceable at all. Still, very interesting, and no wild swells: just good, solid, group work. The jam ended on this, with the whole Halley's > Tweezer -> MLT bit lasting over half an hour. A great, group jam; maybe there was nothing must-hear, but if you get the tapes, I think you will enjoy them. From here we get BUG. This is a very Velvet Underground-esque tune, to my ears, and that's a good thing. Actually, I've heard several of the new songs, and this is my favorite. I like the vocals, the lyrics... everything. The jam - which was about five minutes long, I think - was similar in kind to the Halley's jam: four guys soloing over a chord progression, with no one stating it. Very cool. Ends with a vocal reprise. FEE was up next. This was like no Fee I've ever heard. The composed section was nearly flawless, but afterwards, the jam! Yes, JAM out of Fee. Maybe they've been doing this all year (that usually seems to be the case when a familiar first set song pops up as a jam ion the second), but the short jam coming out of Fee was the prettiest of the night. Trey found a BETTER them than the one he';d played over MLT, and the whole band grooved along in a very gentle, pretty way. Short, but oh so sweet. I'd like to hear it again. Jam fades out, we get HARRY HOOD. Standard, old school (i.e., better than any I've heard since 1995) (except 11/27/97) Hood. Sweet opening, with a vocal miscue by Trey, and an excellent jam segment. Subtle at first, then it got going with a lovely, melodic guitar solo by Trey. Some strong chords toward the end, leading to a couple false climaxes, and finally, a very energetic "You can feel good!" chorus. Fan chords at the end, but they brought back the I chord to end it. I figured the set was over, but the band started grooving away, and we got WE'RE NOT GONNA TAKE IT with Tom Marshall. Simple put, it made me happy. I love this old Who song - I always thought the guys should cover it - and the Tommy / Uncle Ernie joke (which I think is probably why they chose it) cracked me up. Marshall's vocals were okay, and he did a lot of Roger Daltrey-esque stuff (though as a joke instead of seriously). Boy, he really should practice twirling the microphone. A couple of HOT Trey solos in the "Listening to you..." bit, including some guitar windmills. Tom hammed it up for a while before leaving. The band played fan chords for a while, then stopped on a dime, but, instead of walking off, broke into CHALKDUST, which was very good. A nice way to cap off a very high energy set. Again, very '93, with Trey hitting some of those practically out of range notes to cap off his solo. A fun ending to a fun night. Encore was COIL, which seemed appropriate, what with all the soloing Page had in the first set, and the fact that Trey had pretty much driven the second. Pretty good version, with a good solo: Page keeps getting better. For some REALLY wonderful piano solos, by the way, check out Bill Evans' stuff (Waltz for Debbie is *gorgeous*; so's Sunday at the Village Vanguard, from the same session, though that's more driven by the excelletn bassist Scott LaFaro). Or check out some classical stuff (Chopin is good; Liszt is probably a better choice for Phish fanms, since Page quotes from Liszt pretty often in the Coil solos). Really, Page is a lot of fun, and keeps improving, but REAL piano music can be truly soul-shifting, and should be heard by more of us. Anyway, REPRISE closed the show in a tight, happy fashion, and I walked off pleased. Overall? Lots of good stuff, especially in the second set. Worth getting the tapes? Sure! Your soul might not be moved, but your feet will, and this can probably make you smile. Actually, if that's not moving your soul, what is? So yeah, I've got no context of 1999 Phish, and, while this certainly doesn't measure up to the best shows of 12/95, it sure was fun, with enough unique moments to make it worth checking out. And if anyone out there would be willing to spin some tapes (or CDS!) for me, I'd be very grateful. I guess I should give this a SJCRP ranking: how about 7? A 7.2, actually. I hope you all enjoyed my review, and, if you get a chance to check out the band, if this show is any indication, it'll be a real good time. Yours, Erik
Date: Mon, 11 Oct 1999 19:42:51 EDT From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Subject: Review - Nassau Coliseum, 10/8/99 Reviews are not normally my thing, but I was so totally blown away by last night's show that I have to write. I went to my first show this summer, and this one was my second, and this time I was far more aware of the general Phish-show ambiance than I was the first time. The first time I was trying to get my bearings and stop worrying about other stuff, and the impact of last night, where I'd been souped for a couple months, was way different. The venue was different too, though, in a crappy way - Nassau Coliseum is really a junky place to go see a show, especially compared with the other places I've seen stuff (PNC Arts Center, Continental Airlines Arena, the "Pepsi" Arena, even Giant's Stadium) and my seats were..... out of the way. Yes, I was in the nosebleed section, *and* I was behind the stage. But a good-behind-the-stage sort of way, as in a we-were-right-behind-them-and-could-therefore-see-everything way, not in a we-were-sitting-behind-a-big-box-and-therefore-saw-the-big-box-all-night way. I went with my mom - no, that's not weird. I've been going with my parents to concerts since I was seven, and my dad would have been there except that it was Nassau, and he *hates* Nassau. ;P ANyway. But - it was phat. Because I have not been a Phishie for a long time yet, there were two songs I'd never heard of (Bug, Piper) and two I'd never *heard* and been aware of hearing them, though I knew that they existed and I was able to identify them (AC/DC Bag and Suzy Greenberg), so it was extranice. (No flames that I don't know what I'm talking about! I'm waiting for more albums in the mail, thankyouverymuch.) The crowd was great, really fun and really comfortable. But, anyway - the music. Let me add that my mom and I were running around like morons trying to get food, and we arrived *at* 7:30; so we, for one, were happy that they started late. The first set was, for lack of a better word, spiffy. Piper was a good opener - I'd never heard it before, but it was pretty good to open-up with. I know *I* was dancing. AC/DC Bag got everyone singing along and up. Frankly, I don't really remember these two songs a whole lot, because I was kind of checking out the people around me. This was the point where we realized we were in the wrong section, and figured we'd move later. Suzy Greenberg was ultra-good. I'd never heard it before, like I said, and it made me laugh and dance. Honestly, though, by then (even though I was having an awesome time) I was really hoping they'd play something I *knew* and wanted to hear specifically - they couldn't have pleased me more with the next song. Meat. I think I might be alone on this one, but this is one of my favoritest songs on "Ghost" just 'cause it's got that really cool bassline and syncopation thing happening, and it's just so much fun as far as harmonies and vocals are concerned. And they did a really good job with it; it was pretty and fun at the same time. At the end, they kept stopping, and then coming back in with that spiffy fade-out stuff, again... and again... and again! It was great, and I know I laughed out loud. Meatstick! Fun, fun, fun. I remembered it from seeing it at PNC. Still very cool, and if I'm correct, they played with it a little more than they did last time, as far as jamming. And, talk about pregnant ladies! ;) Antelope was awesome - I wasn't sure at first that that was what they were doing, and then I thought they were, and then I thought they weren't; it was really good, long but not too long, a fantastic set closer for a good set. Compared to the show I saw this summer, this was a good set - not great, not wonderful, but pretty good. The intermission, I went out and bought a shirt (the pretty long-sleeved blue one with the leaves on the back!) and a raffle ticket (the last three numbers of MY ticket was 420, and yet I didn't win) and a water and a soda, and then we hurried back to our seats, our real ones. Naturally, the intermission was long. We did not expect it to be long. My mom fell asleep. The second set was, like, one big apology for starting late and making us wait during "halftime". It was amazing. As far as I'm concerned, it was the best set list I've seen in a long time, and I got to see it. :P Halley's Comet. I like this song a lot, but haven't heard it in a long time. And this one absolutely rocked. I quit worrying about looking foolish and had a great time dancing instead. Trey rocked and touched on some really gorgeous guitar work, and it was also the first time all night I was listening hard enough to *really* hear Mike doing stuff. Being behind the stage had it's advantages in that ridiculously crafted place - it's *so* not built for music, and sometimes at Nassau you can't hear the high notes; I didn't have that problem behind the stage, because of no-echoes, and that was good. Moving on - Tweezer. At this point my mom was sort of tired, but she recognized Tweezer right away and was up again. Tweezer was good. However, it felt kind of slower than the version I'm really familiar with, the one on A Live One, and it was a little harder to dance to. ;) But they were into it, and they were doing cool stuff with it, and they didn't drag it out, and they segued really nicely into the next bit. At the end of it, I was tired and wanted to take a nap, and the next song - Bug - didn't help. It was really great, musically, but I needed something that I could kind of ride on for a while and get excited about. Feeee! Fee's such a cool, boingy song, and it was absolutely perfect, and everyone was up and psyched again, even if they didn't jam really hard with it. I think here's the perfect time to mention that the guys totally decided stuff on the spot. From where I was, I could see it all, including Trey's expression when he turned to tell Fishman they were going to do something else, as many times as he did it. In between Fee and the next song, I think, they stopped and did this again, leaving us all breathless and wondering What In The World they were going to do now. Though I'm starting to think that all shows are like that...? ;> Hooooood. I've been really into this song the past few weeks, and this was the icing on the proverbial Phish cake. It wasn't amazingly creative or anything, but the jam was really sweet. And I really didn't expect to hear it at all, so I was really psyched and reeeeally happy. Anyway, I was really happy to hear it - as far as I was concerned, that could have been the end of the set and I could've gone home happy. But it wasn't, oh my god. Not only did they play a really up-tempo, fantastic, something-special tune (the kind of thing you need to keep everyone going after a pretty decent Hood like that one), not only did they bring out Tom Marshall, but they played the song that has been my favorite song in the world ever since I saw the movie Woodstock for the first time. We're Not Gonna Take It! They were amazing, and Trey even did the windmill thing and they rocked, in my opinion, far more than The Who ever did. We all expected (or at least *I* did) that this was the end and they would end the set. But noooo. Chalkdust Torture, which I have been dying to hear. It was good - nothing totally, off the wall I've-never-seen-this-before amazing, but it was really good and Trey was really all over the high notes. Okay, so *That* was the end of the set. I expected something simple and quick for the encore, but they really did a good job with it - I was NOT expecting to hear the Squirming Coil, especially not after all that, and it was really awesome. There were some really pretty themes in Page's keyboard stuff, and I was really enjoying, at this point, his stuff. Tweezer Reprise - I was hoping they'd do it, and they did, and it just tied the entire best-parts of the show (as far as I'm concerned, the second set) together. Set two, overall? Really, really, phat, with something totally special, totally surprising, and totally exactly what I wanted. No, I didn't win the raffle. But that's okay. See y'all on the, uh, flip side!
Date: Sun, 10 Oct 1999 02:45:59 EDT From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Subject: Phish 10/8/98 Nassau Well, this was my ninth show in the past two years, and I must say it was one of the best that I've seen. Due to the cold weather, there didn't seem to be too much vending of any kind in the lot. Security was tighter than expected. From our seats, slighty behind center court and about ten rows up, the sound was crystal clear and both Phish on stage and Chris Koruda on the lights were in perfect view. This was the first time I was really able to see Chris as he worked his magical light show and I must say he's amazing. On to the show - Piper - unexpected as an opener but it fits the bill perfectly. It just keeps building and building throughout the whole song until the chill section at the end. Trey was absolutely loving this as swayed his head and jumped up and down and the crowd loved it in return. More guitar work than usual. AC/DC Bag - Funky, funky version. This one really got the crowd grooving. The jam at the end seemed more group oriented then the Trey solo it used to be. Page and Trey on keys. A short break on stage and then... Suzie Greenberg - Old school Phish. This was a first. As if the crowd wasn't into it already. Nice Page lights-out breakdown solo. Meat - The theme of the first set seemed to be funk once they pulled this one out. Another first. Nice and slow and even more laid back than on the album. Time for the... Meatstick - Mellow it out! I love how Trey and Mike sing this one together. It's a really beautiful and moving song. After the chorus Mike leaves and gets Sofi and here we go with the dance. Page and Fishman playing and singing this part themselves. Nice and not overdone like that whole summer tour Guinness Book Of World Records thing. Chill jam at the end. Unfortunately, someone tried to join in the dance on the side of the stage and was taken away. Run Like an Antelope - When Trey started this one I had a flashback to 4/3/98 at Nassau when they played this after the guy ran across the stage and they did the whole "Carini's gonna get you" thing. Coincedence? They already played Piper like last year. Nice way to end the set though. I figured they realized that they were playing so well and were so into it that they better conserve for the second set. You really don't often see a six song first set unless things are already crazy. Setbreak was relatively short and the lights go down for the magic that was to be the second set. A couple of bass notes for Mike's vocals and sure enough... Halley's Comet - I love this song. Chill as was Meatstick. Now the show is really looking like last year's, but this jam was much more mellow and band oriented. Phish was really tight tonight in their jams which could be chalked up to the fact that this was the end of the tour or they are just a much tighter band than they were a year ago. This song spaces out and the funk returns - Tweezer - No way! This would have been the encore from last year if it was the reprise but no! We're in for a long funky jam. The funky stuff seems to get slower and groovier as they play it. Wolfman's is another example. These grooves seem to have more power the slower they go. Another first so that light thing after "Uncle Ebenizer" was pretty wild. Once again, the jam turns spacy and Chris and Trey play with our minds with all the trippy effects. What's this? Bug? - Sure sounds like a Trey song. Sweet little tune. Another first. I really do have to say that I enjoyed it. The harmony for "It doesn't matter" is still in my head. This set has chilled for a while. On with... Fee - Trey was into it. Page was into it. I don't know if I was. What's that word?..."buzzkill?" Mellow -> mellow -> Harry Hood - Ahhh! The mellowness wouldn't be complete without Harry. I like how the intro goes around between band members untill the first chorus. I still see Trey on New Years Eve running around popping balloons with his guitar. The glowstick war was pretty tame but sure enough, one of 'em hit something that sent a loud crack through the PA. I'm sure it wasn't intentional. Could that be the end of set two? What's this? Prince Caspian? Loving Cup? I to IV chords... Then Trey announces that a friend of ours, Tom Marshall, will come out to sing! What is it? We're Not Gonna Take It! - The WHO! Beautiful piece of the Tommy album. A first for everyone. It's so nice to see Tom all happy walking around stage singing this song. The last time I saw him was 12/30/97 singing "500 Miles", and he didn't sound nearly as good. Then I read the lyrics to the "Ghost" album and let me tell you - it's good to see him on stage again. He was having a great time doing swinging the mic like Roger Daultry and putting his arm around Trey for some vocals. Trey returned the favor by doing his version of Pete Townshend's windmill guitar strum. Everyone was having a great time. Encore? Nope! Chalkdust Torture - "Standard rocking version" although Trey's solo was less effects and more tonal. Definately more group sounding than past tours. Just sounds great. Thanks for that extra chord at the end! Maybe a Tweezer Reprise for the Encore? The Squirming Coil - Back to the mellow stuff. Good placement after those last numbers to cool it down. Page rocks. Why don't we give it up for him at any other time but THIS ONE SOLO?! He keeps all the jams together and can sure play that bluegrass. It seemed as if it was the end but never doubt the... Tweezer Reprise - More Page! Loud Bass! Dance right on out the door. I need these tapes!!! Please e-mail me if you have them!!! Peace, Love, Eric
Date: Sun, 10 Oct 1999 18:09:05 EDT From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Subject: 10-8-99 Nassau Coliseum well, this was number 69 for me, and about as amusing of a Phish show as I've seen in my days. We got into town a little late coming from DC, so we really just grabbed our shit and went inside, skipping the lot scene which by 7:15 was starting to settle. Set I: Right from the get go, Piper tore the roof off the place. This is my single favorite song, a tune I've been totally obsessed with since 8-11-97 at Deer Creek. So far as I know, the last American soil first set Piper was in the Virginia Beach summer '97 opener, and I've been waiting a long time for this song to emerge in the first set. This show opener was no disappointment. After three times through the chorus, the jam finally popped into that fairy tale ending, and we were on our way. Being a skeptic, I predict Farmhouse, or something slow and standard but instead we get: AC/DC BAG!! Phabulous choice; played very slowly with a deep funk groove, noodling with some things from the mother of a ll bags: 12-30-97 phine phine phine. Skill skeptical I'm expecting a standard, but this is Nassau that Phish tore down in '98 with Mike's> Old Home> Weakapaug, so Suzy Greenberg was the perfect crowd pleaser to keep with the phlow. Then Meat: love this song for some reason, don't know why its not in rotation, but having seen Deer Creek, neither of these songs were knew. Still! Meatstick to follow was perfect, it was a thick, meaty night and I must say I just love the Meatstick (perhaps excepting the obscene lyrics). The Antelope to close was a monster, too, taking some of the themes from the middle section of Deer Creek and the long, monster funk outro from 12-31-98. An awesome, rip-rocking version that ranks as one of my best ever. Alright let's go!!! Set II: After a perfect set like that, what can you expect to top it?? Well, during set break, I said it would take a monster Haley's or a Tweezer or something and well looky here: Haley's Comet established a rock n' roll groove early, not at all like the sick one from Great Woods but very enjoyable nonetheless into- the Tweezer. I expected this, as the out-of-nowhere Tweeprise from '98 was memorable enough to be readressed. I am a Tweezer believer, and this version, though long and somewhat boring at the end, was nonetheless the tasty treat I was looking for. This jam finally wound its way into a strong Bug (had never seen this song before), which I feel is somewhat of an epilogue to Piper. They have been played in conjunction a lot, and this reestablished the Piper- feel that many of the other songs had earlier touched upon. This was my favorite aspect of the evening- hearing that beautiful soft jam from the beginning of Piper reemerge in new and amazing ways. A strong Fee was a surprise to follow, but the beautiful outro from this song justified its mid- second set placement. This died down into the Harry Hood I had been expecting, and I assumed the set was over but oh my hang on a second!! Out of Hood came that Piper- esque noodling, emerging into of all things- some Who from Tommy!! Tom (my) came out to sing this couplet, one of the highlights from the musical Tommy and rock n' roll in general. I saw Phish's Quadrophenia and it bored me to tears, but this was just awesome! Great lyrics, excellent performance and i just couldn't help but get that jittery feeling inside that keeps bringing me everywhere in the world to see these guys. Finally, after the epic opereta, a perfectly placed Chalkdust (i've heard a LOT of this recently) rocked us all home. perfect Encore: remembering back to the monster encore from 4-3-98, I was expecting something serious, and while Squirming Coil was good and played well (is Page ever gonna step back up into this song and take his solo like he means it), it couldn't compare to '98. Tweeprise closed this one, a funky bomb dropped on an overall [hantastic evening. I put this at least in my top ten ever, really top five, with 8-11-97, 4-3-98, 10-26-96, 6-18 or 11-25-94, and the longest (I believe) of all two set shows; 12-30-97. A classic, indeed. peace
Date: Sun, 10 Oct 1999 15:29:06 -0400 (EDT) From: James Andrew Hunter [email protected] To: [email protected] Subject: Nassau Fri. night review Well this show was fucking sick, period. These guys never cease to amaze me. They consistently reinvent themselves on stage and tonight was no exception. The Colisieum is a good venue with good acoustics in my opinion and I haven't been here since the spring island tour. I must say a had a good feeling about this show. me and my buddy scored some mushrooms, got inside, and waited patiently for......Piper! Get the fuck outta here, they never open with Piper. This was the only song I truly wanted to hear and they opened with it and it rocked. Tons of energy, very fast, Trey enjoying himself. AC/DC Bag and Suzy we're out of nowhere and really pleased the crowd. I like how they funked it out and then came back fast and tight to end AC/DC Bag. Meat and Meatstick kicked ass. I wasn't at Oswego so... And I was out of my head when Trey started Antelope. This song brought the first set to a whole new level. Flawless as far as I could tell. I think this is the best first set of Phish I've ever heard. Unreal. I couldn't tell how long the setbreak was cause we were tripping real hard. Then...Halley's Comet!!!! I was actually annoyed at first cause I really wanted a Runaway Jim but I was completely satisfied with this rendition. Great Jam....into Tweezer. I called this one. They play it at every show I see but I never get sick of it. Very strong Tweezer, not too long. I had never heard Bug before but I liked it. Fee was the biggest suprise of the night, beautifully done, mellow though. Harry Hood had to be the highlight of the show. They ripped this song apart. And the lights!!!! Some people might not have liked the Who covers as much as me, but I thought Tom Marshall did a great job. I think he has a shitty singing voice but he was on tonight, as was Trey with the windmill arm motions. Just awesome. I thought that would be the end of the set but no....Chalkdust. Strong version, good way to close it. The Squirming Coil encore was very unexpected but I loved it. And I always dig a good Tweezer Reprise. The building up of tension and the release. I can't wait to get this show on tape. Easily the best show I' ve seen and the crowd was fucking into it. 10 out of 10. No complaints. Peace
Date: Sun, 10 Oct 1999 09:51:53 EDT From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Subject: 10/8/99 I'd just like to share my highlights for night two at Nassau. There seemed to be more energy in the air for this show, and the I saw a lot more people jumping over to be on the floor. PIPER- I never thought they would open a set with this, but it worked, bringing the energy up. AC/DC BAG- Yes, yes, yes. I love it, nice funk jam. SUZIE- Alright! I haven't heard this since the botched intro version of 11/29/97. Page has a nice solo in this. Rare treat. MEAT, MEATSTICK- I suppose we all figured this would come. It was fun. First time I heard Meatstick live, all the tourheads knew the dance. I on the other hand, was content with the groove. ANTELOPE- Trey hit THAT note, and I was ready for the ride. This blows away the version I heard 7/13/99 (Though the Possum from that show is better than the one I heard from the previous night 10/7) Set II- (i.e. A Different Level) HALLEY'S->TWEEZER->SPACE JAM Halley's was fun as always to dance and groove to, then the jam! I was keeping my fingers crossed for some segues, and I do think that it wound it's way into Tweezer. Not one of my favorites, but when they finally let up on the main structure of the song- they took it THERE. Not the best Tweezer ever, but the best one I've seen. What came next was something that I was sure was off the Siket disc, (which I have still yet to purchase) SPACE jam, intense, brought down the house (in a good way) The teeny boppers near me didn't like it ...."What are they playing this for?".... I absolutley LOVED it. BUG- Hey, I like this song. The kids around me didn't, it doesn't matter. FEE- ??? Was I magically transported to the first set again? HOOD- Could we feel good? Yes, if they leave the f'n glowsticks at home. Show me where to sign up against them, I'll try to help. (Does anyone enjoy being hit in the head with these things?) Then a treat, Tom Marshall (probably after a couple shots of whiskey? ;0) WE'RE NOT GONNA TAKE IT/SEE ME, HEAR ME, FEEL ME- This was a riot, including Tom's best Daultrey impersonation. Trey got into the mix also by doing the ol' Townshend windmill bit. The rest of the set kind of fizzled for me, but after traveling from MA to get to Nassau for two shows, it was all worth it. Good times, great music, even better memories. Thanks again, my .02� -Josh
Date: Sun, 10 Oct 1999 02:13:03 -0400 From: David M. Goldstein [email protected] To: [email protected] Subject: nassau review Here's a review of the 10/8/99 Nassau gig. Good show it was. Review of 10/8/99 Nassau Col. Hey now. Couldn't hit night 1 due to school concerns and the fact that dollarz are at a stark minimum, but the second night of Nassau was clearly one of the better shows I've seen in awhile. I panned the overlong, boring, Wolfman's Brother this summer at Great Woods, muttered in disbelief as I saw Mountains in the Mist and When the Circus Comes played in the same set (7/10/99), and simply believed the last few shows I saw were lacking. Nassau night 2 was anything but, and it helped erase a lot of the skepticism I acquired on summer tour about the future of the band. They've definitely still got "it" per se. For those who care, this was #23 for me. Getting into the venue was simply too easy. We didn't park in the lot with all the action, vendors, and what not, but there was ZERO concert traffic off the Meadowbrook Parkway. Real easy to find a space, real easy to get out. Awesome! The scene itself was pretty chill. Good sized shakedown street, I didn't see any cops anywhere (although I was told there were some pigs on horses), and didn't see anybody roughed up. Probably the first lot scene in awhile that didn't have me groaning. The venue itself? Tight as hell and hard to navigate. Good sound though, great french fries, and the Mets on various t.v.s during setbreak. Indeed! I: Piper, ACDC Bag, Suzy, Meat, Meatstick, Antelope I'm not going to comment much on the first set because it speaks for itself on paper, something which set II certainly does not. Set I was definitely a blast, filled with crowd pleasers, good placement, and the first Suzy in awhile. The latter had these funky start/stop sections which had Page breakin' it down, and aren't usually included in the song. Have they played it since New Haven '98? Meatstick was cute, and some guy wandered onstage during the song. He actually put up a fight, and virtually had to be wrestled off the stage. Interesting....Tons of false endings in Meat, the Piper opener was incredibly solid despite emerging from a standstill, and the 'Lope closer was fun, if relatively standard. A little short at an hour, but it was certainly a filling set, with no buzzkill tunes. Lots of meat products as well.. Setbreak: Mets 3, Dbacks 0. The Mets would go on to win 9-2. You gotta believe! II: Halley's, Tweezer, Bug, Fee, Hood, We're Not Gonna Take It, Chalkdust (90 min) Set two had no rhyme or reason whatsoever. It was packed to the gills; very random, often unsettling, and fantastic at the same time. At any rate, it doesn't work on paper because there's no way of describing the myriad jams within, and at first glance, one could be disturbed by the lack of segues, but this was in no way a problem. Halley's Comet: Classic set II opener, but the jam was anything but. Trey takes the traditional breakaway solo, and I figure he's going to ham on it for about 2 minutes or so before hitting the Tweezer lick or something to that effect. WRONG. The ensuing jam was a full on 20 minute Trey assault, similar to the hottest Ghost jams, or some of the more random aspects of 7/15/99 II (the jams out of Kung in particular). Tons of trilling, volume effects, smoke, insane Kuroda lights, etc. Had the rest of the set not been so noteworthy, this would have been the highlight for sure. As such, its probably going to be under-appreciated. But it shouldn't be. This Halley's was incredible. Tweezer: Sort of emerged from the final ashes of the smokin' Halley's jam. The composed section was considerably loose. Trey was messing with the riff, adding touches of color here and there, letting Mike hold down the more traditional end with the bassline. This seems to be the norm as of late for Tweezer...7/10/99 funked along in a similar, loose fashion. The ensuing jam is difficult to describe. Picture a hulking beast, a brontosaurus perhaps...slowly inching its way towards you. Heavy, slow, and somewhat frightening. The sound evolved into this huge wash of ambient volume which seemed to wrap the stage in a cocoon (I swear I was sober). Very Floydian, and more than a little unsettling. As a friend claimed, "They weren't really playing anything, but the sound was still enormous". Normally their more ambient stuff annoys me (e.g. What's the Use), but this was impossible to ignore or write off. Yikes. Was it just me, or did Trey audibly play the lick to Taste towards the end? Bug: I heard this at Great Woods, and I believe it was reworked somewhat. The chorus was changed, and the "It doesn't matter!" part was re-located before the jam and towards the end of the song. It used to be the sole chorus, and no longer is. Cool tune. Fee: Odd placement. I sort of forgot about this one. It was Fun! Slightly extended with Trey doing some nice work with harmonics. Harry Hood: Solid Hood made funny by the fact that Trey and Mike both came in at the wrong time on the "HARRY!" line. 99% of all Hoods sound the same to me (the 1% being the A Live One Hood...10/23/94 if I'm not mistaken), but this was good nonetheless. This'll close the set...right? We're Not Gonna Take It: I can picture the backstage conference....."How funny would it be to have Tommy sing "Tommy"? Laughs all around. This was a hilarious rock and roll spectacle. Guess what? Tom Marshall can actually sing really well when he wants to! This basically came from out of nowhere, and I didn't recognize the song at first because its not exactly the most obvious Who song to cover. But it was fantastic. You've got Tom swinging the mic Daltrey style, Trey doing windmills, and tons of rock and roll bravado ...especially during the "Listening to you, I get the...." Parts towards the end. This was an unexpected, and wonderful treat that would probably end the set.... Chalkdust: Yeaaahhhhhh! ROCK AND ROLL! Go in for the kill! A Tom Marshall sung rock and roll spectacle wasn't enough....they boys want to RAWK. Fantastic placement. Relatively short and sweet, but at this point the audience was so drained to begin with. I rarely have that much good to say about Chalkdust (7/10 and 7/15/99 being the exceptions), but this was a perfect set closer, and a treat. A Squirming Coil > Tweezer Rep. Encore put a sublime close to some enchanted evening. No dough (or time) for Albany....next up Illadelph in December. Dave g
Date: Sat, 9 Oct 1999 18:47:48 EDT From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Subject: 10/8 Nassau Review ------------- Phish - Friday, October 8, 1999 Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum Uniondale, NY Set 1: Piper 8:09pm AC/DC Bag 8:18pm Suzie Greenberg 8:30pm Meat 8:37pm Meatstick w/ dance 8:44pm Run Like an Antelope 8:54pm 9:06pm Set 2: Halley's Comet 9:58pm Tweezer -> 10:15pm Bug Fee 10:44pm Harry Hood 10:52pm We're Not Gonna Take It* 11:07pm Chalkdust Torture 11:19pm 11:27pm Encore: The Squirming Coil 11:30pm Tweezer Reprise 11:40pm *The Who cover w/ Tom Marshall on vocals The place was full tonight, funny how much difference 1/4 capacity makes to the sound. Yesterday I would say the place was 3/4's full with a lot of space on the floor and the sound was crisp and clear, but tonight the floor was packed as was the arena and the sound was proportionally worse, not that it was noticeably horrible, but you really can tell the difference from the previous night. Last night the crowd was very mellow a very mid-week crowd, tonight it came to party a very weekend crowd! Truthfully (and I know I will be flamed for this) but the first set didn't do much for me. It was good but nothing really stood out as to grab me and make me say wow! Piper as a show opener is a strange placement, I prefer it to emerge from a jam since I really love the way the beginning/intro evolves into this song (see 8/8/98 Tela -> Piper), but coming from a standstill you just don't get that same impact. When this song first came out I really wondered how they would achieve it as a stand alone, tonight they didn't do it so well, it really didn't emerge full until the very end with the climactic vocals. AC/DC Bag may have been great, this is one I need to relisten to on tape, hopefully others will have a better feel for it. It just faded to an end however. LONG, LONG pause and conference, seemed like the band didn't get all of their chit-chatting out of the way in the pre-show locker room. Does Trey really drink something from that "cup" or is he just screwing with us and it's a way of communicating with the band, as somebody mentioned? [Editor's Note: the"cup" is a two-way radio used to communicate between mostly Trey and Page] But after the pause we got........ Suzie Greenberg!!!!! Nice! Trey was filled with a bunch of gleeful exuberance, he began frenetically directing traffic on stage and it got to the point where he abandoned his playing allowing for Page to have added minutes (seconds) to his solos. Meanwhile Trey was just into Mike and Page allowing Page to take a bunch of solos around a few stop-starts. Not your standard Suzie! It was good! Meat may be the craziest song they play, they just kept going with the ending, stopping and starting trying to nail it down, plus all the different vocals throughout the song, it's amazing they even play this one at all, better enjoy it now because I can't see them keeping this one in the rotation to much, it's difficult to play. Well done tonight! Meatstick featured the dance with a very pregnant Sofi. This didn't have that HUGE Dead influence everyone claims it has, I can see where people are coming from when saying that, but this version didn't contain it. Antelope was well received but standard. The verdict on set one: A SHORT, Average set! after a long intermission! Set 2: Halley's Comet started out as usual, lots of early "Halley's Comet" vocals....as usual.....but then we were treated to a very nice rockin' jam with a steady beat and groove for a good long time, which then at the very end faded into a short delay loop space jam and then stop. Tweezer began as if on a record, it was played very tight (in the good sense) but then Chris K. flips the switch for the cone like lights and the jam begins (the Cone of Jams). Another very rock and roll type jam, not a spacey jam until the end. First a steady groove was achieved by Mike and Fish and Trey (and Page) began playing single chords/notes. Single chords thrown in around this 3 or 4 beat groove, this began to get louder and louder with Trey now incorporating these single chords into the 3-4 beat pattern, then these chords began to have a ton of distortion on them. The band still playing the same steady groove with Trey jamming on these three or four notes over and over creating a three - four beat pattern by the band eventually a huge rock jam! The this fell into a hum with Trey going over to the keyboard, Trey spacing out on the keys, and the band holding time, this eventually during into a engine rev'ing jam finale. Which went somewhat into BUG! It Doesn't Matter! Well done, same as the summer tour, probably hear more from this new song. Fee contained no megaphone, Trey almost hit all the lyrics, however the highlight was a short but beautiful soft ending jam which was music box like with Page leading the way. A real music box melody, very nice! I have never seem them play Fee this way before. Then the FIRST STAR of the evening Harry Hood! Harry Hood started out very spacey and dark, not your reggae-ish Harry Hood beginning. It was very well played, Trey so concentrated that he missed/flubbed the first verse "Harry" and caught it on the second "Harry". Then he goes right into the jam, no searching for a theme here, he knows exactly where he wants to go with it and it becomes a jam similar to the Harry Hood from the Lake Champlain benefit 3/18/97 (which may be one of the best Harry Hood versions) mixed in with some of the Ooh Child soloing from the Trey solo tour in May. At least those were the two I was reminded of. Just a wonderful combination of the two. This version of Harry Hood is why we keep coming back to the shows!!!!! Nothing earth shattering or ground breaking, just the stuff Phish knows and does best and what keeps bringing us back, I was dancing my ass off it was great! FANTASTIC! Beautiful! Where is the Dude of Life when you need him, what's wrong the Dude doesn't make a guest appearance anymore. We're Not Gonna Take It is a great tune, Phish played it great...but......Tom Marshall hammed it up as usual (again throwing his mic stand, slapping the crowd, hugging Trey, etc.....) Why pick such a great song to have Marshall wreak havoc around it? Page did his best in helping Tom keep it manageable, or tolerable, they should've just let Page do it himself, the cover was done musically GREAT, vocally on the other hand, blah! The rest of the show was standard, Coil was way too short to be anything other than standard. Page teasing Bug in the solo. Thanks again for sitting through this, sorry about the poor proof reading but it's late, that's it for me until D.C. in Dec. Peace, Kaz [email protected]
Date: Sun, 10 Oct 1999 01:27:50 EDT From: Brian Fegan [email protected] To: [email protected] Subject: Nassau 10/8 10/08/99 Nassau Coliseum - Uniondale, Long Island, New York - Reviews I (0:59):Piper, AC/DC Bag, Suzy Greenberg, Meat, Meatstick*, Run Like an Antelope II (1:28):Halley's Comet, Tweezer, Bug, Fee, Harry Hood, We're Not Gonna Take It**, Chalkdust Torture E (0:12):Squirming Coil, Tweezer Reprise * Sofi Dillof joined in the dance ** From The Who's "Tommy," w/ Tom Marshall, first time played! Well, I was expecting a rocker as the night before while long and definitely had its moments, (Bowie, Fluffhead, Gotta Jiboo,) the slow GBOTT), was not really a rocker. I felt as if they were going for variety which is cool, but I tend to like shows with more of an overall vibe. Well, that's what we got on Friday. Piper: Great Opener. I really like this song as an opener. Lets the crowd know that things are gonna really be high energy for the whole show. Trey was jumpin' around like a madman. AC/DC Bag: The rock kept coming. I love this tune. Once the jam starts I always know that they're gonna phunk it up and I won't be dissapointed. Yet as phunky as it was, it really felt like Trey was leading the way in the phunk. Unlike this summer when Mike let it all hang out every night. Either ways cool with me. Suzie: Love this sleeper song. I saw it last year at New Haven w/ the Dude but this version was much better. I really wish they would play this as much as they used to. Its such a fun song. Meat: This song is great. It lets you relax without having to hear something like Caspian. Its fun and I love the litle solos they take at the end and hang in space just to come back with some more meat. Meatstick: This songs okay. Its fun and it gets everybody moving but I really feel like they're obssessing over this dance thing. Nobody was doing it. Maybe they should relax with it until New Years and not play it so much. It'll make it cooler I think, and the crowd will have more fun with it. Antelope: Not the best version (or close to last year's at Nassau) but still a great way to end an energy packed set. Still the set was short but they knew it was tight and wanted to leave with the crowd wanting more. I know I did. Overall, a great first set. 2nd Set: Halley's Comet: What a fun song. Played really tight and got me excited that the energy was gonna carry over from the first set. Tweezer: I used to hate this song a few years back. I thought the jams were just too loose and lost the attention of the audience. But now, this song keeps it real. It has always been a great jam engine and they pumped out a great Tweezer with some great space phunk at the end. Bug: I like a lot of the new Trey stuff but this tune doesn't really do it for me. Where's Windora Bug? I would love to see Phish play that Bug song instead of this one. But hey, I'm not in Phish and last time I checked they play what they want to play. Fee: Great Junta tune. Lyrics on this one are so funny. I love hearing the crowd get into it too. What ever happened to Trey singin' with the megaphone though? Hood: You can always feel good about hood. Never a let down. 'Nuff said. We're not Gonna Take It: Did anyone see Tommy on VH1 the other night. Did Phish? Anyway, what a surprise. This rocked. Tom Marshall was so into it swinging his mic aroung as if he were Daltry. Trey did a couple of Townshend windmills too. I thought that Tom might come out and play a Billy Joel song 'cause there was a banner in the rafters where they hang the Islanders' banners that said, "Billy Joel, 9 SOLD OUT SHOWS". A little tacky but I'm defintely happier hearing a Who cover instead. Chalkdust: Needed one more to go out on with the core Phish unit. This song was tight as they've been playing it a lot but its always great to hear. Its a great anthem. "Can't I live while I'm young!?!" Squirming Coil: Though they didn't play one Page song all night, he was in the spotlight with the keys. His playing tonight was excellent. Especially during Suzie and this as always. Tweezer Reprise: You knew it was coming. Always standard but always reminds me that these guys are great. Well, this show was really good. I like the first set better than the second but the Who cover was awesome. I'll see everybody in Florida for New Years and fuck the Meatstick record. Let's try and set the record for world's largest organized session during a musical performance on the first 4:20 of the new millenium. Peace, Brian
Date: Sat, 9 Oct 1999 03:19:07 EDT From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Subject: Nassau 10/8- The One! Absolutely ridiculous show last night. My 30th and I am putting it right up there in the top 3 shows I have ever seen. Non-stop action, monster songs, and break-outs. Short but packed first set: The Piper opener was a shocker. First time ever in the 1st set? 2nd time ever opening a set? A raging version. AC/DC and Suzy- two of my old favorites. AC/DC got real funky, Suzy was fun. Meat and Meatstick- I love Meat and my first Meatstick was funny Antelope- crazy, but not the craziest ever Halley's- very cool, great opener, nice jam Tweezer- a huge version, crazy stuff going on between Trey and Page Bug- perhaps the highlight of the night for me, much better than Great Woods, I love the lyrics, could be a good choice for a single of the new album Fee- big break-out song, first of tour?, everyone was singing it Hood- excellent version, awesome ending, "You can feel good about Hood!" We're Not Gonna Take It- Tom Marshall and Phish at their covering best Chalkdust- a bonus track in my mind, nice and fast Squirming Coil- Page was playing Bug in his piano solo late Tweezer Reprise- one of my true favorites, a real rager to close it out This was a classic show in many ways. Unbelievable setlist structure, song selection, performance, and a cool premiere of a Who song. Trey mentioned how much they love playing Nassau. They are 4 for 4 going back to April '98 in giving us great shows there. Can they top this in Albany? We'll see. Brian Brooklyn, N.Y.
Date: Sun, 10 Oct 1999 01:54:38 -0400 From: David Drake [email protected] To: [email protected] Subject: Nassau, 8th of october This was my 6th show, but my friends phirst, so needless to say i was stoked for him and for the boys, who i knew were goinna rock the Coliseum out! The first set was all right, WAY too short including the long pause earlier in the set. But there was solid jamming, and after 5 shows i finally saw an Antelope. One great thing was that the size of the arena was small enough so even those in the 310 section could afford a great view and be engulfed in the lights, which were fucking awesome! The second set was the real show-stopper, Halley's Comet was tight, funny and really spacey at points, and the Tweezer jam was the best ive heard it. I found that Page was the highlight of the night, with the spolights on him in at least 3 songs, including Suzie G from set one. I was hoping for a PYITE (my fav) or DWD as a set opener given the funked-out theme of the nite. Tom Marshall was great, but he was a tad egotistic, granted i only saw him for 8 seconds when he appeared on the 30th of December at MSG but he still rocks. Harry Hood was one of the best jams Ive ever heard. The encore was the same as 1st set encore at Oswego, so it wasnt anything to write more of a review on. BUt page was spotlighted again during Coil. One a different note, the crowd didnt seem that into the music for the first set, but security was non existent and we had a fine time smoking many many bowls. Peace and love See you in Rochester! -Jeremy @ Ithaca College
Date: Sat, 9 Oct 1999 16:48:37 EDT From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Subject: October 8 I had to come home to NJ because my friend accidentally cut off four of my fingers. I could no longer go to Iowa, Minn, or Chicago. I have been really fuckin depressed because all of my friends are in school. However, last night Phish came along. Nassau is a shithole, first of all. For the first time, I felt really old at a show. I saw a few prada bags and dkny shirts. Phish rocked. the highlights were: page all around: especially (finally) a solo at the end of coil, he owned fee, suzy, and antelope meat is awesome the tommy songs were cool halley's rocked, so did chalkdust, there was a cool little jam at the end of fee, tweezer was better than usual, suzy kicked ass bug sucks meatstick dance is played out bag was funky but without energy piper was great trey fucked up on hood whatever it was really good overall, the show was unbelievable
Date: Sat, 9 Oct 1999 12:41:51 -0400 From: Suzy [email protected] To: [email protected] Subject: 10/08/99 I've seen only a handful of Phish shows but was intrigued by last night's performance. The band (tight as always) seemed a little distracted during the first set; but then hit their groove in the second. What a treat to hear Tom Marshall! He's quite the showman! -Suzy (not Greenberg)
Date: Sat, 9 Oct 1999 19:55:46 EDT From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Subject: nassau show Last night's show was great. Piper opener set the mood for the whole evening. Solid unes, solid jams and Tommy! looking forward to Albany. Peace
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