Date: Sun, 03 Jan 1999 15:34:47 -0500
From: mrusso mrusso@worldbank.org
To: dws@protos.lifesci.ucla.edu
Subject: NEWYEARSRUN98_REVIEW
--
The World Bank, 1818 H St. NW, Washington DC 20433, U.S.A.
http://www.worldbank.org +1(202)477-1234
12/30
Just a few notes. I loved this show just as much as the others, but
apparently my experience was of the minority.
I just wondered why no one mentioned all the space jams that popped up
during the show.
After Frankie Says there was a long, 5 min space jam that led
beautifully into Maze. Setlists should read Frankie Says > Jam > Maze.
Also there were similar jams after Piper, Caspian, and especially Coil.
The 2nd set should read: DwD, Piper > Caspian > Coil > Jam > Slave.
The Disease was truly mindblowing, the jams were furious and hectic.
It was also the best Caspian I've ever seen. I loved the mellow and
spacy flow of the show.
-Derek
Date: Fri, 01 Jan 1999 14:58:37 -0500
From: Lincoln Williams bcgroup@mediaone.net
To: dws@protos.lifesci.ucla.edu
Subject: NEWYEARSRUN98_REVIEW
Here is my 12/30/98 review.
I will just get to the point.
Set I:
Chalkdust Torture: I have seen this millions of times as an opener, and
in general and somtimes I like it a lot, and other times I do not care
too much for it. This was a decent Chalkdust, but not what I wanted for
an opener. Of course, Phish does not cater to me so I will not
complain. I was happy it was pretty short (about 6 minutes). It kind
of reminded me of the night before where no songs which sometimes get
jammed out were not really jammed out in the first set.
BBFCFM: Bedlem! Insanity! This was just awesome, that place was
rocking! Very tight, and just great to hear.
Wilson: Some people talk shit about Wilson. Not me, I was very glad to
hear this. This kept with kind of the hard rock/metal theme at the
beginning (they really could of used some of that in set II). Wilson
had maybe a three minute metal jam towards the end before the "Can you
still have fun" refrain. Talk about two kind of anthem lines in the
first three songs. "Can I live while I'm young?" and "Can you still
have fun!". The place was rocking, and I loved it.
Roggae: I figured this would pop around that time in the set and it
did. It really cooled things down, and chilled everyone out. I think
this is a real nice song, and was glad to here it, even though I have
heard it at 4 of the last 6 shows I have seen.
Sparkle: Another maligned song which I like. It was fun and fast, and
all I could say was, "please don't play simple next." They did not.
Moma Dance: Yes! This song just kicks so much ass, I was so pumped to
hear this song. It was nice and funky, and Trey and Mike were doing the
Moma Dance while playing. Just with the foot tapping. Pretty awesome.
By the way, I was in the first row of the second tier of the floor, and
the security gaurd in front of the gaurd rail with the MSG banner was
really getting down during this song, doing a funny little dance. The
guy was great I will mention him again later, cuz this guy was a riot.
He gave a good name to security.
My Old Home Place: This is my favorite Phish bluegrass tune, so I was
happy to hear it.
Sample in a Jar: Eh. Okay, it was pretty decent though, I love the
guitar solo, but nothing more to say about that.
Frankie Says: I took this opportunity to sit down, chill, and listen to
a great song. I really like this song, and I was thinking that they
would probably only play one more song after this. I was wrong, and
basically, this song started the total insanity in this set. Out of it
came a really spacey jam, which went on for five minutes or so. I was
hoping this might be a Maze intro, but was uncertain seeing as there was
no high hat. After a little while enter the high hat, and then Mike's
bass, and I was pumped to hear this.
Maze: This version kicked ass! I went to the 29th and 30th, and I
would say this was the highlight of those two nights, with YEM and 2001
close behind. Anyway, the last couple of Maze's I have heard (11/28/97,
4/5/98) had been kind of subpar so I was hoping for a crazy ass Maze.
That is what I got. Page's solo smoked, and then when it came time for
Trey's solo it was amazing with him hitting high notes. I loved it,
awesome. That is probably the best Maze I have seen in concert. Maybe
the Great Went Maze was a bit better, I dont know, but this Maze was
super fly TNT.
Often followed by a slow song, there was no energy lost in what came up
next.
Loving Cup: The place roared when Page hit those first couple of notes,
and how can you blame them hearing a great song like Loving Cup after a
sick Maze. It was a pretty short version, but it was rocking, and I
loved it. The aforementioned security gaurd was getting down to this
one as well. I thought for sure this was the end of the set.
Reba: Luckily, I was wrong. This was a real nice Reba. It was pretty
standard, but a standard Reba is a good Reba, and this was no
exception. It was very chill, and took off in all of the right places.
After Trey's solo they brought it back for the whistle jam. After this,
they bowed and left the stage. Weird set closer, but good none the
less. Excellent first set all in all with BBFCFM, Moma, Maze, Loving
Cup, and Reba being highlights. As far as first sets go I would give it
a nine.
Set II:
Down With Disease: I actually called an opener for the first time in my
life. This was a long Disease that was really sick. They really slowed
the middle jam down a lot after a while, but then brought it back to
rocking with the final refrain. Nice opener.
Piper: This was like most Piper's, but man does this song generate some
energy. It was great, the crowd was going nuts, and I had a feeling
this was going to be a sick set. Unfortunately however after this, less
than 30 minutes into the set, the energy almost disappeared.
Prince Caspian: A nice song, but really a buzz kill in my opinion. I
was not too pumped to hear this, and I am still waiting for a version as
good as the Great Went version. After this song, I figured they would
play something more upbeat though, so I had hope.
Squirming Coil: Not the upbeat I was looking for. This is a real good
song, but not after something like Caspian. Coil, like Caspian should
come after an intense jam, or something where you need a nice breather.
The jam hear was not as Page focused as usual. Page soloed a little,
but after a bit Trey and Mike were kind of doing a feedback jam around
Page's solo while the fairy dancers who were dancing around the crowd
most of the show danced on stage. It was pretty cool, and eventually
the farries left, and the jam went into...
Slave to the Traffic Light: Another real good song, but not after two
slow ones. Slave is a pretty slow song, but a great closer after an
amazing set (8/15/98 II, 8/16/96 II) those are some examples of when a
Slave is the icing on the cake. Here though, it was just another slow
song after two before it. This was a good tight Slave, but after such a
slow set, I needed something to get me off my feet and just rock out
to. An Antelope or Hood could have salvaged this set, but Slave closed
it off, and after the set I was expecting big things from the encore
because I can honestly say that this set was one of the most low energy,
and unsatisfying sets I have seen. Especially since it was about 63
minutes taboot.
Encore:
Grind: I saw Tom Marshall come out, and I thought we were in for
something awesome. He sang about a thirty second song called, "Grind"
which was pretty emotional, but I was expecting a little more.
Possum: Tom left, and Trey started the intro to Possum, which I was
psyched to hear seeing as I was itching to exert some energy. They
jammed around the opening for a bit, and where Page would normally solo,
Mike took a solo which was really good. Then they brought it into the
sung part, and right out of the jam they gave Mike another solo, which
was followed by a bit more jamming, and then a Fishman solo, then a bit
more jamming, and a Page Solo, then Trey called for another Mike solo,
and he did not respond, then they jammed a bit more and Mike soloed
again. After all of that madness they went into a wipeout jam which was
really nice, and then finally back into Possum style jamming. I could
tell throughout this song that Trey and Fish were really having fun, do
to the smile on Fish's face throughout the song. Eventually, they
brought it back into the chorus, and it ended. I was hoping they would
do one more, but they did not. Overall on a scale of second sets, I
give this one a 6.5, with Possum seriously salvaging the energy. This
set could have used one more song, in the actual set, but we did not get
it. Oh well, still an amazing first set.
Date: Thu, 31 Dec 1998 09:02:32 -0500
From: glantigua@technimetrics.com
Subject: NEWYEARSRUN98_REVIEW
this run so far is nothing short of amazing.........but without trying to
overanalize or get into too much detail, i just want to say that words
cannot describe well enough the concert experience i had
(12.30.98).........through mail order I had 16th row in front of Fish for
the first set........hooked my friend up through ticketnazi, so he had 2nd
row in front of Trey, which he let me have for the second
set............MY FRIENDS........LAST NIGHT IT WAS LIKE I WAS SEEING THEM
FOR THE FIRST TIME, ALL OVER AGAIN!!!!! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU PHISH!!! for a chance to even FEEL
that feeling once again, that giddy anticipation, the overpowering
euphoria, hell just to dance my fuckin SOUL off right in front of them was
so spiritual......because of the song selection, the music, the chance to
feel like a newbie again because of the seats, December 30th, 1998 was the
best Phish show I have ever seen.......
PEACE LOVE AND HAPPINESS TO ALL IN THE NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!! HOLIDAY TOUR
98: ITS ALL ABOUT THE PHUNK!!!!
=)
Gene Lantigua
Phan
glantigua@technimetrics.com
Date: Thu, 31 Dec 1998 11:58:13 -0500
From: Michael lipari michael@joineei.com
Subject: NEWYEARSRUN98_REVIEW
I am still having a hard time putting my finger on last nights show. I
think the best way to sum up last night show was "Rough and Sick". I
mean last nights show was good if you havent heard some tunes in a while
an was looking to hear some tunes because they played a lot of sick
shit. Last night was a odd night. There were some factors that made
that possible. FIRST off I would like to say Fuck You to all the schwag
security guards and people who suck and left early.(For people who
really want to "JAM" I suggest you stay in the 200/300 to get your
groove on.) I mean I guess you have to be there for all four nights to
get the feeling of whats going on and a lot of people left last night
very disappointed and you really had no reason to be. For all the phans
who really appreciate the guys, last night show was really good. There
were some shady spots but they ripped all night and I think the mood in
the garden got into there playing.
Chalkdust: Thought they were going to leave off where they left off on
last night. Played with a lot of energy and you just knew we were in
store for one hell of a show.
BBFCFM: Was the highlight of the show. Were in such sink with one
another that I remember flipping when they ripped into this.
Wilson: Thought they were gonna open with this but knew we were gonna
get some time during the night. Thought Trey was going to ride
Gamehendge for while but he quickly changed his tune into Roggae.
Roggae: Played very well, At this time I having a major schwag run in
with security.
Sparkle: Havent heard in a while and was glad to hear. Very fast and
rocking and they kept there end up really well.
Moma Dance: Jammed really well to this tune. Was starting to gett
really pissed by people around me. People were just really shady last
night making things rather difficult.
My Old Home Place: Like this tune, standard nothing special, just kept
the groove flowing.
Sample: At this time my legs were taking it toll and Sample put me on
my seat for the first time of the night. Played real well but you felt
as if last night they were playing phat tunes, but not fast enough like
last night. and then they pull Frankie Says and it looked like the whole
building just flew south. The whole place wasnt really into it and
heard a lot of negative energy from people. Some people even went as
far as ruining there night by having Phish playing this song.
Maze: Glad they ripped into this song because they needed it by this
point. Very trippy and played real well. I always feel as if they are
referring to NYC in general when they play this song.
Loving Cup: Another good comebacker. Ripped on real well and thought
that was going to end my first set and then BANG Reba. Glad they put
that in there last night. I love to see people trip to Reba last night,
was laughing so hard I could hardly contain myself.
Set Break: A lot of mixed emotions and I felt my concrete feet at this
point hit the floor and has to take a breather. Last night I was
starting to feel the effects of run.
Set II
DwD: Excellent Opener. Ripped on it for ever. Was one of the better
Down with Diseases I have ever heard and I have heard some great ones.
Piper: Really like this song. The music was so glaring that you could
feel it pierce right thru you.
Caspian: Another low point of the show. Should have kept it on the
shelf. Dont get me wrong, played really well but I just didnt want to
hear it. I think it was at this point where the glowsticks starting
flying and for all the assholes who dont know anything about this band
and starting throwing glowsticks at fellas, stay home next time. You
dont know how you ruin it for others and also I saw someone get clocked
right on the bridge of her nose. We not going to be happy until we
blind someone right. I mean the sticks are kewl and all but I think
people can refrain from throwing them. You never know, your brother or
friend might be clocked with one as we speak.
Coil: Played real well. Phish had me a trance by this time and just
felt like a piece of energy standing up and my body was moving to the
groove.
Slave: Another one played really well and clean.
Encore: By this time I was you better bring out something from the
woodwork or you going to have some pissed off fans ( By this time the
schwag ass people were pretty much out of there drinking there sorry
asses to an oblivion)
Grind: Thought that was the shit. Marshall "Save and a Beauty!!!"
Thought that was really kewl and knew there going to rip from there and
boy did they because when they ripped on Possum, it just brought me back
to last Possum at MSG which was one of the best I have ever heard. They
were very spacy and the Wipe out tease was really phat. I dont even
think phish bowed before us last night, they just walked off.
Overall I still cant put my finger on last nights show. I mean Phish
played really clean and spacy. Gordon was on fire or what Security and
some people really just fucked it up for me. It was funny, I was saying
to my buddy Shanks, this was the first time that I only packed my glass
once all night. That was the night I was having. And to the security
guards on Pages side down low, I hope someone throws a sheet of acid in
the coffee pot tonight. As for the show, highlights were the whole show
because they played real well. BBFCFM, openers, and the encore were
highlights for me. I was glad that they got a lot of baggage off there
chest because tonight it going to be the shit. I was thinkin about all
that we still have left in the arsenal and when I think about it, I am
like man, we are in for one hell of a night. (Mikes grooves, Brother,
Drowned, Paul and Silas, Sanity, Icculus, Lizards, Its Ice,
Frankenstein, Rift, Mound, Kung, Magilla, Manteca, Caravan, Wedge, Fast
Enough, Weigh, Lawn Boy, My Sweet One, Cavern, llama, la grange, harpua,
my friend, glide, tela, Dog Log, Halleys, Camel Walk, Peaches, Uncle
Pen, Tweezer(hope they keep it on the shelf) Strange Design, Day in the
Life, Gamehendge, Sloth, Forbins, Mockingbird, Jesus, Theme, Gumbo, Ya
Mar, Makisupa, Timber, SOAM, Runaway, Axis, Axilla, Hood, Antelope,
Zero, Fluff, Cars, Trucks, Guelah, and much much much much more. Man
are we in for one hell of a night.
It is just me or to really get the full effect of what Phish has been
doing these last 4 nights, you had to be there ALL 4 NIGHTS. And to all
the people whos knees are swelling, we only have one more night to rock
before they guys hibernate fora while. I feel for all the people that
have been here all 4 nights.
Michael