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