7-30-99 -Green Stage- Fuji Rock Festival, Naeba, Niigata, Japan

Date: Wed, 4 Aug 1999 06:59:51 -0700 (PDT)
From: Jaime Lee [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Phish @ Naeba Mountain, Niigata, Japan


Well folks, others have mentioned it and I'll mention it again.  What
an amazing experience this really was and a treat for Phish fans as
well!  Not only was this the most beautiful venue I've ever set my eyes
on but the Japanese seemed to have a great respect for the gorgeous
mountains that we set our feet upon.  The final day of the fest looked
exactly like it had been the first day we arrived. Also, Japanese phans
were all decked out in there hemp gear and patched clothing eagerly
awaiting there very first Phish show.  Although my Japanese was very
poor, there seemed to be a certain kind of communication going on
between the westerners and the native Japanese that required no
conversation.  It was almost like we were surfing on the same plane
communicating by way of brain waves, that is if we had any at that
point.  Anyhow, here is my review of the seven sets I laid my ears and
eyes upon :

7/30/99 The Green Stage 12:30 pm

Folks, don't be fooled by this rather studio-like generic set
(excluding PYITE).  It was a solid set in which it was obvious that
Phish had just gotten off a month long tour in the states and were
ready to serve the crowd an appetizer for what would be thrown down
later at the Field of Heaven.

Chalkdust, as usual, a crowd stirrer!  Although, there were many of
confused native Japanese veering in the opposite direction, it served
its purpose and got the crowd moving.  A pretty standard live version
of the tune.

Guyute was butter, almost flawless. Wolfman's Funk...People for a
louder Mike would have been proud of the levels that were set on him.
Taste was amazing and it electrified the large field as the most
beautiful melodies and harmonies drifted from the Les Paul Trey proudly
held, while Page pounded the most solid chords on his grand piano.
This was probably one of the highlights of the early set.  Trey then
decided to bring out a Japanese translator whispering into his ear what
to interpret.  Unfortunately, the whole 50 westerners that were there
had no clue what the translator was saying at the time.  Ended up he
was saying that it was a pleasure to play here in Japan for the first
time.  You should check out the Dead cover band Big Frog later and
catch us at the Field of Heaven later tonight for two more sets.  Phish
then blasted into a PYITE that rocked the fields into Waste which
contained the standard jam at the end except Trey insisted on holding
out those beautiful trills.

****admin note*******
this is a multi performance review, it is continuted under the link for
the next stage, as well as under teh next two days set links...thanks


Date: Fri, 30 Jul 1999 22:46:00 -0400 (EDT)
From: Sean Reardon [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Japan

It was cool to see them overseas, but I ate too much sushi and got sick.
The Sapporo beer was okay and kind of watered down like Budweiser and was
only $1.25 a pint in U. S. dollars. They had a really cool sumo wrestling
match before Phish went on stage. I hope they introduce newbies to some
better and longer jams. It seemed like they felt a little bit out of
place, but I know they will come out and just jam in the future sets over
here.

                       Frankie Sez


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