SET 1:
Mike's Song: Bunch of Black Eyed Katy teases in the late 5’s and in the first couple seconds of the 6 minute mark. From there, this naturally stays in a very funky place for the next two minutes. No second jam in this version. In the early 8’s this transitions into an intense, Trey led jam as he employs that crunchy summer 97 tone. This goes on with intensity for three minutes. Around the early 11 minute range this one starts to come down and cruises into a heady, ethereal section led by Page on the baby grand – this goes on in this vein for 6 and half minutes and then segues into Hydrogen. Highly recommended version here, all timer. ->
I Am Hydrogen: Standard. >
Weekapaug Groove: This one kills! Awesome funk section, and then things get sparse with Trey and Fishman and then just Fishman, a complete stop – and then back to Type I full speed through the end. Would recommend!
Harry Hood: The crowd explodes upon the opening notes, they can’t believe that they are playing Hood in the middle of the first set after that incredible Mike’s Groove. Exceptional version and an all timer. Super patient version, man do they ever take their time. The payoff is huge with an incredible peak. Highly recommended! >
Train Song: Standard, great placement!
Billy Breathes: Soaring and beautiful.
Frankenstein: Standard. >
Izabella: Absolutely smokes.
SET 2:
Halley's Comet: Fans of stage banter will want to seek out the second set for Trey’s humorous response to the crowd’s Destiny Unbound chant before Halley’s – this was hilarious. When the jam kicks off Mike and Page are continuously teasing In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida – at least I think they are. Trey plays around with loops and doesn’t even enter the fray until 8:50. This jam chugs along in a fairly funky manner for a long time. In the early 17’s though, this changes. The band gets into a quiet, introspective space. Trey hits this same line a number of times that is just so pretty – I wish I knew the technical term for what he is doing with his guitar but it is sublime. This passage truly reminds me of something you would have heard from the Grateful Dead from a full band perspective. Ethereal. This ramps up eventually with Mike dropping some enormous bombs in the early 21’s. This leads into heavy effects with Page and Trey trying to out gun one another, it gets very, very high! Mind blowing stuff. This version is not just an easy all timer but the best Halley’s they have ever played. Highly recommended! >
Tweezer: BEK tease at 6:01 and onwards. This version is an absolute groove monster! It stays right in the same pocket basically the entire time. >
Black-Eyed Katy: I imagine most folks must have thought this was a part of the Tweezer jam. You can hear Trey call for BEK at 11:12 and again at 11:25. He counts it off at 11:41. >
Piper: I will never forget my buddy coming back after this show and raving about Piper. How it starts so softly with the super patient build up. I was so excited to see it as a result at 12.6.97, will never forget his description. >
Run Like an Antelope: Pretty much by the book. The "Marco Esquandolas" lyric in Antelope was changed to "Michael Esquandolas.” That is how Phish.net calls it but to me it sounds like Trey says Mike O Esquandolas.
ENCORE:
Bouncing Around the Room: >
Tweezer Reprise: Standard.
Summary: One of the best first sets ever. Incredible. Set two is no slouch as they throw down the best Halley’s ever. I can’t disagree with the current rating of 4.664/5 (888 ratings).
Replay Value: Mike's Song, Weekapaug Groove, Harry Hood, Halley's Comet, Tweezer