From: Mike Kerfeld mkerfeld@paceacademy.org
Phish 2/16/97 Review
Wartesaal, Koln, Germany
1: Beauty of My Dreams*, Split Open and Melt, Bouncing Around the Room, Crosseyed and
Painless,
Guelah Papyrus, Ginseng Sullivan, Tweezer, Waste, Cavern, Chalk Dust Torture
2: Sample in a Jar, Cars Trucks Buses, Free, Sparkle, Simple-> When the Circus Comes,
Swept
Away-> Steep-> David Bowie, Loving Cup, Tweezer Reprise
E: Theme From the Bottom, Johnny B. Goode
*First time played; Del McCoury Band (bluegrass legend) cover, from their "Blue Side of
Town"
album.
I saw that nobody had reviewed this show, so I'll give it a whirl. This is my first
review, so
bear with me.
__________________________________________
SET ONE
Beauty of My Dreams
First time played, but sounds like they had rehearsed it extensively, very nice sounding
tune.
SOAMelt
Typically nice jam segment, centers totally around the central theme of the song, which
both
keeps the jam together and prevents it from really going anywhere.
BATR
Standard...sounds more upbeat than usual, but still nothing real special
Crosseyed
Always loved this song, played tightly. Fishman's singing always gets me, good
ole Tubbs. Fair jam, Trey doesn't do anything special with this, especially in light of
Big Cypress...which was over 2 years later, probably explaining the difference.
Guelah Papyrus
nice, standard, nothing to write home about
Ginseng
Always the same
Tweezer
Hmm nothing great, pretty standard. Here and there are very beautiful parts, but overall
very
standard.
Waste
Well it was waste
Cavern
Fishman pounds the bass drum on this one, giving the song a refresher, an escape from the
repetitiveness it usually possesses.
Torture
Upbeat and standard
_________________________
SET TWO
Sample
I hear way too much of this song.
CTB
Standard, but great
Free
Nicely played, but no typical Mike solo section, rather the whole band jams together
after the last chorus section.
Sparkle
Standard, fun tune
Simple>
There is a review of this song specifically, so I won't go into it, but it's great.
Circus
I agree with Benjy, this tune is very agreeable, the lyrics sound right when
coming from Trey, it just clicks.
Swept Away>Steep
This song(s) gives each band member a chance to jam slowly (albeit
shortly), set apart from the upbeat jams of most of Phish's other tunes. This would freak
out anyone that doesn't listen to Phish regularly, which is what is so great about it.
Techno-sounding ending leads right into a great
Bowie
Tight opening, Mike loud and clear. Jam segment begins at 3:32. Slow at first, neat
licks from Trey, then some nice notes from Page around 4:05.Very agreeable opening to the
jam.Fishman picks up the pace around 5:00, the others follow, soon all four are playing
melodiously as usual. Nothing too spectacular though. Intensity picked up again around
6:35, still pretty mellow, with Trey noodling, Mike laying down a nice phunk, Page
playing beautifully, and Fishman keeping it all together. 8:00 jam is picking up pace,
8:25 Trey hits 'the' note, jam is full-on. Perfect harmony, beautiful. Mike building up
and leading down beautifully around 9:14. Trey chording around 10:13, nice but nothing
great. Slows down around 10:43 a little bit,picks up again. Another climax at 11:24,
11:52 Mike prominant. 12:00 The Trill picks up. Very nicely transitioned into, played 3
times. Ending standard. A Good Bowie, nothing out-there, but very nice.
Lovin Cup
Always liked this better when Phish played it than the Stones (obviously?). Standard
(meaning great, upbeat, beautiful, accurately played.)
Tweeprise
Somewhat sloppy opening, not bad. Otherwise standard, intense, great song to dance to.
Wish it was longer (in general), only 3:00 long, which is usual.
Theme Always a welcome song, nicely played, nothing really to say about it... nice ending
jam, loud and upbeat.
Johnny B Goode Great song to end on, unless you're a fan of long jams ending a show,
which I'm not, simply because I like a show to end on something loud and rockin, like
this song.
_____________________________
All in all, a nice, upbeat Phish show. It's a show that embodies the winter 97 Europe
tour, tightness and strong jams, but nothing too exploratory, as is seen later in 1997.
PS thanks to Mike Lui for the great cd's of this show
Date: Wed, 19 Feb 97 16:56:00 GMT
From: "Hefler, Andrew (MS-Mail)"
Subject: 2.17.97 review
2/17/96, Paradiso Theatre, Amsterdam, Holland.
I: Soul Shakedown Party* > Divided Sky, Wilson, It's My Soul, Guyute,
Timber Ho!, Billy Breathes, Llama, Bathtub Gin > Golgi Apparatus
II: Squirming Coil > Down with Disease > Daniel (new tune, informed by
soundman, and might be titled 'Lucy') > Jam > Taste > Down with Disease,
Suzie Greenberg, Prince Caspian
E: Sleeping Monkey, Rocky Top
* First time ever, B. Marley song
This theatre is just insane. It is one of the grandest places for a
concert. Phish rocked so it was a good match. To me it seems most similar
to Great American Music Hall in San Francisco. That should give you the
idea of the size with the same type of double terrace/balcony around the
top. The acoustics were superb and this was seconded by Trey in our
conversation after the show. He said that this was his favorite place
that he had played in Europe thus far.
With TV show part of the past and the same was true for the day in
Amsterdam anticipation was high. The first set was again solid and fun.
Eclectic set list.
SOUL SHAKEDOWN PARTY was a shocking suprise. It floated around and pulsed
to stir the lethargic (though noisy) 420'd crowd. A great warm-up groove
to get the fans re-focussed.
DIVIDED SKY was amongst the best versions I've ever heard. Who knows? It
is always amazing. Long and very intent in it's solo.
WILSON was another juice the troops tune with loud audience participation.
IT'S MY SOUL made me think that a small theme was developing around the
'soul' idea. I have never heard of them doing this tune before. This is an
excellent blues tune and Trey just cranked this song. Massive organ/piano
participation and just a fine song! The guitar and piano solos are worth
getting on tape alone.
GUYUTE was great the crowd really enjoyed this epic.
TIMBER HO! was brilliant and just a monstrous jam. Outrageous set thus
far!
BILLY BREATHES was good to hear, I enjoyed it. It was my first one.
LLAMA was scorching as always and I always luck out and catch this one.
BATHTUB GIN was enormous. Page and the battery pack of Gordon and Fishman
were so solid. This was intense and freaky. I love this tune. Nice, nice
version.
GOLGI was very energetic and we were all ready for a break. Trey says
"...15 minutes...everybody stay tight we've got a lot more music left."
Exactly what he said last July after set I of the three set extravaganza.
SQUIRMING COIL to start off set II! Excellent piano solo and great
version. Now this was hot...
DOWN WITH DISEASE was maniacal. Just a massive jam and hardly a structured
rendition of this tune. The first two verses are just fat jam that carried
for nearly a half-hour into another new tune of theirs, Daniel or
something which outroed and jammed some more minutes (10+) into Taste.
This was the hottest version of this tune that I've ever imagined or seen
or heard or otherwise. I'm sure; however that the versions with horns
aren't too bad either. Jam out of Taste for some more moments and then
ripping right into verse three of Disease. The closure of this jam was
super high power and a powerful moment in the show. After I was talking to
the sound engineer about the 2nd set line-up and he said that he couldn't
label the set list because as far as he could tell they generally were not
playing songs.
SUZIE GREENBERG followed this 45+ minute Down with Disease-athon. Uppity
version and slick piano rolls.
Prince Caspian closed us out with a swirling jam following the elegant
body of the song. Best I've heard of this one as well. I'll take it as the
closer due to it's new more sweeping ending.
Ah shit! It was evident that this was not going three sets. Oh well next
time?!
Encore was the very rare SLEEPING MONKEY which was perfectly played and
fun to see. ROCKY TOP closed her up for good with some pulsing bluegrass.
XLNT show! Get the tapes. This was fine cooking and a great atmosphere.
------------------------------------------------
Subject:
Amsterdam 17feb97 Impressions
Date: 18 Feb 1997 13:29:36 GMT
From: Andre Terhorst
Last night Phish played an outstanding show at the Paradiso in
Amsterdam. Here are a few impressions.
For those who have never been in Paradiso, it's a small venue
housed in a former church. That still can be seen by the colored
windows and the shape of the building.
Paradiso now exists as a 'music temple' for almost 30 years.
It's not a big club (1000 people?) but many great bands have
played there. Either at the beginning of their carreer (Pink
Floyd e.g.) but also some at their peek (Prince and only a year
or so ago, The Rolling Stones).
So, last night it was Phish's turn.
After having seen their gig at the Melkweg in Amsterdam last
year (a venue about half the size of Paradiso) expectations
were high. The Melkweg gig is quite controversery. People having
been their thought it was awesome, pleople having only heard the
tapes felt it was one of the worst shows Phish played.
(It had something to do with the athmosphere, I think. The crowd in
the Melkweg was really 'into it').
Again, the majority of the audience were americans (The doorman said
I was the 43rd dutchman :-) ). and you could tell! Most of these
americans sure had found their way to our coffee shops (if you
know what I mean)
At 21:25 the band came on stage and to my big supprise they started
off with a good old Bob Marley reggay cover :"Soul Shakedown Party".
Wow, It was cold and rainy outside but this start made it look like
we were landed in the caraibian.
Next came a splashing Divided Sky. Although this has been a favorite
tune to play, this one was one of the better ones. Esp. the ending
was smokin'!
Wilson (as always) was an opportunaty for the crowd to participate in
some chanting. I'm not sure, but I believe Trey goofed up some of the
lyrics.
Next was some 'soul' music. I don't know the exact title but judging
from the lyrics I wouldn't be supprised if it was called something
like 'ma ma ma ma ma ma my soul'. When I closed my eyes I could almost
picture ZZ-top on stage. Same kinda beat and rythm.
Then a rather strange song came. Sorta blue grass kinda tune, but not
quite a real blue grass tune. It's kinda hard to explain. It sounded
like some blue grass influence but then again there were also some
part which sounded more like some good old jazzy jamming. Don't know
the title of this one (was new to me).
Next was Timber Ho (I always thought they sang 'Timber Wolf' but I must
have been confused with another song). Great singing on this this one.
Billy Breathes segueing into Llama was next. Llama sounded a bit too
fast. It is already a pretty fast song to sing but this time it seemed
like they'd speeded it up even more.
The highlight of the first set was Bathub Gin! Very easy going beginning
and some extraordinary solos from Page concluding in a frenzy jamming!
The End of the first set was Golgi. Not bad but nothing special either.
After the 15 minute break, which lasted for about 35 minutes the second
set started with The Squirming Coil. Well done.
The strangest thing happend then. Coil segued into Down With Disease.
Very weird to hear this. And Down With Disease was the prelude for
something I never dreamed off. They jammed on and on and on and on
like it would never end. For at least 30 minutes or so they just kept
playing all kinds of steaming upbeat music! At one point I even got lost
to what song they were at.
After this extended and musically very insteresting jam they switched
to Taste and ended with Down With Disease again. And at this time, the
second set was already more then an hour long.
Without any rest they bursted into Suzie! Again a very insperational
version. I thought this would be the ending of the second set, but no,
they had the pleasure of playing one more: Prince Caspian. A song which
starts off pretty mellow with some pasionate chorus only to end in an
frenzy!
Wow, this set lasted for more then an hour and a half. Silently I was
hoping for a third set, but it wasn't meant to be.
There was the obligatory encore of course, consiting of Sleeping Monkey
(with Fishman singing solo, standing behind his drum-kit) and Rocky Top.
Overall this was a much better show then last year in Amsterdam. It
looked like they sorta wanted to make up for the lame performance in the
Melkweg.
The best part was the jamming in the second set. Just alone that part
was worth the ticket.
The audience was much more relaxed, too. It almost felt like some of
them didn't have the patience to sit through the whole show, but that
could just as well be my sole impression based on the fact that there
weren't too many
'wows', 'ooooh' and 'aaaaghs' from the audience. (For an almost american
audience they were pretty quiet).
Another thing I noticed: Fishman didn't wear a dress. (From where I was
standing it was pretty hard to see, but I'm almost certain he didn't).
Now since when did he stop wearing dresses on stage?
Conclusion: A Top-notch show!
,,_
,'( ) ________________________
|`V | / |
/ < / EMAIL: andre@iag.tno.nl |
=~~~-./ /__________________________|
L
--------------------------
stanleyr@glo.be
Review of Amsterdam
2/17/97
1st Set:
First Of All.The venue was incredible.It was an old church.The show was
already sold out for a few weeks and there was a lot of room to dance.I
can't tell you one thing.The band wasn't fucked up as last time and they
played like they never did before.
Soul Shakedown Party: Great opener.They opened the show with a Bob Marley
cover in Amsterdam.Is there anything more to say...
Divided Sky: Defenately the best one I have ever heard.Perfect version.No
mistakes by Trey.During the silent part everyone was quiet it was like a
dream.The jam was insane.Trey did some unbelievable work on this song.The
famous Divided Sky of 7/2/95 is nothing compared to this one.
Wilson: Always fun!!!!!!!!!!
My Soul: First time I heard it.They had played it in London a few days
ago.It's a great cover.I hope they will keep playing this one.Lots of
energy in that song.
Guyute: What can I say.One of my favorites. Great song, well played, just
perfect.I knew then the show was going to be one of the best I've heard in
my life.
Timber Ho!: Again, never saw a version like this one.The intro. was very
long and slower.The jam was incredible.More trippy, less agressive than
the usual version.If they could play it every night like they did
yesterday....
Billy Breathes: In Brussels I thought the version was great and long.
Well, it was even longer yesterday.Beatiful solo by Trey in the end.Very
pure.
Llama: WWWWWWOoooooooooooooWwwwwwwwwwww!!!!!I just love
that song.Nice work by Page and Trey.
Bathub Gin: Great jam.Not a short version.I'll have to check it out but it
seemed to me it was a 10 min. (if not longer) Gin.
Golgi Apparatus: This is the perfect song to close a set.I still don't
understand why they didn't play it during the run.This song has so much
energy.
Set 1: 1 Hour 15 Minutes.
2nd Set:
The Squirming Coil: Never saw this one open a set.Very beatiful as always.
Down With Disease: Here the craziness starts.They jammed from Coil into
Down With Disease.Very good version, nice jam but not finished.It jammed
into a new song (cover).
Lucy: Very rocking song.The jammed after the song for a long time.
JAM: Crazy jam.It got everything in it.Very rocking moments, slow
moments,...
REAL PHISH AS WE ALL LIKE THEM.
Taste: Best version I've ever heard.They jammed it like for a while.When I
thought that Taste would end, at the peak of the excitment in Taste, I
heard those famous notes everyone knows in Down With Disease that makes
the crowd scream and dance.
Down With Disease: WWWWWOooooooooWWWWWWW.Trey went up
and down.Everybody was dancing, what a show.
Suzie Greenberg: I just love that song.Great work from Page again.
Prince Caspian: Unlike the other versions you have heard this one
contained a real jam.Trey was jamming this song like he was playing
Character Zero or Down With Disease.
Encore:
Sleeping Monkey: NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD HERE THIS ONE.I think
you'll all agree with me. PERFECT.
Rocky Top: Always Fun.
Set 2 + E: 1 Hour 30 minutes.
If you have any comment , questions please email me at stanleyr@glo.be
-------------------------------------------------------------
Kevin Shewan
Amsterdam - Paradiso 17/2/97
We flew into Schipol using our Airmiles (Frequent flyer miles) and caught
a train into Amsterdam Central station. We were staying at the Hotel Agora
at Singel 462 near the flower market. This was truly an Internet tour,
ticket information, venue details and even hotels had been found via the
WWW.
Saturday had been a rest day for the band and while they travelled onto
Köln most of the phans had gone to Amsterdam! The first bar we went to was
full of people I'd met at the previous two shows. While most of them
headed off to the Köln show on the Sunday we stayed in Amsterdam and
checked out the Cosmic Charlies - the Grateful Dead cover band at The Last
Watering Hole.
On the Monday we made our way to the Paradiso which is an excellent venue
set in an old church building. It still has the stained glass windows and
a rather excellent Balcony. We stood at the back, near the bar, and this
was the furthest I've ever been from the band but I suspect a lot nearer
than most people would get at one of the US shows. This was my wife,
Valerie's,phirst Phish gig and to be honest she's not a great phan.
The show opened with a Marley cover Soul Shakedown Party which was no
doubt inspired by wandering around the city as Marley tracks seem to
emanate from almost every other bar. This was followed by Divided Sky
which then seemed to jump into Wilson with the familiar chanting from the
audience. My Soul followed, which I'd seen them play in London, Guyute,
Timber Ho! and BB followed before the set finished with three excellent
tracks Llama, Bathtub Gin (a lot better than the last Bathtub Gin in
Amsterdam!) and finally Golgi (oh how I'd wanted to hear them play this)
before the traditional "15 minutes break". Why does always say 15 minutes
when it's nearly always half an hour or longer?
The second set started with The Squirming coil before launching into an
excellent 50 minute jam. This jam started off with Down with Disease, then
went into Lucy with the lumpy face which went off into a 15 minute jam
before returning to Taste and finally launching back into DWD. The set
concluded with Suzy Greenberg and Prince Caspian.
Encores were Sleeping Monkey and Rockytop before we staggered out into the
Amsterdam night to head off back to the hotel because we had foolishly
booked an early flight the next morning. (We won't mention the fact that I
fell down the stairs in the hotel the next morning).
This was an excellent show, especially as they played three of the four
songs I really wanted them to play - Golgi, Suzy and Rockytop (Fee being
the fourth) and also because of the jams. It probably wasn't the best show
to take Val to - her reaction "They go on a bit!"
So that was it, except of course for the tapes and of course for my front
row seat at the Royal Albert Hall in June.
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