One of the smartest things I've ever done was listen to this show today, after 20 years away. An EASY 5-Stars, Easy.
One of the dumbest things I've ever done was go to this show in the first place!
See, as mentioned, a bad snow storm raged across NYS the day of this show. My buddies all (wisely) dropped out, one by one, from making the drive to this show...all except me and Jeff. Jeff said "I'll drive, let's go." Such was our Phish-Phandom that we risked our lives that day...I saw at least 3 overturned cars, and one 18-wheeler laying on its side, on the way to Poughkeepsie. Somehow, thankfully, we made it...:0
Walking into the venue was wild: very, very few people there, most people were just hangin out, playing Hac in groups, sittin in little clusters. Making it to the very front was easy!
I seem to recall a local DJ walking out onstage before the show, announcing that "Phish is excited to play a full show for you all regardless of the weather!" Hurray!!!
Oh, and WHAT a show they played. I had NO recollection until today just how spectacular, exceptional this show was.
We were a "Listening Crowd" this evening. There are many, many points ("Esther;" "YEM;" "Amazing Grace" without microphones) where you could hear a pin drop. The band responded in kind to our attentiveness!
A RAGIN' 1st Set..."Split Open and Melt" = ragin.
Fish had this giant piece of plastic that he was shaking during "I Didn't Know."
"A-Train:" a rare and awesome Fish Drum Solo!!
"Esther:" perfect, sheer silence. We were "tuned in" for sure.
"Run Like An Antelope": FIERCE!
Oh man, 2nd Set took it to the next level.....
This "Reba" is nearly definitive.
"Fast Enough For You" was never my favorite song at this time, but it's placement here is absolutely beautiful.
"YEM" has a shaky spot or two at first, but the 2nd half is exceptional: Page turns into Keith Emerson for the tramps section; the boys dip down to nearly sheer-silence why? Because we were listening, attentive, and with a mighty BLAP from Fish, rip-roar into....a Fish / Gordo solo!!!
This Vox Jam is VERY reminiscent of the old Floyd tune "Several Species of Small Furry Animals Gathered Together...." (you know which one I mean!)
An excellent and hilarious version of Terrapin w/ Vacuum solo....at the end, HYHU; Fish did his thing, running up and down the front of the stage, I smacked hands with him TWICE!!
Now, I was not part of the group chanting for Harry Hood, but the boys launched into it for us without hesitation. This is a very, very fine Harry culminating in Trey's 64th-note insanity on guitar! Speaking of Trey's insanity:
This "Harpua." Now, I'd 'just heard' "Harpua" in May 1992 in Syracuse, and thought "well, that's about it for me." Wrong!
Trey yelling and screaming and shrieking as Poster and Harpua get killed....CLASSIC. A-plus plus plus
Again, a crowd that can remain absolutely, dead-silent for Amazing Grace, then turn around and scream and Rock for a Zeppelin finale featuring Fish's Bonzo bass drum antics.
What more could you ask for?
I'd highly recommend checking this show out, early-90's model Phish at it's finest. I had NO IDEA this show was THIS good. My ratings have changed, and this may be the 2nd best show I ever saw.