SET 1: Theme From the Bottom: They loved this tune so much back in 97. Played it exceptionally well too. This is a rocking way to get this show off the ground. Trey gets some nice effects working before Page starts pounding out the ending refrain.

Beauty of My Dreams: Standard.

Gumbo: Trey’s staccato picking starting at 4:07 is sick – especially with Mike synced up tightly with him throwing bombs down! Trey shifts his tone to that signature summer 97 weirdness at 5:15 – you know the one ???? At 6:47 from Mike – this sounds exactly like the https://www.phishtracks.com/shows/1998-04-05/jam at 3:11 and beyond. Very similar! Things get very mellow in the late 10’s as Trey largely drops out. This meanders through until it ends around 14 minutes. An exceptional Gumbo! The first of it’s kind in terms of jammed out Gumbo’s and an absolute all timer!

Dirt: Super clean and crushed by Trey. Exquisite.

Sparkle: Standard.

Ghost: Goes along as you would expect and then in the late 12’s is cleared for takeoff as Trey guides the band into the stratosphere, the hose is in full effect here people. Gorgeous, repetitive theme is realized, and they capitalize on it in spades. In the early 14’s Trey falls back, and this gets quite ethereal and slides ever so nicely into… >

Swept Away > Steep > - Standard.

Loving Cup: Standard.

SET 2: Olivia's Pool:

Run Like an Antelope: Things take a turn for a quiet and introspective sort of jam in the early 8’s, very different for Antelope. Trey hits an eerie, scratchy loop in the late 9’s and it sounds like they are about to take you through something dark and intense. Quite the opposite, actually. This takes its time but works its way into an upbeat, major chord groove. By 12:30 this is more or less back in familiar Antelope style jamming yet still with a hint of that major chord stuff, thanks to Mike. Things are getting extremely awesome in the late 13’s as Trey is really ramping up the tension. An enormous, wall of sound emerges out of all this and then an orgasmic peak – just unbelievably nuts. Phish at their chaotic best! All timer for sure! >

Wading in the Velvet Sea: This was need after that face melting Antelope, great placement!

Twist: This starts getting very cool in the 9’s. Very dark and choppy. Wind is really picking up on the tapes. This jam gets very dark and dissonant in the 12 minute range, not one for the faint of heart – only for the seasoned psychedelic warriors, lol. Picks up a heavy metal, hard edge at the 15 minute mark. Page trying to lift the band out of the murky depths in the late 15’s with some beautiful runs on the baby grand, Trey finally gives in around 16:15. This gets absolutely beautiful!!! Extremely difficult and well executed segue into… ->

Taste: Never saw this coming, that was very cool! Trey’s tone in the 8 minute range is very interesting as he is just crushing the solo. Ferocious Taste, blistering as hell. A must hear! When you think they are done – they go for it AGAIN. Just bonkers! Another all timer!

Sample in a Jar: Some of the best group vocals I have ever heard in this tune are from this version, they sound GREAT. Trey can’t seem to get in the right key for a while as the jam starts. There is a huge cheer from the crowd in the early 3’s. It made me search the reviews on .net, saw nothing that would indicate why this happened. I then checked out https://phish.net/review/archive and sure enough per one review it seems a fan got on stage during Sample, and everyone went wild. >

Rocky Top: Standard.

The Squirming Coil: Not standard! Page and Trey funk up the solo until 7:05 when Page opts for the baby grand, super cool! Page’s solo is a must hear. Lengthy and especially in the early going, sort of atypical to my ear, almost minor key I think?

ENCORE: Possum – Are they teasing something in the intro? Either way it sounds great. The very beginning of the jam sounded sort of atypical to me, very cool as well. It quickly settles into your typical Possum jam.

Replay Value: Gumbo, Ghost, Run Like an Antelope, Twist, Taste, The Squirming Coil

Summary: Set one is short but delivers two outstanding jams! It must have been a windy evening as that is very noticeable on the tapes in many different songs unfortunately. Set two has the big guns as well and please don’t sleep on that Coil. Phish.net to my ear has this rating completely dialed in at 4.259/5 (139 ratings). Stellar show – the first of five at this venue in Phoenix.