Subject: Full-Moon Madness in Portland: 11/24
From: Eugene Ehrbar 

Mmmm.... this is new:  a Phish show I could WALK to.

Wish I'd kept an accurate setlist, since nobody seems to have posted one 
yet.  Here are my highlights (i.e. what I can remember).

Venue:  Since my last show (not counting Jazzfest ) was NYE 95 MSG, it 
was nice to see a show in a hall that held fewer than 15,000 people.  The 
Porltand Memorial Coliseum had a nice, homey, friendly feel to it, and 
when it got quiet, individual screams, cheers and suc reminded me of the 
days before Phishinstadium.  Aud tapes of this show prob'ly came out 
really nice. 

 I sat next to a few folks from Eugene, including one infant named 
Autumn, who was given to grooving, roaming and exploring during the first 
set, and heavy sleeping during the second.  Tres cute.  All in all, the 
crowd was pretty cool.  One sour note:  I was informed by a security 
guard that the reason no alcohol was being sold at the show was that "we 
figure there'll be enough goin' on anyway without any alcohol." 
(translation:  so many of you damn Phishheads are underage (and 
potsmokers at that) that no respectable beer vendor would waste the money 
to pay someone to man a tap for the evening).  C'mon.  Can't we take care 
of ourselves.  Oh, well.  Seems like no matter how old you get, they 
still try to babysit you...

On to the music...  

        Poor heart:  Good;  I can't remember hearing this one in ages 
(tho' I know it's been played alot of late).  Was it me, or were Fish's 
screaming-backup-vocals a little, well, weird?
        ACDC Bag: Never fails to make me smile.  Good intensity on guitar
solo.
        Sparkle was in there somewhere (I think it's my curse song--they
seem 
to play it at every damn show I see).
        Reba: Boo-hoo, no ending.  When was the last time they ended this 
one (with whistles and all?).
        Character Zero:  Sounded suspiciously like the album version...
        Taste:  Sounded suspiciously UNlike the album version.  This one 
has a tough rhythm, and they seemed to have trouble getting it off the 
ground. (Trey kept giving Fish the "get with the program" look)  However, 
once Fish's backups came in, things started to come together, and by the
 time they launched into the jam, I was in heaven.
        I didn't know: Yay! Vacuum cleaner solo! 
        Strange Design:  ...was Strange Design.
        Antelope: Great intensity.  
        That instrumntal that's before "Mound" on Rift (I can never 
remember the name) was also in there somewhere (like I said--I wish I'd 
kept an accurate list...) 

II:     2001 jam:  I liked the extended spacey-jamming before hitting the 
groove on this one.  Until I heard the familiar beat pick up, I was at a 
loss, and as usual, happily at a loss...
        YEM:  great vocal jam, usual lights (ala 12/30/95 et al), 
trampolines, all the fun stuff... plus:  right before the buildup to Boy, 
man, etc started, the quiet piano-guitar interplay was the most sensitive 
and careful I think I've ever heard.  Sounded like they were having fun 
up there.
        Sample: sample.
        Suzy: hooray!
        Bowie: A real treat.  By the time they got around to this one at 
JazzFest, my brain had melted.  This time, I was clearheaded enough to 
follow DB around all of its various corners.  Impressive.
        Loving cup(?):  My friend told me this was a Stones cover;  I'd 
never heard it before.  Very nice.
        ADITL: I somehow never get tired of this one.
        
        Enc:  Ginseng Sullivan
              Cavern

Like I said, I know this isn't in perfect order, and I probably left out 
one or two songs.  Overall, I had a great time at this show.  Anybody 
else who was there feel like speaking up?

bye for now.

"may you live in interesting times." -Ancient Chinese Curse
        
-gene
                        |------------------|
                        | Gene Ehrbar      |
                        | Duke University  |
                        | maxehr@pobox.com |
                         "I shoulda been a ragged
                desperado.......S H  U   F   F   L   I  N G     
                         thru the doors of 
                        Silent Saloons." -KFPP
                        |------------------|
---------------------------------------------------
Subject: NW tour in Review (so far)
From: Victor Szalvay 

11/24/96  Portland, OR
OK, I didn't think anything big would happen, I was bracing myself for a
suck show given the last, but I was in for a pleasant surprise... the
scene was really cool.  I talked to an East Coaster and he was so in love
with the scene, saying that it was so uncrowded and loose compared to back
East.  The floor was like, totally easy to accesss.  I literally walked to
the front row during the show, no problem.  REally cool.  Not like Hampton
or something, shoulder to shoulder all the way back, really relaxed and
cool.  

Anyway, we were in for it tonight as well, not as much though still pretty
damn good.

I
Poor Heart:  Cool, I made sure my deck was on and spinning OK.  I can't
really comment on this one, it was not bad.

AC/DC Bag:  Nice rocking version!  The crowd was into it and it really
kicked the show off well.

All Things Reconsidered:  this one took me soooo off guard!  I mean, when
did they do this last?  I don't know, it was cool to hear, but no serious
jamming...

Bouncin':  Cool for the newbies. I saw a lot of people having a great time
and it just put me in such a good mood... :)  :)  :)  :)

Reba:  OK, this was the bomb!  a fast Reba??? When did they do that last,
it was hot and wild!  The solo was not too extensive but the energy made
up for it, really right on!  No whistling or end Bag it Tag it, so I
didn't know what to make of it except for that it was cool and unusual!

Character Zero:  Nice again, I like this one a lot more and more. Done in
Spokane, but it was nice to hear, again the crowd was having a wonderful
time!  So was I!

Strange Design:  Good to hear page do it.  I can't extrapolate more!

Taste:  Nice jam and solid solos.  Extended and really well done.

I Didnt Know:  OK, this is a cool one.  Fish was introduced as Norton
Charleston Heston and did a really long Vac solo!  Trey actually had to
grab the mic away from him to break back into the verse.  Pretty funny!

Sample In a Jar:  Well done, solid rock anthem!  I was smiling!
I thought this would do it for the set so I was ready to unwind... but
then I heard the first few notes.... I went running like an antelope to
the stage!!!!

Run Like an Antelope:  Oh yes, you will be hearing about this one,
possibly the hightlight of the night (No bias, really!).  and it was soooo
well done.  I won't get into now, but i will do an AIR on it soon. Just a
note:  instead of Marco Esquandolas, Terey  announces "Norton Charleston
Heston"  pretty unusual.  I counted minimum five gear shifts as well, some
extended the way I like them.  Definitely one of the best versions ever,
period.

II
2001 >   :  OK, i didn;t know what was going on because the intro was sooo
long and spacy, everyone was asking each other what this was, we figured
it must be 2001, and it was.... Really sweet version.

>>Sparkle:  ???  I have no idea why... somebody tell me!  It was fun
though.

>>Bowie : That's why! What a nice version!  I am not an authority but this
one had a wonderful jam, nice solos and all around sweet sound!

YEM:  They brought out the tramps... it was cool the crwod really dug it.
I think they didn't pull off the pre-Nirvana/Nirvana segment as
beautifully as usually, but the jam after made up.  We go into the:

>>Vocal:  A whole post can be takedn up my this monster.  REally honestly
the best vocal jam I have ever heard and it was so nice.  As Blair pointed
out, there was this wonderful cooperation between Chris on the lights and
the jam.  They were RIGHT ON and so TIGHT!  I mean, that one vocal jam
might have constituted the HOSE, end of story.

Loving Cup:  No better way to follow up!  Solid and so full of soul and
jam.  It segues into the :

>>Suzie Greenberg:  Fun to hear, and full of energy.  I was pretty tired
by now and so was everyone.  It was a great set!

E:  Gingseng, Cavern:  Two goodies to close the night without getting TOO
crazy.  I liked the how the ducked out of this one, they knew they had
peaked and went for the clean exit, and didn't spoil it with an over -
extended madness.  

Sorry to blabber on about this but I just thought I would do a review
since I haven't seen many thus far.  So, let me know what you think,
please no grovels because I will be away for the holidays, thanks.  So,
take it easy everyone and peace,

 -- Victor Szalvay

-----------------------------------------------------
Subject: 11/24/96 Portland setlist
From: Jason Kraft 

I. Poor Heart, AC/DC Bag, All Things Reconsidered, BATR, Reba (no
ending), Character Zero, Strange Design, Taste, I Didn't Know, Sample,
Antelope

II. 2001->Sparkle, Bowie, Day in the Life, YEM, Lovin' Cup, Suzy

Encore: Ginseng Sullivan, Cavern

Overall, not bad, but not great either.  First set was all played well
but average.  Reba and Antelope stood out (as usual).  I Didn't Know
featured Fishman (aka Norton Charleton Heston) on vacuum..it escapes me
what the solo acually was as announced by Trey.  Set 2 started with a
nice long 2001, 5 minutes of spacey jamming before Fishman even started
the drumbeat, and another 3 before Trey's first "lead".  Real nice and
led into Sparkle...really dissappointing, IMO...should have gone into
Bowie..but they made up for it by playing it next.  Bowie clocked in at
12 solid minutes, good tight version.  Yem was really nice, and the
Loving Cup rocked.  Both sets were 1:10..with 10 minutes of encore.  The
setbreak started at 9, I wonder if the band went to go watch Mtv ;)
----------------------------------------
Subject: Portland Review 11/24
From: Todd Zander 

Allright, since it's about 4:20 and I'm unfortunately at work,
I will take a break and review last night's show in Portland.
After experiencing MMW for the first time at the Fillmore (West)
on Thur and Fri nights, I was really really pumped to catch my
first of five shows on the west coast up in Portland. I flew up
there and got into the airport (from San Jose) about 6pm, just in time.
THE SCENE:
It was fucking cold up there; I was not expecting it, and it was my
first time in Portland, or in Oregon for that matter.
Got to the show around 6:30, checked out the scene, it was pretty spread
out, but glad to be back. Starting to feel the phishy vibes.

THE VENUE:
Portland Memorial Collesium was pretty large, it reminded of an MSG-like
place. GA on the floor, but not me, because I was stoked with nose-bleeds!
(didn't mail order) The sound was fine, and I moved down to the lower 
section in the 2nd set.

SET I
Poor Heart, AC/DC BAG, All Things Reconsidered, Bouncin', Reba, Character
Zero, Strange Design, Tatse, I Didn't Know*, Sample, Antelope
*with Fish on vacuum for a verse, intoduced by Trey as Norman Charlton 
Heston (i think?)

Poor Heart : not my favorite opener, but it was Phish and I was there!
The crowd seemed real mellow and almost sedate. It was weird, not the
pre-show energy I am used to. Poor Heart was OK

AC/DC :  Oh yeah, starting to feel good, getting that blood moving, 
shakin that booty. This was a real energy-packed non-flat one, and
introduced the spacey-theme that carried the evening. Nice Trey solo,
he was gettin into it as usual.

All Things Reconsidered:  Cool, nothing special. Nice to see for the 
first time.

Bouncin' : The crowd went nuts while I took out my pen and paper and 
started writing the set-list. That's cool, I mean, so many newbies
paid money to see that song, so I guess you gotta compensate?

Reba:   Stoked! I think my best Reba yet. This was solid, trey in the
solo-jamming spotlight, and really really spacey too. Got me movin'
and groovin' again.

Character 0 :   Nice! My virgen ears were soothed and impressed by the 
additional improving, pretty distinct from the album. This is gonna
be like a DWD when it matures. 

Strange Design: Definitely could have lived without it. But nice
to see live for the 1st time.

Tatse:  This was my favorite from BB, yet it didn't do anything for me
live. Fish didn't seem in synch with Trey or Mike or something weird 
wasn't clicking. I could barely tell since my nose was bleeding by now.

I Didn't Know :  This is my favorite as far as Acapellas go. Trey
intoduced
Fish as Norman Charlton Heston or something, and Phish sang one verse with
his vacuum. It truly sounded like shit (unlike London). But funny always.
A nice break up in the set.

Sample:  Not my favorite by any stretch of the means, but these guys
rocked
the shit out of it! Feet were really moving again, getting the vibe back.
A really good Sample as far as Sample's go.

Antelope:  Oh fuckin yeah, I screamed for about a minute when everyone
else
around me was wondering why the hell I was yelling during a mellow part.
It was at this point that I realized I was really in the wrong section. 
Barely anyone was dancing around me. I don't need other people to be as
into
it as me, but I like a high energy level around me when Phish is playing
becasue my energy level increases. And because its more fun with people
who
like the music as much as I do.
This Antelope was epic. I mean epic. Really really spacey in 2nd gear.
I was moving, running in place, hands goin
everywhere, finally hit the chaotic 'I'm stoked to be alive because Phish
is the
best band ever' state. Boy I needed that. Full-time work after college
sucks!
Trey: 'rye, rye, rocco....Norman Charlton Heston.'--Right On!!

I thought this was going to be a warm up set for a totally orgasmic
second.
They
got their new songs out of the way and hinted at radness with the
Antelope.

Second Set:
2001>Sparkle, David Bowie, Day in the Life, YEM, Loving Cup, Suzie
EC Ginseng Sullivan, Cavern

I abandoned my seat and started jamming in the aisles with a few other
pholks 
until we were annoyingly asked to sit down by security. So I just jammed
around
during the 2001 sneaking at the edge of aisles and shit, until I said fuck
it and
ran down towards the floor, escaping one rent-a-cop and barelling into the
tenth
row from the floor. Ahhh, at last, people who are dancing and having a
happy happy
joy joy time. No need to create the groove here, just jump right into it
and see
where it takes me!

2001 :  Really good and spacey. They are starting to play this one a lot
better 
these days. But nothing out of the ordinary.

Sparkle : Cool. But it seems every show I ever go to they play a fucking
Sparkle.
I'm plagued with Sparkles, and I don't even love the song. Oh well.

David Bowie : Look Out! They love this song. Kicked the living shit out of
it. Really
spacey (like all of em) but also totally tight. Trey was vibing off a guy
going bananas
in the third row. It was cool to see. I like this one so much better than
on tape.
Bowie is not one of my faves, but you gotta like it live.

Day in the Life: Crowd Pleaser. I've heard it alot. Gets groovin when Trey
wakes up and
 gets out of bed. Nothing really special but so well performed! 

Loving Cup: My highlight of the show after Antelope. My first time seeing
it. They do
tons of justice to this up-beat rock-and-roll cover. Hope I get this one
again soon!

Suzie :  Obviously the dank feel-good jumping around happy to be alive
song
that I love
Phish for.

Ginseng : I was pretty over this tune, didn't do much for me because I
don't like 
bluegrass too much.

Cavern : Even though very common, a great closer to a solid show. 
        Rad drum circle afterwards, cool lot scene. Mellow as usual.
Overall:
This show definitely had it's ups and downs. I look at it as a warm-up for
some sickness
down in San Fran, where I'll be next of course. Many of the tunes they
played I have seen more
than tunes I love and they don't ever play for me. I know it's just my
luck. The show: Probably
a little above average overall. Stupendous musically but lacking (for me)
in song
choice. Glad to catch The Groove again, regardless of what they played,
they put
on a stellar show. Took a 6am flight home this morning, and now I'm
feeling
the
effects at work after an evening with Phish. Thanks for reading. 
-------------------------------------------------------
From: Erik Lyons 
Subject: Phish review: Portland 11/24

Hi,

Here's a review of Portland 11/24/96. 

The Portland show was incredible and musically acrobatic as usual, but the
set list was a bit standard. Seems like they play both Reba and Bowie
*every* time they come to Portland. Add in YEM and Antelope, and half the
show is taken up by songs we've all heard many, many times. And besides,
that's too much drawn-out jamming for one show. They were dangerously
close at times-- closer than I've ever seen them-- to "defaulting" to a
very standard improvisational formula.

Departures from this problem included a great Strange Design (this song
seems to get better every time I hear it), and of course Taste was very
cool. A Day in the Life was... well, can't think of anything to say about
it. Competent, I guess. 

Set two started with Also Sprach Zarathustra, which is great; they started
set two with that song last year in Portland (coincidence?). Greenburg was
very standard-- they did Greenberg in Portland last year too, but what a
knockout version that was-- best of many dozens I've heard. I think Bowie
was also better at the '95 Portland show.

The encore was probably the best part for me. Ginseng Sullivan is always
great, and Cavern was a very spirited go at the song.

It was a perfect show to see for someone who's never seen the band before,
which is cool because my sister went and it happened to be her first. For
someone on their eighth show, it was disappointing. Adding to the
disappointment was a look at the previous night's setlist in Vancouver,
which was quite special. 

In summary, there is this to consider: the worst night of Phish is still
better than any other band in the known universe.
--
e.l.
Erik Lyons 
Ambiguous Productions
"let me take a candle to the cellar tonight
I'd like to take some matches there & set it alight
I can
I've seen those kind of places before."
 
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