12/11/95  Cumberland County Civic Center, Portland, ME (Charlie Dirksen)

	First set has a good Stash, some Dog Logs, a solid Reba and Tube.
Second set has a pretty good Bowie and **GREAT** Harry Hood.  The Funky
Bitch and WMGGW that close the show are jammed on by both Trey and WARREN
HAYNES!!  Get this show if you can, but definitely get 12/9/95-2,
12/14/95-2, 12/31/95 and probably 12/29/95-2 sooner.

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Date: Tue, 20 May 1997 21:54:44 +0000
From: mcgrupp@ix.netcom
Subject: Review

12/11/95 Civic Center Portland,ME


Portland is a very small quaint city. This was my first time seeing a
show in Maine. The weather outside was subzero. The only thing that was
keeping me warm was the Otter Creek Stove Pipe Porter that I bought from
the guy next store to me. There were a lot of frozen ticketless phans
outside. More than other venues on the run. 
I was happy to get inside as soon as they opened the doors. The venue is
relatively small. I don't know for sure but I would say it holds about
9500 people. It was a lot like Broom County in Binghampton. The entire
venue was general admission and I got a good seat about twenty feet in
front of the sound board. The average age of the crowd I would say was
about 17 years old. Out of the 12 shows I caught that tour this show
seemed to have the youngest crowd. The fans around me were all freshmen
high school students from Portland and the surrounding towns. 
The show opened up with a raging My Friend. This song is a great opener.
Then they went into Ha Ha Ha, and good stash followed. Next Trey said
something like the Portland Civic center is the last place where Elvis
played. And tonight we are going to try and channel his energy tonight.
Here is a song about his little known son Prince Caspian. A nice Reba
followed with a good but standard jam. 
After the Reba Trey says, During that last jam I came up with an idea.
Would all of you like to help us out with a song. There is a song Dog
Log we always play for Paul during the soundcheck. And what we have been
doing is recording them and then put out an album with all different
versions of the song. What I want you all to do is to be really quite
and we are going to play Dog Log. I want it to seem that we are in the
soundcheck. When I raise my hand I want everyone to start yelling "This
sucks, you suck!" It was awesome. Everyone was quite and when he raised
his hand the crowed let out a booming BOO! The band thanked us and then
played a ripping version of Llama. 
After that he says" Let's try another one. Would you guys like to do
another one? This time when I raise my hand I want everyone to let out
the loudest, most ear piercing scream that you can do." Then Trey asks
"does everybody understand their mission?" They start playing a slow
jazzy version of dog log and when Trey raised his hand everyone
screamed. It was history in the making. They finished the song. And Trey
says" Thank you very much for helping us out. That was rock history in
the making. The next FreeBird This will be on our next album. I would
now like to play a song that people always request us to play but we
never play. We are thanking you for helping us out. I know that this
sounds like BS but I screamed "Tube!!!" as loud as I could. I bet the
band couldn't hear me but it if you listen carefully you can hear it on
the tape. Well I got my wish and "An asteroid crashed and nothing
burned" was exceptional. That is a fanatic song. Mcgrupp which is always
one of my favorites followed. Julius and cavern closed the set with
Julius. 
The second set started out with a jamming Curtain. Bowie followed and
was not as spacy as most which I consider a plus sometimes. Mango Song!
The last time I have heard mango was Philly Civic center 12/28/94. I
don't know why the play it a bunch but I just seem to miss it. Well not
tonight. Up next is a the new song which is the combination of Taste and
Fog that Surrounds and I have been using Taste That Surrounds as the
title. Mule was next I am not sure if Trey or Page won the duel. Harry
Hood which is always good to heard was next. Fishman came front stage
for his tribute to Elvis with, Suspicious minds. Of course he was
wearing his Elvis suit. 
What came next I would have never expected to happen. But I keep
forgetting that Phish has always and will continue to amaze the
audience. Trey steps up to the mic and says "I would like all of you to
help me welcome Warren Haynes." From the Allman Brothers. Shrills of joy
filled the Civic Center as the band blasted into *Funky Bitch*! Warren
was unbelievable and battled it out with Trey in an intense Jam. The
band came back out for the encore and Warren joined them again for the
Beatles song While My Guitar Gently Weeps. Fantastic ended to one of the
best Phish experiences ever. 
Thank you Trey, Mike, Page, and Fish.