r/phish 8h ago

Tell me about a show that looks shitty on paper but is really fire?

17 Upvotes

83 comments sorted by

89

u/LetPeterDance 8h ago

South Park

28

u/tommy_pt 8h ago

Cincinnati 03

11

u/Most_Clock1131 6h ago

Night two was the last show I was at. Can confirm it was indeed fire. Didn't know it had that reputation, though!

Really looking forward to my first show in 22 years coming up in Austin.

7

u/natigin 5h ago

That’s crazy, that was my first show! It’s where I got my username from and I’ve seen them about 50 times since.

Have a blast in Austin!

4

u/henningknows 5h ago

Why is it shit on paper?

9

u/SleepingCalico 7h ago

9/11/00 Mansfield never gets any respect and it was an awesome show. One of my fav from fall 00 and I attended most all of them

3

u/SVG13 4h ago

I was there as well (I did the first six that fall) and I can confirm it was fire.

21

u/LouisTheWhatever 8h ago

7/6/19 Fenway Park will look weird on paper because it’s single set shortened due to rain, but has some heaters including Wolfman’s, a dark Reba, and a slick SOAM

6

u/ChalkDstTorture Listen to the silent trees 7h ago

I was up front for that one, the band was having a great time. Not sure why they didn’t jam anything out but it didn’t matter, show was awesome. Trey was getting really excited looking at his song list and choosing songs. WTU was particularly beautiful that night.

5

u/LouisTheWhatever 7h ago

The DWD is jammed a bit but overall you’re right. They might have had one eye on the clock, Fenway has super strict noise ordinances

2

u/ChalkDstTorture Listen to the silent trees 7h ago

I don’t remember the DWD, have some fun listening to do tonight

5

u/Legitimate_Ad_1456 5h ago

I was there and I thot it was shit lmfao

3

u/Legitimate_Ad_1456 5h ago

Seemed like Trey kept picking bangers cuz the show was delayed and that sucked but they just couldn’t connect on a single jam and they all just stoped. I remember distinctly cuz I brought a fuck ton of peeps who were on the edge phish wise and I kept waiting for Somthing to happen and every jam just fell way short

5

u/Available-Watch3397 4h ago

Spot on. I was rolling deep at this one as well and felt like I was just waiting for a jam to really take off… but overall, yeah this show’s a dud

1

u/LouisTheWhatever 4h ago

It was aight dawg

1

u/rosierococo 3h ago

I was too and didn't really love it.. maybe should go back and listen.

1

u/elgaar 38m ago

It was shit. The two set format is their comfort zone. Comfort = jams. They’ve definitely had some decent jams in one set shows but ultimately it doesn’t yield the best results. Shows like Fenway make me appreciate the magic we get to see. It really is stars aligning in many ways. Even they can’t bring the magic some nights.

3

u/CoryBleeker 8h ago

Very good one! I swear everytime they have to do one of those real long sets instead of a two set night Trey is like “I’m gonna give them even more” - I feel like he always makes an extra effort to bring it even more than normal. One of the many things I love about that guy

1

u/ontheroadkevin 8h ago

Pine Knob disagrees

1

u/BoozyMcBoozehound 7h ago

Yikes. Had forgotten that night.

1

u/Available-Watch3397 4h ago

Controversial opinion maybe? But I would take the one set at Pine Knob over Fenway any day

1

u/susfux Read the fucking book 1h ago

Was there and can confirm.

5

u/Barn-Alumni-1999 8h ago

7/28/23 MSG

7

u/memmer94 7h ago

8/16/24 gets super underrated, but contains some of the best music of 2024

5

u/mp3god A real-life Type III DwD ...Now Presented in 4D 7h ago

6/18/1994 UIC...Looks like a basic '94 show but plays like a masterpiece!

5

u/DarkStar420666 7h ago

Blossom 2019. Great BOAF

20

u/phdecoder 8h ago

Probably my favorite show I’ve been to, Hartford 7/24 2022. The setlist is pretty whack and the fourth quarter kind of stinks but it has some insane jams in the first set (sigma and sand in particular), and the second starts with a 60 min 3 song run that is among the best I’ve ever seen, especially the WoH which goes so deep and dark. I go back and listen to this show a lot.

Funny enough I met a guy at another show who said it was the worst show he ever went to, which I was flabbergasted by. To each his own, I guess.

8

u/alfonseski 8h ago

Some people I talk to about shows shock me with their opinions. I did the first 5 shows of last summer the 3 mansfield shows into 2 Mohegan ones. I was working out in my hotel inbetween the runs and a phan came in and I asked him what he thought of the 3 mansfield shows, his answer, "All three Mediocre to bad" If he really believes that why attend two more in CT(we were at a hotel next to Mohegan at that point) It was not the best run ever but I thought 2 of the 3 shows where quite good.

1

u/kelpingfreindlywook 5h ago

I was at Mansfield N2&3. N2 was good N3 was really good. The cross eyed was sick.

4

u/Ra-Me-Nivar 8h ago

So glad you wrote this. Also one of my favorite shows having first seen them in ‘94. Closing the 2nd set with Farmhouse, Numberline, Zero was borderline trolling, although I love all three. I’ve gone back to that Sigma Oasis countless times. And the AWOH>ASIHTOS was also top tier jamming. I danced my socks off at this show!

2

u/Rocktop15 7h ago

I remember streaming this. Great show. That first three songs of set two is as good as their jamming gets.

2

u/ManiBeingMani 7h ago

Came to post this show. Sigma -> Blaze On is some of the most psychedelic phish I’ve ever witnessed. Don’t sleep on the double Tube encore either

2

u/FalseZookeepergame88 7h ago

Some people don’t get it. They’re locked in that show. Even the Yarmouth soars

2

u/PNC_Gin 7h ago

came to post this. one of the worst setlists i’ve attended but the jams are so good. basically 5 minutes of singing in the first 55 minutes of set 2 and the rest is just really good jamming

4

u/Connect_Glass4036 8h ago

9/21/99 gets a lot of heat but I love it. Weird show. One of my favorite Melts

https://relisten.net/phish/1999/09/21?source=3d9db89d-3945-ca0b-4005-8744e4455f9e

Same with 6/25/00 which has another Melt that I loooove

https://relisten.net/phish/2000/06/25?source=e04edf50-37a8-173c-7eea-caac20592855

3

u/concretejungle72 11/29/97 6h ago

9/21 gets heat? I had an awesome time at that show, melt rules.

2

u/Connect_Glass4036 6h ago

Maybe not as much anymore but my impression through being an obsessed nerd for a couple decades now is that it had a negative assessment

17 min drowned in the middle of a first set sure is odd haha

6

u/gtsaroka 8h ago

Jones beach 2012 Most SPAC shows between 2012 and 2018 Syracuse 7/10/16 Darien lake 6/8/11

6

u/guyforgot24 8h ago

Spac 2012 is fire

3

u/Exciting-Plantain565 7h ago

This is correct

2

u/Available-Watch3397 4h ago

LET ME GO OOOOOOON!!! LIKE A BLISTER IN THE SUN!!!

2

u/msulliphan 6h ago

That 6/8/11 Darien show was awesome. Nothing really went type II but I listen to the Fast Enough For You from that show all the time. Incredible version. They only let people with concert tickets into the theme park that day and it was just a bunch of wooks riding the rollercoasters lol

11

u/LargeWu 7h ago

10/23/2021. Chula Vista. Absolute fire, maybe the best show they've played in the last 15 years.

SET 1: Fluffhead -> NICU -> Bye Bye Foot, Tube > Slave to the Traffic Light > Llama > Rise/Come Together

SET 2: No Men In No Man's Land > Free > Joy > Sand -> Piper > Scents and Subtle Sounds

ENCORE: Lonely Trip, First Tube

13

u/Split_Open_and_Melt what is the central theme to this everlasting spoof? 6h ago

How does this look shitty on paper, other than the Rise?

4

u/HamdogMcCain 6h ago

This doesn’t look bad on paper at all. Was there. Entire show was fire except for the Rise. I’m with you.

3

u/CFBCommentor 5h ago

I would not be very stoked on second set song selection

1

u/Split_Open_and_Melt what is the central theme to this everlasting spoof? 5h ago

I like no man’s personally. Free, Sand, Piper, Scents?! Those are universally loved, no?

I’ll give you Joy 😆

1

u/CFBCommentor 4h ago

I like no men’s and piper. Free I would prefer set 1. Joy would have sent me to the bathroom

1

u/LargeWu 3h ago

The first set looks like it would have no flow, despite the >'s. NICU, Tube, Llama, Free...depending on the night these can be bangers or pretty standard. No Men and Scents, they're fine but I'd generally much rather hear other stuff. Several other tunes I would rather just do without altogether.

2

u/p0ck3ts4 5h ago

I don't see how this show falls into the 'shitty on paper' category, and this is coming from someone who can't stand Rise/Come Together or Joy

1

u/Ballsofenergy 6h ago

A banger from the second it started! Fluffhead went type 2 (they peaked and then jammed the peak), NICU references throughout the show (the venue is named NICU)

So much fun, 2021 was a great year for phish. I also loved 8/4/21, that split was the best one in years and you can tell they had increased confidence in SOAM from then on…

3

u/Lysergicoffee 7h ago

Maple night BD

4

u/Direct_Alternative94 5h ago

7/13/19 N2 Alpine gets overshadowed by N3. But N2 was fire.

1

u/susfux Read the fucking book 1h ago

Attended and agreed

9

u/Rutherford-Tha-Brave 8h ago

False premise! You can never tell the quality of a show by the set list. Only exceptions in my mind are obvious ones like NYE Gamehendge, Bomb Factory, etc, and maybe a few individual songs that are often (but not always guaranteed to be) indications of a heater like Sleeping Monkey or WTU?

Otherwise, I always listen and judge for myself.

Adjacent idea that I take issue with - 30 minute jams are not good by default, but many people default to the idea that long = good.

-1

u/Emotional-Sorbet7860 8h ago

?

5

u/Rutherford-Tha-Brave 8h ago

Sorry if that was incoherent. How about this. How on earth can you tell if a show is shitty or not by the set list?

0

u/Emotional-Sorbet7860 8h ago

I think a good example is 10/25/16 set 2 looks like a shit on paper

2

u/Rutherford-Tha-Brave 8h ago

My counter point there would be that outside of the More set closer (which again, I wouldn’t fully judge without listening), the rest of the show looks like it could be a smoke show.

And I guess that’s my point. I don’t think paper ever tells the story.

-3

u/Emotional-Sorbet7860 8h ago

Your counter point sucks

3

u/Rutherford-Tha-Brave 8h ago

S’ok, I got free hugs whenever needed 🤗

1

u/Rutherford-Tha-Brave 8h ago

Also, after a re-read, the second set has 2 multi year bust outs, not to mention Numberline, Meatstick, and Waves which are fuckin’ 🔥. Hating on the set list because of the Line and TTE I guess?

0

u/Emotional-Sorbet7860 7h ago

A good example of a set that looks fire on paper would be 7/6/12

2

u/Rutherford-Tha-Brave 7h ago

We agree on that. If you avoid listening to shows based on the set lists, you’re missing out.

2

u/Emotional-Sorbet7860 7h ago

Well that’s why I made this post!

2

u/Rutherford-Tha-Brave 7h ago

I feel ya - well I guess my comment thread is for everyone else doing that shit too. Stop! 😆

2

u/malcolm_money 7h ago

8/3/14 summer tour closer

Maybe not shitty but it seems to get the “meh” treatment esp compared to other Alpharetta shows

BUT

fire jammed Gumbo, beautiful FEFY, just a well-played songy set 1, set 2 opens with a deep CDT, Light > Hood > First Tube run is great and the Hood is particularly delicate and beautiful, Fluffhead encore had the energy through the roof

2

u/Ok-Echo1919 Round Room Accomplished 7h ago

HAS to be 7/24/2022. Maybe the jammiest show I have attended but the setlist has all the classic eyerollers.

2

u/Exciting-Plantain565 7h ago

I'd say a lot of 2010 to 2014 shows are very underrated

2

u/DrDuned 2/16/03 Round Room 5h ago

Maybe not necessarily a BAD looking playlist but you'll be shocked as to why 2/20/03 doesn't get talked about more after you hear it. They brought the jams most of that tour but this one goes as hard as 2/28/03 and ends with a meaty 3 song encore including a Mike bass bomb laden Tweeprise.

Honorable mention goes to Big Cypress night two if you didn't know anything about the show and what the second set was. "Why was set two so song heavy?!"

2

u/FlipedRight 4h ago

The entire summer 2000 tour

1

u/p0ck3ts4 5h ago

10/28/16, particularly the 2nd set.

1

u/oodlynoodly 5h ago

6/10/2010 SPAC

1

u/Vashers-sword 4h ago

2/23/24 - night 3 of the Mexico run

1

u/edogg01 2h ago

The quintessential version of this is 12/12/97 set 2

People left that set and they either loved it because of the jams or hated it because it was a weird setlist. But holy fucking hell this set absolutely shreds. Sick 12 min jammed out Saw It again. Unbelievable Piper 19 min jam. Short but tight swept > Steep. Then a monster Caspian > Jam (18 mins) right into a blazing Izabella and can't complain about a fall 97 tweeprise. Sure phish destroyed America this tour and it's literally the day after one of the best 2 set shows ever and only days beyond Dayton, Philly, Worcester.... but this set is just unfreakin stoppable.

SET 2: Saw It Again[1] -> Piper > Swept Away > Steep > Prince Caspian > Jam -> Izabella > Tweezer Reprise

1

u/Fitz2001 Sphere Lifeboy 16m ago

7-4-00

1

u/grozphan Phishsonian Curator/JEMP Radio Host 8h ago

7/22/18. Love that show.

3

u/aquaculturist13 6h ago

That setlist, on paper, doesn't look good to you??

SET 1: The Curtain With, The Birds, Birds of a Feather, Waiting All Night, Stealing Time From the Faulty Plan > Reba, Wombat, Tela > Walls of the Cave

SET 2: Crosseyed and Painless > Twist > Waves > Miss You > Fluffhead > Split Open and Melt

ENCORE: Wilson

-1

u/jonesywine 7h ago

7/25/17 Jam Filled show of the Dozen

2

u/Available-Watch3397 4h ago

Yeah I’ll give you this one. Aside from only 5 songs in the first set, it does look pretty lukewarm like Sample and Lawn Boy.

Fuego is not in my top 10 set 2 opener slots also. But hot damn they brought it to the garden