PHISH, WEDNESDAY 12/31/1997
MADISON SQUARE GARDEN
New York, NY

SET 1:

Emotional Rescue: This one is a little different than Hampton. Has more of a hard driving aspect to it. Starts off like Hampton but only takes about 2.5 minutes to reach a fast pace. It pretty much stays in that same pocket more or less throughout with a respite here and there for some Trey strumming the pornofunk stuff. The last 30-40 seconds or so it just kind of drifts into nothingness and then segues into Ya Mar. Would recommend this jam for sure. >

Ya Mar: “Break it down, just Leo” very nice little spotlight there for Page and he takes full advantage. Trey is loving it and the crowd too, loud applause. Around 5:25 the timing seems to get a little awry. At 5:50, Trey starts playing crazy sounding stuff like something you would hear in the middle of an SOAMule jam then they start vocal scatting. This is only brief though. Trey takes a nice solo. Auld Lang Syne tease at 8:22. Nice elongated Fishman drum solo. Not sure if it’s the recording – I suspect it is – but they cut this off and then launch into My Sweet One.

My Sweet One: Mike kind of screws up the food did never run lyric. Then at the end – the Far Away I’ll Say Your Name – is a wreck >

Beauty of My Dreams: The beginning is a mess (Trey). They play this one very, very fast. Some of Trey’s solo is yikes. Fair to say based on some of the miscues thus far in the show that they were feeling no pain from pre – show shenanigans backstage.

Wolfman's Brother: Lots of loops! Funky and slow. At the 9 minute mark Trey starts up that twangy stuff he had working for him in AC/DC Bag from the night before.

Limb By Limb: Standard.

The Horse > Silent in the Morning: Standard. >

The Sloth: Standard.

Fire: Standard.

SET 2:

Timber (Jerry the Mule) – Very good version. It has this awesome sort of droning section from Trey that starts around 7:17 and ends around 7:50. >

Mike's Song: Strong Mike’s. Has a good measure of both funk and rock. Around 10:20 things mellow and then brighten a good bit. The hose takes a peak from behind the curtain at 11:26 – glorious segment – Page compliments Trey so well here. Sublime version would recommend!

Piper: Standard. >

When the Circus Comes: Instead of the typical very last part of the ending this one segues brilliantly into Roses are Free – absolutely phenomenal! ->

Roses Are Free: That transition really caught me off guard – so cool! >

Weekapaug Groove: Full band clinic right here. A showcase in stamina in how to rock out for basically 12 minutes in a row. Very impressive! They settle it down and then Trey says See you next year but before that let’s have Fish take a solo – c’mon Fish let’s see what ya got - Fish gets to take a brief solo after this.

SET 3:

Also Sprach Zarathustra: At 7.53 Fish asks the people with the laser pointers to knock it off. Not sure if they were messing with the graphics on the udder ball or if they were messing with band members? This version is another lengthy dance party. Crowd eats it all up. Very rowdy! >

Auld Lang Syne: Happy New Year! >

Tweezer: The only meh Tweezer you will find going all the way back to 2.20.97. At the climax of the composed section Fish keeps yelling about you can’t hit me over and over – not sure if this in regard to the NYE balloons or the laser pointers. >

Maze[1] – Yikes. Page’s solo seems long. Trey’s is …ahem – directionless would be the kind way to describe this I guess. It’s…not good, lol. At the mid 13 minute range you have to ask yourself – is that Marty McFly on stage or Trey Anastasio. Major yikes. This is a jamcharts version, but I have to think that is only because of the length and ‘uniqueness’ of it – would not recommend, lol. It weakly segues into Caspian >

Prince Caspian: No where near as good as Albany. Very by the book.>

Loving Cup: Seems like a regular version to me but it’s noted as a jamcharts version.

ENCORE:

Theme from New York, New York[2] - Very cool, nice job Page! >

Tweezer Reprise: Standard.

Summary: They just couldn’t sustain the momentum from the previous two shows, understandable really plus they were in party mode this evening it seems Still, a few significant highlights to revisit here. I think the current rating of 4.279/5 (201 ratings) is a fair rating.

Replay Value: Emotional Rescue, Mike's Song, Weekapaug Groove, Maze

[1] Unfinished.
[2] Phish debut.

Ya Mar included an Auld Lang Syne tease. Maze contained a Birdland tease and was unfinished. Theme from New York, New York made its Phish debut during the encore. My Sweet One was played for the first time since December 14, 1995 (155 shows).
SHOW RATING
Your rating:
Overall: 4.279/5 (201 ratings)
JAM CHART VERSIONS
Emotional Rescue, Mike's Song, Weekapaug Groove, Maze, Loving Cup
TEASES
Auld Lang Syne tease in Ya Mar, Birdland tease in Maze