"Halley's" was the sky opening moment for me. I'd been listening to Phish for a couple of years at that point, hadn't seen them live, and then I got my hands on this tape. I listened to that "Halley's" over and over. This is really where it all bloomed for me. I was waiting for your essay on this day. It remains one of my favorite shows because it took me from fan to phan. Thanks, Rob. These essays are a delight.
Apologies for hogging the comments two days in a row, but in the midst of this remarkable MSG run, I‘ve got takes on just about everything Phish…
The Gumbo segment starting at 13:25 just perfectly encapsulates that particular Summer ‘98 flavor. Later that summer, I taped a show for the first and only time — and by “taped,” I mean shoved an XLII into my boombox, tuned to The Badger, and pressed record for the Lemonwheel soundcheck. Listened to that tape constantly throughout the following semester. Lots of that soundcheck has that same exact laid-back, completely in-the-pocket vibe as that segment of Gumbo, probably why I was instantly hooked when it came out on Live Bait.
Also, for years after its release, I could have sworn that lick was a proto-Jibboo tease. Totally possible given Mozambique in the 4/3 Weekapaug and First Tube in the 7/10(?) Halley’s(?). Tried getting the .Net setlist team to buy it, but they pushed back convincingly that it’s closer to the Jacksons’ “Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)”.
"Halley's" was the sky opening moment for me. I'd been listening to Phish for a couple of years at that point, hadn't seen them live, and then I got my hands on this tape. I listened to that "Halley's" over and over. This is really where it all bloomed for me. I was waiting for your essay on this day. It remains one of my favorite shows because it took me from fan to phan. Thanks, Rob. These essays are a delight.
Apologies for hogging the comments two days in a row, but in the midst of this remarkable MSG run, I‘ve got takes on just about everything Phish…
The Gumbo segment starting at 13:25 just perfectly encapsulates that particular Summer ‘98 flavor. Later that summer, I taped a show for the first and only time — and by “taped,” I mean shoved an XLII into my boombox, tuned to The Badger, and pressed record for the Lemonwheel soundcheck. Listened to that tape constantly throughout the following semester. Lots of that soundcheck has that same exact laid-back, completely in-the-pocket vibe as that segment of Gumbo, probably why I was instantly hooked when it came out on Live Bait.
Also, for years after its release, I could have sworn that lick was a proto-Jibboo tease. Totally possible given Mozambique in the 4/3 Weekapaug and First Tube in the 7/10(?) Halley’s(?). Tried getting the .Net setlist team to buy it, but they pushed back convincingly that it’s closer to the Jacksons’ “Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)”.
I have barely listened to Phish since leaving SciFi Soldiers. But, this makes me want to check out the Gumbo.