I have also been eagerly awaiting your deep dive on the 2.0 years — and had no clue about your animosity to them. Which makes me even more intrigued. (Worcester + Nassau + Star Lake are legit classics imo, but otherwise...the material really lends itself to interpretation which will be fascinating 25 years out). I always felt like outside of those three shows, the band was kind of playing like they didn't want to be there, despite some great moments and sets.
I think you're definitely right that this is the first show of the 2.0 era, though. It's hard to not see the sloppiness as a turning point and for the first time how obvious it was to see the backstage culture leaking onstage and impacting the music.
Not so sure about Trey's memory issues. The one time I got to hang out and chat with him, I brought up some really random shows from 20+ years earlier and his recall was so on point I was shocked.
That's good to hear. I hope the overall tone of this post doesn't make it seem like I think his memory fog is a fault...I actually find it kind of endearing, and likely good for their creative development that he doesn't dwell too deeply on the past. Leave that to me, haha.
Trey's memory is fine. We're the ones with the problem.
On another note, I really like The Happy Whip and Dung Song. There's one I'd like to hear them play again. And I love Page's description--“imagine driving through a blinding snowstorm in the tundra with a yak, a sled, and a heaving pile of dung.”
Kinda of sums up 99 that such an even show would sit directly between two undeniable classic shows. I also remember being excited when this Fluffhead got the Live Bait treatment, and then I listened to it, like, twice, and that was it.
I'm also irrationally excited for your essays that cover 2.0, which is the ultimate up-and-down era. I have a love for 2.0 since I saw a ton of shows during those years and I think the best 2.0 is up there with the best of Phish, but also recognize its warts. In fact, I was listening to a 2003 show recently and thinking about whether it would derail this entire project for you, lol. I can't wait.
Another great read, Rob. Thank you for the work you put into this project. As someone who bailed after 2000, and didn’t come back until 2017/2018, I am looking forward to your thoughts on 2.0. Oddly enough, a trial of the LivePhish app, a well timed roadtrip, and access to Winter 03 is what got me back into the band. Anyways, thanks again for your commitment to these essays.
I’m somewhat of a late-comer to this series and like others I’m intrigued by your antipathy toward 2.0 - have you written about that somewhere? Would be interested to read more. Love the essays, always excited when they pop up in my inbox.
I do love this Fluffhead for some reason, even though I completely agree with its flaws that you pointed out. The groove they hit on for most of the last five minutes is dumb as hell and nearly as funky. I’m just a sucker for any jam with that hazy ‘99 Trey tone.
Also, am I the only one who doesn’t think Trey outright fell? Urban legend has it that Trey was partying with gusto that day and even crashed a golf cart pre-show, and I buy that more than this being a true fall. He kneels down, then the lights go dark for a sec, and then his legs are up in the air. He’s just trying to do some goofy rock star moves, but due to his condition, it came off way sloppier than intended.
My first show was the next night, and I remember talking before that show with a guy I know who attended 7/24. My excitement - based only on the setlist and, probably, the song times from RMP - didn't match up with his experience at the show for the same reasons you said. If this isn't 2.0, it is definitely 1.9.
I have also been eagerly awaiting your deep dive on the 2.0 years — and had no clue about your animosity to them. Which makes me even more intrigued. (Worcester + Nassau + Star Lake are legit classics imo, but otherwise...the material really lends itself to interpretation which will be fascinating 25 years out). I always felt like outside of those three shows, the band was kind of playing like they didn't want to be there, despite some great moments and sets.
I think you're definitely right that this is the first show of the 2.0 era, though. It's hard to not see the sloppiness as a turning point and for the first time how obvious it was to see the backstage culture leaking onstage and impacting the music.
Not so sure about Trey's memory issues. The one time I got to hang out and chat with him, I brought up some really random shows from 20+ years earlier and his recall was so on point I was shocked.
That's good to hear. I hope the overall tone of this post doesn't make it seem like I think his memory fog is a fault...I actually find it kind of endearing, and likely good for their creative development that he doesn't dwell too deeply on the past. Leave that to me, haha.
Trey's memory is fine. We're the ones with the problem.
On another note, I really like The Happy Whip and Dung Song. There's one I'd like to hear them play again. And I love Page's description--“imagine driving through a blinding snowstorm in the tundra with a yak, a sled, and a heaving pile of dung.”
Kinda of sums up 99 that such an even show would sit directly between two undeniable classic shows. I also remember being excited when this Fluffhead got the Live Bait treatment, and then I listened to it, like, twice, and that was it.
I'm also irrationally excited for your essays that cover 2.0, which is the ultimate up-and-down era. I have a love for 2.0 since I saw a ton of shows during those years and I think the best 2.0 is up there with the best of Phish, but also recognize its warts. In fact, I was listening to a 2003 show recently and thinking about whether it would derail this entire project for you, lol. I can't wait.
Another great read, Rob. Thank you for the work you put into this project. As someone who bailed after 2000, and didn’t come back until 2017/2018, I am looking forward to your thoughts on 2.0. Oddly enough, a trial of the LivePhish app, a well timed roadtrip, and access to Winter 03 is what got me back into the band. Anyways, thanks again for your commitment to these essays.
My 1.0 was ‘94-‘99. I never really reconnected after that except for this awesome blog.
Unless the band does a “1997 run” somewhere, pretty sure i’ll never see the band again.
‘97-‘98, Nothing compares… TO YOU.
I’m somewhat of a late-comer to this series and like others I’m intrigued by your antipathy toward 2.0 - have you written about that somewhere? Would be interested to read more. Love the essays, always excited when they pop up in my inbox.
I do love this Fluffhead for some reason, even though I completely agree with its flaws that you pointed out. The groove they hit on for most of the last five minutes is dumb as hell and nearly as funky. I’m just a sucker for any jam with that hazy ‘99 Trey tone.
Also, am I the only one who doesn’t think Trey outright fell? Urban legend has it that Trey was partying with gusto that day and even crashed a golf cart pre-show, and I buy that more than this being a true fall. He kneels down, then the lights go dark for a sec, and then his legs are up in the air. He’s just trying to do some goofy rock star moves, but due to his condition, it came off way sloppier than intended.
My first show was the next night, and I remember talking before that show with a guy I know who attended 7/24. My excitement - based only on the setlist and, probably, the song times from RMP - didn't match up with his experience at the show for the same reasons you said. If this isn't 2.0, it is definitely 1.9.
Militant anything is rather silly. If you don't listen then how do you know what you are talking about? Closed minded writer? That's a thing.