, attached to 1993-12-30

Review by waxbanks

waxbanks If you know Phish you know this show; if you're a newcomer to the scene working back through the archives from a baseline knowledge of, say, post-'97 Phish (unlikely though not unthinkable), you might be surprised by 12/30/93. The rock'n'roll stuff is blue fire: a top-10 version of Mike's Song, a wild Weekapaug > Rain, pure golden mid-90's Bowie and Slave action. This is transitional Phish: 1993 marks the border between the band's early nerd-rock period and the energetic arena-roar material that would power them through to the minimalist funk of '97. If you're accustomed to the slowed-down angry Mike's Song vibe of the late 90's, get ready for a joyful noise: after the key change this one takes off into triumphant home-from-war rocketsauce before cooling out, quieting down, clawing back, and taking on a spacey keening transitional sound that transforms flawlessly into Horse > Silent. The second set's a peach, less segue-heavy than some but powerful nonetheless. All that, plus a great Forbin's > Mockingbird and typically unhinged/maddening late first set Gin. The pre-'96 jamlessness of 2001 will disappoint latecomers, but that was the price the folk once paid for the wonky white geek-bop of '93 Phish.


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