(posted to rec.music.phish in April 1998 - part 2 of 4)

Friday 4/3

Ahh! Mike's Opener! Run for your lives! Actually, Reilly called this
one, figuring after a Tube opener we'd see 4 straight shows with
mind-boggling openers. How did he get to be so smart?

This Mike's rocked for an entire 15 minutes, and was considerably good
being in that slot! Certainly better than 12-9 (Penn State) and I'd have
to say just as good as the 11-22 (Hampton) 1st set Mike's opener. Old
Home Place was oddly placed as far as I'm concerned, but Trey turned to
Mike looking for a suggestion and that's what he suggested to a shrugging
"ok," of Trey's.

The Weekapaug however, was stellar and came in at 18 minutes. The jam
segment went on *forever* and seemed to almost segue into a new song then
back into Weekeapug. At one point in the jam, Trey looked to Fishman and
Fish pulled his mic to his mouth, although he never sang anyhting. Again
this jam digressed into something similar from the post Twist jam the
night before (band members "ooh"-ing and Chris doing a similar effect
lighting the band from behind) Suddenly amidst the chaos Trey raised his
finger with the number one and the band launched back into Weekapaug.

The next four songs (Trainschwag, Billy Brothed, Beauty in my Pants, and
Dogs Stole an Otherwise Great Slot for a Song) were painful to hear all in
a row, but better here than a few hours later. But all was saved by the
Reba. Nice jam in there before the dreaded My Soul.

Second set of Friday was probably the best musically of the run. Another
four song set which tore the roof off of Nassau. The Roses are Free went
on for almost a half hour (28 mins for those playing at home) of pure
rock-n-roll bliss, which then segued into an incredible Piper. More
intense than the Palace Piper (the only other one I've seen) and better
(though I can't describe how) that the Utah Piper, which was my favorite
up till then, this is quickly becoming my favorite song. You heard it
first here, I'm calling a Mike's->Piper->Weekapaug to open Portland. ;^)

Out of Piper formed a jam that can really only be described as "niiyce!"
but I think you'd need to hear me say that word out loud to fully gather
its meaning ;^) This unique jam (it was after the traditional end of
Piper but before the Page solo where he started Loving Cup) was an entire
10 minutes, more than enough to warrant a Piper->Jam->Loving Cup imho.

Loving Cup was Loving Cup (which is to say great!) but Antelope was
something else. I was thoroughly geeked to hear the opening of what was
to become the first '98 Antelope - especially with all the "Carini's Gonna
Get You!" madness. 1997 was such a great year for Antelopes, and I feel
safe in saying that 1998 will be as good...but in a different way. This
was not like an Albany nor a 12.29 Antelope, but had an energy all its
own. I'm sure many people will say this was not as good as those
Antelopes, and some will say better. I can say that it didn't get as
crazy as either of those, and it was relatively short (15 minutes) but it
rocked nonetheless. But don't believe me, cause I'm stupid, remember?

The Encore, in the words of Aaron, "Rules all worlds." Carini (obviously)
-> Halley's (whu...?!?) -> Tweeprise...what a night. Who can complain?