From: Charlie Dirksen
5/8/93 UNH Field House, Durham, NH (rVWD 7/95) This is one of those
must-have Phish shows, folks. The Bowie intro
contains some great Allmans tease (I think Jessica), and the Bowie
itself is awesome.. with a Have Mercy stuck in it [Jessica
was jammed severely in the Bowie at Jones Beach in '94, but this is
just a light Jessica in the opening.. this jam isn't as severe as
7/15/94]. There is also an incredible jam out of the Squirmin' Coil
piano solo (I think it is the only segued jam out of Coil they
have ever done, but I am not sure). It is a must-hear event in Phishtory.
MikeS is really good, with strong jamming during the
tramps segment (but, granted, nothing truly ear-catching). At around
7 mins or so, though, CROSSROADS comes in. Trey
actually sings the first verse of this Clapton (he wrote it first,
no? yes?) tune, and Phish jams it well. Trey wails away a la
Clapton, and everyone works hard following his example. The Crossroads
theme jamming goes on for several minutes, with
Trey doing a 2nd verse at around 11:20 or so (with Mike), but it ends
quickly and they kick MikeS back in. Its a post-tramps
segment sort of jam at this time (disjointed, heavy). It doesn't last
long and nothing of import occurs. H2 segues in around 12:50
or thereabouts. It is ok -- nothing unusual happens. Weekapaug enters
at around 15:45 or so. Mike's opening solo is clean,
tight, but not special particularly. Trey comes right out in the opening
of the jam playing majestically over the others, jamming
with an ear towards what everyone else is doing. It is beautiful, fiery
and non-stop. Quiets down around 18:40ish, and begins to
take on a light reggae pre-Makisupa feel (without actually entertaining
us with Makisupa). Not much but plucking away around
19:20, when Page quietly plays a little amazing grace (the "jam" is
barely there at this point.. practically silent). At 20 mins, there
is no sound from anyone except a very light, barely audible strumming
from Trey. At 20:32 it is still quiet, but Amazing Grace is
then sung a cappella by everyone. It is sung well, although perhaps
not as well as it is sung these days (it goes a little out of tune
at the end). The crowd was GREAT, though, compared with many that I've
heard since then. Tis a very special moment (get
this show AT ALL COSTS, folks). I mean the "jam" just died out into
nothing and then AMAZING GRACE. At 22:20 or so,
they pick up their instruments, and Trey starts gently plucking amazing
grace, as the others steadily come in and join him. Fish
doesn't come in until 23 mins or so, and he kicks a WEEKAPAUG beat,
but everyone else hangs with amazing grace, until
Trey gets into to the 'Groove around 23:45 and starts truly wailing
on the Amazing Grace theme with Mike and Page. WOW.
What a spectacular jam to end an awe-inspiring tour. I'm getting chills
listening to this.. were any of you at this show??? TELL
US... share the Story about the Scene.. At 24:50, Trey thanks the audience
and everyone else for the Tour, and then the boyz
kick back into a brain-frying WeekapaugAmazingGraceGrooveJam, which,
unfortunately, ends quite unprofessionally around
26:20 (very sloppy ending .. its obvious that they really didn't WANT
it to end..). This show certainly didn't need an encore, but
AC/DC Bag was it (this was at a time when they weren't playing AC/DC
every few shows, remember..;^). Wow. Get this
show at all costs. B+ rating for the MikeSGroove, which, remember,
doesn't mean shit, really.