From: Charlie Dirksen
6/23/94 Phoenix Center, Pontiac, MI (Rvwd 12/94) Although I really enjoyed listening to the first set of this show (even
though I have a hideous FOB), its clear that they -- well, Trey in particular -- just ran out of energy, or something, by the
second. The second set starts out nicely, with a Frankenstein and Bowie! Unfortunately, both are very average versions, with
nothing special (but nothing disappointing). When Tweezer rolls around, the boyz sound like they are just going through the
motions. I was really interested to see what would happen with this Tweezer. The opening lyrics segment contained a great
"Sunshine of your Love" (Cream) tease, but other than that, was fairly standard (although no real chaos on the 'Ebeneezer'
lyric). The jam segment starts out on fire and grooves really hard, based on teasing around the "Sunshine of Your Love" theme.
It is very groovy, and great, with some great work from Trey and some NICU teases from Mike (Fish and Page are keeping
up, adding their own two cents here and there). The jam just plods along merrily for awhile, dropping the Sunshine theme after a
few minutes... a straight, groovy tweezer jam. There is a single Rock n Roll Hootchie Koo tease from Trey. By the ten minute
mark, though, everything is sort of hanging in there jamming-wise. Not that interesting at this point. Frankly, it's all downhill from
here. No real peak to this jam. Dull ending. Probably one of the lamest of the year, honestly. Just very boring, energy-less.
Typical dying out of the theme ending. 13 and a half minutes or so. Oh, and the Reprise is straightfoward. Have to rate it a
below average 4.0 (C-), even though the beginning of the jam segment is killer. I will be recycling this set, too. Quality isn't
good, but, even if it were, Lifeboy has two HUGE f*ck-ups from Trey (they are huge because this song is so fragile), and the
Slave is just YAAAAAAWWWWWWNNNN, just nothing. Cut short, too. If this is one of your favorite sets, I highly
recommend listening to more Phish. The first set is great (Pyite and Julius close), though, but my God, the second set is
mind-bogglingly lame. First set also has NICU, and an excellent Buried Alive opener.