6/16/90 Townshend Park, Townshend, VT
Set 1: AC/DC Bag >Divided Sky > Wilson, Reba, Horn, Uncle Pen > Bouncing Around the Room, Timber (Jerry) > Lawn Boy > Possum
Set 2: Golgi Apparatus, Esther > Tweezer, My Sweet One > Bathtub Gin, You Enjoy Myself > The Lizards, Run Like an Antelope
Set 3: La Grange, Ya Mar, Foam, The Oh Kee Pa Ceremony > Suzy Greenberg, Fee, Rocky Top, Caravan > Hold Your Head Up > If I Only Had a Brain > Hold Your Head Up > Mike's Song >I Am Hydrogen > Weekapaug Groove
Encore: Contact > Big Black Furry Creature from Mars
Encore 2: Good Times Bad Times
I could not get a complete lossless fileset seeded tonight, my HD is lent out, but the lossless soundboard of sets 2 and 3 are here (set one does not circulate in sbd):
http://bt.etree.org/details.php?id=538008
Complete show lossy here:
http://www.mediafire.com/?79brwrux784bt
"An Outdoor Explosion" Awesome!
How has this not been reviewed?
Some slackin' up in this piece.
Quote from: rowjimmy on January 17, 2012, 09:11:51 AM
How has this not been reviewed?
Some slackin' up in this piece.
No joke. I've been listening to it repeatedly over the last week, and will get started on a review today.
I wasn't even aware it was posted, I'll get mine up asap.
Psyched for this one.
Almost through this one..........
Quote from: rowjimmy on January 17, 2012, 09:11:51 AM
How has this not been reviewed?
Some slackin' up in this piece.
Quote from: Augustus on January 19, 2012, 05:18:05 PM
Almost through this one..........
Not an easy one to get through...Not only is the quality mediocre at best, but the playing does little justice to the actual show...More on this when I review...I need to get the Olympia show up first and then I'll do this. Have listened to both shows, just slacking on the reviews
Set one:
AC/DC Bag - Start it off dancing! They sound very confident and together through the lyrics, Trey sounds pretty hot coming in to the jam, really loud, with complex lines before a brief dropout of the PA which seems to spur the band into a really intense peak. Short, grass scorching jam. Good start!
Divided Sky - I like this so early in the set. Really carries the energy of the Bag into the exploratory (in a composed sense) realm. Beautiful work by Page and Trey for the comp. I prefer the days when "the pause" was a brief, quiet moment like this.
This is a faithful version of this tune, and I love that Trey is still working on getting the feedback under control during his held notes. Nice and raw. It serves to remind me how difficult what he is doing really is. The steam wanes a little on the recording toward the end, but I bet the party was rockin' in person already. Page is super-fiesty during the end run. Drops it tightly.
Wilson - Picks it right up. Page saturated beginning. Trey sounds impassioned, not having yet gotten the Book in his hands and taken the place of Wilson to become the next evil tyrant. This kicks some serious ass.
Reba - It's really gonna hurt. Love that, given they start into Reba! Oh, boy I loves me a reba! Mellow start, sounds like people are whooping it up. They tweak the tempo up a bit as they hit the BITI. They take their time on the composed section, doing it right. Great tender sounding Page to start the jam. He creates some great space to listen to Trey lay it down. He covers a lot of ground with some hot chording at ~8 min. in. Sweet.
Horn - Extra long intro = extra tasty. Pages organ wash is very cool. Trey needs to tune a bit, but hey, that's the old days. Pretty spirited energy for such a somber number. Trey's ending to his vocal makes me glad for editorial choices made later, but this altogether, a trippy and cool early take on this one. I like how they snap right into>
Uncle Pen - This is the first bluegrass number I encountered, and still my fav. Trey gives an inspired solo. Mike and Page sound a little less secure, and mostly play it safe. I'll refer to what I said above about how hard this shit is, and how I start to take for granted how easy they can make it sound. Trey owns this one out the door.
Bouncing - Stealthy smooth start of this one. Definitely mixing the energy back and forth now. Fun to listen to the unobtrusive audience chatter. Sounds like a happy crowd. The boys have some miscommunications on when to stop singing, but they figure it out eventually.
Timber - Rippin'. Page is all clanky at the start, and Fish makes the thunder rolls. The jam tips right into chaos and dissonance. Nice cyclic returns to a jazzy refrain, only to unravel again, the rhythm loosing form. Reminding me of the dead's space meandering at times. That was out there, man.
Lawn Boy - Soothing balm for the burns. This set has some really choice flow. Not much keyboard during the vocals, but Page's voice is sweet. Trey takes his nice lounge riffs out, beautiful work. Good blend down>
Possum - Oh yeah, peeps loved the Possum one upon a time (before they were referred to as "peeps" as I recall). Jeez, Mike sounds like he's 15. Trey does some fine explorations off the key to begin, and Page carries it along with him until the return. So weird. So fun. Rawkin' way to end a great set that got the wife bopping.
Set two:
Golgi Apparatus - Great placement, having loose fun with this very fun song. An early favorite, this one has nice wonky tone to start. Sweet, twangy Trey, he gets a little lost, but hey, it's a party!
Esther - Yes. Time to chill. Peppy second verse with good backing vox by Page. Gesundhiet! Did someone say something somewhere about blowing smoke in Trey's face? Great plucking by Mike after Esther's landing, Trey turns the wah on briefly, sounds cool. Really punchy ending lyrics, and a sweet solo by Page. Stuck landing>
Tweezer - Mike ranging around during the intro. Cool different organ sound from Page, super vocal zaniness all around. Screaming, really. Slight miss on the return from the post-ebineezer, and then they slide into a really nice Trey led jam. His riff here reminds me of something... I'm thinking Zappa somehow. Nice return after the slowdown.
MSO - Boot stomping, in case the platform was feeling too sturdy. Pretty loose.
Gin - Mellow intro has Page with some absent minded - sounding piano galumphing. Mancini kaleidoscope. The jam gets melty and deconstructive right out the gate with some idle dreams from Page and Trey as Mike comes in with ending vocals to moan and growl it down.
YEM - Meat in the middle. Good composed sect with a nice, whirling effect on Page, before a thoughtful piano run. Thumb up. Mike lays a nice, grindy beat for his interlude. Zippy rhythm playing by Trey. I miss that shit. They take the ending build some cool, different places before Trey seriously goes off on his licks leaden up to the Boy, Man... section. Great interactions from everyone here. Page sounds so good during the tramp jump. A slight shift in tempo, and Mike starts some pretty bizarre burbling. Page finishes with a good swell, and Trey steps off, into his solo which is dark and minor to start. Intense chording @ ~10. Breaks into some peakage, before the B&D. Mike sounds filthy, unfortunately he and fish forgot to mind-meld beforehand, and it's a little jumbly. Vocal jam is free form and fast-paced, with some genuine oddity. Pretty strong YEM.
The Lizards - Great way to follow a YEM. This version sounds a little loose and sloppy, but it is not detracting from my enjoyment. Very playful vibe. Mike is nicely prominent during this one, I feel like I've been missing him during much of this show. He and Page have a fantastic conversation while Trey and Fish keep them in the air. Oonga! A beaut from Trey to lead us out.
'Lope - This is a Monstrous Antelope. Intro is significantly messed around with. The jam is long and the intensity of the slow build never lags. Very intense interplay that has gotten repeated listening from me already. Rhythm breakdown is super stretched out and Ice cool. Goofy vocal modulation during end vocals made us giggle. Slamming version, highlight so far.
Set three
La Grange - Fishman on the PSA. I like the way Trey starts creeping up. This cover is a winner with me. It'd be cool if they played it more later on, but it probably wouldn't have been the same. You can hear a lot of Julius's generative roots in the jamming of this one. Smoking return from the break.
Ya Mar - Specially dedicated, and sweet. Mike really bopping vigorously and Trey makes a slithery lead in the intro. Really clipped and fast through the lyrics. Fishman is putting great flourishes on the percussion. Sweet velvet Page, with Mike popping out quick supports. Trey boggles the strings. One of my favorite solo's of his and this one is very snazzy.
Foam - Strange grinding string slides from Mike to begin a slow, deliberate Foam. Feels extra evil. Mike is thudding and bouncing this along. Relaxed, night club solo from Page, ending with some fine cascades. Trey takes a careful, precise lead that wanders broadly and cleverly within the theme, before the more typical squealing. Really tight version.
Oh Kee Pa - Roll out the barrels! This is a good song during which to laugh merrily with a beer in hand.
Suzy - The lyrics of this one have dulled for me over the years, but these early ones really have some sauce. Especially during the Page breakdowns. The second of these is fabulously stretched out in this version and gets a little into an alternate theme. Super hot.
Fee - Total energy change, Trey's vocals are not sounding the finest here, (no mega) sounds like maybe another tune up is in order. Page steps up and makes everyone happy while I assume T tried to adjust, but man, he is now off on his chords. Mike sounds slightly editorial. Page again is pleasant, but they sound tired. Understandably. Rough one though.
Rocky Top - Good move to try to get the energy back up, but this sounds a little weak for this song. Some different harmony choices vocally than I'm familiar with. A cut to the middle of Trey's solo (sounded pretty good) and a fine finish.
Caravan - F yeah. The intro to this is nasty! Never heard this from this era. They work it out in a dark moody way, with some very cool breaks and tempo shifts. Page and Trey give murky, soft solos punctuated with sweet tumbling bridges. Mike takes time to properly funk it around when his turn comes up. Freaking money.
I dug this a whole, heaping bunch!
Henriettaaaa! >
HYHU>IIOHAB>HYHU - Oof. That was as flubbed as you can get. Poor Jon. This was perfect for a park full of wasted freaks. That was totally sideshow, dude.>
Mike's Song - Very odd transition, leads to some great shifting by Page. This has a very weird distorted sound (not the recording) overall. Yup things are definitely getting strange up in this one. Great tension with a lot of exploration. Fish has not quite got his strange up to the level of everyone else though, sounds tentative. Gets messy and dank before they evaporate >
Hydrogen - Sweet. Only caught one myself, unforgettable. Page sounds churchy >
Weekapaug - Mike was saving it up. He'd been plotting, you can tell. He goes off like an overwound spring, and wow, is this 'paug ever the real deal. Freaking crazy maniacal frenzy jam. Off. The. Hook.
Contact - Love it. So much variation to the material this show, you can tell that they are past the point of getting things down pat to where they play with it like a toy. Blistering funk break. Fantastic, intimate encore
BBFCFM - Getting late is it? This is so right.
GTBT - Rock into the night. Page sticks his vocals.
Pretty incredible show. The setlist reads like a catalogue. There are some rough and tumble parts, but it's three freeeking sets man! And the highlights are very high. Thanks for the listening to your Phristening, what a doozy!
Nice review! Need to give this sucker one more listen.....
Quote from: Caravan2001 on January 20, 2012, 11:35:53 PM
Nice review! Need to give this sucker one more listen.....
Yeah, nice review. I'm halfway through reviewing it. I thought the same thing when I heard Mike's voice in Possum.
Thanks guys, it's been super fun! I look forward to reading yours too!
6/16/90 Townshend Park, Townshend, VT
I've always liked this show, mind-blowing first show, that's for sure.
Set 1:
AC/DC Bag – Band is very loose sounding, makes for a nice groove. As they go into the solo, system cuts out and they don't skip a beat. Although short, great lead in this Bag. Love the segue into >
Divided Sky – Man did they ever nail this tune, perfect tone to Trey's guitar IMO, so fluid. Few glitches in the PA system, crackles a bit and cuts out again for a sec. Short pause. Nice sustains, partial whale calls and blistering leads by Trey in the outtro. >
Wilson – The organ very loud in the mix for this tune. You can tell in Trey's voice that he's having a blast up there. Couple of off notes by Trey during his lead but nothing that detracts too much. Lots of screaming during the pre blat boom part. Trey shredding to close. Announcement ensues about people breaking the deck.
Reba – Composed section pretty good, guitar sounds out of key but they keep it together. Strange start to the jam, kinda seems like Trey is doing his own thing. Pretty short by Reba standards and doesn't really grab me.
Horn – Trey still out of tune but I love the early versions of this tune, I find they're totally different from the standard horns of later years. Seems as though they are just figuring it out and then they slip right into >
Uncle Pen – Fun BG, Mike is hard to hear in the mix, each member taking their turn at lead. Decent version >
Bouncing Around the Room – Nice break before...
Timber (Jerry) – Cool work by Page on the intro. Nice soloing by Trey going up and down, I have to say that it lacks the thundering bass to back it up but sounds good nonetheless. >
Lawn Boy – Nice >
Possum – Cool lick from Trey in the intro. Some guitar noodling in off keys, then the piano comes in to compliment it, then rawk.
Set 2:
Golgi Apparatus - Trey seems to be playing a step ahead for a few stanzas. I'm sure he's doing it on purpose but doesn't sound good to my ears.
Esther – Nice, crowd seems pumped for this one. Like the sound of Page's voice on the harmonies in this version. So tight, love this rendition. >
Tweezer – Some crazy vocals in this. I love wild Phish, they seem to be really out there on this version. Cool jam with everyone taking part. Some cool modulation from Mike who is just slapping away. Trey seems to be rocking more on his solo than later Tweezers, then slams into the outtro.
My Sweet One – Page's voice is off key a lot in this. >
Bathtub Gin – The piano sounds great in the opening verses minus a couple of flubs. Jam is short and out there with a cool but abrupt ending.
You Enjoy Myself – Composed part perfect, Trey's tone just sounds incredible. Nice work by Page in the jam, Trey plays some tasteful lead and then Mike just rips it up, although way too short for my taste. >
The Lizards – There is a couple of off key vocals here and there but not enough to ruin this great version. Page does some great work in the lead.
Run Like an Antelope – Wow!!! Trey is just a beast on this version, tears it a new one and doesn't quit. Just builds and builds til it reaches the boiling point. Highlight of the night so far.
Set 3: Return the shirt lost at a Max Creek show? Wonder if it was.
La Grange – Rawk!!! Nice start to the set.
Ya Mar – Dedicated to Heather Paul for her birthday. Nice work by Trey at the start. Very slick work by Page, then Trey really works the top of his fretboard.
Foam – Beautiful.
The Oh Kee Pa Ceremony – Awesome. >
Suzy Greenberg – Nice Trey and Page interplay, solid version.
Fee – Cool.
Rocky Top – Recording cuts out for a second after the second chorus.
Caravan – Funky intro, great improve from start to finish. Cool ending, introducing Fish. >
Hold Your Head Up – >
If I Only Had a Brain - Nice playing actually and of course, Henrietta's singing. >
Mike's Song – Another slick intro with some great stuff from Page. Seemed as though Mike missed his cue for the 2nd verse. Page just dominates this version, Trey seems out of sync on the ending and just gets trippy with his lead. He's totally out of tune on the end of it. >
I Am Hydrogen – Page for prez! >
Weekapaug Groove – Trey is just bursting with creativity on this lead. Rockin' Paug! Wish they could play all night but they can't? Well, they proved themselves wrong 9 years later.
Encore:
Contact – Dance instructor? >
Big Black Furry Creature from Mars –The crowd is really getting worked up. Trey throws in a tease after the 1-2-3-4 but I can't put my finger on what exactly it is.
Good Times Bad Times – Trey just shreds this one, nice end to an awesome show.
2nd set is for sure my favourite. I can't even imagine seeing the boys in 1990, would have blown my mind. I'd give this show a B+.
ACDC - Who woulda thunk that the first show opener you saw would open their NYE show 21 years later? Snappy sounding with some echo-y drums. Sounds cuts out on the PA.
Sky - More PA problems. Really cool, albeit short, breakdown in the jam.
Wilson - Very energetic intro. Is that Page's PA all crackly all the whole system? Easy on the deck! Lotta hurtin' going on!
Reba - Great to hear these early ones after the re-working.
Horn - 2nd time played. Weird tone. Almost sounds like a bad cover band! Different arrangement in the solo section. Did they really just segue into? >>>
UPenn - If so, that was mint.
Bouncing - I'm sure you even knew back then to go take a leak.
Timber - Nice placement here. Alt. lyrics with lotsa tension.
Lawn - Chill Trey solo.
Possum - *LUV* Trey's scale usage on this one. Great communication from all members.
Golgi - Tight breakdown section.
Esther - w/ sneeze!
Tweezer - Extra funky intro. Odd/awesome return from the Ebineezer section. Noisy jam directly into >>>
MSO - Eh. Vocals are off.
Gin - Super short and dissonant.
YEM - Pretty good composed. I imagine this is around the time where people are either sold on the band or not.
Lizards - Land of them.
Antelope - Gypsy Queen tease by Mike. Killer tension @5:50. Ultra raging ensues. Show highlight for me. Handmade shirts!
La Grange - Shragin'! Mike gets lost for a bit, but still really cool version.
Ya Mar - For Heather's birthday.
Foam - So slow. Lotsa tension on Trey's solo.
OKP > Suzy - With Happy Birthday tease. Pagezilla kills it!
Fee - Digging the outro.
Rocktop - Classic Fee/Rockytop pairing. Slow. Tape cut.
Caravan - Is this how it happened? Very sweet breakdown with Mike solo.
Brain - Gotta have a Fish tune.
Mike's - Little shaky toward the end.
H2 - Sounds kinda circus-y.
Week - Brief modulation, which was somewhat atypical for 1990 shows.
Contact - Dance instructor! Here we am. Crowd is ultra amped for the encore.
BBFCFM - Wow! Mike killing it! TRY TO FUCKING KILL YOU!!!!!!!!
GXBX - E2: Rippy.
Pretty awesome first show!
I give it an A
I apologize that it's taken me so long to review this one. Over a month, that's just pitiful....
AC/DC Bag - Nice opener. Trey starts ripping into his solo when the PA goes out for a few seconds. A quick end and right into:
Divided Sky - Unfortunately Mike is pretty low in the mix on this tape. The jam is pretty raw. Not like the smooth and polished versions I'm so used to.
Wilson - Without missing a beat. Interesting chord choices by Page on that main percussive theme. Great scream by Trey towards the end. Now that's metal!
Reba - Trey really needs to tune his guitar. The composed section is super tight, though. The jam section is very short and is over before you know it.
Horn - Wow, never heard an early version of this. It's really interesting to hear this arrangement, although it lacks Trey's gorgeous solo. I still like it a lot, though. Sounds like the recording got cut off as it goes right into:
Uncle Pen - Very melodic solo by Trey.
Bouncing - Really slow version.
Timber - Woah, never heard that verse before. Gritty and eerie beginning to the jam with some heavy organ. I'm a total stranger to real early versions of Timber. It seems to be an exercise in extreme dissonance, or perhaps you could just consider it some type 2 jamming. It gradually comes back around for them to return to the final verse.
Lawnboy - Lots of segues where you wouldn't expect them in this set it seems.
Possum - Mike's voice sounds like he's 12 years old. They take this one out there, as well. So much for a straight, bluesy rocker. This one gets the crazy dissonance treatment. Nice! And then right back for some more big rock.
Golgi - Trey is a bit playful during the middle section, spicing things up.
Esther - Some folks in the crowd are quite excited about this one. Who wouldn't be? Played very well. I like the Hoo Ha section in particular.
Tweezer - Some additional slapping by Mike, followed by some screeching vocals. You can hear the smiles on their faces.
MSO - Fast and fun Page solo.
Gin - Short jam that's super dissonant. Can't imagine playing this one for my parents. Mike sounds like he wants it to end the way he sings along at the end.
YEM - Solid composed section. Nice drop into the jam. Page sounds real nice. The jam gets pretty hot, pretty quick, and also ends pretty quickly.
Lizards - Not the tightest, but still fun. I'm sure all in attendance thoroughly enjoyed it. Nice finish.
Antelope - They get to a nice place ~4:00 in and start to get out there. It comes back for a little bit and then the intensity goes up a notch for a mini-peak. Fiery! Lots of nice slides by Trey and Mike is laying down some sick shit. What a great jam.
La Grange - Nice start to the set. Trey starts the solo out very subdued and does a great job quickly building the intensity. Real fluid. I enjoyed this a lot.
Yamar - Super fast. Great playing by Trey early on. And later on, too.
Foam - A big switch in tempo here. Seems to detract from it early on, but they fill the space very well.
Oh Kee Pa - Sounds great
Suzy - Very energetic version. Pretty funky solo spot for Page. Quite enjoyable.
Fee - One or two mistakes but not a bad version
Rocky Top - A bit on the slow side.
Caravan - Very unique intro to this one. This version is played pretty slow. It gets real cool and funky in the middle there. Entertaining ending.
HYHU>If I Only Had a Brain - Fishman sings horribly out of tune. I love it.
Mike's - Interesting start to this one. I like the heavy organ kicking it off. They seem a bit out of sorts as it progresses though.
Hydrogen - Woah, sounds like I'm in church.
Weekapaug - Here's some fire for ya. Mike kicks it off with a bunch of chords on the bass. Some great playing in here by Mike and Trey. Place must be jumping right now.
Contact - A fun sing-a-long to wind things down.
BBFCFM - But it's not over just yet. They're having a blast with this.
GxBx - They really rock this one out to go out like a lion.
Fantastic first show. I can see why you became such a rabid follower!
major slacking on my part but i will get this review up!
6/16/1990 Townshend Family Park
DC Bag- Upbeat Bag to get the show going and everyone sounding nice and loose. PA issues also seem to energize Trey further in his blistering solo.
Divided Sky- Extremely tight to say the least and pleasant on the ears despite more PA issues. Man that was beautiful!
Wilson- Energy is up but the recording really hurts on this one. The whimsy seems effortless, love it.
Reba- Drool over these early versions. Definitely not "perfect" but exciting to hear. Short and sweet with a toned down peak and whistling!
Horn- interesting version that very quickly jumps to>>
Uncle Penn- like candy from a baby
Bouncin- yep
Timber- Page having a little fun on the intro but overall sounds flat. Stash like tension on the solo
Lawn Boy- Page sounds so so nice
Possum- More huge tension from Trey, great and unexpected version.
Golgi- slight bumps in the composed but Trey can really bounce back, love the finish.
Esther- Audience is definitely digging it, did Trey sneeze just before Page's solo? Great interplay with Trey and Page.
Tweezer - a little extra something in the intro. Having a little too much fun with the vocals! Crazy jam with everyone following Trey's lead, live the old school ending.
MSO- mixing up the set, vocals here really show how young the boys are.
Gin - getting back to the meat, old intro before the grand. Where's Mike?! Short and similar to the Tweezer in terms of jam success.
YEM - Trey seems to just nail this, hard to imagine he wrote this so many years ago. Page gets a nice tinkly organ solo that seems to bring out Mike's bass a bit. Trey comes in nicely and pulls the whole band together for a really strong finish, and finally more Mike!
Lizards - always been a sucker and this is no exception.
Antelope - heavy Trey shred with everyone holding on for dear life! One of my highlights.
La Grange - caught one of these at Vernon downs. Blistering solo and tight overall.
Yamar- birthday wishes and a needed break. Nice work by Page, fun and loose.
Foam - slow intro and everyone seems to nail there parts, just can't hear Mike. Near perfect, easy show highlight for me.
Oh Kee Pa- sets up >
Suzy - Page gets his moments in an era dominated by Trey.
Fee- no megaphone?! Sounds good to me.
Rocky Top - it happens
Caravan - very cool and dig the placement. Sounds different and Wedge like during intro.
If I only had a brain - Henrietta being called out! Good stuff and rolls >
Mike's - playful intro and extremely loose from there. Wouldn't mind hearing a better mix.
Hydrogen - as purdy as ever with a slight church feel from Page in the beginning.
Weekapaug - Complete Trey shred whoa. Faces melted.
Contact- this set is $$, love me some Contact although Fish sounds a little too excited.
BBFCFM - this show has everything, wonder what Todd was thinking about now?
GTBT - as nasty as one would expect.
Sickness, and especially more do your first show, hook set. Highlights were Antelope, Weekapaug, Foam and really that third set as a whole.