All right folks here we go for a short review: Describing the new songs is not easy.I suggest anyone who reads the reviews to check out Brian Price's Homepage where you can find samples of the new songs.

1st Set:

The Arena is located in the middle of the industrial section. It used to be a factory.When getting inside you have an outside stage surrounded by bars. Next to that stage you have a little venue inside which is where Phish played.It contains room for about 400 people.

Limb by Limb: This one is great as an opener. When they start the song you are sure it's Ya Mar although you can feel it's different. There's a Trey/Page duet at the beginning of the song that is very nice.It's probably one of my favorites.This song is usually about 8 minutes long.

Dog Stole Things: I really don't know how to discribe this one.The beginning of the song starts with a Fish rythm.When Fish hits the drums you are sure that they are playing Mound.Then it's completely different.Check out those samples for a better idea.

Theme from the Bottom: Gets better and better.They really jam this song.Did some great work on this tune.

Punch You In The Eye: Always a threat to hear this song. With Trey and Mike's little dance during the Landlady section.Well played.

Water in the Sky: New calm bluegrass song.This song is more like a Alison Krauss song.It's very slow and so cute.Mike sings the song.

Maze: This was a 14 minutes Maze.Page's solo began very slow.It just went faster and faster.Trey' solo was very noisy.A little bit like the one of 8/13/96 in Deer Creek.The kind of Maze that can make you feel really bad....

Waste: Same as always.

Vultures: Contains some great work of Fish at the end of the song.

Runaway Jim: I've heard better and worse versions of this one.It was a good Jim.

1h 10 minutes

2nd Set

Stash: Nice Stash.It began very slowly and evolved like every Stash to the noisy yet so exciting section of the song.It looked like Trey couldn't get out of the Jam and decided to go straight into a jam instead of ruining the song.I must say I was happy he did that.

JAM: I still don't know how they managed to switch from Stash to this Jam.It was a slow funky Jam. Amazing...

Story of the Ghost: Defenately the best new song.It's getting better every show.

I Saw it Again: Very dark song. Wild....

Wading in the Velvet Sea: This song is beautiful.It's calm song but not like Waste or Strange Design.The whole band sings it and Trey's solo is very touching.

Words: Very fast song.Get the tapes.Especially for the Lille version of this was one.

Jesus Left Chicago: This was 12 minutes version.Great work from Page and Trey.

Prince Caspian: Again this is one of the Billy Breathes song on which you can see they really worked.The jam is like the one in Amsterdam.The intro was very long.

Encore:

Beauty of my Dreams: I like it...

Character Zero: Very nice version.I think you have all heard it live by now.

Hello My Baby: Tripple encore!!!! Acapella without mics.

Set 2 + Encore: 1 hour 25 minutes.

 If you have any comment , questions please email me at stanleyr@glo.be

 Review of Prague 6/20/97

 1st Set:

The Archa theater is located in the center of Prague.It's a real theater usually not used for concerts.The sound was excellent inside the venue and it had capacity for about 1000 people.

Taste: Nice way to open a show.This was a 12 minutes Taste.I was stunned by Page's solo.

JAM: This was almost a House Jam.It got everybody dancing in the venue...

Cities: It jammed straight into Cities.I'm gladd they are covering it again.

Horn: Trey played it just perfect. No mistakes.

Funny As It Seems: I remeber that this was a calm song but that's it.

Limb by Limb: See Above.

I Don't Care: I remember this song was really dark and heavy.Kind of a 70's song.All I remember is that they jammed it for about 15 minutes.

Run Like An Antelope: Not the best one I've heard but probably the wildest and the loudest I've heard. At the end of the song Trey changed the words: instead of Marco Esquandolas he said "New Jersey Jack".Then he said: ...to have any spike LADY...

1 hour 5 minutes

2nd Set:

David Bowie: 17 minutes Bowie.Can you wish something more as an opener.

Story of the Ghost: Very different as the one in Vienna.This one was longer (13 minutes) and had an amazing jam.

Bye Bye Foot: New Fish tune.Very calm and slow.Very cute new song.

Ginseng Sullivan: Let's dance...

Cavern: Always fun.

Twist Around:  New tune.15 minutes long.Amazing song.This one is my favorite with Soty of the Ghost.

Bouncing Around The Room: Same as always.I like to hear it.

Julius: 10 minutes Julius.This is the best version I ever heard and probably the highlight of the show.Trey couldn't be stopped on this one.

Encore:

When the Circus Comes to Town: Nice cover.

Rocky Top: I hoped they wouldn't finish on a calm song.Rocky Top was the best way to end the show.

Set 2 + Encore: 1 hour 20 minutes.

 If you have any comment , questions please email me at stanleyr@glo.be

Review of Strasbourg 6/24/97

1st Set:

La Laiterie was a very nice venue.The show wasn't sold out.You had between 300 and 400 people.Thes show was sheduled for 19:30 but only started at 20:50.

Split Open and Melt: 12 min. Melt.Great version.Very loud like always.As an opener it kicked you right away into the show.

Beauty of My Dreams: I really like this song.

Dog Stole Things: See Vienna.

Vultures: Much better than in Vienna.The new songs are getting better every show.Fish went wild at the end of the song.

Guelah Papyrus: Cut short in the middle of the song.Trey couldn't go on.He apologized to the audience and said they would play something else.

Runaway Jim: Amazing Jim with a Gypsy Queen jam in the middle section.This Jim lasted for about 15 minutes.They should play it this way more often.

Talk: Nice.

Free: Probably the song on which they worked the most.Trey hasn't got his drumkit anymore so instead of the noisy part they used to do as a jam they now play a real jam.This song has become a 10 min. jam.The end of the song is just like on Billy Breathes.I really like the way they've improved this song.

Prince Caspain: Very well played.

Rocky Top: Original as set closer.

1 hour 10 minutes

2nd Set:

Wolman's Brother: 16 minutes Wolman's Brother.It seems that they decided to jam this song every time they play it.Like they did for Simple last fall. Get the tapes for this one.

Reba: Again 16 minutes.I had never heard such a long Reba before.Probably the nicest Reba I've heard.

NICU: Can't get enough of this one.

Twist Around: Not as good as in Prague.Still a great new song.

Words: See Vienna.

Wading in the Velvet Sea: Much better than in Vienna.Played it longer than in Vienna.Very nice song.

Story of the Ghost: Still my favorite.From now on when you see a show with this song get the tapes.It's just perfect.

Encore:

Loving Cup: What a nice way to end a show.This was a 10 minutes Loving Cup.Great version.

Set 2 + Encore 1 hour 20 minutes

If you have any comment , questions please email me at stanleyr@glo.be

Review of Lille 6/25/97

1st Set:

Oblivious Fool: I like this new song.Check out Brian's homepage for a sample of this one.

Dog Stole Things: See Vienna.

Taste: Very long Taste.Again some impressive work by Page and Trey.

Billy Breathes: Nice to hear.Trey kind of missed his solo.

AC/DC Bag: Great one.Started very slow, very funky. It ended very fast.Great solo by Trey.Probably the highlight of the first set with My Soul.

My Old Home Place: Nice to hear it.

Theme from the Bottom: Good version.

Wading in the Velvet Sea: See Strasbourg.

I Saw it Again: See Vienna.

Limb by Limb: See Vienna.

My Soul: Very long  compared to the other ones I've heard.Great set closer and probably the best My Soul I've heard.

1 hour 15 minutes.
 

2nd Set:

Down With Disease: Very Long.Contained an amazing Jam.

Jam: You can find everything in that Jam.Slow moments, loud moments, mellow parts, reggae, just name it.

Words: Best version I've heard of this song.Also the longest.

Down With Disease: During Words you could feel Trey was heading back to DWD.They just did it perfectly.The DWD jam was long. Much longer thab they did last february in Amsterdam.They didn't finish the song.They didn't sing the end but jammed straight into what is (I guess) a new song.

Time: Really don't remember this one.

Mc Grupp: During Time you could hear the theme of Mc Grupp played by Trey.This was a reggae version.They played Mc Grupp as if it was a reggae tune.Get the tapes for this Mc Grupp.Page's solo was very quiet.Trey and Mike were in front of Fish's drums just looking at Page.

Makisupa Policeman: This set was geeting really wild.Mc Grupp into Makisupa???!!!!! Is there anything more you can wish???
Trey and Fish did some weird sounds during the song.

Cecilia: At the end of Makisupa Trey put a chair in the middle of the stage and took Fish's place on the drums.Fish sang Cecilia with no instruments.He  played with his sticks on his legs and sang this old Simon &Garfunkel tune although he didn't know all the lyrics.

HYHU: Fish came in front of the audience like he always does after he sings.

Rocka William: Trey continued playing the drums.In the meantime Fish took Trey's guitar, Page took Mike's bass and Mike began to play on Page's piano.
This song is so dark.It's almost a horror movie.

Run Like An Antelope: While Mike was still playing on the piano Trey started to play Antelope.This si an epic verion.It was about 13 minutes, maybe more, but it's certainly one of those Antelopes that are going to be remembered.At the end of the song Trey introduced the whole crew.

Encore:

Guyute: Is there anything more to say.Playing Guyute as an encore.I don't think this happened before.Really well played.

Set 2 + Encore 1 hour 30 minutes.
 

If you have any comment , questions please email me at stanleyr@glo.be

 Note: Fishman cut his hair.He's almost bold and is wearing costumes.
 
          Trey isn't using his drumkit anymore.The megaphone for Fee isn't there anymore.

          The new songs are amazing.When they play the old songs they play it much better than they used to.Don't look at the
          setlists.Listen to the tapes and go the shows.You will be surprised how good they are..........