, attached to 2000-09-24

Review by CaptConstantine

CaptConstantine This was my third time seeing the band after catching them twice during Summer 2000 tour! I was 17 years old and living in Rapid City, SD-- we couldn't believe our favorite band was playing a mere 9-hour drive away! In the Midwest, that's basically neighbors! I remember a lot of hoodies and flannel in the lot-- the lot scene was a lot smaller than Alpine or Deer Creek, but it was still hopping. Our seats were all the way across the floor and halfway up the back stands, so this was a light-show only for us.

Relistening to this one on it's 24th anniversary, I can't help but agree with a lot of the other reviews-- this show is solid, but there is not a lot of standout stuff in the first set. Sloth is tight and energetic, Divided Sky had a loooonnnnng pause while the band stopped to watch the glowstick war that I never see mentioned in the show notes (biggest glowstick war I personally have ever attended), and Roggae really embellished the clash between mellow and loud sections. I remember Roggae having almost a toy-like quality live, like a music box or a wind-up doll; listening to it again, a lot of that comes from Fishman's work on blocks and bells. Good stuff, but not much to write home about.

Getting into the second set, the crowd is clearly ready for some shenanigans, and Cities delivers with some Santana-inspired blues before dishing up a hearty helping of outer space. Free stays grounded and a little spooky, with some nice work from Mike & Fish setting up a driving pace that keeps Trey really focused during the build. This was my first time hearing Carini, and it definitely made an impression at the time. I remember everything from Lawn Boy until Cool it Down was very funny live, there was a lot of laughter in the crowd. Cool it Down has some fun exploration and a very tight but otherwise unremarkable David Bowie closes the set. The single-song encore of Fire was absolutely blistering live, and definitely left us all wanting more.

This would be the last time I would see the band before the 2001 hiatus, and I still treasure the memory of this show. Of all the times I've seen Phish, this is the only show that has never had an SBD release or leak, so I am still out there chasing it every few years. Maybe some day!


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