Hello people. I
am coming to live from Burlington VT, land of maple syrup and Phish. I have
finally managed to get everything in my new crib just exactly right. All I need
is a jobby job and I will be right as rain. And since I am in the cradle of what
spawned quite possibly the greatest band the rock and roll world has ever seen,
what better time to look back on a Phish festival that happened 20 years ago
today. So without further ado, here it is. It Was 20 Years Ago Today: Phish,
Live at the Great Went, Aug. 16th and 17th, 1997, Loring
Air Force Base, Limestone, ME.
My crew rolled up
on the Friday. Don’t remember if we caught the soundcheck. But it doesn’t
matter because nothing will top the Clifford Ball soundcheck. This was also the
only festival where I experienced a lot of rain until Coventry, and the less
said about that the better. My tent had a little bit rain come in, but the way I
had my stuff arranged, it all stayed dry. Some of my crew were not so lucky
[1] Picked up where the Clifford Ball Harpua left off.
[2] Intro performed a cappella with finger snaps.
[3] Trey altered lyrics to reference "Fishman sleeping in the daytime."
[4] Fireworks.
This
was the first show of The Great Went festival. Harpua picked up where the
Clifford Ball Harpua left off. After Chalk Dust, Trey remarked that the first
three songs served as the soundcheck, which the band did not do before the show.
The jam out of Simple, the beginning of My Soul, and the jam before Slave
included Odd Couple theme teases. The jam before Slave also
contained an Entrance of the Gladiators tease. Halley’s Comet included On
Your Way Down teases. The lyrics in Cities were changed to reference
Fishman sleeping in the daytime. The Julius intro was partially
performed a cappellawith finger snaps. Funky Bitch featured a
fireworks display behind the stage that culminated as the song ended. After the
show, the members of Phish DJ’d under pseudonyms at a festival tent in what has
become known as the “Disco Set.”
You can stream the show
here
http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/1997-08-16
I loved
the opening. I totally got right away they were finishing the Harpua from
Clifford Ball. The Chalk Dust also has a really sweet little breakdown towards
the end. Trey messes around with the Chalk Dust rift. It is one of my favorite
little things, totally burned into my skull. The Ghost went pretty deep for as
young into its career it was. The YEM was long, with more guitar heroics
towards the end.
Second set was all
about the Wolfman’s Brother. This one gets way out there. Nice little preview
of what we would see in the Fall. The transition into Simple is really good. The Jam after My Soul was really weird. They
played around with the theme from the TV show The Odd Couple, which aired in
the 1970’s. Because I absorbed so much pop culture when I was young and we only
had 4 television channels, I recognized it. Some of my younger readers are
like, Go home old man. But with age comes wisdom. During the Halloween 2013
set, when Abe Vigoda made an appearance, I mistakenly remembered this and thought
they did the Barney Miller theme. One of many things I got wrong that night.
The last set was all
about a really long and jammy Halley’s. When people talk about Halley’s of the
past, this is one of them. The Limb was also stretched out, with a nice ending.
But it was now time to get some sleep. I remember never really able to dry out.
I could feel the cold in my bones even though it was summer in Maine.
[1] Unfinished.
This was the second show of The Great Went festival. Tweezer
featured a Cities-like jam and Simple teases, and the Digital Delay Loop Jam
included London Bridge is Falling Down teases. Disease was unfinished. Bathtub
Gin contained a Proud Mary tease from Page. Throughout the weekend, fans painted
pieces of wood that were assembled into an Art Tower. During Disease, Page and
Fish painted their portions of the Art Tower; Mike and Trey painted theirs
during 2001. The Art Jam saw the crowd carry the pieces of the band’s art to
the side of the venue where it was hoisted onto the Art Tower and added to the
fans' art. During Tweezer Reprise, the Art Tower was burned to the ground as
The Great Went came to a close. As the Hood jam kicked in, Trey asked Chris to
turn the lights off and the band jammed while the front section of the audience
engaged in the first Hood glowstick war. Trey remarked to the crowd at the end
of the jam that the visual display was cool. Between the first and second sets,
the Bangor Symphony Orchestra performed selections from Stravinsky and Debussy
as a red-smoke-spewing glider synchronized its swoops and dives to the music.
Buffalo Bill was played for the first time since December 31, 1994 (204 shows).
You can stream it here.
First set was solid.
Highlight is obviously the Tweezer>Taste. Taste was definitely reaching peak
renditions in its history and this is no exception. The transition between the
2 is fantastic. Words can’t do it justice so listen for yourself.
The second set is a
monster. It has to be up there with all-time sets. It is in my mind. First,
Down with Disease. Long lengthy version that flows in Bathtub Gin. And this
Gin? G.O.A.T all the way. The peak is just to die for. The Uncle Penn gives us
a chance to catch our breath. As I listened to 2001 in my new apartment, I closed
my eyes and immersed myself in the song. Standing in the dark, a good ways back
from the stage. It starts, and you feel the slow buildup of the song. Page sprinkling
notes, Trey doing that siren thing. I was transported back to that moment. The
whole song is just one long cosmic dance party.
And then the Hood to
end it all. After Trey filling us in on how we the audience and the band are
actually making a physical piece of art, they go into their warhorse. And this
Hood is no slouch. It also was the first glow stick war, which inspired Trey to
new heights. I swear I saw Trey catch a glow stick and then use it as a slide. But
who knows??
Third set was almost
like a victory lap. The transition from Bill into NICU was really sweet. The
Mule was really crazy with lots of improvisation. And to end the Great Went?
They torched the art piece designed and built by the band and the audience. They
had a giant matchstick swing down and ignite it. I am getting goosebumps just
remembering it. And lo and behold, here is a video of it! Would love to know
how they got this pro shot footage!?!??!?!?!?
So there you have it.
A festival that was definitely an improvement and outgrowth of everything they
learned from the Clifford Ball. And with my new home base, if they ever decide
to glide up to Maine one last time, I am ready.
Dave Kemp
BA American Studies
PhD Rock and Roll
