PHISH

in New York City, May 21 - 22, 2000

We sat in the front row!

Tamara's Review

After an exhausting and unsuccessful effort to purchase tickets for Sunday night's show, we resolved that quality (which was our front row tickets in hand for Monday) would make up for quantity. When our friends, Andy and Chris, returned from the show that night, we reviewed the set list online and listened to the show recordings they had just made. We missed a great rendition of "Wolfman's brother" and "Gotta Jibboo," but that's it, so we were sure the following night would be awesome. We waited with anticipation.

Monday Night: The front and second row folk were all giddy about being there. A few people stopped by to chitchat with us while we waited for the band to appear. I told everyone that this was my "make up concert" because I had been too sick with flu to see the last one (Phish NYE2000). I got plenty of sympathy. One girl even stopped by halfway through the show to ask how I liked my "make-up show." I told her it was amazing! Our seats were on the right front of the stage, giving us a clear view of the band. Highlights included "Split Open and Melt," "Get Back on the Train" and "Heavy Things." I really enjoyed seeing the band up close. Trey smiled the most.

PHISH (left to right): Mike (bass), Trey (guitar), John (drums) and Paige (keyboard).

I danced hard for the first half. But after break, when they delivered slower music and sound effects, I found myself mostly leaning on the stage and staring up at the band in awe. Sometimes I closed my eyes and listened to the music, but was careful not to do so for too long so as not to waste my up close view of the band.

On a scale of 1-10, I give this concert a 10 in all categories! This includes song selection, quality of the music and venue, vibe of the crowd, and treatment by the Radio City Music Hall staff.

You know, it's funny with Phish. I mean, I know what I like. Certain songs, certain moods, certain setlists. I tend to like my second sets filled large; lots of songs, lots of changes, jamming both loud and silent. The "My Soul" opener was just so,so.
And seeing how I was in the front row and expecting a flat out killer show, I was saying to myself - prepare to be disappointed. That is until the "Chalk" started. It was a normal "Chalk" until it suddenly took off and they were finding new ways to break this jam out. Awesome! From then on it was one killer show.
The second set was everything I hate about a second set, six songs all very similar. But the jams- every one had something I've never heard before. Hell, most had three somethings I never heard before. Then "Bug" and a way sick "Golgi" and then the walk out into the lousy New York air with my first real big smile of the whole trip.

Set List - 5/22/00 - Radio City Music Hall, New York, NYt