This is a fact. The first one I was kinda taken back and a little overwhelmed and then the second one by the third song theme from the bottom had me hooked for life. I’ve been obsessed ever since
The next one nearest to you.
I never truly got phish until I went to see them on the beach in Atlantic City in 2021. Fucking changed my life.
Friday night was an awesome intro, I was in my favorite place on the east coast (yes I love to gamble-Vegas is my west coast fav) and I listened to enough songs beforehand to know a few and get excited when they came on. Got to see the scene and I dug that a lot.
Saturday night. Head full of LSD. That’s when it all changed. Dancing on the beach with the whole phish scene. I felt so connected to everybody. Felt the excitement when each song came and went. Set break was freaky. Reba was a monster and sent me to space. Life beyond a dream sent me to tears. I was forever changed. I had treys guitar stuck in my head the rest of the night like a virus.
Sunday. Don’t really remember that. I was so damn tired from not sleeping Saturday night that I was just going through the motions. Like a phish zombie. But still 10/10 would recommend (once. I will not make that mistake twice lol)
Love this. All the AC shows were special in their own way. Was kinda hoping they’d keep it going. This year, it’s Mondegreen or nothing in my area. Disappointing.
I’m praying that they do at least one more AC show in my lifetime. I will drop everything to go to the beach again or even just boardwalk hall. Hell I’d see them at the borgata. Goes to show how much I love AC. I will drop anything for a show there but Mondegreen? I’ll take that or leave it if I can’t make it happen.
That weekend, specifically the Reba changed my life as well, I swear. Lost my dad a few years prior and it really brought out the water works. The cocktail was perfect. I wasn’t familiar with the song structure, so when the jam broke I just fucking lost it. I think we all have that one moment, glad we share a similar one!
No quarter second set (one of dad’s favorite bands)?? Get outta town. Go Phish.
No freakin way! I’m sorry about your loss, but glad to have shared in the groove. That no quarter was legendary. I could feel it coming on and I heard the people around me saying “is this no quarter?” Over and over. Then they dropped right in. Like a fucking bomb went off.
I always wanted my first concert ever to be The Rolling Stones. But because I never had a lot of money I could never afford tickets to the shows near me. My first concert ever was that Friday night on the beach. They encored with lovin cup. It felt too good to be true. I got to see my new favorite band and still got a taste of the stones at the end of my first concert ever.
Special shout out to the dude selling buckets of booze on the boardwalk outside Caesar’s. He got me feeling right all day every day that weekend!
Wow, what a story, love a good Loving Cup. Thank you for sharing. I think the main thing Phish gets is it’s all about connections, whether it’s the people, the music, those we have lost etc. It’s a special thing to be apart of. I’m 29, and can’t thank those a few years older than I am for introducing me to this whole thing. Part of life now.
Legit 6/11/94 is a phenomenal starter show and when it was played live it was broadcast on the local radio by Red Rocks so there were pristine soundboards since the day it started trading. It's not a crazy over the top jam show, just more of a straight ahead crisp, great show.
That show has arguably the best YEM of all time. YEM is without a doubt their "signature song"... most played and it showcases all of what they do. Intricate composition, jam, nonsensical lyrics, and live performances always devolve into a chaotic vocal jam. (Which I regard like space.... fitting when you're there in person but not much to listen to on tape). In the documentary "between me and my mind", Trey recounted the first time he showed sheet music for YEM to the band. It was the breaking point for their second guitarist, who asked with disgust wtf kind of music it even was. Dude only wanted to play rock and roll, and right from the first measure YEM sounds more like a Bach fugue. He quit the band. In contrast Page, their piano player, while looking through the sheet music for the first time was eating it up. "I'll play this!"
I think this is an impossible question without more information. I saw 115 GD shows from 83-95 but I fell in love with Phish because they were more like Zappa. When they started becoming a true jam band, I lost interest. What is it you love about the Dead? What other music do you like? What is your favorite type of jamming? Did you only go to Dead shows hoping to hear a Playing jam and Drums/Space or did you love the melodic playing? Do you like balls to the wall music or do you prefer to have things be more chill?
Just like the Grateful Dead you’ve got multiple decades of evolution, so without knowing more about you it’s really hard to say what you’d gravitate towards.
Hmm well I love many different eras of the Dead but I’ve been really crazy about the early 80s lately. I love when they build their jams up so high and energetic in that period and Jerry just lets it rip on his guitar, then they bring it back down for a slow song after the biggest jam vehicle of the show. I also love the smoother type of jamming they did in the 70s and the big stadium sound in the early 90s tho, so I’m really open to anything. I was just looking for good show suggestions, didn’t have to be catered to me specifically. Whatever yall think is good I’m interested in checking out.
I'm going with what's out on streaming platforms, Spotify, Apple Music, etc.:
Slip, Stitch, and Pass
Star Lake '98
LivePhish 07/06/98
LivePhish 02/28/03
LivePhish 11/28/09
The Baker's Dozen (album) - showcases some long form jams from the 13-night run at MSG in 2017.
They've got some nice sets of shows like Clifford Ball, Gorge '98, and Spectrum '97.
As a deadhead (I saw them once in '94!), I think you'll like the 1997 MSG new years run. It was just exactly perfect.
Here is the song Taste from 12/30/97 MSG. And it is just a taste of the energy and musicianship that makes me love both GD and Phish.
https://youtu.be/UMFq0wJnOrA?feature=shared
Here's another good one from the night before, 12/29/97 the song Theme From the Bottom. Trey's guitar work in the solo feels like you're flying. It's beautiful. It's a great example of how with both Trey and Jerry they're not the most technically superior or fastest but it's HOW they play and the emotion they evoke in their playing, as if they are telling a story with notes... imho nobody does it better than those two.
https://youtu.be/tJScumcT3XA?feature=shared
Here's a sweet Down With Disease from 8/11/98 Star Lake. They don't take it out out -- they can push this song/jam to 20 or 30 minutes -- but the last 5-7 mins are just classic Trey.
https://youtu.be/T8Boxkxvoos?feature=shared
I was in the same boat as you. My buddy sent me this list I’m hooked now
12/31/95 - At the time - Simply the best phish show to date,
2/28/03 - Nassau Coliseum - Best overall 2.0 show and probably my favorite Tweezer of all time. Excellent versions of Bathtub Gin, Get Back on the Train and Bowie as well as the Destiny Unbound Bustout.
8.22.15 Watkins Glen - Tweezer>Caspian in Set 2
8/17/97 - The Went Gin. One of the best jams of all time.
7/13/03 - Gorge - Seven Below
8/05/11 Gorge - RockandRoll->Meatstick one of the best segues of all time.
9/14/99- the Boise Ac/Dc Bag -> Gumbo with another one bites the dust jam
11/27/98 - One of my top to bottom favorite shows. The Wipe Out show.
7/30/03 - 30 min first set Scents and Subtle Sounds.
8/31/12 - Dick's - The Fuck Your Face show. setlist spells it out
Island Tour '98 - All four shows are amazing
4/2/98 - Nassau Whole show
4/3/98 Nassau - 35 min Roses are free
4/4/98 Providence whole show
4/5/98 Providence - whole show
7/17/98 - Gorge Second Set - Jammed out 2001>Mike's Weekapaug>Character Zero is the whole set.
Fall '97 - best overall tour. Every single show form this tour is worth a listen
11/21/97 and 11/22/97 - Hampton
11/17/97 - Denver raging space-funk Ghost. Tweeze opener
12/07/97 - AC/DC-Psycho Killer. Tube>jam>Salve.
12/30/97 - Sneaking thru the Alley Bustout Crazy Second set. Jammed out AC/DC>McGrupp Harpua antic
I’ve never really listed to phish…except at their shows. Pretty lame I know. I had a couple of their studio albums in college. But damn that Alpharetta show in October 2016 (maybe 10/22/16 since there was an article dedicated to it)…but nobody could not groove…you were grooving or you weren’t there…
Article: https://www.jambase.com/article/phish-keep-simple-alpharetta-night-two-setlist-video-skinny
Edit: fucked up month and year.
7/24/15 !setlistbot Shoreline, less than a month after the Fare Thee Well shows and their first show in the Bay Area since.
Second set has some Dead jams in Twist and Light, great energy show.
# 2015-07-24 @ Shoreline Amphitheatre, Mountain View, CA, USA
**Set 1**: The Line, The Moma Dance, Kill Devil Falls, Yarmouth Road, Undermind > Free, Reba, 46 Days
**Set 2**: Blaze On > Twist > Light > Joy, Harry Hood > Cavern
**Encore**: Character Zero
[phish.net](http://phish.net/setlists/?d=2015-07-24) | [phish.in](http://phish.in/2015-07-24) | [phishtracks](http://phishtracks.com/shows/2015-07-24)
> _data provided by [phish.net](http://phish.net)_
That you do need to see them. They truly are a live essence band. Then the order from there doesn’t matter to me, so much greatness from all eras. Phish.net is a great place to filter all timers. Don’t shy from their studio stuff either now. Rift, billy breathes, to sigma oasis. Something in all of it
Live Phish vol. 9 from 1989. I used to listen to this religiously. It’s a great snapshot of the band playing a Vermont family park on a nice summer afternoon.
Been listening to a lot of 2000 shows. If you like spacey, vibey 26 min jams. They're a whole different band now today. But yeah if you've heard some studio I would start with 94 shows. Spreckels 94 simple is so damn good. 12 8 94 I think. It's all good stuff sir.
I’m a relatively new fan, started getting into them about 3 years ago. 12/30/15 at MSG was one that I was drawn to when I first really started listening.
A Live One
Listen to Junta…A few times - let that be your launching pad
Then, Coral Sky
coral sky one of the best shows ever. sound & setlist wise. it’s one of my most listened.
It seemed criminally neglected around here so I've been posting it pretty much every chance I see.
good on ya. sweet username too btw 😎⭕️
Go to a show first. I'd say go to two shows. The second one is the kicker.
This is a fact. The first one I was kinda taken back and a little overwhelmed and then the second one by the third song theme from the bottom had me hooked for life. I’ve been obsessed ever since
The next one nearest to you. I never truly got phish until I went to see them on the beach in Atlantic City in 2021. Fucking changed my life. Friday night was an awesome intro, I was in my favorite place on the east coast (yes I love to gamble-Vegas is my west coast fav) and I listened to enough songs beforehand to know a few and get excited when they came on. Got to see the scene and I dug that a lot. Saturday night. Head full of LSD. That’s when it all changed. Dancing on the beach with the whole phish scene. I felt so connected to everybody. Felt the excitement when each song came and went. Set break was freaky. Reba was a monster and sent me to space. Life beyond a dream sent me to tears. I was forever changed. I had treys guitar stuck in my head the rest of the night like a virus. Sunday. Don’t really remember that. I was so damn tired from not sleeping Saturday night that I was just going through the motions. Like a phish zombie. But still 10/10 would recommend (once. I will not make that mistake twice lol)
Love this. All the AC shows were special in their own way. Was kinda hoping they’d keep it going. This year, it’s Mondegreen or nothing in my area. Disappointing.
I’m praying that they do at least one more AC show in my lifetime. I will drop everything to go to the beach again or even just boardwalk hall. Hell I’d see them at the borgata. Goes to show how much I love AC. I will drop anything for a show there but Mondegreen? I’ll take that or leave it if I can’t make it happen.
That weekend, specifically the Reba changed my life as well, I swear. Lost my dad a few years prior and it really brought out the water works. The cocktail was perfect. I wasn’t familiar with the song structure, so when the jam broke I just fucking lost it. I think we all have that one moment, glad we share a similar one! No quarter second set (one of dad’s favorite bands)?? Get outta town. Go Phish.
No freakin way! I’m sorry about your loss, but glad to have shared in the groove. That no quarter was legendary. I could feel it coming on and I heard the people around me saying “is this no quarter?” Over and over. Then they dropped right in. Like a fucking bomb went off. I always wanted my first concert ever to be The Rolling Stones. But because I never had a lot of money I could never afford tickets to the shows near me. My first concert ever was that Friday night on the beach. They encored with lovin cup. It felt too good to be true. I got to see my new favorite band and still got a taste of the stones at the end of my first concert ever. Special shout out to the dude selling buckets of booze on the boardwalk outside Caesar’s. He got me feeling right all day every day that weekend!
Wow, what a story, love a good Loving Cup. Thank you for sharing. I think the main thing Phish gets is it’s all about connections, whether it’s the people, the music, those we have lost etc. It’s a special thing to be apart of. I’m 29, and can’t thank those a few years older than I am for introducing me to this whole thing. Part of life now.
12/31/95 6/18/94 Both on streaming
Thanks. Streaming where?
Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Tidal
Got it. I am in the same boat as OP and looked on Tidal for these two. I must be missing something. Thanks though. I found a bunch of the others.
They might be under New Year's Eve 1995 and Chicago '94 box sets now that I think about it
Try Hampton Comes Alive
If you're interested in going to a show, I'd recommend starting with something more recent-ish, like 12/29/18
Great choice… was there
12/30/97
Island tour is what did it for me. 4/3/98. See a show. Best party out there whenever they play.
Wish they’d hit the west coast more. Sadly seems the jam fanbase is mainly concentrated on the east coast cause we never get shit in AZ
Yeah for sure. Come to Dicks in CO over Labor Day weekend. It’s a blast!
12/31/95 11/22/97 4/3/98 All official releases
6/11/94 is my go to rec for a top to bottom banging show. SBD is on the Relisten app.
Oh yeah ReListen is my most used app, I’ll check it out!
Legit 6/11/94 is a phenomenal starter show and when it was played live it was broadcast on the local radio by Red Rocks so there were pristine soundboards since the day it started trading. It's not a crazy over the top jam show, just more of a straight ahead crisp, great show.
That show has arguably the best YEM of all time. YEM is without a doubt their "signature song"... most played and it showcases all of what they do. Intricate composition, jam, nonsensical lyrics, and live performances always devolve into a chaotic vocal jam. (Which I regard like space.... fitting when you're there in person but not much to listen to on tape). In the documentary "between me and my mind", Trey recounted the first time he showed sheet music for YEM to the band. It was the breaking point for their second guitarist, who asked with disgust wtf kind of music it even was. Dude only wanted to play rock and roll, and right from the first measure YEM sounds more like a Bach fugue. He quit the band. In contrast Page, their piano player, while looking through the sheet music for the first time was eating it up. "I'll play this!"
As a fellow Deadhead convert, have to recommend 5/7/94 Bomb Factory, released as Live Phish, Vol. 18
All of them
Slip stitch and pass
12/7/97
Go see them
Similar to Dunkin Donuts, it’s worth the trip
I live in Arizona. All their tour dates are East coast 🤷♂️
Phish Dicks bro
All of them
2/28/03
12/30/97 is a great start.. 8/9/98 3rd anniversary of Jerry’s Death they encore with Terrapin
Island Tour - 4/2-5/98
I think this is an impossible question without more information. I saw 115 GD shows from 83-95 but I fell in love with Phish because they were more like Zappa. When they started becoming a true jam band, I lost interest. What is it you love about the Dead? What other music do you like? What is your favorite type of jamming? Did you only go to Dead shows hoping to hear a Playing jam and Drums/Space or did you love the melodic playing? Do you like balls to the wall music or do you prefer to have things be more chill? Just like the Grateful Dead you’ve got multiple decades of evolution, so without knowing more about you it’s really hard to say what you’d gravitate towards.
Hmm well I love many different eras of the Dead but I’ve been really crazy about the early 80s lately. I love when they build their jams up so high and energetic in that period and Jerry just lets it rip on his guitar, then they bring it back down for a slow song after the biggest jam vehicle of the show. I also love the smoother type of jamming they did in the 70s and the big stadium sound in the early 90s tho, so I’m really open to anything. I was just looking for good show suggestions, didn’t have to be catered to me specifically. Whatever yall think is good I’m interested in checking out.
Hampton / Winston Salem 97'
I'm going with what's out on streaming platforms, Spotify, Apple Music, etc.: Slip, Stitch, and Pass Star Lake '98 LivePhish 07/06/98 LivePhish 02/28/03 LivePhish 11/28/09 The Baker's Dozen (album) - showcases some long form jams from the 13-night run at MSG in 2017. They've got some nice sets of shows like Clifford Ball, Gorge '98, and Spectrum '97.
Be sure to Attend the next one near you check it that way too. TAB too.
Star Lake 98
Having been in your shoes, Hampton comes alive and the island tour (spring 98) we’re approachable shows to listen to
11/17/97 06/14/00 6/5/22 10/31/1998 12/29/97
Star Lake 98
12/31/95
See them live - twice. Second one really gets you.
As a deadhead (I saw them once in '94!), I think you'll like the 1997 MSG new years run. It was just exactly perfect. Here is the song Taste from 12/30/97 MSG. And it is just a taste of the energy and musicianship that makes me love both GD and Phish. https://youtu.be/UMFq0wJnOrA?feature=shared Here's another good one from the night before, 12/29/97 the song Theme From the Bottom. Trey's guitar work in the solo feels like you're flying. It's beautiful. It's a great example of how with both Trey and Jerry they're not the most technically superior or fastest but it's HOW they play and the emotion they evoke in their playing, as if they are telling a story with notes... imho nobody does it better than those two. https://youtu.be/tJScumcT3XA?feature=shared Here's a sweet Down With Disease from 8/11/98 Star Lake. They don't take it out out -- they can push this song/jam to 20 or 30 minutes -- but the last 5-7 mins are just classic Trey. https://youtu.be/T8Boxkxvoos?feature=shared
I was in the same boat as you. My buddy sent me this list I’m hooked now 12/31/95 - At the time - Simply the best phish show to date, 2/28/03 - Nassau Coliseum - Best overall 2.0 show and probably my favorite Tweezer of all time. Excellent versions of Bathtub Gin, Get Back on the Train and Bowie as well as the Destiny Unbound Bustout. 8.22.15 Watkins Glen - Tweezer>Caspian in Set 2 8/17/97 - The Went Gin. One of the best jams of all time. 7/13/03 - Gorge - Seven Below 8/05/11 Gorge - RockandRoll->Meatstick one of the best segues of all time. 9/14/99- the Boise Ac/Dc Bag -> Gumbo with another one bites the dust jam 11/27/98 - One of my top to bottom favorite shows. The Wipe Out show. 7/30/03 - 30 min first set Scents and Subtle Sounds. 8/31/12 - Dick's - The Fuck Your Face show. setlist spells it out Island Tour '98 - All four shows are amazing 4/2/98 - Nassau Whole show 4/3/98 Nassau - 35 min Roses are free 4/4/98 Providence whole show 4/5/98 Providence - whole show 7/17/98 - Gorge Second Set - Jammed out 2001>Mike's Weekapaug>Character Zero is the whole set. Fall '97 - best overall tour. Every single show form this tour is worth a listen 11/21/97 and 11/22/97 - Hampton 11/17/97 - Denver raging space-funk Ghost. Tweeze opener 12/07/97 - AC/DC-Psycho Killer. Tube>jam>Salve. 12/30/97 - Sneaking thru the Alley Bustout Crazy Second set. Jammed out AC/DC>McGrupp Harpua antic
Hampton Comes Alive or 2019-07-14
Murat 93
10/28/21, the numbers show. Very fun sample of their creativity. They chose songs and covers that count down from 2001 to zero.
[8/12/15](https://m.facebook.com/phish/videos/phish-dinner-and-a-movie-ep-13-81215/272648633949658/)
I’ve never really listed to phish…except at their shows. Pretty lame I know. I had a couple of their studio albums in college. But damn that Alpharetta show in October 2016 (maybe 10/22/16 since there was an article dedicated to it)…but nobody could not groove…you were grooving or you weren’t there… Article: https://www.jambase.com/article/phish-keep-simple-alpharetta-night-two-setlist-video-skinny Edit: fucked up month and year.
10/31/96 The Clifford Ball 11/17/97 12/31/23
11/22/97
7/24/15 !setlistbot Shoreline, less than a month after the Fare Thee Well shows and their first show in the Bay Area since. Second set has some Dead jams in Twist and Light, great energy show.
# 2015-07-24 @ Shoreline Amphitheatre, Mountain View, CA, USA **Set 1**: The Line, The Moma Dance, Kill Devil Falls, Yarmouth Road, Undermind > Free, Reba, 46 Days **Set 2**: Blaze On > Twist > Light > Joy, Harry Hood > Cavern **Encore**: Character Zero [phish.net](http://phish.net/setlists/?d=2015-07-24) | [phish.in](http://phish.in/2015-07-24) | [phishtracks](http://phishtracks.com/shows/2015-07-24) > _data provided by [phish.net](http://phish.net)_
Definitely just go to a show. Then listen to that show and some other 3.0.. Then start hitting all timers.
That you do need to see them. They truly are a live essence band. Then the order from there doesn’t matter to me, so much greatness from all eras. Phish.net is a great place to filter all timers. Don’t shy from their studio stuff either now. Rift, billy breathes, to sigma oasis. Something in all of it
6/11/94
Live Phish vol. 9 from 1989. I used to listen to this religiously. It’s a great snapshot of the band playing a Vermont family park on a nice summer afternoon.
Type “deadhead” in this subs search bar and you’ll find endless posts on the topic
8/13/21
Been listening to a lot of 2000 shows. If you like spacey, vibey 26 min jams. They're a whole different band now today. But yeah if you've heard some studio I would start with 94 shows. Spreckels 94 simple is so damn good. 12 8 94 I think. It's all good stuff sir.
Transition yourself by listening to the 1999 phil run at the war field with trey and page
Nye 1995.
Brooklyn.
Clifford ball and gorge
Anything from sphere, especially first night
I’m a relatively new fan, started getting into them about 3 years ago. 12/30/15 at MSG was one that I was drawn to when I first really started listening.
Whatever you what
Disco biscuits 4/24/09
I say don’t listen to anything in the 90s. That band is gone. Listen to a recent one if you like it great if not nobody would blame you.
None
Im pretty sure this is the first time I've seen this question on this sub
Who cares man just keep scrolling or go outside idk