From: Charlie Dirksen
12/31/95 Madison Square Garden, New York, NY I thought the scene inside was very lax. There wasn't any security, from
what I could tell, on the upper two levels. I saw kids freely sucking kind bowls without a care _in the aisles_, reminiscent of my
first Dead show at RFK in '86. I loved this show. Next to 10/31/94, the best Phish show I've ever seen. Easily. 12/31/94 is
cheese wiz compared with this show. Many of you have seen my comments on the Drowned > Jam (with the greatest Jerry
tribute in it that I've heard to date.. a very tender FOTM tease..). Runaway Jim was also quite fun, and VERY LONG
(reminded me somewhat of the experimental Jim from 6/16/95 Walnut Creek). Not to mention the delightful Reba jam segment
in the first set, the commanding PYITE SLOTH opener (!), the SANITY, the You Enjoy Myself (JOY!!!!!), the JBG closer (I
saw all of the Phish versions of JBG *live*, and this was without question the most inspiring, even though 6/17/94's was quite
the shocker in the midst of Tweezer, for the first time.. what a breakout!!). ANYWAY... MIKE'S SONG > (digital delay loop)
JAM Tempo a bit on the slow and steady side (it ain't my copy.. d>a from Schoepps.. thanks, Mike W.!). Certainly not nearly
as upbeat as many other Mike's Songs from 1995. Opening is texbook -- no goofing off, a few fun licks from Trey here and
there, but nothing out of the ordinary or especially exceptional. Damn standard.. Tramps segment at 2:43. I can't remember if
they were on the tramps... don't think they were. Trey comes in darkly but very thematically soloing around 3:03 (came in
quickly.. usually he waits longer.. I'd say definitely no tramps in here, but well, I can't remember.. I'm sure I had my eyes closed
anyway, while dancing ecstatically). Trey's soloing in here is Wondrous, in my opinion. A hell of a lot of soul, which I throw in
the face of anyone who claims that Phish lacks soul (yes, there are people THAT IGNORANT out there). He deliciously climbs
over the 'doc purposefully, carrying on a delightful conversation. The support from the others is similarly profound, with some
strong sustained chording from Page, and typical Funking Along from Mike. At 5:54, Page starts a "Dave's Energy Guide"
theme (see DEG from 8/6/88 or Jones Beach '95 Tweezer or 'Discipline' by Crimson for more info). Page plays DEG for about
20 seconds or so. But only Page. Meanwhile, the jam is still captivating and truly engaging, with masterful noodling from Trey.
And then, around 7 mins, the closing tramps segment chords/theme, with a THE tweezer NOTE (that used to regularly signal
the dying out of the tweezer-theme ending) right afterward, signifying the initiation of the post-tramps segment. The jam goes
into a mightily spooky and thrilling groove at this time. Trey is noodling thematically and repetitively, on a suspicious and
charming theme, and the jam just kinda pounds a long. This theme that Trey repetitively plays in here is VERY SIMILAR to the
'Spooky'-theme that is clearly teased in the Weekapaug, but isn't quite it. And then, at about 8:36 or so, Trey begins a very
solid, but somewhat New and colorful theme... Just fantastic noodling in here.. he's communicating The Spirit, a majesty in the
league of a good Harry or Slave.. but within the framework of a post-tramps segment JAM (this post-tramps segment isn't the
typical dissonant mayhem that it has often been over the last couple years.. but never was in Dec 95 Mike's Songs). Some great
funky licks from Mike in here, not to mention some sinister noodling from Page.. =^] Around 10:30ish, a precious groove
evolves, and Trey starts repetitively but melodiously noodling around 11, and continues on for a bit.. The accompaniment is still
impressive... Just fantastic improvisation.. Everyone is obviously fully-attuned to The Others and Performs as One.. Trey's
noodling starts getting a bit frenzied and fiendish... this Story is getting even more Curious.. (and this Mike's Song tells a Story, if
ever one did.. no lyrics necessary.. the band is truly communicating with the audience in spell-bindingly glorious fashion).
Around 13 minutes, a Serious Jam develops, with Fish pounding out the rhythm with brimstone, and the others jamming
passionately. Trey's eerie sustaining in here (especially around 13:30ish) makes this jam quite gripping, and then, around 14
minutes, Madness takes over.. a Fog of Dissonant Sound erupts, with Page ferociously nailing the piano, Trey viciously
sustaining, Mike and Fish flailing away... but soon.. Look! The Storm's Gone... ;) At about 15 minutes, out of this dissonant and
climactic Haze, with some low notes from Page, Trey begins a digital delay loop jam. Mike drops some notes in here, too. Page
and Fish are long gone by 16 minutes.. (for digital delay loop jamming, see 12/29/94 pre-Bowie, NYE 94 pre-Maze, Bozeman
Tweezer, Bomb Factory Tweezer, 6/14/94 (?) Guelah I think it is, and many other places..) This is EASILY my favorite of all
the digital delay loop jams. I would probably be willing to bet $$$ that Trey at least SOMEWHAT rehearsed this (at least
thought beforehand about what he was going to do.. had at least the Outline of A Plan). It is GORGEOUS, in my opinion, even
though there are some touches of anti-melodious chaotic effects thrown in for "good" measure... I still REALLY enjoy this
particular digital delay loop jam, especially around the 17 min point. (If you didn't notice, there was no "proper" closure to this
Mike's Song.. no closing MikeS Chords) The ending of this digital delay loop jam is just Trey beautifully sustaining some
precious and heartfelt notes.. a spectacular and appropriate ending. 19:29 we'll be back in about 15 minutes.. and then, a
sustained wobblingly "note" which gave me the vibration of life for damn sure at the show, sllllowly fades out, until it is no more,
at 20:24 or so (thank you, Mike, for not cutting this fade-out short.. I'm sure many tapers didn't wait.. I remember the lights
went up before this Note had fully faded out) This is easily one of my favorite Mike's Songs.. if it isn't one of yours, I hope you
post why... I think it is a testament to Phish's improvisational majesty, and should be esteemed at all costs. WEEKAPAUG
(which, as a tyro, I spelled "Weekapogue") After some Time Lab frolicking... Timing starts from the beginning of Fishman's
Weekapaug drums, which segue out of Trey, Mike and Page's Auld Lang Syne jam (which was very delicate and soul-full, I
might add.. not really a JAM ... Trey wasn't QUITE as smooth as he could have been, though, imo.. and he knows it better than
anyone else... but he had soul!!). Mike has a little opening solo of sorts, but he only hits about 5 different notes, before
Trey&Page come in chording Weekapaug (not much of an opening Mike solo.. it was also shorter than usual by about 15
seconds). This beginning ain't that hot, really. Not as tight as it could be, but still a typically thrilling opening to Weekapaug! Trey
opens the jam segment soloing melodically, as usual. He is extraordinarily active, as are the others (very upbeat opening).
Everyone appears damn happy to start the new year!! Some Auld Lang Syne teasing (along with an almost NICU tease)
around 2:35 or so. At 4 minutes, everyone is still jamming away fiercely. This jam really has some gorgeous themes in it..
Weekapaugian jamming with even greater spiritual, transcendent energy than usual (I was out of my body entirely for this,
dancing away.. had plenty of room on the upper level). Killer Weekapaug soloing throughout. Around 4:40 or so, the jam is just
RIGHT THERE, MAN!!!! Magnificently moving PROSE from the Boyz... And you don't believe in a loving God!? HAVE
YOU HEARD THE GOOD NEWS!!!!!!!!!!!! At 5:30 it is still ridiculously active, with some SIIIIIIIIICK jamming from Trey
around 5:45 part or so, which JUST DOESN'T F*CKING STOP!!!!... Just amazing licks in here. Christ!!!!!!! IT JUST
DOESN'T QUIT!!! By 7:15 Trey is still actively wailing away! Where the hell is the QUIET MODE!?! If you thought 12/30/93
was great..! Check THIS out!!!! Some eerie licks from Trey in here, taboot!!! OH, THE GLORY!!!!!!!! Are you
**EXPERIENCED** !?!?! At 7:50 Trey starts the Suzy Greenberg-esque jam segment chording, which effectively signals the
quiet mode (Trey actually teases the Suzy Greenberg jam segment style in here, which isn't uncommon in Weekapaug, as you
know..). Still very active.. just a FRACTION less intense than before (not really QUIET, I guess.. just slightly more low key).
Page really kicks!! At 8 something Trey drops the guitar and starts WAILING on the percussion kit. Meanwhile, everyone
funks out (Mike and Page become more prominent). Fish is still maintaining the groove.. At 10 mins or so, Trey gets back on
the guitar, and just starts wailing away. The jamming in here is just completely nuts (they knew going into this Weekapaug that it
would be the last one *live* for many many many months). At 11 minutes, the jam is still fiery but a little more sinister and less
melodic.. Trey sounds off-key and evil at times in here, but the jam is still passionate... Page is completely on fire, too, I might
add, in this whole section.. arguably more active than Trey, who has apparently starting chording and stopped melodiously
exploring the 'doc. Around 11:30 the jam quiets down a little bit.. but is still on fire!!! At 12:30 or so, the jam segues into a
stop/start mode, with some of the most incredibly funky and spooky sounding jamming I've ever heard from Phish. Mike
especially lays out some kind bass in here, and Fish kicks in a more reggae sorta groove (13:15). THIS IS ONE OF MY
FAVORITE JAMS IN ANY PHISH TUNE!!!!!! I just love the way the jam sounds in here, especially The Grandeur that
Mike adds to it!!! Trey's licks are also very clever and reggaefied.. Trey FIRST teases a lick right out of "Spooky" at 14:04,
and then starts repeating it over and over again!!!! YES!!!!! (see 3/14/93 Gunnison YEM for a SPOOKY jam, with a whole
verse or two sung!). Michael Gouker pointed this Spooky tease out to me (I'm not familiar with the song), and only a few days
later, I got a crispy 3/14/93 from DownerMan, the YEM of which contains a SPOOKY jam.. with Trey singing a verse or two.
At 14:30, the jam is in a somewhat reggaefied phatty-assed funkay mode.. I LOVE THIS GROOVE!!! This most bewitching
jam quiets down EVER so steadily (everyone just BLENDS really well in here.. this is precisely what I've always meant by
improv that sounds like composed, melodious music, fwiw.. talk about teary-eyed jamming.. OUCH!!!). This groove quiets
down bit by bit, with some reggae chords from Trey at one point, very funky bass from Mike.. as if to IMPLY Harry Hood
(but NO DIRECT QUOTE OF SAME worth raising Cain about.. but there is clearly a similarity in here to part of the Harry
opening lyrics segment (at 15:47), based on Trey's activity, but nothing significant.. one "note," actually, to be precise, is
"teasing" the Harry opening lyrics segment)... Page becomes profoundly more prominent (16:20 or so). The jamming in here is
just gorgeous... very gentle, spell-binding.. Fish is mostly cymbals at 17 (mins).. out of this spine-tingling improvisation, that
dissolves the most awe-inspiring Weekapaug I've heard, Page starts soloing o'er the top of some melodious beautitudes from
Trey and Mike... by 17:52 it is JUST PAGE.. aaaahhhh... He starts singing Sea and Sand at 18:39. This was the most
incredible Weekapaug Groove that I have ever heard, and, well, if they ever manage to top this, call me a doctor, quickly,
because I'm going to need one (I can't even begin to convey the ****JOY**** I felt at this point during this show.. I was
THOROUGHLY HOSED by this Weekapaug). It is an improvisational, astoundingly magnificent masterpiece, worthy of only
the Finest incense and myrrh. It does not simply "kick ass." It is a miracle of rare device... Allelujah! To not give this MikeS and
Weekapaug combination an 'A' would destabilize Western post-industrial capitalist society, lead to fearsome system anomie,
engender widespread despondency among aphishionados, and indubitably champion a Republican victory this Fall. If a MikeS
and Weekapaug combination gets more splendorous than this, I sure as 420 haven't heard it. (and I have re-reviewed 12/30/93
to be sure.. ;) No collection is even Reasonable, in my opinion, without a copy of 12/31/95. Without question one of the most
phenomenally groovy shows in Phishtory. If I could wish anything in the world right now, it would be that everyone could be as
magically inspired with spiritual ecstasy as I am by Phish's glory. one nebulous cloud of negativity and spite420