What are your "comfort shows"?

Onlymike 1/06/13 10:29 am

We all know what comfort food is: something that you go for when you just want to enjoy a meal without thinking about it. No worries about health, just a meal you can dig into and enjoy, simply because it's satisfying.

In the same vein, what are your Phish comfort shows? They don't necessarily have to be top rated shows... they're just the ones you love for whatever reason. You go to when you really need to get your groove on, for the same reason you wear a comfy but ratty pair of pants.

Lately for me it's been:

2/20/93 II (Fox Theatre, Atlanta)
6/8/11 (Darien Lake)
10/23/10 (Mullins Center, UMass)

The Fox Theatre show is one of the first ones I had on tape (yeah, tape), and it's part of me--note for note--like any Beatles album is.

The other two are comfort shows because they bring back especially wonderful memories AND they happened to be fun shows, if not ragers.

So, how 'bout y'all?

Score: 3

ivy_light 1/06/13 10:32 am

My go-to show is 4-3-98. When I need to just chill for 20 minutes or so, that Roses -> Piper usually helps.

But then again, 4-3-98 is my answer to everything.

Score: 6

Recursivevirus 1/06/13 10:55 am

10/16/10-2nd night of Charleston. Never leaves my ipod. I usually head straight to C&P.

7/14/91 as well.

Score: 0

Reba_Peaches 1/06/13 11:09 am

12/11/99

Score: 1

TwiceBitten 1/06/13 11:10 am

Island Tour without a doubt

Score: 3

spencur6 1/06/13 11:12 am

The OJ show. Home state hilarious listen. And overall played well.

Score: 1

Choda 1/06/13 11:14 am

^Ivy Light for the win!

Score: 1

freezertweezer 1/06/13 11:19 am

August 13, 1996

Deer Creek Music Center, Noblesville, IN

Set 1: Divided Sky, Tube, Tela > Maze, Fast Enough for You > The Old Home Place, Punch You In the Eye, Llama, Glide, Slave to the Traffic Light

Set 2: AC/DC Bag > The Lizards, Mike's Song > Lifeboy > Weekapaug Groove -> Somewhere Over the Rainbow^[1], Waste^[2], Train Song^[2], Strange Design^[2], Sweet Adeline, David Bowie

Encore: Sleeping Monkey > Rocky Top

[1] Performed solo by Page on theremin.
[2] Performed on acoustic mini-stage.

Notes: Page performed Somewhere Over the Rainbow solo on the theremin. Waste through Strange Design were performed on the acoustic mini-stage. Trey played the composed section to Divided Sky over the soundcheck jam. This show was officially released as Live Phish 12.

I think this mustve been one of the first live shows i found that i fell in love with. Stuck with me since then, hasent really fallen out of my rotation

Score: 0

AugustWest2001 1/06/13 11:34 am

11/30/97, 11/2/90, 11/29/95, 12/3/97, 8/12/10

Straight up mac & cheese shows....pure comfort.

Score: 1

MirthBeatenWorkr 1/06/13 11:45 am

11/21/92. My first show. Not a great show but great memories. After that 11/27 98.

Score: 0

lacesoutmike 1/06/13 11:55 am

August 17, 1996

Plattsburgh Air Force Base, Plattsburgh, NY

Set 1: The Old Home Place, Punch You In the Eye, Reba^[1] > Cars Trucks Buses, The Lizards, Sample in a Jar, Taste, Fee^[2] -> Maze, Suzy Greenberg

Set 2: The Curtain > Runaway Jim, It's Ice > Brother^[3], Fluffhead, Run Like an Antelope > Golgi Apparatus > Slave to the Traffic Light

Set 3: Wilson^[4] > Frankenstein, Scent of a Mule^[5], Tweezer, A Day in the Life, Possum > Tweezer Reprise

Encore: Harpua^[6]

[1] No whistling.
[2] Trey sang verses through megaphone.
[3] Ben and Jerry on vocals.
[4] Heartbreaker tease.
[5] Page/Fishman Mule Duel.
[6] Unfinished.

Notes: This was the second show of The Clifford Ball festival. Reba did not have the whistling ending. Trey sang the verses of Fee through a megaphone. Before the second set, Trey paid tribute to Aaron Stein of Syracuse, who was front row center for every show of the tour. The first Brother since August 2, 1993 (258 shows) featured Ben and Jerry on guest vocals. Wilson included a Heartbreaker tease. Antelope featured a female acrobat twirling in the rigging, suspended above the stage in a circus-like fashion. Scent of a Mule featured a Page/Fishman duel instead of the typical Page/Trey duel. Tweezer had big trampolines on each side of the stage and more circus shenanigans. A stunt plane circled overhead during Tweezer Reprise and Harpua. Harpua was unfinished; it was completed on August 16, 1997 at The Great Went.

especially set II

Score: 0

n00b100 1/06/13 11:55 am

The first show that sprang to mind immediately:

December 07, 1997

Ervin J. Nutter Center, Wright State University, Dayton, OH

Set 1: AC/DC Bag -> Psycho Killer^[1] -> Jesus Just Left Chicago^[2], My Mind's Got a Mind of its Own > It's Ice -> Swept Away > Steep > It's Ice > Theme From the Bottom, Tube, Tube Jam -> Slave to the Traffic Light

Set 2: Timber (Jerry) > Wolfman's Brother -> Boogie On Reggae Woman > Reba^[3], Guyute > Possum^[4]

Encore: A Day in the Life

[1] Unfinished.
[2] Rocky Mountain Way tease.
[3] No whistling.
[4] "Charge!" teases.

Notes: Psycho Killer was unfinished. JJLC included a Rocky Mountain Way tease. The jam after Tube was basically a Tube Reprise without the lyrics. Boogie On Reggae Woman was played for the first time since September 13, 1988 (988 shows). Reba did not have the whistling ending. Possum included "Charge!" teases. This show is available as an archival release on LivePhish.com.

Score: 3

ypehmish 1/06/13 12:00 pm

@TwiceBitten said:

Island Tour without a doubt

This but I've had copy of 8.14.09 in my car forever, great car ride show and also another near and dear show to me.

Score: 0

Sprecherscrow 1/06/13 8:29 pm

8/8/98 I'm not even sure why really. Great Piper, debuts of two covers (Sweet Jane and Sabotage), unique Cavern. It's certainly a good show, but I can't exactly explain my attachment to it.

Score: 0

ADAWGWYO 1/06/13 8:36 pm

10/07/1995 Spokane Opera House
7/9/98 Barcelona
2/14/03 LA
6/27/10 MPP2

These warm my soul and remind of the good times

Score: 1

spaced 1/06/13 8:38 pm

6/11/94
4/3/98
6/14/00

Score: 0

Herbdacious 1/06/13 8:43 pm

January 01, 2011

Madison Square Garden, New York, NY

Set 1: My Soul, Tube > Runaway Jim > Foam, Guelah Papyrus > Divided Sky, Round Room > Walk Away > Gotta Jibboo > Reba^[1], Walls of the Cave

Set 2: Crosseyed and Painless > Twist^[2] > Simple, Sneakin' Sally Through the Alley > Makisupa Policeman^[3] -> David Bowie

Encore: Fee^[4], Frankenstein^[5]

[1] No whistling.
[2] Manteca quotes from Trey.
[3] "I went home late last night after doing the New Year's stunt, laid back on my couch and rolled myself a blunt" lyrics. "Kick drum solo."
[4] Trey sang verses through megaphone.
[5] Page on keytar.

Notes: This was the third of three Pay Per view performances. Reba did not have the whistling ending. Round Room was played for the first time since July 13, 2003 (140 shows). Twist contained Manteca quotes from Trey. Makisupa included the lyrics "I went home late last night after doing the New Year's stunt, laid back on my couch and rolled myself a blunt" and also featured a "kick drum solo." Frankenstein featured Page on keytar.

Score: 1

westbrook 1/06/13 8:49 pm

12/31/93
6/18/94
12/6/97

Score: 0

ledzepmaster 1/06/13 8:51 pm

4/18/92
8/13/93
8/14/93
6/18/94
11/22/97
10/26/10
7/3/11

That's enough right? We all could list shows for hours...

Score: 0

patper 1/06/13 8:53 pm

11-25-2009 - I know the first night in Philly was way better, but I missed that one, and this one was my second Phish show. The KDF, Divided Sky, Antelope, Birds, Tweezer, and YEM have always stuck with me.

Score: 0

Purple_Humpback_Whale 1/06/13 8:58 pm

those hotdogs look disgusting

i like nutter 97 for comfort

Score: 2

Onlymike 1/06/13 9:02 pm

Heh heh. I was leaning toward the meat loaf, but then I thought twice...

@Purple_Humpback_Whale said:

those hotdogs look disgusting

i like nutter 97 for comfort

Score: 0

SpiritWolf 1/06/13 9:04 pm

Phish IT

Score: 0

Purple_Humpback_Whale 1/06/13 9:12 pm

@Onlymike said:

Heh heh. I was leaning toward the meat loaf, but then I thought twice...

@Purple_Humpback_Whale said:
those hotdogs look disgusting

i like nutter 97 for comfort

haha, i like hotdogs and meatloaf but those dogs look processed and maaaybe cooked.

Score: 0

ledzepmaster 1/06/13 9:16 pm

Steamed hot dogs...

Score: 0

GrooveHolmes 1/06/13 9:20 pm

12/31/93 puts me right back in that place every time I listen to it.

Score: 0

Onlymike 1/06/13 9:27 pm

Good enough for a ballgame.

@ledzepmaster said:

Steamed hot dogs...

Score: 0

n00b100 1/06/13 9:32 pm

I actually listened to another of my other comfort shows today (I needed some comfort after that brutal Redskins loss):

December 02, 1997

CoreStates Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA

Set 1: Buried Alive > Down with Disease^[1] -> Makisupa Policeman, Chalk Dust Torture, Ghost > Divided Sky, Dirt > Taste, The Star Spangled Banner

Set 2: Mike's Song -> Simple^[2] -> Dog Faced Boy -> Ya Mar^[3] -> Weekapaug Groove, Bouncing Around the Room, Character Zero

Encore: Ginseng Sullivan > Sample in a Jar

[1] Unfinished.
[2] Trey/Page musical duet.
[3] Fun play on the actual lyrics and a Crosseyed and Painless tease.

Notes: Disease was unfinished. Simple featured a Trey/Page musical duet. Ya Mar included a fun play on the actual lyrics and a Crosseyed and Painless tease. Dog Faced Boy was played for the first time since August 12, 1996 (109 shows).

Score: 1

cphish12 1/06/13 9:37 pm

mine have been 2-28-2003 and and 11-21-97 both gems

Score: 0

MDosque 1/06/13 9:40 pm

Great Went for sure - best Phish of all time - the perfect storm came together.

Score: 1

twisty_m 1/06/13 9:50 pm

06/23/2012

great place to be.

edit:

June 23, 2012

First Niagara Pavilion, Burgettstown, PA

Set 1: Funky Bitch > Backwards Down the Number Line, Gumbo > Maze^[1], Torn and Frayed, The Moma Dance > Scent of a Mule^[2], 46 Days, You Enjoy Myself^[3]

Set 2: Gotta Jibboo > Mike's Song > Simple > Light > Weekapaug Groove^[4] -> Seven Below, Bouncing Around the Room > Julius > Slave to the Traffic Light

Encore: The Lizards

[1] Eleanor Rigby tease from Page and Trey.
[2] Mule duel featured Page on theremin.
[3] Scent of a Mule tease from Trey.
[4] Divided Sky tease from Trey.

Notes: Maze featured an Eleanor Rigby tease from Page and Trey. The Mule duel featured Page on theremin. YEM contained a Scent of a Mule tease from Trey. Weekapaug contained a Divided Sky tease from Trey.

Score: 0

Dino_Spumoni 1/06/13 10:07 pm

May 27, 2011

Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, Bethel, NY

Set 1: Tweezer > My Friend, My Friend, Poor Heart, Roses Are Free > Funky Bitch, Wolfman's Brother^[1] -> Walk Away, Stash, Bouncing Around the Room, Kill Devil Falls, Bold As Love

Set 2: Carini > Back on the Train > Boogie On Reggae Woman > Waves > Prince Caspian^[2] > Crosseyed and Painless > Wading in the Velvet Sea > Possum, The Squirming Coil

Encore: Julius

[1] Streets Of Cairo tease from Trey.
[2] Unfinished.

Notes: Wolfman's contained a Streets of Cairo tease from Trey. Before Stash, Trey teased The Fish (Schindleria Praematurus) by Yes. Caspian was unfinished.

This was this 1st time I really traveled to see Phish and I was overwhelmed with excitement. Unfortunately, I was also very naive and believed the people of Yasgur's farm when they said my car wouldn't be towed.
Anywho, when Tweezer started I felt a wave of relief. I had the epiphany that this is what makes these trips and all this difficult bull shit worth the journey. My first Tweezer, it will always hold a special place in my heart. What can I say about this show that hasn't already been said? Other than wading, I have no complaints about this show at all. Absolutely amazing.

Score: 0

ivy_light 1/06/13 10:12 pm

@AugustWest2001 said:

11/30/97, 11/2/90, 11/29/95, 12/3/97, 8/12/10

Straight up mac & cheese shows....pure comfort.

"Mac & Cheese Show" should be officially added to the Phish lexicon. Love it!

Score: 3

Onlymike 1/06/13 10:14 pm

Dang it! Too late to change the picture up top!

@ivy_light said:

@AugustWest2001 said:
11/30/97, 11/2/90, 11/29/95, 12/3/97, 8/12/10

Straight up mac & cheese shows....pure comfort.
"Mac & Cheese Show" should be officially added to the Phish lexicon. Love it!

Score: 0

n00b100 1/06/13 10:29 pm

@Onlymike said:

Dang it! Too late to change the picture up top!

@ivy_light said:
@AugustWest2001 said:
11/30/97, 11/2/90, 11/29/95, 12/3/97, 8/12/10

Straight up mac & cheese shows....pure comfort.
"Mac & Cheese Show" should be officially added to the Phish lexicon. Love it!

I'd like a bowl of Fukuoka, please.

Score: 1

Guelah34 1/06/13 10:39 pm

7/8/00
11/17/97
6/11/94
6/18/94

Score: 0

PricklyHairs 1/06/13 11:01 pm

11/28/97 & 12/31/93

Score: 0

deBebbler 1/06/13 11:05 pm

12.6.97
4.3.98
8.17.97

7.13.94
7.10.97
11.14.95

The first three because I attended them, the other three because they are amazing.

Score: 0

Wbcjohnlennon 1/07/13 12:32 am

@ivy_light said:

My go-to show is 4-3-98. When I need to just chill for 20 minutes or so, that Roses -> Piper usually helps.

But then again, 4-3-98 is my answer to everything.

Me too, that show, and 6-28-12

Score: 0

TheDeputy 1/07/13 8:38 am

Clifford Ball has been my go-to 'comfort show' for a long time now.

Score: 0

RoverPhish 1/07/13 8:53 am

12/31/98
12/1/95
Clifford Ball

Score: 0

johnnyd

1/07/13 12:27 pm

I'd go with the likes of 10/8/1994 II, 5/27/1994 I, and 4/9/1994.

These were all among tapes I had early on, and sets like these, listened to over and over and over, defined what phish was for me at the time. Thus, the security blanket feeling.

Score: 1

bs915 1/07/13 12:49 pm

July 15, 1998

Portland Meadows, Portland, OR

Set 1: Wolfman's Brother, Water in the Sky, The Moma Dance, Guyute, Horn -> Jam > Chalk Dust Torture, Brian and Robert, Beauty of My Dreams, Cars Trucks Buses, Roggae, Birds of a Feather, Loving Cup

Set 2: Limb By Limb -> Simple > Tweezer -> California Love Jam -> Tweezer -> Free, Meat, Harry Hood

Encore: Wilson > Tweezer Reprise

Notes: Some humor surrounded the Guyute ending; fans of stage banter will want to seek this segment out. This show was officially released as Live Phish 17.

I bought this livephish cd back in 2003 and played it all the time, it's definitely my go to "comfort show," as it's one of those that, if I can't think of anything else I'm dying to hear, I'll just put on and groove to.

June 27, 2010

Merriweather Post Pavillion, Columbia, MD

Set 1: Walfredo, Mellow Mood, Stealing Time From the Faulty Plan > Divided Sky, Tela, My Soul, Ginseng Sullivan, Sample in a Jar, Bathtub Gin, Brian and Robert, Run Like an Antelope^[1]

Set 2: Wilson > Meatstick^[2] -> Saw It Again -> Piper^[3] > Ghost^[3] -> Jumpin' Jack Flash^[4] -> Saw It Again > Contact^[3], You Enjoy Myself^[5]

Encore: Fire^[6]

[1] Brian and Robert teases; It Was a Very Good Year tease from Trey; Lyrics changed to "Michael Esquandolas."
[2] Japanese lyrics.
[3] Saw It Again quotes.
[4] Phish debut.
[5] Saw It Again quotes and Jumpin' Jack Flash teases; Meatstick tease from Trey, Saw It Again and Surfin' Bird quotes, Daniel Saw the Stone quote from Mike in vocal jam.
[6] Saw It Again quotes; Lyrics changed to "Let Jon Fishman take over."

Notes: This show featured the first Walfredo since September 30, 2000 (131 shows). Antelope contained Brian and Robert teases, an It Was a Very Good year tease from Trey, and an alternate "Michael Esquandolas" lyric. Meatstick contained Japanese lyrics. Jumpin' Jack Flash was a Phish debut. Piper, Ghost, Contact, YEM and Fire all contained Saw it Again quotes. YEM also contained Jumpin' Jack Flash teases and, in the vocal jam, a Meatstick tease from Trey, quotes of Saw It Again and Surfin' Bird (The Trashmen), and a Daniel Saw the Stone quote from Mike. The lyrics to Fire were changed to "Let Jon Fishman take over."

I was at this show, and as soon as "Mellow Mood" drops, I'm taken back to pleasant memories of grooving with strangers at what was to that date the best experience I ever had at a show.

Score: 1

hmi1892 1/07/13 12:51 pm

With all of my music on an external hard drive, my "comfort shows" are what I can stream through Spotify with little effort.

Typically my favorites are LivePhish Vol. 1 (12/14/95), 11 (11/17/97) and 13 (10/31/94).

Score: 0

MDosque 1/07/13 12:56 pm

I loved that show - very underrated in my opinion. It was freakishly hot that day and the second set brought the heat. Imagine this - the jam out of Meatstick, I wanted to go on for another 30 minutes. It was that funky. Great jamming that night.

Score: 1

JayDubya 1/07/13 3:41 pm

5/7/94 Set II

I love the balls to the wall, fly by the seat of their pants nature of this set. I find comfort in the chaos.

Score: 1

DanceTheJig728 1/07/13 3:44 pm

7/22/97
12/7/97
12/30/97
7/25/99
6/8/11

Score: 0