Now that we have finished working through the Fall 1996 Tour in total we can start diving in a bit deeper to pull out the true highlight moments from the shows. As we have gone along I have been adding all of the ‘takeaway’ highlights that I note for each show to the music player in the left sidebar. As the tour progressed that list became quite large, eventually including some 176 tracks or about 180 songs if you were to pull apart the tracks that have more than one song in them as well as to put the ‘jam’ tracks back in with the songs that precede them. Now, I’m a pretty gracious guy but that’s a playlist that is unwieldy even for the most dedicated listener to digest in a reasonable amount of time. I mean, it comes out to something like 35 hours of music for Icculus’ sake! Who could possibly listen to that much Phish? Don’t answer that.

Well, I am here to help you wade through the giant morass that I have created. The first step is breaking down the list into more manageable chunks. This says nothing about the relative subjective quality of the music to a particular listener as it is only one fan (me) putting their opinion to it. These are not rankings and they are not value judgments that diminish the in-house experience one may have had. Quite simply, it is just how I have categorized them after listening to each show multiple times and then this list again more than once and putting whatever form of order that I can without getting too persnickety and analytical about the whole thing. I would expect that pretty much every other fan’s list would be at least slightly different but that will lead into the big philosophical discussion we don’t need to have since we are all adults here (kind of) and can understand how this all works (aside: Heraclitus 4 lyphe yo!). That being said, here’s a couple of (rhetorical) quandaries I pondered while doing this…

what makes one ‘type I’ version of a song better than another? Is it the number of notes Trey plays? The interaction with the crowd? Something else more abstract?

Is it possible that every single Simple and maybe even Disease from this tour could be included? I mean, is there a point at which too much of a certain type of goodness becomes TOO MUCH?

Is there more value in a quick funk vamp jam than in something more old school simply because it is something they hadn’t shown us previously?

How the heck do you pick which of all of these wonderful Hoods to include?

Does anything that has a sit-in deserve to be included or just the really big stuff?

How long of a list is too long?

Am I overthinking this?

You know, that kind of stuff. But before we get to that level let’s look at the raw lists which can be listened to over there to the left if you want. Just don’t dilly dally as I will be updating the playlist to be the final ‘top takeaways’ once I have completed that whole thing. You have been warned! These lists are chronological so don’t be coming at me with any of that rankings bullshit. And in case you are wondering, the playlist is chronological with the tier one first followed by any tier two for each night, respectively.

Fall 1996 Tour – Raw “Tier One” Takeaways

Song Date Venue City Down with Disease 10/16/1996 Olympic Center Lake Placid, NY Simple 10/16/1996 Olympic Center Lake Placid, NY Scent of a Mule 10/17/1996 Bruce Jordan Center, PSU State College, PA David Bowie 10/17/1996 Bruce Jordan Center, PSU State College, PA Maze 10/18/1996 Civic Arena Pittsburgh, PA You Enjoy Myself 10/18/1996 Civic Arena Pittsburgh, PA Reba 10/18/1996 Civic Arena Pittsburgh, PA Down with Disease 10/19/1996 Marine Midland Arena Buffalo, NY Split Open and Melt 10/19/1996 Marine Midland Arena Buffalo, NY Reba 10/21/1996 Madison Square Garden New York, NY Simple 10/21/1996 Madison Square Garden New York, NY Split Open and Melt 10/22/1996 Madison Square Garden New York, NY Down with Disease 10/22/1996 Madison Square Garden New York, NY Weekapaug Groove 10/22/1996 Madison Square Garden New York, NY All Along the Watchtower 10/22/1996 Madison Square Garden New York, NY Ya Mar 10/23/1996 Hartford Civic Center Hartford, CT Tweezer 10/23/1996 Hartford Civic Center Hartford, CT The Squirming Coil 10/25/1996 Hampton Coliseum Hampton, VA Harry Hood 10/25/1996 Hampton Coliseum Hampton, VA Reba 10/26/1996 Charlotte Coliseum Charlotte, NC It’s Ice 10/26/1996 Charlotte Coliseum Charlotte, NC Simple 10/26/1996 Charlotte Coliseum Charlotte, NC Scent of a Mule 10/27/1996 North Charleston Coliseum North Charleston, SC Catapult 10/27/1996 North Charleston Coliseum North Charleston, SC Scent of a Mule 10/27/1996 North Charleston Coliseum North Charleston, SC Split Open and Melt 10/27/1996 North Charleston Coliseum North Charleston, SC Taste 10/27/1996 North Charleston Coliseum North Charleston, SC Taste 10/29/1996 Leon County Civic Center Tallahassee, FL Stash 10/29/1996 Leon County Civic Center Tallahassee, FL Rift 10/29/1996 Leon County Civic Center Tallahassee, FL Mike’s Song 10/29/1996 Leon County Civic Center Tallahassee, FL Down with Disease 10/31/1996 The Omni Atlanta, GA Reba 10/31/1996 The Omni Atlanta, GA Crosseyed and Painless 10/31/1996 The Omni Atlanta, GA The Great Curve 10/31/1996 The Omni Atlanta, GA Simple 10/31/1996 The Omni Atlanta, GA Suzy Greenberg 10/31/1996 The Omni Atlanta, GA Ya Mar 11/2/1996 Coral Sky Ampitheater West Palm Beach, FL Crosseyed and Painless 11/2/1996 Coral Sky Ampitheater West Palm Beach, FL Run Like an Antelope 11/2/1996 Coral Sky Ampitheater West Palm Beach, FL Harry Hood 11/2/1996 Coral Sky Ampitheater West Palm Beach, FL Divided Sky 11/3/1996 O’Connell Center, UF Gainesville, FL Tweezer 11/3/1996 O’Connell Center, UF Gainesville, FL Mike’s Song 11/6/1996 Knoxville Civic Coliseum Knoxville, TN Jam 11/6/1996 Knoxville Civic Coliseum Knoxville, TN Suzy Greenberg 11/7/1996 Rupp Arena, UK Lexington, KY Bathtub Gin 11/7/1996 Rupp Arena, UK Lexington, KY Hold Your Head Up > Bike > Hold Your Head Up 11/7/1996 Rupp Arena, UK Lexington, KY You Enjoy Myself 11/7/1996 Rupp Arena, UK Lexington, KY Reba 11/8/1996 Assembly Hall, UI Champaign, IL Maze 11/8/1996 Assembly Hall, UI Champaign, IL Simple 11/8/1996 Assembly Hall, UI Champaign, IL Mike’s Song 11/8/1996 Assembly Hall, UI Champaign, IL You Enjoy Myself 11/9/1996 Palace of Auburn Hills Auburn Hills, MI Harry Hood 11/9/1996 Palace of Auburn Hills Auburn Hills, MI Divided Sky 11/11/1996 Van Andel Arena Grand Rapids, MI Tweezer 11/11/1996 Van Andel Arena Grand Rapids, MI Suzy Greenberg 11/13/1996 Target Center Minneapolis, MN Julius 11/14/1996 Hilton Coliseum Ames, IA Makisupa Policeman 11/15/1996 Keil Center St. Louis, MO Maze 11/15/1996 Keil Center St. Louis, MO Mike’s Song 11/15/1996 Keil Center St. Louis, MO Mean Mr. Mustard 11/15/1996 Keil Center St. Louis, MO Weekapaug Groove 11/15/1996 Keil Center St. Louis, MO Funky Bitch 11/15/1996 Keil Center St. Louis, MO David Bowie 11/16/1996 Civic Auditorium Omaha, NE Runaway Jim 11/16/1996 Civic Auditorium Omaha, NE Harry Hood 11/16/1996 Civic Auditorium Omaha, NE Chalk Dust Torture 11/18/1996 Mid-South Coliseum Memphis, TN Reba 11/18/1996 Mid-South Coliseum Memphis, TN Also Sprach Zarathustra 11/18/1996 Mid-South Coliseum Memphis, TN Simple 11/18/1996 Mid-South Coliseum Memphis, TN Scent of a Mule 11/18/1996 Mid-South Coliseum Memphis, TN David Bowie 11/19/1996 Municipal Auditorium Kansas City, MO Bathtub Gin 11/19/1996 Municipal Auditorium Kansas City, MO The Vibration of Life 11/19/1996 Municipal Auditorium Kansas City, MO You Enjoy Myself 11/19/1996 Municipal Auditorium Kansas City, MO Theme From the Bottom 11/22/1996 Spokane Arena Spokane, WA Split Open and Melt 11/23/1996 Pacifc Coliseum Vancouver, BC Mike’s Song 11/23/1996 Pacifc Coliseum Vancouver, BC Simple 11/23/1996 Pacifc Coliseum Vancouver, BC Axilla 11/23/1996 Pacifc Coliseum Vancouver, BC Weekapaug Groove 11/23/1996 Pacifc Coliseum Vancouver, BC Harry Hood 11/23/1996 Pacifc Coliseum Vancouver, BC Reba 11/24/1996 Memorial Coliseum Portland, OR Also Sprach Zarathustra 11/24/1996 Memorial Coliseum Portland, OR David Bowie 11/24/1996 Memorial Coliseum Portland, OR Character Zero 11/24/1996 Memorial Coliseum Portland, OR Down with Disease 11/27/1996 Key Arena Seattle, WA Tweezer > Sweet Emotion 11/27/1996 Key Arena Seattle, WA Down with Disease 11/27/1996 Key Arena Seattle, WA Maze 11/29/1996 Cow Palace Daly City, CA Simple 11/29/1996 Cow Palace Daly City, CA Sparks 11/29/1996 Cow Palace Daly City, CA You Enjoy Myself 11/29/1996 Cow Palace Daly City, CA Punch You In the Eye 11/30/1996 ARCO Arena Sacramento, CA It’s Ice 11/30/1996 ARCO Arena Sacramento, CA Also Sprach Zarathustra 11/30/1996 ARCO Arena Sacramento, CA Timber (Jerry) 11/30/1996 ARCO Arena Sacramento, CA Taste 11/30/1996 ARCO Arena Sacramento, CA Funky Bitch 11/30/1996 ARCO Arena Sacramento, CA Amazing Grace 11/30/1996 ARCO Arena Sacramento, CA Possum 11/30/1996 ARCO Arena Sacramento, CA Tweezer 12/1/1996 Pauley Pavilion, UCLA Los Angeles, CA Simple 12/1/1996 Pauley Pavilion, UCLA Los Angeles, CA A Day in the Life 12/1/1996 Pauley Pavilion, UCLA Los Angeles, CA Reba 12/1/1996 Pauley Pavilion, UCLA Los Angeles, CA Ya Mar 12/2/1996 America West Arena Phoenix, AZ Taste 12/2/1996 America West Arena Phoenix, AZ Harry Hood 12/2/1996 America West Arena Phoenix, AZ Mike’s Song 12/4/1996 Sports Arena San Diego, CA Jesus Just Left Chicago 12/4/1996 Sports Arena San Diego, CA Also Sprach Zarathustra 12/6/1996 The Alladian Theatre Las Vegas, NV You Enjoy Myself 12/6/1996 The Alladian Theatre Las Vegas, NV Down with Disease 12/6/1996 The Alladian Theatre Las Vegas, NV Julius 12/6/1996 The Alladian Theatre Las Vegas, NV Mike’s Song 12/6/1996 The Alladian Theatre Las Vegas, NV Simple > Jam 12/6/1996 The Alladian Theatre Las Vegas, NV Harry Hood 12/6/1996 The Alladian Theatre Las Vegas, NV Weekapaug Groove 12/6/1996 The Alladian Theatre Las Vegas, NV Harpua > Wildwood Weed > Harpua > I Want To Be a Cowboy’s Sweetheart > Harpua 12/6/1996 The Alladian Theatre Las Vegas, NV Harpua 12/6/1996 The Alladian Theatre Las Vegas, NV Suzy Greenberg 12/6/1996 The Alladian Theatre Las Vegas, NV

Fall 1996 Tour – Raw “Tier Two” Takeaways

Song Date Venue City Swept Away > Steep 10/16/1996 Olympic Center Lake Placid, NY Stash 10/18/1996 Civic Arena Pittsburgh, PA Divided Sky 10/18/1996 Civic Arena Pittsburgh, PA Harry Hood 10/18/1996 Civic Arena Pittsburgh, PA Julius 10/18/1996 Civic Arena Pittsburgh, PA Free 10/19/1996 Marine Midland Arena Buffalo, NY AC/DC Bag 10/19/1996 Marine Midland Arena Buffalo, NY Stash 10/21/1996 Madison Square Garden New York, NY Runaway Jim 10/22/1996 Madison Square Garden New York, NY Theme From the Bottom 10/23/1996 Hartford Civic Center Hartford, CT Down with Disease 10/26/1996 Charlotte Coliseum Charlotte, NC You Enjoy Myself 10/26/1996 Charlotte Coliseum Charlotte, NC Ya Mar 10/27/1996 North Charleston Coliseum North Charleston, SC David Bowie 10/29/1996 Leon County Civic Center Tallahassee, FL Colonel Forbin’s Ascent 10/31/1996 The Omni Atlanta, GA Fly Famous Mockingbird 10/31/1996 The Omni Atlanta, GA Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On) 10/31/1996 The Omni Atlanta, GA Listening Wind 10/31/1996 The Omni Atlanta, GA Prince Caspian 10/31/1996 The Omni Atlanta, GA Julius 11/2/1996 Coral Sky Ampitheater West Palm Beach, FL Free 11/2/1996 Coral Sky Ampitheater West Palm Beach, FL Funky Bitch 11/2/1996 Coral Sky Ampitheater West Palm Beach, FL Possum 11/3/1996 O’Connell Center, UF Gainesville, FL Split Open and Melt 11/6/1996 Knoxville Civic Coliseum Knoxville, TN Weekapaug Groove 11/6/1996 Knoxville Civic Coliseum Knoxville, TN Gumbo 11/11/1996 Van Andel Arena Grand Rapids, MI Reba 11/13/1996 Target Center Minneapolis, MN Cars Trucks Buses 11/14/1996 Hilton Coliseum Ames, IA Demand 11/14/1996 Hilton Coliseum Ames, IA McGrupp and the Watchful Hosemasters 11/15/1996 Keil Center St. Louis, MO La Grange 11/16/1996 Civic Auditorium Omaha, NE We’re an American Band 11/16/1996 Civic Auditorium Omaha, NE Tweezer 11/18/1996 Mid-South Coliseum Memphis, TN Tweezer Reprise 11/18/1996 Mid-South Coliseum Memphis, TN Llama 11/18/1996 Mid-South Coliseum Memphis, TN Stash 11/19/1996 Municipal Auditorium Kansas City, MO Taste 11/19/1996 Municipal Auditorium Kansas City, MO Stash 11/22/1996 Spokane Arena Spokane, WA Down with Disease 11/22/1996 Spokane Arena Spokane, WA Midnight on the Highway 11/23/1996 Pacifc Coliseum Vancouver, BC You Enjoy Myself 11/24/1996 Memorial Coliseum Portland, OR AC/DC Bag 11/24/1996 Memorial Coliseum Portland, OR Theme From the Bottom 11/27/1996 Key Arena Seattle, WA Harry Hood 11/29/1996 Cow Palace Daly City, CA Taste 11/29/1996 Cow Palace Daly City, CA The Old Home Place 11/30/1996 ARCO Arena Sacramento, CA Uncle Pen 11/30/1996 ARCO Arena Sacramento, CA La Grange 11/30/1996 ARCO Arena Sacramento, CA Down with Disease 12/1/1996 Pauley Pavilion, UCLA Los Angeles, CA Divided Sky 12/2/1996 America West Arena Phoenix, AZ Free 12/2/1996 America West Arena Phoenix, AZ David Bowie 12/4/1996 Sports Arena San Diego, CA Reba 12/4/1996 Sports Arena San Diego, CA

SEE??? I told you the lists were massive. I listen to a lot of Phish – I mean A LOT OF PHISH – but even for me that is a tad much. So stay tuned because I’ll have a revised list of just the tippety top highlights for you to take away here in our next posting. Plus we need to go through the end of tour stats too because that is always quite entertaining and educational as well… But for now? Go get ’em, tiger!