10-4-99 -- Redbird Arena, Normal, Illinois

review submisions dws@www.phish.net or dws@gadiel.com

Date: Tue, 05 Sep 2000 12:05:46 -0500
From: Mark Luessow markl@rrdspgl.com
To: dws@archive.phish.net
Subject: 10-4-99
 
Trey thanks the "National Oragnization for Reformation of Marijuana
Laws, and the key of A" after "Rock N' Roll"
 
Mark Luessow
Nigel038@aol.com

Date: Wed, 13 Oct 1999 09:12:04 -0500 From: michael.e.powers@ac.com To: dws@archive.phish.net Cc: dws@gadiel.com Subject: Reviews 10/4/99 - Redbird Arena, Normal, IL I: Uncle Pen, Funky Bitch, Vultures, Runaway Jim, Jesus Left Chicago, Limb by Limb, Wilson > Down with Disease II: Ghost > Sample in a Jar, The Wedge>ACDC Bag>Makisupa Policeman, Sand> Ya Mar> Character Zero E: Rock N' Roll We arrived in Normal around 4:30, and my friend Suzanne (an ISU alum) showed me around the town. The place was far from over-run, and the only truly crowded places seemed to be the gas stations right off the interstate, just as you enter town. After meeting up with Suzanne’s friend and a delicious burrito at La Bamba (those fortunate enough to have a La Bamba on YOUR campus know what I’m talking about), we headed to the lots. It took us only about 5 minutes to park, and we walked around our extremely low-key lot right on the main road. We then walked behind the football stadium (where a high-school football game attended by about 30 people or so was going on), and found the lot where everyone was, but it was still tiny (only 2 aisles), and not being in a lot-hanging mood, one pass did it and we headed into the venue 15 minutes before the scheduled showtime of 7:00. I think people assumed a 7:30 start time, and so the 7:25 start time might have SEEMED abnormal, but it was right about on-target. The venue did seem only about half full when they started, and I felt sorry for those who were missing Uncle Pen. What a fun song and an interesting opener. "Hear it talk, you could hear it sing." Yeah! They followed with another Mike-led number and a repeat from last night (sans guests) Funky Bitch, which ripped. Vultures was the first launching point and featured some NICE first set jamming. This song just goes. Sweet exploration. Vultures landed in a run, Runaway Jim to be specific. Jim seemed about the right length, the crowd loved it, the place was finally filling up, it was fun. The slow blues treat Jesus Left Chicago came next. I’ve never heard a version of this song that doesn’t smoke, and this one was no exception. Great solos by Page and Trey, built to an impossible climax before just dropping back into the blues shuffle towards the end. Another sweet, exploratory Limb By Limb followed. This song gets my vote for Most Improved in ’99. This song used to be interesting at best in ‘97-98, while it provided set-marking highlights for me in ’99. Wilson came next, was a big-ole singalong and a hard rock fest, and I’ll take it every time. Disease started up out of the ending feedback of Wilson (I think, hence the >), and it was a great rippin’ Disease, excellent Type I jamming (not exploratory, like Austin’s, but that’s okay), excellent way to close out the set. Great set, they mixed the setlist up with the Pen and Jesus, and jammed nicely on Vultures, Limb, and Disease. I met a guy at setbreak who had gotten in on his extra Rosemont ticket. Set II kicked off with a funk-laden Ghost. Not too long or spacey, but some nice funk eventually resolved into Sample in a Jar, which I haven’t caught in a while. I forgot how much of a crowd pleaser it is, and the crowd wheeled around and sang along and smiles were all around. Cool. Break after Sample, then Fish started the drumbeat for The Wedge. Then he stopped it. Then started over almost right away. The Wedge was funky, fun, and may have been the tightest Wedge I’ve heard – not a flub was found by these ears. They played towards the ending of the song for a while, and Trey had some nice solos, but before they dropped back into the ending proper, Trey went to the mic-cup, and lo and behold, they started AC/DC on a dime. AC/DC was fantastic. It had a nice funk section at the top of the jam that got pretty quiet (the size of the venue let them do some nice things with the dynamics, very intimate compared with Hilton, Target, and Allstate, I don’t know, maybe only 10,000 people?), then after they funked it out for a while, we got the rockin’ Bag ending. Out of the ending chaos of AC/DC came the reggae-funk of Makisuppa. Pretty standard version up until the keyword (Woke up this morning (Trey shakes his head) "Normal" or "NORML"), after which, Trey could not stop laughing. It was hilarious. They did some start stop stuff with some solos, went into a double-time section, and eventually did a little bit of (I thought) Stir It Up to end. Sweet Makisuppa, probably the highlight of the show for me. They were just having so much fun! After some feedback (I’m thinking a late 2001), they kick into Sand, which I enjoyed about 1000 times more than the version I caught in Austin. This Sand was the bomb, tons of solos, great peaks and releases, THIS must be what the hype on this song was all about (I did not get it in Austin). I think they went right into Ya Mar without stopping, but not really a segue. Ya Mar was surprising this late in the set, but it featured some nice organ work by Leo, then when we got to Trey’s section, the jam got so quiet, it was really cool, it eventually led to Trey just soloing by himself really quietly under the spot, and he brought the solo from those high, quiet reaches of the Ya Mar ending solo, down, down the scale and straight into Character Zero – sweet nuts-on transition (like Wedge>AC/DC). Character Zero rocked the house as always, featured some nice possessed movements by Trey, and closed out a really fun, interesting, and experimental set. The Rock and Roll encore did rock, it seemed short but extremely tight with some blistering solos, as the boys jammed their hearts and hands out in one final hurrah for the midwest. This was the most fun show I saw this fall. In terms of jamming, I’d probably give the edge to Houston or Minneapolis, but for flat out fun and suprise, this show left me with permagrin.
Date: Wed, 3 Nov 1999 02:01:42 EST From: IDigOnPhsh@aol.com To: dws@archive.phish.net Subject: Review of 10-4-99 Alright, I'm not gonna go through each and every song (mostly because I didn't know literally ANY of them) I'm pretty damn new to the scene, and I only had like 2 months of listening to their music before the concert, so my knowledge was limited. I'm a long time resident to Normal, and I gotta tell you, this town was in its very best form that night. Btw, I'd like to apologize about that little 'incident' after the show. Normal cops are asses, just looking to make their quota. Right now, ISU is supposedly deciding whether they'll let Phish come back:( Anyway, this was my first show, so I have no comparisons to make, but it was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. I was inside as soon as the doors opened, and that 25 minute wait was hell, but so worth it. It was so great to just dance to music you've never heard before in your life, but love it anyway and just let go. And then, stop for just a second, and look around and see 10,000 people doing the exact same thing. It was beautiful, and I'm hooked. Eagerly awaiting the NYE show, hope to see everyone there:) ~Sam
Date: Tue, 12 Oct 1999 08:33:30 -0600 From: daniel.r.delaney.jr@us.arthurandersen.com To: dws@protos.lifesci.ucla.edu Subject: Re: Normal review I have never posted a review before but feel obligated to do so after seeing the show and reading some of the reviews. I would also like to preface that I’m not going to review song by song to avoid redundancy. I do not feel the need to let everyone know if I called a song or knew a song was going to be played or if I caused a song to be altered by hysterically laughing. One last preface, which seems to be a prerequisite – I have been to 20+ shows. To the point – this show ranked among the best I have seen in 6 years of seeing Phish… The flow of the show was absolutely amazing. The song selection was perfect. The element of surprise was still evident in their choices, but what made the show particularly amazing was how everything seemed to fit together. To echo some of the sentiments of the other reviewers, Phish seemed to be very relaxed and comfortable with everything and this was apparent in the way they sounded. They could have played anything and it would’ve sounded like it belonged. Highlights of the show for me included Ghost and Sand – two of the best jams I have ever heard in person. I’ve seen a couple Ghosts before and this one was by far the best. I’ve never heard Sand and was thoroughly impressed. Gordon was like a robot laying down that bass line for Trey – I don’t know how he kept it up for that long. The other standout in terms of memorable moments was the Makisupa keyword, "Normal." I have never laughed so hard at a Phish show – and they give you much to laugh about. I think Trey died laughing after saying this either because it was a spontaneous thought – a great one at that – or he spent the past month looking forward to saying it and the buildup was too much to take. Either way, Trey had to drop his guitar and noodle around on the keyboard until he composed himself. This was a classic moment and just added to the great mood of the show. A couple comments about the venue and the crowd. The parking situation or lack thereof was not great – the lot scene was very small because of a curious lack of parking. I guess the powerhouse ISU Redbirds do not attract the crowds. Nonetheless, it was interesting to park in front of someone’s house on a quiet suburban street. The crowd, in my opinion, was very energetic and into the show – contrary to what some others have said. The reason for the lack of energy during the opening tunes was the early start time – a good 30% hadn’t filed in by the time Funky Bitch (this was the one questionable selection considering it was one of the encores at Rosemont the previous night) was halfway finished. Once the band began Vultures, the crowd was jumpin and very loud - this was particularly evident and noticeable due to the relatively smaller size of Redbird compared to most other arenas. I believe Phish fed off this energy – Page often turned and looked up at the crowd with a big smile on his face. One last crowd comment – I loved the lack of glowsticks. Although there were a few, I’m glad people have realized that although they look amazing, they do have to land on someone. It’s just nice knowing that you can close your eyes during a jam and not have to worry about getting biffed on the head. I hope this type of behavior "sticks." Another quick topic that I would love to get feedback on is the overall sound of Phish lately. I have only been to two shows this fall – Rosemont and Normal – and I caught them this summer at Alpine – so I don’t know if they have been playing a certain style, i.e., funk/groove/space/ emphasis, as has been typical of past tours. One thing that I have noticed is that Phish seems to be getting back to the Trey and his Band type show, which is obviously contrary to the "group mind" goals of the band. It may have been the sound at the venues, but I often had a difficult time hearing anything clearly below Trey’s amazing lead. Occasionally, it seemed to be a very loud and angry sound as well. I know Phish appreciates the power of space/room between notes - which is why I’m curious about the recent barrage of sound-blasting/feedback jams and the lack of distinctive groove oriented playing focusing on equal participation among each individual. Although, much of the Normal show they seemed to be in the groove, I still had a difficult time picking up the keyboard at times when I think Page should have been showcased. Anyway, that’s my 4 cents… Dan Delaney Chicago, IL
Date: Wed, 6 Oct 1999 21:31:35 -0700 From: Curt Bilyeu cbilyeu@uiuc.edu To: dws@archive.phish.net Subject: Normal Comments After reading some of the reviews, I felt inclined to write my own review. We've all heard enough about the songs so I'll just give some random thoughts. Now I don't know where some of you were sitting, but surely, the crowd did not suck. My buddy and I went to Rosemont the night before, but I had to be back in Champaign for an exam the next day at 4:30. That meant not getting to Normal until about 6:45. Luckily we scored a sweet parking spot 50 feet from Redbird when a parking guy said we could look, but he didn't think we would find anything. Boy was he wrong :). Anyways, we got to our seats right as the lights went out, and all of the sudden, everybody was groovin. I remember watching an older man, obviously not a head, just standing there and watching at the beginning of the show, and by the end of the show he was bouncing up and down like there was no tommorow. Now I don't know if it was different in other sections, but everybody around me seemed like a phan, or at least knew what was going on. This is exactly the opposite from the night before at the Horizon. Plus, the notorious Normal police didn't seem to be causing trouble much unlike the pissy security guards in Rosemont. The setlist might not show it, but the whole show was solid as hell. Not the best show I've ever seen, but a great time all the same. I give it an 8 out of 10. Thanks for reading my opinions, and I just want to say that a Phish show, just like most things in life, is what you make of it, and it shouldn't matter what the people around you are like (it helps if they're cool, but like I said, it doesn't matter). When I pay 25 bucks to see a show, I'll do my darndest to have a good time (I usually don't have to try that hard) as well as hold Phish to their high musical standards. The day when I cannot do this will be the day I stop going to shows, and it doesn't look like it will be happening soon. Peace, Ted
Date: Tue, 5 Oct 1999 20:17:43 EDT From: Phishnsgr8@aol.com To: dws@gadiel.com Subject: IS THIS NORMAL?! Im from New Jersey and this was my first show in the Midwest. The crowd was absolutly horrible, there was no enthusiasm and there was no intensity in the crowd. I felt as if i was the only one around who was having fun. When the lights went out before Set II the crowd was silent and contined this even when the band walked out! This I assure you never ever happens at MSG..The Security watched us puff and just smiled which was nice.... Set I Penn- Kind of expected a bluegrass tune to open because the boys were playing around with Ginseng in the Soundcheck. I love this tune and its energy got me going. Bitch- Did not expect this tune becaue it was played the night before. I was it the first row and when Trey called out "Bitch" to fish, i was psyched Vultures- A great tune. Solid and played well which preped the crowd for... Jim- Finally the crowd showed some signs of life.. Totally kicked ass, and the set was heating up JLC- PHUCKING AMAZING!!! So good. Page's voice was stellar and Trey took his soloing to all new highs. Clearly the highlight of the show. At one point Trey looked like he was ripping notes from his body as if his brain was hooked directly to his guitar! Limb- Good to decent. I just was waiting to what would end the set next Wilson- There is no mistaking those first 4 notes. WILSON!!!! The crowd was juiced. Trey continued playing the A minor for an extended period of time because the band loved hearing the echo from the crowd...Simply awsome, in every aspect DWD- I was sure that Wilson would close but this was a real treat. Alot of energy was flowing and the band was pumped...Set II was looking very promising SET II Ghost- After a killer first set, the band decided to bring on the funk, and no better way to start then with an amazing Ghost. Crisp and Clear, the crowd was grooving Sample- To further prove the suckiness of the crowd, the most energy from the crowd came during this song.. For Sample it was good but was not something i wanted to see in the set. Wedge- Completely unexpected. Was incredible and was just perfect in every apect. Trey was having mucho fun. AC/DC- I knew the funk was coming back when this song started. Was soooo good. Played so funky and great, the crowd was singing along the whole time whick made Trey want to continue the funk with.... Makisupa- OH MY GOD! Mike's bass was pumped! The funk was unreal and the keyword "NORML" made me start laughing hysterically, which in turn made Trey laugh b/c i was right in front of him. He couldnt sing the lyrics and had to step away from the Mic. Sand- I have never seen this but it is absolutly amazing,, I hope they continue this because everyone loves it. Great solos, great funk Ya Mar- Did i mention this was a funky set! Played perfect Zero- Great way to end a perfect night and was played to perfection Rock and Roll- High energy. Page again nailed this one and sent us all home happy
Date: Wed, 6 Oct 1999 16:32:30 -0500 From: Peter Norman pnorman@prairienet.com To: dws@archive.phish.net Subject: 10/4/99 Normal Review My 3rd Phish show, my second being 10/3. Much better parking lot scene than last night. An all-around friendlier feel to the whole show. I went with 3 friends but only had 2 extra tickets. Tried to get an extra. Failed. I was filled with guilt that a friend had to miss this incredible show. I, myself, had the best seats I've ever had for any concert. They were in the upper bowl, but only seven rows back and closer to Trey's side. I was psyched!!! Uncle Penn: Great way to start. This is my favorite bluegrass song. Grooved from the opening notes. I much prefer this to one of those Trey songs which seem to be the opener of choice for this tour. Very happy with this. Funky Bitch: What?!? Again!?! Oh well. It sounds a lot different with Sugar and Son Seals. Mike sang this song pretty well. Very phunky. I wish they had done something else, though. Vultures: Never heard this song before, but realized what it was from the lyrics. Liked it. Very groovy and simple. Would have fit perfectly on Billy Breathes. I thought they were playing Taste when it started. Shows how much I know. Now, I needed some hardcore jamming. My wish was granted. Runaway Jim: Yes!!! I've always loved this song!!! This was an incredible version too. Jammed like hell. All four members were on for this one. Didn't know what to expect next. Jesus Left Chicago: Holy shit!!! Was wishing they had played this one last night with Sugar Blue and Son Seals, but this was cool too. This is, like, the only slow bluesy song that Phish do. Very groovy and soulful. Page was kicking ass all over the place for this one. Totally digging this one and getting into the feel of it. After that slow one, wanted something fast. Limb by Limb: Was not the way to go, IMHO. Should have done Wilson first to get the energy back to the crowd after that incredibly slow song. This was my second time seeing this one (my first 8/8/97). One of my favorite Story of the Ghost songs though, so I was happy with it. Wilson: Phucking awesome!!! Trey just loves playing "rock star" on this one. Really hardcore. Brought this set out of the slump. Had the whole crowd on their feet and dancing. I was hoping to hell this wasn't the last song of the set. I was right. Down with Disease: Yes!!!!!! Thought I was getting a Ghost at first, but was really pleased with this one. This was the first Phish song I'd ever heard, and it's still one of my favorites. Truly incredible jamming here. The lights were unbelievable here. Great job Chris. Was thinking this one would end the set. Was right. Setbreak: Tried to find my friend to see if he could find a ticket. Didn't find him because he never got one. Bathrooms were phucking crowded as hell. I was so thirsty I almost passed out. Thank god for water fountains. This was an incredibly long setbreak. Ghost: Finally some phunk!!! Great set 2 opener. Very funky version. Great jamming. Didn't know what to expect after that kick-ass Ghost. Sample in a Jar: Sweetness!!! I've read a lot of people slamming this song. I love this song!!! So what if it's a little poppy. This is without a doubt my favorite poppy song. I love the main guitar riff. I was completely content with this song. The Wedge: Somebody help me!!! I'm losing my memory!!! I could not for the life of me remember the name of this song, and it's one of my favorites from Rift. What's wrong with me? I still dug it. Very smooth jam. Awesome!!! AC/DC Bag: Yes!!! Completely unexpected!!! This was awesome!!! A little more phunk in a very phunky set. One of the major highlights of this show. Really tore this one up. Sweet!!! Makisupa Policeman: Didn't recognize this one until I heard the chorus. I'm not the hugest fan of this song, but I thought it fit in well after I heard what happened in the parking lot during the show. Keyword was NORML. Very phunny, guys. Trey's keyboard work was awesome. I was thinking they might pull a 2001 out of the ending, but instead got... Sand: Had no idea what this one was. I guess it's a new one. I definately liked it. Now, I needed something ground breaking. I was not let down. Ya Mar: Bullshit!!! The highlight of the whole phucking show for me. I LOVE this song. Great. I called this song during the setbreak. I'd done the same thing the previous night with Wading in the Velvet Sea. This song is pretty rare, I guess. It was soooo cool. Just more phunk in a truly phunky set. Mike was truly on this night. Lots of songs for him to sing. I danced like crazy during this one. Character Zero: Made my friend soooo happy. This is her favorite song. My second time hearing it. Really good version. Trey tore it up. Some more guitar waving/feedback at the end of this one. Really drawn out ending. Just wailing on that E chord. Ended with a bang. Cool set closer. Encore: Rock and Roll: I had no idea what this song was, but was really digging it. Great song with cool vocal work by Page. I was thinking we might get a double encore, but much to my displeasure, the lights came up. Oh well, no YEM for me over these two nights. There's always next time. Overall, I think this was my favorite overall show of all three I've seen. I think 10/3 was better musically, but the whole atmosphere of this show made it much more enjoyable than that show. I left fully pleased and anticipating the next time I see them (at this time, unknown). See ya' there!!!!!!!!!
Date: Tue, 5 Oct 1999 14:13:35 -0500 From: Josh Rosen To: dws@archive.phish.net Subject: Anything but Normal! All right, I wasn't planning on it, but maybe one or two of you will read this and then all the writing will be worth it: Before I start breaking down the setlist, I'd just like to say one thing. It's probably pretty obvious to most of you, but you can never judge a Phish show by setlist alone. If I would have seen the setlists for Rosemont and Normal without attending the shows, I would have assumed that Rosemont blew Normal out of the sky (literall, with that Divided Sky :). However, I can tell you that in my opinion Normal was by far the better of the two. The song selection seemed to flow way better, and the entire mood just seemed to have a better flavor. The boys were obviously having fun, and even if the setlist doesn't show it, I can assure you that the entire band was most definitely "on". All right then, enough rambling... Uncle Pen- I generally dig this little number, but I think it's better placed in the middle of a set, and didn't think it was a good choice to open. Then again, I was just getting to my seat at this point, after having to look for parking on side streets for a long while. (Haven't these people ever had an event at the venue before? How do you "run out" of spots in the lot with only around 9,000 in attendance?) Played nicely, however, and gave me a minute to prepare for... Funky Bitch- Never would have guessed they'd play this one again, after just having heard it the previous night. My guess is Mike wanted to sing it this time, instead of letting that Seals dude come in and steal his vocals :) Played well in typical fashion. Vultures- This tune is beginning to grow on me. Have liked it a lot more ever since this past summer at Creek. Pretty standard version, but I enjoyed it immensly. Jim- All right, time to really get down! This is one of those songs that I never really mind hearing, and sometimes really love. Perfectly placed, this Jim had it all. While some late 97 Jim's had a tendency to be too long IMO, this one was just the right length. Mike's bassline was easily heard, and the song flowed smoothly throughout. JLC- Although I'm in the minority here, this is one song I can do without. I've just never been a big blues fan. It's kind of like the Dead's Little Red Rooster, which I always hated hearing and was usually the set's biggest buzzkill. Pretty obvious choice, seeing as how Phish had just left Chicago (or right around there), and for what it's worth, Page nailed the solo. By now I was getting ancy, and knew that the rest of the set would give me reason to sweat... Limb- This song keeps getting better and better. Although it will never be a powerhouse, I always enjoy hearing this one. Hated it when it first came out, but now I'm smiling the whole way through. A lot of people around me were complaining that they've heard this too much on tour already, but I was content to block out the negativity and get down. Wilson- Was pretty sick of this one for a while, but the Hotlanta version from this past summer made me want to hear it again. Was not disappointed. Lots of energy from the crowd, and the hevy-metal jam gave Trey his first opportunity to play rock star this show. I knew we were getting something big to close the set. I was hoping for Antelope, but that one isn't as popular in the rotation as it once was, and the boys had just played it recently. Right when I heard the distorted bass, though, I knew I had to grab a quick drink of water. I'd need it for... DWD- Yes!!! This one has been played a ton lately, but that doesn't bother me. (I have it in Phantasy Phish as my wildcard, taboot). Great version, with both Mike and Trey all over the place. Not too long, but after all, we were only in the 1st set. Overall: Nice song selection, good placement and luidity. Nothing to really knock you on your ass, but a fun set nonetheless. 2nd set opened with the funk police comin' to get ya... Ghost- Wow! Hadn't heard it in a while, and knes either this or 2001 would open. Glad it was Ghost, as Fishman once again shows everyone why he is indeed the most underrated person in the band. Sometimes I think he is James Brown. This song has lost some of its funk gained in 97 and 98, but is still a monster jam. Kick-ass version, with the bassline really numbing your senses. Nice peaks towards the end, with Trey just wa-waing his way to euphoria. New we were getting a segue, thought I heard AC/DC, but no, Trey has to totally ruin the mood with... Sample- Why now? After such an amazing Ghost, now is not the time to play this cheeseball. Clean bathrooms, though. Wedge- Standard. Which means great. Who doesn't love a good Wedge? Bag- Here's the Bag. I was hoping for some other Gamehendge tunes before the show, like a McGrupp or a Tela. What happened to those songs? The Bag was tight though, and tye pace was nice and steady. A solid version. Makisupa- Here's where the show takes on a new level. Trey is all smiles, and the keyword was perfect. Thought I heard a Boogie On starting toward the end, but it ended up being kind of like a double Makisupa thing, with 2 keyboards going. Weird, and so much fun. When Phish play Makisupa, you know they're having fun. Which usually translates into the crowd having fun. Sand- Thought it was 2001, and my friend Saul swore to me it was :"I've been to enough shows (70) to know when I hear a 2001"...well, that just goes to show you that no matter how many shows you see, you can still make mistakes. Would have loved a 2001 (I had been mentioning it throughout), but was just as happy with this one, Had never heard Phish play ot before, and was thoroughly impressed. The rythym was very steady on this as well, and Trey was doing his face thing the whole way through. Yeah, you know what I'm talking about. Great, great song. I hope they keep it in rotation. Ya Mar- Weird placement, but I was real happy to catch it. It's been awhile for me on this tune as well, and I thought it was very well played. Knew this couldn't close the set, however, and there was one rocker they hadn't played in a few shows. Yep, you guessed it... Character- This song is either a hit or miss for me, and this time it was a hit. The Rock Star was back in full force, with Trey putting the guitar over his head at the end of the jam to get that weird feedback sound. just like BBFCFM the previous night. Great way to end a great show. E: Rock 'N Roll- Typified the show. This night was all about rock 'n roll, so why not encore with the same. You gotta love Page songs. Loved every note. Overall, I don't see how you could have walked out of this one without a huge grin on your face. Lots of energy, lots of rock, and lots of fun. I enjoyed both sets, and was happy I made the trip, even if it did mean 3 hours sleep for work. Only the most jaded of phans would not have enjoyed themselves. Well, I've got some work to do... Josh Rosen Director of Originations Cambridge Realty Capital Companies 35 East Wacker Drive -- 33rd Floor Chicago, Illinois 60601 Telephone: 312-357-1601 Ext. 112 Fax: 312-357-1611 E-Mail: josh_rosen@cambridgecap.com Web Site: http://www.cambridgecap.com
Date: Wed, 6 Oct 1999 14:23:10 -0400 (EDT) From: Marcus Pearson marcusp@lexis-nexis.com Newsgroups: rec.music.phish Subject: Norml reviews 10-04-99 Redbird Arena Normal, Illinois I (1:05): Uncle Pen, Funky Bitch, Vultures, Runaway Jim, Jesus Left Chicago, Limb by Limb, Wilson, Down with Disease II (1:10): Ghost (14) -> Sample in a Jar, The Wedge, AC/DC Bag (7), Makisupa Policeman, Sand (15), Ya Mar, Character Zero E (0:07): Rock and Roll They just played Funky Bitch 3 songs ago! I guess Mike wanted to sing it. Runaway Jim was pretty short and standard for Jims of old, so kind of a dissapointment for this day and age. JLC is always a treat and the DwD was of the 10 minute rocking type I variety. Ghost raged most of the way through with Trey playing very loudly, ladden with effects and Page comping very nicely on piano (I could hear his piano much better than this summer and he seemed to play the piano a lot more of the time than the summer, too). They finally broke it down and quickly segued into Sample (much to the crowd's delight!). AC/DC was a short version with the typical jam of old and never even seemed to suggest that it might be a 20 minute jammed out version. Sand picked up where Ghost left off and Trey just wailed all the way through it with Page pounding on the piano again. Ya Mar was really unfinished as the rest of the band left Trey alone during the quiet jam near the end so Trey just started up Char 0. Rock and Roll is one of those covers that I don't see how I could grow tired of (like Drowned). The song selection and the sheer power of Ghost and Sand push this one up to a 3.0 as well. Again, I enjoyed the groove jamming of Ghost and Sand, but I still would have liked to see some type II territory explored. Or at least a lot more of the time spent on groove improv and maybe even have gone through a few groove changes during those jams. This is the second year in a row that you would be lucky to get even one real thick, harry jam at any given show (like the BOAF from Deer Creek this year!!!). Just 2 years ago 4 song second sets were the norm, by now I expected a TYPICAL second set to be just a 60 minute free jam. But as recent interviews indicate they are more concerned with having fun than trying to impress us. Maybe my expectations are too high, but I always thought their career would be like that of John Coltrane where they just get more into their music and get further "out there" and less accessible every year until I don't even like them anymore. Instead they are taking a much more mainstream path. I still blame the crowds since they sit and talk to their friends during the improv and jump to their feet screaming at the top of their lungs once they start up Bouncin'. I mean, what's the band supposed to think? I must sound like a broken record to those who have read posts from me in the past. Oh well, there are still 2 nights in Cincy this December and NYE to look forward to! And fwiw I STILL have a great time at every phish show I go to (even at 10-19-96, ugh), but I wouldn't be a "real phan" unless I complained about something, right? :^) - Marcus home page: http://www.netcom.com/~marcusp/home.html (cdr/tape list included) "Fishman sleeps, he sleeps in the daytime, if he wants to, IF HE WANTS TO..."
Date: Fri, 15 Oct 1999 15:27:49 EDT From: JasJes6@cs.com To: dws@archive.phish.net Subject: Redbird Arena I had a couple of problems with the review of this show. First the crowd on the floor were so packed in it was a little difficult to go all out crazy but they were still as energetic as anyone can be when they are shoulder to shoulder with thousands of people. Second, Trey's so called keyword "NORML" was actually a reference to the town of Normal Illinois which is where the University is located. I think before whoever did this review goes on about how a show or a crowd sucked or what a high point or a low point is they should know what they are talking about. Put down the glass and pay attention!
Date: Wed, 06 Oct 1999 14:30:33 -0500 From: Jennifer Hansen jehanse@mail.ilstu.edu To: dws@archive.phish.net Subject: Phish@Normal I was just reading the reviews of the Normal show and I would have to say that even though the set list does not reflect it, the show was really solid. I would say that it was the tightest show they played all weekend, even overlapping Rosemont where I expected the band to really tear it up. However, many were complaining about the crowd sucking, but I would have to say that I did not see much of it. I thought the floor was extremely crowded which would impede on people's ability to dance, but the crowd around me was really getting down. I'm not going to go through the setlist song by song, but I will say that the Wilson rocked, the Ghost was funked out, and even though they played AC/DC bag in New Orleans(that I thought would be the last one of the tour), this one was the best one I"ve heard since the summer. And for those that were ripping on the band for playing Sample, I would have to say that it rocked too. I've seen about sixty shows(most of them being in the past year and a half), and since they don't play the song too much, I thought it was pretty good. I know it might be too simple for the high standards of Phish Phans, but look at it this way, they probably won't play it for at least another year. So, let's push on for the New Year; hopefully I'll see you at those shows! jehanse@ilstu.edu
Date: Tue, 05 Oct 1999 22:43:05 -0400 From: Jae Kim jwkim@one.net To: dws@archive.phish.net Subject: Normal Review Here goes my first review. I'm a firm believer in that the quality of a show depends alot on your mood before the show begins. In the parking lot before the show, I keep telling myself that it's gonna be a great show. Try that the next time you go to the show (specially when the weather is bad or drive is horrible). enough rambling about my philosophy.... The drive from Chicago to Normal was horrible due to construction. The parking lots were small and scattered around the arena. At least the weather was nice and security/police were minimal. I had a floor seat (about 50ft from front and center) The venue is small and circular. There were couple of people near me that were recording the show (FOB). I usually don't have problems with people doing FOB recording as long as the floor has seats. But please do not record FOB in general admission shows. It's too cumbersome for the people around you!! 1st Set: The show started with Uncle Penn. It could have been my first one hearing live. I prefer a jammy show opener so I couldn't really get into this song. Funky Bitch was next. Huh? They played this the night before. Maybe they were so inspired by the performance of Son Seals and Sugar Blue that they wanted to play again. After hearing 7-28-88 Bonner Spring's funky jammed out version and last night's "let's blow the roof off" version, the tonight's version seemed to lack depth. Vultures was next. I don't recall this version being any different from previous versions. Not that I dislike the song, I just can't remember the song too much right now. Runaway Jim was next. This song has brought out "type II" jams in the past. But this version was tight from start to end. Jesus Left Chicago was a very solid version. Good performace by Page on vocals. I don't recall anything special about Limb by Limb. Probably because LbyL isn't on my "want to hear live" list. Wilson>Down with Disease was the highlight of the show for me. Two very high energy songs with great guitar jams. Overall, I give the first set 3 out of 5. after 30min 2nd Set: Ghost or 2001. I heard alot of people mumbling 2001 behind me and when it was clear that it's ghost, I heard several "dam"s. I guess people were really anticiating 2001. But this was a great version of Ghost. Sample was next and it was the typical Sample that we've heard many times. The Wedge brought instant smile to my face. I love the biginning of this song. But tonight's version seemed to lack energy at the beginning so i I couldn't really get into this one. Or maybe I was expecting the "7-4-99 Atlanta" type jamming. AC/DC Bag was solid. It wasn't as jammy as "7-4-99" but tonight's version was great in it's own way. Makisupa Policeman seemed perfectly placed in the set. This version was good from start to finish. Trey laughed alot after he said the keyword "NORML". Sand was excellent. Even though this was my first time hearing the song, it sounded like a regular. I really want to hear it again. Ya Mar was next. I really enjoy this song, specially as a set opener on a hot day outside. But I'm not complaining. At this point (60min into the set), I was really having fun and hoping for some mindblowing song. Character Zero delivered the powerful set closer. Overall the second set was tight with great moments but a bit short. Encore: The timing of Rock and Roll seemed perfect. This song sounded and felt like an encore and show closer. Overall I give 3 of 5. I liked the selection of songs but very few stood out as "the one to remember".
Date: Tue, 5 Oct 1999 14:36:42 EDT From: SCImoe00@aol.com To: dws@gadiel.com Subject: 10/04/99 Review My 5th and final show of the '99 Fall Tour and must I say that I am just blown away. They played so much stuff that I had never seen live before. So anyway, last night was just great. I was less then 10 feet back on Trey's side. The boys came out at about 7:30, earlier than normal and you could tell a lot of people didn't realize, because the place wasn't very packed when the boys came out but it did soon fill up. So the show starts....... Uncle Penn- Never seen this tune before, but a bluegrass song is an interesting way to start the show Funky Bitch- What the ...? Didn't they play it last night for the encore? I was lost, but it was still rockin. Mike on vocals for this, which Trey usually does. Vultures- I really like this song, they don't play it to often, and when they do it always has a nice touch. Runaway Jim- Second for the tour for me, I caught the first one in Memphis, nothing really changed same old jim. Jesus Left Chicago-Yes!!! Never heard this one live before, it was great the way they jammed on this old ZZ Top cover. Very nice to hear. Limb by Limb- heard it already this tour, so nothing special for me, but was a very well played version Wilson- Definately the highlight of the first set, the crowd was loving this one. Down with Disease- this song seems to pop up alot in setlists, but the reason is, is because it gives the band an excuse to jam. Overall it was a nice first set, I liked it. Ghost- Nice way to open the second set, even though it wasn't a jammy as it usually is, nice though >Sample in a Jar- I liked this version, although I haven't seen a Sample since 06/30/99 The Wedge- Thought they would play this in Memphis (I'm building you a Pyramid), but not. So it was nice to at my last show of the tour >AC/DC Bag- My buddy called this one, it was super nice to hear, I loved it. >Makisupa Policeman- YYYYEEEESSSS!! I love Makisupa, not to mention that I called it, keyword was "Normal" Sand- New tune, sounds nice. Ya Mar- If I have to hear Ya Mar, I prefer it be in the first set begining, but it was nice to hear it just once Character Zero- This was the only song my buddy wanted to hear, and his last show was Sunday in Rosemont, I wish it could have come one show sooner Encore: Rock and Roll- Nice, never heard this song, but I like the way that Phish's last couple of encores have been covers, that is pretty cool Bobby Wood scimoe00@aol.com
Date: Tue, 5 Oct 1999 14:52:07 -0700 (PDT) From: Don Cook waaaboy@yahoo.com To: dws@archive.phish.net, dws@gadiel.com Subject: NORMAL, IL Review If I caould just add my two cents in also... Last night's concert could quit have possibly been the best show I've ever been too... except for the crowd. Phish's playing was definatley on last night, from the opening lines of Uncle Pen to the ending notes of the velvet underground cover Rock and Roll, they played every note as precise and clear as anyone could have asked, but the corwd just wasn't into it. Not only was no one really dancing, I don't think half the people knew which songs they were playing (except for Sample and Character Zero). The energy just wasn't there for the band memebers to feed off of... this is shown by the phat setlist, but don't get tricked--the songs weren't that jammed out, and were relativly short. Despite all that, as for the technical points of the music, I've been reading all these negative reviews of the Ghost>Sample opener. In my opinion, I thought this segue was pretty solid; I can imagine the difficulties of jamming out a funked out song like ghost and morphing it to become the introduction of sample as a band. Another example of phish's phine techical playing skills. During Makisupa, I thought the boys were getting a little experi-mental when trey started messing around with different sounds from his little mini keyboard behind him, but it didn't last that long... not nearly as experimental as the makisupa of 97 champaign. Sand was definatley a surprise to me. Fish and Mike kept the groove going with his phat bass licks (Mike has been tearing stuff up lately) as trey and page bobbed and weaved through melody. I haven't heard Rock and Roll since halloween, it seemed like they played it differently last night than they did in vegas... could have been just me. Well, overall, I felt that the show was a lot more than I expected, but still if there was more interaction between the crowd and the music, it would have been that much more. Peace DON ps, the security as ISU SUCKED!! People were getting busted left and right! =====
Date: Tue, 5 Oct 1999 11:37:46 -0500 (CDT) From: leopold ari leopold1@students.uiuc.edu To: dws@archive.phish.net, dws@gadiel.com Subject: 10-4 normal review hi, i'm ari. 20-? show, first posted review I don't want to go song by song, because we all know what the songs are. i wanted to make special note of a couple of things about this show though, that in my opinion made it exceptional, that the setlist does not completely convey. first of all, this was one of the best crowds I've ever seen at a show. from the front row to the very back of the upper level, everybody was dancing, singing along, jumping up and down and just having a ball. perhaps the crowd was having such a great time because the band was on, but I think that the opposite is more likely. the band was right on. all four member were reading each other perfectly, nailing cues, transitions, climaxes in jams and matching each other's levels of intensity. however during the show, the technical prowess that the band was demonstrating seemed almost secondary to the atmosphere of celebration that filled the venue. everybody, including the band was just so happy. considering the disasterous parking situation and difficulties entering the arena (hundreds of fans, myself included, heard the first coule tunes from outside because of the lines to get in), i think that the vibe that the band and crowd were giving eachother, really demonstrated respect and integrity but ultimately love for the music and for a good time. I also thought that the mutual happiness that the band and the crowd were supplying each other lead to some aspects of the show that really represent high points in my personal experience with this band. I got the sense that the band was very comfortable on stage, and that they were having the most fun out of everyone. during "ghost" the band used the ending jam as a starting point to just go off on tangents. however unlike many of these types of these genre-shifting jams, the abdn let the jam run its full climactic course before transitioning to the next, showing a patience and satisfaction that wound up making the show what it was. I also felt this during makisupa where the jam got sort of space-like. the specific tangent I'm thinking of could hardly be considered an "ambient jam" but it just just a relaxation point in such an intense set. the band members, especially trey and fishman, were just sort of messing around on their instruments, seeing what cool sounds and melodies they could come up with. when they felt that it was time, they looked at each other and jumped back in to the jam. In a sense, that is the kind of spontineity that makes phish the band that it has come to be. improvisation isn't the half of it; any "antelope" or "YEM" involves improvisation just becuase there is no written jam. nonetheless, they often use these "big-jam songs" to bring intensity into an otherwise generic set. That's not to say that I don't love those songs, because a good "antelope" or "hood" could put a show or a tape in the ranks of my favorites, but it is ultimately the playing, the atmosphere and the bands' attitude that make a show, not a setlist, and that's why last night's show, while almost devoid of many of phish's signiture tunes, still ranks among one of my favorite phish experiences. I thought "sand" last night got the crowd going just as much as "divided sky" and "guyute" did at rosemont, because when phish are having a blast, they sound great, no matter what song they're playing. I didn't plan to write this much, but I guess I hit a nerve. Shows like last night are the kind of shows that make phish great, and I think that people who remeber this show and shows like it will take that celebratory attitude on tour with them, and even the loyal fans that know this band in and out can find themselves having more fun at shows than they ever could have imagined. I guess that what I wanted to say was that all in all, the normal show was different from the typical, but it ultimately embodied much of what makes phish a great band. I'm off tour now, school to attend. I look forward to seeing everybody in Florida.
Date: Wed, 06 Oct 1999 03:58:52 +0000 From: HARPUA HARPUA@prodigy.net To: dws@archive.phish.net Subject: normal I couldn't agree with you more. I had killer seat and had been to rosemont the night before and missed the whole first set of normal. I've been to 29 shows now, and honestly I can say that the second set of normal ranked right up there with the better ones. From ghost to rock n' roll i was in heaven. It is a show I will never forget. Just thought you'd like to hear my 2 cents. Peace, Aaron
Date: Tue, 5 Oct 1999 13:11:37 EDT From: STAMBO@aol.com To: dws@archive.phish.net Subject: Review for 10/4/99: ISU Redbird Arena I just got back from Normal and I just thought that I should put in my two cents about last nights show there. Let me start by saying that the Rosemont show may not have been a "classic"show but nonetheless it was solid. There were some very bright moments and i left more than satisfied. Anyways on to Normal......the crowd absolutely SUCKED!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Maybe everyone is a bit tired seeing as though the tour is winding down, but all you must realize that if you are not into it, they probably will not be either. i am not going to give a song by song review seeing as I made it to the show extremely late (the end of Wilson). Me and my buddy Kevin decided spur of the moment to go so we left at 4:00 from Chicago and traffic was terrible. I will say that I was psyched for the Ghost for the set 2 opener but it all went down from there. the energy level was non existant. I felt like i was at church. the only highlights for me were a half-ass rock and roll and a Makisupa that was the "meat" of the second set. let me end by saying that i never thought i would give a bad review...and i would NEVER insult the greatest band on the planet....i put all the blame on the worst crowd i've ever seen...people are getting tooooo spoiled. Just two cents from a phan, Stambo P.S. i look forward to Raleigh and Hampton im sure they will be different!!
Date: Tue, 5 Oct 1999 02:34:49 EDT From: TallBoy024@aol.com To: dws@gadiel.com Cc: dws@archive.phish.net, phish-women@netspace.org Subject: Review of 10.4.99 Normal IL This review is after my eleventh phish show. Normal's a pretty cool town, nice campus. I go to school at Bradley University which is about a half hour away, so it was very kind of the boys to put on a show so close to my current home. The venue itself was poorly designed. Not enough aisleways, people kept cutting through my aisle. it sucked. think before you drink. as for the show: Uncle Pen: this was a first for me. nice little noodling job by trey at the end. Funky Bitch: Awesome as always, I think trey's playing on this song has improved GREATLY since i last heard them play it last summer. Vultures: I really really like this song. always good to hear it live Runaway Jim: third time hearing this one. very nice indeed Jesus Left Chicago: i predicted this one while talking with a friend the morning before the show. slow, bluesy, sounded kinda flat to me. Limb By Limb: another favorite. good way to get me back in the feelin' Wilson: FUCK yeah. they RIPPED this one up. one of the highlights of the show Down With Disease: fast, furious, Chris had the lights rockin on this one. L O N G S E T B R E A K : ) Ghost: i called this one too.. LOVE this jam, i constantly hear techno beats in it.. but in a phishy way. this song represents phish's new generation of jams to me.. HELL YEAH>>>> Sample: had everyone bobbin' and rockin' The Wedge: VERY VERY Cool, i dig this tune a lot.. jon started it off then stopped, and started it up again. AC/DC BAG: one of my favorites, and this one did not disappoint. Makisupa: good to hear, got my head movin.. keyword was .. NORM(A)L : ) they finished it with the intro to Three Little Birds by bob Marley Sand: first time i've heard this song... WOW... HELL yeah.. now whenever i hear a Ghost the boys better play SAND with it.. they compliment each other VERY well. This song had me MOVIN. YaMar: fun as always Character Zero: ROCKED. trey was going OFF. waved his guitar around to produce more feedback .. best one i've ever heard by FAR Encored with Rock & Roll : fun jam on the end of it.. Overall, i'd give the show an 8 out of 10.. couldn't have asked for a better show.. but then again the next show i'm going to see is NEW YEARS... SEE YOU IN FLORIDA!!!!!!!! --ANdrew (i'm going to jam with trey one day.. i just decided that tonight)
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