From: Aaron Rumack INTSP96 Subject: review 12-16-95 Anyways, I have a review for you-Lake Placid,Ny 12-16-95. What a show this was! Set I opened with a basic Buried Alive but it was a greet choice for a opener.This then went into Ac/Dc Bag that was fantastic. I don't remember exactly the other songs from this first set but onto set II that was absolutely out of this world!! Set II started off with a great Sample that bulit up tension that was released when it ended and Reba then popped up.This Reba was unlike any other that I've heard before-the tempo was so fast and then the jam came-unbelievable! They just kept bulding tension then releasing it over and over.Whew! Then they crept into Scent with the volume steadily increasing until it was overwhelming. The jam in the middle was fantastic with Trey and Page adding some vocals to the instruments. Cavern then exploded after this into what would be the cream of the night. Mike's Song jammed smoothly into a fine Simple that then transitioned flawlessly into the most incredible Weekapaug I've ever heard!! Trey jammed on his drum pad during the Weekapaug jam and then it got really spacy until the band went into the last song of the night-a Squirming Coil that just ended the night perfectly. The encore was a Fire that was also played rather well. So here is a review that I hope you can use. I would also appreciate it if you could send a short reply to me so I can be sure that you got this. My address is [email protected] Thank You and I hope that you can use this!! Sincerly, Aaron Rumack N. Andover,Mass. ------------------------------------------ Date: Mon, 3 Feb 1997 14:57:49 -0500 (EST) From: Jonathan Epstein Subject: 12/16/95 12/16/95 - Olympic Center, Lake Placid, NY If any of you saw my review of the Providence show, you can tell I was very disappointed and I was very skeptical of driving 4-5 hours in horrible road conditions for this show, but I figured itd be worth it, and sure enough... Security was very cool. They were pretty much all on the floor just keeping folks from sneaking on the floor. In fact those with tickets for the floor had a separate entrance and got wristbands. The venue itself reminded me a lot of Broome County Arena, though I havent been there since 4/9/94, so correct me if Im wrong. Set 1 ***** I was psyched for the Buried alive opener. I knew this show would excellent with that to open. And AC/DC canned any notion of disappointment for me. I knew this would not be another Providence. Great Taste/Fog. Ive heard this like 5-6 times this tour and this one was one of the best. Yamar was solid. Trey got nice and quiet and the band faded out and it was just Trey. Very nice. Sloth was a great fucking call!! Definitely one of my favorite tunes. In fact it was the first Phish song I ever heard and I've been hooked ever since. Divided was very good. Much better than Prov. (but what isnt?) The 3 song (Dog Faced, Julius, Suzy) closer was ok. Nothing outstanding. Page did a cool synth solo during Suzy. Set 2 ***** Sample opener was kind of weird. I just sort of shrugged and knew the next tune would be the real opener... Reba. Very good Reba. Got me back into the show which was excellent so far. I've seen the same Scent gimmick (Trey's Oteil solo) 4 time already and its getting kind of old for me. It was cool at the Fox. Much better at Umass, but by now Im ready for something else. Page won the duel anyways. I have never been as psyched for Cavern as I was tonight!! Very rocking Cavern. I love it when Trey doesnt sing the last word of the verse, but just wails put a note on his guitar. Like "...you worthless swampy (Waaah!!!! -- guitar screamer!!) " It makes for a very intense Cavern. Check out 5/8/92 to see what I mean. If there has been one tune Ive been dying to hear since the Fox it was Mike's. And sure enough, I got it. (Mikes: 17 ; Bouncing: 17) I think this is my favorite to see right now. Last year it was Harry, then Reba, now Mikes. Excellent excellent Mikes. Very good jamming. Didnt lose the crowd at all (like 6/30/95 which is another excellent, yet meandering Mikes) then right into Simple which was also excellent. The jamming out of Simple was very tight and very intense. Very good.. very very good. Trey looked at Mike and shrugged his shoulders, then at Page, as if to say "I dont know whats happening." and then he shrugged at Fish and Fish starting playing Weekapaug. The only thing I would have liked to have heard was Mikes bass solo intro to Groove, but Fish and Trey went right into Weekapaug. Weekapaug also had some major major jamming. Trey played percussion for most of it, but it was very very intense. These last 3 songs (Mikes->Simple->Groove) was easily the highlight of an incredible show that renewed my faith in this band (see Providence disappointment). Encore ****** Even though it was repeat from Provdence, Fire is a good closer. Capped of a great f'ing show. Later. Jon.