1997-06-19 Vienna, AT

 My dump truck run today allows for a review of the next Euro 97 show so onwards I go to 6/19/97 Vienna.

Lowering the bass and upping the treble this becomes a damn fine listen in here (at home it would sound terrific).

Set 1.

Limb By Limb is a surprising choice for opener, easing us into the show nicely. Slow build on this one. Nice version but nothing amazing.

After the obligatory and way overplayed Dogs (this song is a dog...) we get very nice Theme. As with Limb, not much to say. Solid but nothing special.

FINALLY with Punch this sleepy set starts to awaken. Punch is a bit flubby but at least gets us moving.

After a nice Water, we get a blazing Maze. Then the set grinds to another halt with Waste. Lovely, but not what we needed.

Solid Vultures and Jim to close.

Odd set. Up and down. Not bad but no true highlights to speak of. Huh. Just a lackluster set overall.
Ok, Jim transcends, but thats all.

 

Set 2

Epic 21 minute Type 2 Stash to open the 2nd set. Begins very boring and lackluster again. Slowly it begins to evolve into an epic, swirling, dark kind of mess. Very, very cool. Eventually the darkness suddenly morphs into a porno funk dance party. Typical 1997! This section is terrific and lasts a good long while, going into a Cities -style jam after a bit. Major funkage!!! . Kinda fades out from here.  

The following Ghost is un friggin believable!!!!! X factor magic!!! 9 minutes of ripping, gooey, meltdowny madness. They completely deconstruct it and build it back from nothing. Incredible!!!!! MUST HEAR!!!

Then the set nosedives. After Saw It Again, Velvet Sea brings us down and Piper Intro keeps us disappointed....

Then Jesus Just Left. Golly, just what I want. Another downer! To be fair, Jesus is fine, but another slow song was just not needed, thank you.

AND OF COURSE THE SET CLOSES WITH CASPIAN. * rolls eyes *

Lame encore.

Good golly this show was a nightmare. Other than the glorious 30 minutes of X Factor (Stash>Ghost), this show is pretty much garbage bin material. Its not bad but its so up and down and sleepy. It cant get out of its own damn way! This was one of the worst Phish listens Ive ever had.

Good riddance!