type II 1.0: Our First Shows (podcast)
[audio http://typeiicast.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/typeii_ep1.mp3]
Type II got off to a tremendous start as the members of Panel #1 - Justin Wendt, Scott Bernstein and Tanya Sperry - each discussed highlights from their first show moderated by Producer/Host Steve Olker. We figured talking about our initial Phish experience would be a great way to give the listeners insight into how we came to be fans of the band.
Justin started us off by discussing his first show, which took place at the Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, MI on November 11, 1996. Take a look at the setlist...
Monday, 11/11/1996 Van Andel Arena, Grand Rapids, MI Set 1: Chalk Dust Torture, Guelah Papyrus, Cars Trucks Buses, AC/DC Bag, Sparkle, Brother, Theme From the Bottom, Axilla, Runaway Jim Set 2: Timber (Jerry), The Divided Sky, Gumbo, The Curtain, Sample in a Jar, Tweezer, Swept Away > Steep, Maze, Contact, Slave to the Traffic Light Encore: Waste, Cavern Notes: Divided Sky included an All Fall Down signal. [all setlists via Phish.net]
We checked out a funky bit of improvisation from the Tweezer before Justin revealed the real reason he attended the show that night.
Next, Scotty shared some memories from his first show, which took place at the Beacon Theatre in New York, NY on April 15, 1994. Take a look at the setlist...
Friday, 04/15/1994 Beacon Theatre, New York, NY Set 1: Llama, Guelah Papyrus, Paul and Silas, Harry Hood, Wilson > Chalk Dust Torture, Bouncing Around the Room > It's Ice > Down with Disease Set 2: Maze, If I Could, The Oh Kee Pa Ceremony > Suzy Greenberg > The Landlady, Julius, Wolfman's Brother -> Alumni Blues > I Wanna Be Like You > Hold Your Head Up > Cavern Encore: Magilla, Amazing Grace Notes: Suzy through Magilla featured the Giant Country Horns: Carl “Geerz” Gerhard on trumpet, Dave “The Truth” Grippo on alto sax, Chris Peterman on tenor sax, Mike Gallick on baritone sax, Don Glasgo on trombone, and Joey Sommerville on trumpet. Alumni Blues was incomplete as only one verse was performed, but it was the first since July 18, 1991 (301 shows).
You'll never believe what Phishy tradition that continues today Scott was a part of starting that fateful evening. The Giant Country Horns joined Phish that night and we listened to the moment the six-piece horn section strode on stage.
Finally, Tanya took us for a ride in the Wayback Machine as she talked about her first show, which took place at the University of New Hampshire's Memorial Union Building in Durham, NH on April 27th, 1989. Take a look at the setlist...
Thursday, 04/27/1989 Memorial Union Building, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH Set 1: Golgi Apparatus, Jam, The Sloth, The Divided Sky, Sanity, I Didn't Know, Alumni Blues > Letter to Jimmy Page > Alumni Blues > The Lizards, Whipping Post Encore: Contact, David Bowie Notes: The Jam, which is sometimes labelled String Changing Nature, arose while the band tuned their instruments and included some funny stage banter. This version of Sanity was the fast version. This show is believed to have been sponsored by the UNH Outing Club and performed in the pub of the Memorial Union Building.
As a UNH student, Tanya had a front row seat to the beginning of Phish's career. By the end of Whipping Post at her first show she was completely hooked. We checked out the peak of that Whipping Post as well as the hilarious intro to Bowie. The frenetic Alumni Blues from Tanya's first Phish concert played us out this week.
Check back next Tuesday when Panel #2 - Eric Wyman, Sam Davis and Andrew Hitz - get in on the act by describing their first Phish shows along with Steve.
Note: Be kind on the audio... Still working out the new setup - Steve