Since 10/29 12:12 P.M.
Plese send all thoughts to andy@gadiel.com and I will post them here! Thanks.
Andy's Phish Page
Any new Phish disc is appreciated. I agree with everyone here about the double disc idea. Live shows are lucrative for the band because they never screw up. I have days of live Phish boots and can't find a hole in any of these guy's playing. I absolutly love S, S,&P because 1. It's PHiSH. 2. They played exerpt of the Doors song When the Music's Over and part of the Lizard King series. Jim Morrison was an amazing man. If ANYONE has any other bootleg tapes of PhiSH doing anything by the Doors, please let me know. It's a blend of my favorite band and the American Poet that shouldn't be missed. Thanks. I'm interested in any PHiSH boots with Doors and Jim Morriseon stuff. Will trade, buy, whatever. Jeff Hafner hafner@ctol.net
Incredible. I think the bomb track is Jesus Left Chicago. It's rousing, uplifting blues. The Mike's Song is frisky and energetic. Did you know that shift to the "End jam" was completely improvised?? The sound in general is unified and unbelievably tight throughout the album. They don't sound like four egos; they sound like they are having fun, and the jamming is never forced or awkward. In other words, it captures the Phish experience, ca. 1997. I only wish it had been a double disc of the performance; they were in the zone that night, as usual.
I believe that the new album is great, but I wish that they would have releas the complete show on two discs. It's nice to have a complete show on disc. Charles
It truly exemplifies how awesome they're playing right now. How bout' next... Slip, Stich, and Knick...both nights in Albany, UNCUT!
i like it....anything else??
I know this new Phish Êrelease is the absolute shit!!! It smokes!! Ive been enjoying bands for 15 years and I have bootlegs of the best and I say this is outstanding and I can only hope for much more like this from them! I just saw them last night at Nutter Center in Dayton and the Psycho killers into Jesus left Chicago totally reminded me of the newest Phish release which I am so happy to realize I have to enjoy when I get home! Phish is on it right now and this album is a fine example of what they have to offer, love hearing the audience response to the music too! LOVE IT !! Boo Hoo to u who don't like it, fuckin weenies would'nt know a good jam if u heard one!!! KEEP IT UP PHISH !!! WE LOVE IT!!
I think the new Phish album rocks. There's excellent versions of wolfman's Brother and..uh...i can't remember the names of the other ones but they start talking like Jim Morrison. all in all, it's a real good CD
I really think this show exemplifies Phish's ability to turn a set into a movement. The subtlety in their transitions combined with their rhythmical steadfastness make this set very powerful, flowing with a mixture of professional prowess and fond, cooperative collaboration. I am very optimistic about the path I see them taking the last few months. The wah groove has officially been perfected, and I'm about it, but Mr. Michael Gordon's groove steals this particular show. I know they enjoy themselves by this show alone.
I don't know...maybe it's me, but this album left me a little angry. While I admit that the song selection is great, the quality of each individual song left something to be desired. I don't like the mellowed out Mike's that much...I'm from the jamming, funky hard core school. As for the whole idea...I liked the double "A Live One" better, as it was just a sampling of what the band had to offer. It was culled from a tour on which the band took notes on what songs they thought were impressive, and put them out. The whole idea of selling a bootleg--that seems to offset the whole taper's section idea. I was really disappoited to have to pay for something I could get for the price of a blank tape. If the band wants to get into that sort of thing, at least they could make it available only to those who get the Schvice. All in all, I'm kind of disappointed. If it wasn't the greatest band ever that made the blunder, I think I'd be downright pissed.
i think the new live album is great, i love the wolfman's into jesus just left chicago, not to mention an awesome cities. i also really loved the weekapaug groove, it was completely energized. My only complaint is that mike's and weekapaug (two of my most favorite phish tunes) are now at the disposal of the masses :( mariel
PHISH: Slip Stitch and Pass (Elektra) Reviewed by Steve Marshall Slip Stitch and Pass is the second live album released by Phish, and the first installment in a series of live and experimental releases to complement their studio recordings. As anyone who has seen the band in concert knows, Phish's studio albums don't come close to doing the band justice. To get the full experience, you have to see them perform live. They have an enormous amount of material (less than half of it is available commercially), not counting the scores of covers they play (three are included here). You could easily go to three or four shows in a row and not hear the same song performed twice. Slip Stitch and Pass contains excerpts from the March 1, 1997 show in Hamburg, Germany. All but three of the cuts are previously unreleased. They open the show with a slow rendition of Talking Heads' "Cities," then (on the CD) go into an extended version of "Wolfman's Brother" from the band's 1994 disc, Hoist. This song really comes alive in concert, compared to the studio version. After "Wolfman's Brother," they seamlessly segue into another of the many highlights on the CD--a cover of the ZZ Top's "Jesus Just Left Chicago." Guitarist Trey Anastasio's solo on this track is amazing. Up next is "Weigh." This is the only track to skip on the CD. Looking at the setlist from the actual concert, there are several songs that would have made a better choice here. The thing that Phish phans will be most excited about on the new CD is the commercial debut of "Mike's Groove." "Mike's Groove" is (normally) a trio of unreleased songs that the band has been playing in concert for over 10 years. This is an excellent version too--both in terms of the performance and the 'surprises.' Starting with "Mike's Song," the jamming by everyone is spectacular. Then come the surprises. Phish is known to 'tease' bits of other songs (both originals and covers) while they're performing. After another great Anastasio jam in "Mike's Song," you'll hear parts of The Doors' "The End" and Pink Floyd's "Careful With That Axe, Eugene." Then in place of the usual second part of 'the groove', "I am Hydrogen," comes "Lawn Boy"--featuring a solo by bassist Mike Gordon. 'The groove' comes to a close with a killer version of "Weekapaug Groove," featuring the closing section of The Rolling Stones' "Can't You Hear Me Knocking." Stones fans will wish they were playing this on their current tour after hearing Phish do it. Another thing that makes them such a great band is the way they can play in so many different musical styles. Following "Mike's Groove" is an entertaining take on the barber shop quartet standard, "Hello My Baby." Performed acapella and without mics, you can hear the newbies in the crowd laughing, while the phans tell them to be quiet. The CD ends with a track from last year's excellent Billy Breathes album, "Taste." This version is a bit disappointing if you've ever experienced it in concert. It sounds too polished. The band hasn't announced any definite plans for future releases in the series yet, but if this one is any indication, Phish phans are gonna be in for a treat. If you've never heard Phish perform live, this a great place to start. (C) 1997 - Steve Marshall
Absolutely fine piece of musical extacy! Those jams are so smooth, vibrant, and flowing. The music really flows within itself. It's great to have on to listen to, but make sure you spend some time carefully listening to the paths of the jams and the musicianship. Sound quality is outstanding as well. A outstanding work of art, but then again, isn't that true of everything that Phish does?
I think that the new album is pretty good. I especially like Mike'S Song. Cities is becoming overplayed by people who do not appreciate all of Phish's music. Greg-
The new disc is Phish,having a great time playing in Europe. If you want to complain about anything,then you are an over analytical geek.Just put the disc in,put on some headphones,crank it all the way to blisterdrum,and you will realize how lucky we all really are to have this band in our lives.Trey,Mike,Fish,and Page; if you ever read this stuff,thanks for sharing this night with all of the folks back home.UH-OH! I must not be a true "phan",I didn't use "ph" phor the "f"in "folks".Geeks! Great C.D! I'm out. B.L.W.
In my opinion, the new disc is perfect. You'll here no complaining from me about song selection or what's been left off,etc... I see it as more great music from the guy's. Pop it in and enjoy! "Cities" stands out as a wonderful tune. The disc will always be in my stereo as one of my new favorites.
Enough whining - how could you possibly listen to this album and not be thrilled ? Sure the song selection isn't perfect - Sure they cheated us by cutting the show from two discs to one - But it sounds INCREDIBLE!! Maybe you weren't paying attention when they effortlessly slipped from Wolfman > JLC. Mike's is about as delicious as a piece of Swiss chocolate on a sunny day in Gstaad and Cities? Please (granted my recent favorite was from the Went, but this is just as solid). The album, although shorter than it should be, is an excellent portrait of just a few of the COUNTLESS facets that make up their musical force. So if we'd all just shut up and listen, I'll guarantee a smile faster than you can say nectar. GC fallenleaf@earthlink.net
My biggest reaction to the album was: why in the world don't they paly weigh more???? After hearing it at the Went and then on this album I have a whole new respect for the song and would not mind hearing it as a second set opener in Hampton Stephanie Daher ocean city, nj zstphntre@hotmail.com
The new one is definately a must. The wind blows high. Divided Sky USA 115
PEOPLE, WAKE UP!!!! SLIP, STITCH & PASS is everything one should want and more. Enough with the references to what they should have played, and the tapes you heard that were better, or the better "Mike's Song" from Italy, it is all readicculus. Upon first listening of this album I was blown away in every song. I have the most of Europe including this show and it doesn't matter, the sound is complete. It is the closest thing to being there that you can have. Paul Languedoc and the boys do us justice by releasing this. In every song each member is constantly soloing while not soloing at all. The FUNK is constantly being laid by Page, Fishman is chopping his kit in half, Gordo is BLOWING UP, and Trey proves that he is the best rhythm guitarist of all time. As for the songs in gneral, the vibe that they create i nevery tune is so characteristic of what they want to be, one unit. They do it with such ease on this night and that is why they chose it. Phish gave you a taste, no pun intended, of every style they do by choosing those songs. It is a gem
An odd disc by all accounts. The tapes I had gave me a nice idea as to what the disc would be like. I have to agree that Stuttgart would have been a better show to release, and with this show being televised, it seems like this disc is a cop out. Sure, Wolfman's > JJLC is a real hi-lite, but the Cities was standard at best (see 8.16.97). The stage banter is not representative of the band, especially that before Weigh. You can hear Trey's voice crack when he is talking about Markethalle, it just doesn't seem right. As far as Mike's and Weekapaug....RATS! What a shame to release these two epics on this disc. The Weekapaug is especially uninspired. I was surprised that "Be Careful of the Axe Eugene" was as far off from classic Floyd (see Ummagumma). I don't even need to say anything about Hello My Baby. Why remind us of those who find it absolutely histerical? I guess I don't mind the disc, but like with A Live One, bad selection for a live release. I think I am going to stick to trading, at least till something solid comes out. Dan Shay P.S. ELECT WILSON
Just a thought for everyone out there who is caught up in comparing/contrasting, complaining, discussing, etc., etc... Go to your CD player, put in the disc, hit the 'play' button, turn the volume up, sit down, enjoy some bud (for those who do that), and enjoy the CD...don't worry about what they could've done, should've done, didn't do, should do next time...blah blah blahin about it doesn't change what's happened....they can't please everyone. The disc is well done....it shows their progression and shows they still have a good time....and that's all they're trying to convey. Check Trey's interview out, or Mike's interview , it should show you people what the men think about their own stuff. I wish everyone else could get exicited like Trey and Mike and just enjoy the music for what it's worth... just my 2 ¢ david gunnells phish@marko.net phish@infomedia.net
Great CD! The Cities, Wolfman's and Mike's are tremendous and the new bluesy, funky sound has me very excited about the upcoming tour. Great job once again by the boys. Jerker the Bezerker
Playing in Europe is probably great for Phish. They get to relive the days when they were becoming popular here. Back when they did really crazy stuff. My friends and I were talking last night about how Fishman is giving Europe a different first impression of how he looks. It's completely the opposite of how he used to look. Anyway... Paul
More,more,more.........This album is great, I only wish it was a complete show. To understand the band live you have to see the progression of songs in a set. I'd love to see phish release one of these every 6 months or so, perhaps they could donate some of the proceeds to a worthy cause? I know they wont have trouble selling them & I dont care how many great tapes you have nobody has this kind of audio quality. I start to get excited when I think of all the shows that kick total butt & getting a chance to hear them at this level of audio excellence....it is so well done! Each instrument equally weighed & the audience as well!!!! I love it. but,please guys next time give us the whole night.
I was wondering if you could have a section on your webpage dedicated to people's thoughts on the new Phish album. I am amazed by their seemingly slower, funkier, and less guitar-oriented styly, and I wanted to hear what other fans thought of it. Thank-you very much, Jeffrey Oestreicher
Definatley Hot!! I love the way Wolfman's Brother has grown funkier the last year. This CD has a great one. The Weigh on here is nice as well. But, the Mikes> Lawn Boy> Weekapaug Groove is, well, one of the best. I wish the CD was the Whole show it shows the boys havin loads of fun......." Mother, I want to cook you breakfast " troy C feemili@tng.net
I am happy to see these guys having a great time, the jams sound great, Jesus is awesome! I can not wait to see what they will have in store during this next tour. Do we see a possibility of some old, old stuff mixing in with some new, new stuff? Only time will tell! Till then, I wish everyone well. Mark mtstraub@naz.edu
I am happy to see Cities on the new CD. I like the Wolfman's Brother also, but I was expecting a new Phish song from this summer to be on there. Anyways, I give it thumbs up.
The Cities is great, the Mike's is amazing with Floyd's "The End" jam, it's Phish's new funk, it is gladly welcomed by all!! - RJ Bee
Are these things real? NEIN!
What to say? How many times have * you * sat in front of your stereo just listening? I have the tapes from the show, but WOW what a difference in quality. I guess when Paul L. is in charge of the taping you are going to get results. You can definitey hear Trey's new love for House Music all over this CD. They have been sneaking it in - and I must say I love the new groove. Free in Ventura this year is a perfect example - that hypnotic repeating whomp- whomp Mike laid down. I often wonder what house music they play before, during intermissions, and after the shows - it is groovilicious. CIAO - JD
What can you say about this album other than utterly impressive. I definetly heard a slower, groovier funk at the Vegas show last December, and I love it. I cant belive my good fortune in that my going home to Connecticut for turkey allows me a night with the boys from Burlington! I cant wait for the continued progression.
ok...so i've had the tapes for a while and knew that hamburg was definately a hot, hot show (not like stuttgart, but we all knew they'd pick the wrong show....oh well...) so the first thing i noticed was the quality....very nice, better than my audience tapes....but oh, did they blow the song selection.... ok problem 1: why is it only 1 cd? a 2 cd set could have brought us so many more songs....where's the carini? where's the disease? where's the beautiful billy breathes?where the hell is the mago song? come on! problem 2: hello my baby....ok, as if it's not bad enough i suffer through this shit at EVERY show (or so it seems), they had to put an unamplified version on the disc... i will admit sometimes it's a nice breather during a set, but the live (obviously, as trey made the change at the wrong time) oh kee pah would have taken up about the same time on the disc and would have sounded so much better.... problem 3: can you say heavy metal possum? phish apparently cannot, as it was the most notable absence on the disc....geez... quality, good...selection, bad... they blew it again.... somehow i'm not surprised.... brian
This live album is great!!! Ten times better than 'A Live One'. I only wish that there were more originals. Sure 'Cities' , 'Jesus Left Chicago' , and 'Hello My Baby' are great, I just wish they would have included other songs from that show. I know they played Possum, Lucy With a Lumpy Head, Mango Song, and DwD which would all have been my choice over the covers. Never-the-less, it is still a great album and I am perfectly satisfied. Adam Marcellot
Just some thoughts on Slip Stitch and Pass: Compare Slip Stitch and Pass to A Live One and I think you can hear a major difference in the jams. Phish hasn't become necessarily better or worse since the recordings of A Live One, they've just taken a new approach. It's refreshing to finally hear some subtle changes in the style of the jams after all their performances over the years. I think Slip Stitch and Pass is a perfect reflection of this. --Rob ramintz@worldnet.att.net
Before October 28, I never said that I had a "favorite" Phish album. They all had something different that I could enjoy. But Slip Stitch & Pass IS Phish. What Phish is today, anyway. Sitting in my friend's dorm room on Tuesday afternoon, being taken away by the incredible jam on Wolfman's, we marveled that Phish just keeps getting better. This disc makes clear how much fun Phish is having when they play. With the casual joking with rowdy audience members, the Careful w/ that Axe Eugene and The End quotes, we are priveleged to here four great musicians enjoying themselves. The beginning of Weekapaug exhibits a heavy funk influence. Also, here I laughed out loud when they played with the "Mother..." part of The End. With this album we can hear why they are the most talented and innovative musicians around today!
I think the new album is very, very good. It is a fine representation of where Phish is now in their never ending saga of evolving their jam style and "pushing the envelope." The band has moved way into the slower, funkier direction but it hasn't forgot how to deliver the heat. In my humble opinion, I think the Mike's>End>Careful>Lawnboy>Weekapaug is the "meat" of the album. The Weekapaug jam is so ferocious that it sounds like a freight train coming our way. By the way, did anyone catch the Rolling Stones' "Can't You Hear Me Knocking" in the Weekapaug finale? I've seen Phish do this once before back in Sunrise, Florida in 1994, and it was a treat to hear them throw this sick jam on disc. Phish also seemed to cleverly put a number of their musical influences on this disc, from the Heads to ZZ Top to the Doors to Floyd. OK, I don't really dig the "Hello my Baby," but you can't have everything your way. I hope the band will continue this trend of releasing a new live disc every couple of years just to wet our whistles... oh yeah, and to pleasure our ears and make our synapses burn. Matt Levy
I think the new album is very, very good. It is a fine representation of where Phish is now in their never ending saga of evolving their jam style and "pushing the envelope." The band has moved way into the slower, funkier direction but it hasn't forgot how to deliver the heat. In my humble opinion, I think the Mike's>End>Careful>Lawnboy>Weekapaug is the "meat" of the album. The Weekapaug jam is so ferocious that it sounds like a freight train coming our way. By the way, did anyone catch the Rolling Stones' "Can't You Hear Me Knocking" in the Weekapaug finale? I've seen Phish do this once before back in Sunrise, Florida in 1994, and it was a treat to hear them throw this sick jam on disc. Phish also seemed to cleverly put a number of their musical influences on this disc, from the Heads to ZZ Top to the Doors to Floyd. OK, I don't really dig the "Hello my Baby," but you can't have everything your way. I hope the band will continue this trend of releasing a new live disc every couple of years just to wet our whistles... oh yeah, and to pleasure our ears and make our synapses burn. Matt Levy
I think the new album is very, very good. It is a fine representation of where Phish is now in their never ending saga of evolving their jam style and "pushing the envelope." The band has moved way into the slower, funkier direction but it hasn't forgot how to deliver the heat. In my humble opinion, I think the Mike's>End>Careful>Lawnboy>Weekapaug is the "meat" of the album. The Weekapaug jam is so ferocious that it sounds like a freight train coming our way. By the way, did anyone catch the Rolling Stones' "Can't You Hear Me Knocking" in the Weekapaug finale? I've seen Phish do this once before back in Sunrise, Florida in 1994, and it was a treat to hear them throw this sick jam on disc. Phish also seemed to cleverly put a number of their musical influences on this disc, from the Heads to ZZ Top to the Doors to Floyd. OK, I don't really dig the "Hello my Baby," but you can't have everything your way. I hope the band will continue this trend of releasing a new live disc every couple of years just to wet our whistles... oh yeah, and to pleasure our ears and make our synapses burn. Matt Levy
FINALLY!!! A Phish album I can actually say I like. I mean that it covers the true essence of what the whole live experience is about. The studio albums are okay, and "A Live One" seemed to be a typical live band album. But this album IS what Phish IS. I have friends who are not really into the band but do enjoy some stuff. They don't understand the concept of trading tapes and only prefer CD's. Well up until now there really hasn't been any disc representation of what the band is truly about when seen live. If someone doesn't like this album, then they will never like this band. Who these people are, I haven't got a clue, but I do feel really sorry for them. Ari Petroff (dogman@istar.ca)
I think the new CD is great! Wolfman's->Jesus is amazingly hot. The Wolfmans reminds me of the one from Maine. Jesus Left Chicago is absolutly smoking! Also, Mike->Lawnboy->Weekapaugh is unreal. The boys throw in the Doors "The End" tease, and "Careful With That Axe Eugene" by Pink Floyd. Unreal. I've been waiting for something like this for a while. I knew they wantyed to put Mike's and Weekapaugh on disc, but I figured they wouldn't want to do some 4 minute studio cut. This is perfect. What better way to have Mikes and Weekapaugh than to have a live version! joe kanakaraj jfkanaka@syr.edu
I had the oppurtunity to sample the new album on Tuesday (right around 4:20, so you can imagine the state I was in). Now, although I still think the Mike's Groove isn't as good as some others I've heard over the years, this album is fantastic. The sound is unbelievable. From the Cities through to Taste, the true brilliance of Phish and the feeling of a live show is beautifully conveyed. One need only look at the setlist to see that they have covered all the bases. Cities is a nice fun, funky opener. Incredibly tight, it also recalls the early days of Phish, when covers were part of every setlist (to some extent this still happens today). The Wolfman's is Phish today. Funky groove orientated jamming where no one stands out in particular, but where the total is incredibly intricate and totally satisfying. The transition into JJLC is rather nice. From a little jam, into a serious ass kicking solo. I was not a huge fan of this tune before I heard this remastered version, but now I would say this is one of the most glorious solos I have ever heard from any guitarist. The grace and technical acheivement of Trey is what allows him to explore emotion in a more complex and meaningful manner than most guitarists. Unlike a lot of other guitarists, where it isn't neccessary to really immerse oneself in the solo, to fully appreciate this one and to see its genius, one has to be aware of the direction, tone, and importance of each and every note. Only by doing so does the true beauty emerge. Not a single note is to be dismissed as filler. When some guy in the crowd yells out "Trey you rock!", it is as if our own appreciation and contribution to Trey's playing is brought forth. We are all that guy. After the heaviness of the JJLC, a little stage banter and Weigh loosen things up. We are now well into the show and the boys are lossened up a little. Weigh is fun, just as all Phish shows are. The Mike's Arabic Lawn Boy Groove is The Big Jam of the show. This is when you lose yourself completely for a half hour, just like at a show. As monumental as it is, it is clear the biys are having fun. Both the new Phish, where are Mike's Groove always has these important features of really making a show, and the loose, lets have fun with this of earlier pre-arena Phish are exemplified. The Ragtime Gal is a nice breather. A Cappella tunes always allow one to really reflect on why Phish shows are such a personal and fulfilling experience. Although I have heard a lot of complaining about this one, it is short, and becasue the album really is supposed to relfect the live Phish experience, I am glad its on there. When the Taste kicks in, you know this is the perfect way to end off the show and the disc. A beautiful song, peaceful and complete. I think this may be the most representative disc yet. More so definately than ALO, which although it is amazing, lacks the cohesive untiy of SSP and does not cover as much of what Phish is about. I know a lot of people have also complained that they left so much out from the Hamburg show. Well first of all, the DWD from that show sucks, so there would have been no point to putting it on. Secondly, for the sake of album continuity and variety, I think they picked a pretty decent set. A damn fine job boys!!! Mathias Loertscher
Phish "Slip, Stitch and Pass" (Elektra) 3.5 stars The improvisation-heavy band's second live album in three years may provide an even better sampling of its virtues than its predecessor. Besides touching on epic jams such as "Taste" and "Wolfman's Brother," "Slip, Stitch and Pass" also sneaks a look at Phish's group's roots via covers of Talking Heads' "Cities" and ZZ Top's "Jesus Just Left Chicago" -- not to mention the barber shop standard "Hello My Baby." A treat for ardent Phishheads, and a worthwhile introduction for the novice. -Gary Graff (Reuters)
Since 10/29 12:12 P.M.