Customer Reviews

Live Phish Vol. 2: 7/16/94, Sugarbush Summerstage, North Fayston, Vermont

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

For all of you looking to get into the amazing musical experience of Phish but don't know where to start, this is the CD for you. 1) It is live and that is where Phish shines. 2)This is a great setlist with more Phish "Staples" than most others in the "live" series. and 3) The boys were really on this night and the energy and creativity really shines through.

This album has a great mix of sweet and intense jams as well as some of Phish best shorter songs. Down With Disease was the first highlite of the show and this is a great version. Sometimes Trey misses the timing on the lyrics but he nailed it here and the solo was a great example of tension & release. The rest of disc one has three of the best short non-jam sing along songs by Phish: Cavern, Silent In The Morning, and Sample In A Jar. Once you know the lyrics, you will be singing every time!

Disc 2 has a sick Run Like An Atelope and yes it is "out of control" and continues with the 2001, the funny antics of Harpua and a great AC/DC Bag. All great versions of great songs.

Disc 3 contains a fantastic Harry Hood with a great payoff at the end, a really outthere Chalk Dust Torture and concludes with a zingy organ filled Suzy.

All and all a really great set. Like all Phish live albums there are a couple of you can skip. Trey's story in the middle of Disc two is kinda of lame.

Bottom Line: A must have for Phish fans, summer of 94 is hailed as one of the best tours. A great place to start for people looking to buy thier first Phish CD.

I recently purchased Live Phish Volume 2 after reading many good things about it. For those who were like me, saying to themselves, "There are 20 Live Phish cds, which one do I get and why?" this is a great place to start. In most Phish shows, the band rocks through the first disc, then jams and goes crazy on disc 2, then closes things up with longer songs on disc 3. The band starts out Volume 2 (live from Sugarbush in North Fayston, Vermont) with a tribute acapella to Vermont, their home state, and you know it's going to be a good show. The band displays lots of energy and showmanship throughout the 3 cds. Volume 2's first disc rocks out a classic '94 setlist. Disc 2 has lots of screaming, story telling, joking, and craziness that you don't find on some of the other volumes. This is from 1994, a time when the band was at its peak with the big crazy shows while going all out musically. Things slow in '96, get more serious & change to funk in '97, then change gears totally after their 2000 hiatus.

I also recommend volume 7 (lots of energy, great first cd culminating with "Split Open and Melt" - note: some people aren't as excited about discs 2 & 3), voume 6 (great disc 1, disc 2 they play all songs with a "Wipeout" theme or mix, great energy and music, disc 3 wraps up nicely), and volume 11 ('97 funk-filled show, turning point in the music). I read that Volume 10 was also amazing but I was disappointed (sorry), since I thought that Volumes 2 & 6 have more energy. Volume 10 has a good disc 1, and some craziness in the middle of disc 2. So check out 6, 7, 10, and 11 if you can. If you're new to Phish and trying to figure out what is the best cd to get a good feel for Phish, I recommend starting with "A Live One," which features great versions of songs from different concerts. Hope that helps.

Thank G-d the forces that be have finally understood what the serious Phish fan has been craving; a series of live, un-edited shows released on a regular basis. I believe this show to be one of the stand-outs in this first release. The music speaks for itself. It's clear from the get go on cd 1 that the band was incredibly excited to be playing in such a beautiful setting only minutes from their own homes. Rated by the readers of The Pharmers Almanac as the #11 show of all time, this show delivers on all fronts. Trey is on fire, laying down incredible lines through the whole show, Fishman can hardly keep himself from yelling random stuff through the show. My favorite moment of the night is Harpua, with a wonderful narrative by Trey about how Vermont is the greatest state in the union and one of the most random destructions of Poster Nut Bag, this time by a comet. This show is a wonderful peek into the band at one of their most creative stages. This show works not only for the hardened fan who's seen them 50+ times, but also the new fan that wants a cornerstone of their live phish collection. This show is simply a must have for any fan. ENJOY!

THIS SHOW IS WHAT PHISH IS, PERIOD! This show has some of the best versions of some of the best Phish songs ever made on one of the best Phish tours ever.
Highlights:
>Harry Hood-16:00+minutes, brings a tear to my eye when Trey begins wailing out the most melodic Mixolydian riffs at some of the highest speeds ever during the jam! Really long and trippy intro.
>Antelope-18:00+minutes, Amazing energy and crazy good bass and guitar. Trey really starts to get his $h!7 together during this jam and he takes Antelope to whole new levels. During the song the band screams and really gets into it (Fishman goes nuts this whole show and a lot in this song).
>Stash, golgi, cavern, lizards and MAZE really rocked the first set. N20 is cool as well as Silent in the Morning.
>Harpua into 2001 back into Harpua is great. A really good composed segment in this Harpua.
>Contact is funky as hell and Chalkdust kicks @55 because they tease Barracuda by Heart during the intro.

Overall: One of if not the best of the Live Phish series. If you like this then check out 7, 11, 12, 10, 9, and 18 for some awesome music. BTW Live Phish 4 is the most over rated show ever but it is still great....just not as great as people here make it out to be. Peace out.

BEST HOOD EVER, MELTS MY FACE OFF EVERY TIME I HEAR IT. Probably my favorite jam out of the whole series starts at 7 min and peaks until your face melts off, then peaks some more. Best complete show - Volume 06 with the wipeout fest.

much love, love music, love life, music is life

A wonderful set list, telepathic interplay, and a spirited, sunny, energetic batch of tunes to lift anyone's mood. The sound is slightly muffled, but you can't expect something from a two-track tape recorder to come out sounding as clear as a studio album. This will come as a treat to anyone who's practically worn out a copy of Junta.

I'll admit I'm a little biased here; my first exposure to Phish was a bootleg tape of this particular show and I wore the thing out playing it so much. I can't compare it to the other live releases in this series. I can't relate to any actual shows since I haven't seen any. However.. I first played the CDs on a four-hour road trip, and the distance between here and Virginia never seemed so short. "Golgi" and "Down With Disease" squash the originals like a grape. "Run Like an Antelope" rolls on and on in a groove you almost don't want to end. I could go on about each track, but it's better to hear for yourself. Imagine the kind of group jamming they did on the original "David Bowie" and multiply that by ten.

So then: is this an album to get or not? If you're new to Phish, a single (and less costly) CD may be better - I recommend Rift. If you're not quite new and like what you've heard so far.. well, this is a step above Slip, Stitch & Pass and could probably give A Live One a run for its money. It's not perfect. The sound quality isn't outstanding. But the performance is the single best one I've heard. Make of that what you will.

I received all 5 of the initial Live Phish releases and they are all really good (with vol. 1-3 qualifying as AMAZING). Because I'm lazy, I'll just review them all here...
I would certainly advise buying them all, but if you're short on cash, Volumes 1, 2, and 3 are the must-haves.

Vol 1- 12/95- Binghamton. Set 1 is solid, but the second set of this show is incredible. They pretty much never stop playing from the first note of Curtain through the end of Slave. Set 2 contains two amazing jams- the Tweezer->Timber->Tweezer and the Halleys->NICU->Halleys Jam->Slave are both the bomb.

Vol 2- 7/16/94- Sugarbush, VT- Setlist-wise, this is the best of the releases. Again, a solid set 1 followed by an awesome set 2. The second set of this show is the most high-energy set I've ever heard Phish play. Antelope is absolutely out of control (no pun intended) with Trey and Fishman shrieking during the jam. The rest of the set is equally good.

Vol 3- 9/14/00- Darien Lake- I was unimpressed with the setlist for this one, but the jams are out of this world. The standout jam of this show (and all five releases) is the 1st-set ending jam out of Suzy Greenberg. This jam absolutely RAGES! Set 2 also has some good jamming, with a 25-min ambient jam out of Drowned that eventually morphs into Crosseyed and Painless before jamming some more.

Vol 4- 6/14/00- Drum Logos- Good 1st set. Set 2 is ambient jam central- 15 min Back on the Train, 35 minute Twist, a quick Walk Away, and finally 2001 to finish. This show is for hardcore phans only- it goes way out into space and doesn't come back. If you like ambient jams, this is the show for you.

Vol 5- 7/16/00- Alpine Valley- In my opinion, the most average show of the 5 (though still a solid show start-to-finish). The highlight of this show is the Piper in set 2.

Overall, these are all great releases and a must for serious Phish fans. I've seen some complaining about the sound quality, but I think it sounds crystal clear for all the shows.

This gig is superb all the way around and i swear that if it doesn't blow your socks off, believe me there is nothing that will (just listen to the whole second set, you'll see what i mean). The whole show is a rush partly because they were playing so close to thier homes. The other reason is because it was a great year for them and this mid-july show makes us see why.

I am now going to go through each and every son and tell you a little sompin', sompin' about it.

SET 1

Golgi- This rendition of the junta track is very high quality stuff. The beginning we hear the crowd scream as they arrive on stage and sing aten sec. long BACK IN MY HOMMEEEEEEE TOWNNNN. The middle jam is killer as well. 9 stars

Down With Disease>- Even though this is a short version of this song, it stills kick some serious tushee. The keyboard and guitar goes wild here. 9 1/2 stars

NO2>- This is crazy little pick up song for stash. 7 stars

Stash- Shorter than A live one's but possibly better. I am not a big fan of this song but the jamming is great. 8 stars

Lizards- This is non less than perfection. The vocals are great and the jamming spectacular. 10 stars

Cavern- This is also shorter than normal but it still rocks. Band is energetic here. 9 1/2 stars

The Horse>- This is a pick up song to silent in the morning but unlike no2, this one is good and harmony filled. Same legnth though. 9 stars

Silent in the Morning- A good vocal tune from a vocal record, rift. A Capella here is great. 8 1/2 stars

Maze- The heavy jam tune of the set. Not too much of a fan of the song but the jamming ain't half bad. 8 1/2 stars

Sparkle- A fresh tune with good vocals. 9 stars

SIAJ- This version is quite short but is awesome until the end. 9 1/2 stars

SET 2

RLAA>- The first half of the song filled with great jamming. 9 stars

Catapult>- A wierd tune that is funny really. 8 1/2 stars

RLAA- This is out of this world. Complete jamming excellence and freaky screaming treyish vocals at the end. 10 stars

Harpua>- This song cracks me up every time i hear it. The song and story parts are just incredible. Hellarious. POSTERNUTBAGH. 10 stars

2001>- Suprizingly fantasic. 9 1/2 stars

Harpua- The end of the story and bulk of the song are in this one. A great rendition completed. 9 1/2 stars

Ac/Dc Bag>- This is a solid version of this eighties classic. Good though short jam session here. 9 stars

SOAM- Fantastic jamming on this track. The energy of the show is expressed perhaps the best on this track. 9 1/2 stars

Harry Hood- A great version even though it isn't as good as a live one's. Interesting jamming in this one as well. 9 stars

Contact- The sure week link of the show. Good version but semi- annoying song that is all. 7 1/2 stars

Chalkdust- A great version of this tune. Vocals ar a little poor but who really cares. 9 stars

ENCORE
Suzy- A common encore tune that is perfected here. The play and vocals are excellent. Great show period. 9 1/2 stars

If you only own one of the Live Phish recordings, what's wrong with you? At the very least, start with this one.

Some background:
July 16th, 1994 was an incredible night. While Shoemaker-Levey 9 was smashing into Jupiter, Phish played their last show of their "Hoist" tour in North Fayston Vermont. Enough people showed up that the roads going into Fayston had to be closed. More people packed the summerstage and surrounding grassy area then could possibly be safe. The story goes that once the band realized just how many thousands of people arrived, they knew that they wouldn't be able to play their hometown again: they had grown too popular. They responded by holding nothing back in this performance. While nothing could completly capture that night, this disc goes a long way.

Starting with a brief acapella intro ("Back In My Hometown"), the band jumps into one of my personal faves, and the greatest organelle song EVER, Golgi Apparatus and then band is off and they don't look back.

There are three things that make this disc essential:
1> THE SET. This could be Phish 101 textbook with chapters on The Jams (Stash, Golgi, Harry Hood, Run Like An Antelope); The Boogie (Sparkle, Down With Disease), The Rock (Chalk Dust Torture); The Playful (Contact, Lizards, Harpua); The Experiments (NO2, Catapult); The Covers (2001, AC/DC Bag).

This album covers a wide range of their career to date and really gives a full feel to their set. Some of the other albums in the Live Phish series tend to be Jam-heavy, this one has it all.

2> THE PERFORMANCES. After months on the road, the band never sounded so tight. You would be hard pressed to find better versions of most of these songs. In particular, this disc has a "Run Like An Antelope" for the ages. I can't say enough about their performance on this song. Talk about holding nothing back! The boys are really setting the gearshift for the high gear of their soul on this live staple. There is also a PERFECT "Harry Hood" (or at least, I haven't heard any better). The band is so tight thru the whole performance. These guys are at a peak.

3> THE WAHOO. Which is pretty hard to put into words. It has nothing to do with a certain baseball logo or native American. Let's just say that this album is a sweet and everlasting yalp in the face of all of life's sourness. It is something present on all of their work, but I hear it most here.

(Sorry if that last bit doesn't make sense to you. It might mean more if you listen to the disc a lot with headphones).

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I love all of the first 12 Live Phish albums, but I believe that this one is the best overall. I'd like to give a shout out to Live Phish 4--which I believe the band is better musically, but has slightly less of a set--and Live Phish 7--where the energy is there, but things just seem a little rougher.

If you're looking for a start, start here. Again, if you only own one Live Phish, there's something wrong with you.

personally, i think this show is awesome,reaally tight on every jam, the first set seems a bit basic, its good but its not great, alot of classic songs like cavern, down with disease, stash, and golgi apparatus, all played well, but no real long epic jams.
once the seccond set is on, it is ONNN, probably the best run like an antelope ive ever herd since Las Vegas 2.15.03 (off of livephish.com) the whole band seems really into it and is just a really intense vibe goin on, you can hear fishman yelling and screaming alot which is awesome, this jam really goes places, then into a very different catipult, very funky and spacey. Next is a reeealy sweet Harupa in which trey tells the story of Harupa which is pretty long, but its entertaining enough and fits in with the song well, which segues into a beautiful 2001, short, but totally sick and soon enough they jam back into harupa, finishing off the story and soon enough busting out into a great Ac Dc Bag and into an acceptionably good scent of a mule, the last three songs of the set are really on as well, Harry Hood always a crowd favorite has got everyone feelin good about hood, a nice mike heavy contact, nice grooves on this track and a particularly good Chalkdust Torture, very different than most, they jam a decent ammount before the lyrics kick in and its pretty sick, and then they end out the show with an AWESOME Suzie Greenburg. i would highly reccomend this show especially for the seccond set, if i ever lost it i would replace it, its great, definatly one of the highlight shows of the 94' collection.