Customer Reviews

Live Phish Vol. 6: 11/27/98, The Centrum, Worcester, Massachusetts

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

 

 

Wondering which of the 12 Phish releases to get first? Wonder no more. This is it. I have thousands of live Phish shows, so trust me. This one has the perfect balance between out there jams and loose and fun playing and song selection. The next must haves are Live Phish 4 from Japan (advanced ambient perfection and experimentation) and Live Phish 2 from Sugarbush (peak energy from a peak year). I love these guys.

WOW! I had a boot tape of this show a couple of years ago and cherished it for its crispness and the incredible energy and tighness that Phish displays. Now that I have listened to the entire show and have had time to reflect on the show, my prognosis is this: coupled with Live Phish 4 theis is the finest live set Phish has ever released. That is no small feat. The amazing crispness of the music sparkles throughout with unbelievable twists and turns. The Reba is gorgeous, Chalkdust rocks, unlike any Chalkdust jam I've ever heard. Hydrogen is sonically blissful and Weekapaug has a cool little reprise after a 10 second breather. The Wipeout theme throughout the show is cute, but the Carini will make you bang your head 'til your teeth rattle. Mike's subtle teasing of MITB gives you the hint that they are going to play the ska anthem of the 80's. It is apparent that Phish was in a playful mood this evening. With Trey and Fishman making verbal jabs at each other in the final Wipeout segment (I especially like Trey's mocking of Robert Plant from The Song Remains The Same, 'Moby Dick, Dick, Dick.')
And how can you overlook the funky BOAF? Or the amazingly tender Cirus?
If you are a music fan on any level you have to respect the high level of musicianship exemplified throughout this 3 disc set. Please do yourself a favor and order this set!

All of the Live Phish releases are amazing shows in their own right, but this particular show, 11/27/98, was one of the most unbelievable nights of music that I have ever heard from Phish. The first set is nearly flawless. None of the tunes are really very over the top, but they are all played extremely tightly and well and the energy just builds and builds throughout the first set. While at this show, my friends and I could just feel that the first set, though stellar, was the calm before the storm. We just knew they would shift it into high gear in set two. We even telephoned some friends from the show, something I never do, and told them we were experiencing what would go down as the greatest Phish show ever. By the end of the first set the Centrum was simply rocking with anticipation of what was to come in set two. And we were not disappointed. Phish always seems to deliver in Worcester and this night was the jewel of the Fall 98 tour.

By the time the lights went down for set 2, the Centrum was simply overflowing with energy and anticipation. When the band hit the stage they didn't so much start up a song as catch the wave of energy and take off on a musical juggernaut that would not let up. The second set, beginning with Buried Alive, simply must be heard to be believed. They seque in and out of both Chalkdust Torture and Wipeout through most of the songs of the set and the music just never lets up. The madness continues with several rare and very welcome classics and a mindblowing Mikes > Hydrogen > Weekapaug complete with a Wipeout tease for good measure. By the time Antelope started most of us were begging them to stop because we were simply too tired to muster any more energy to dance to Antelope. It was that good. The encore was a perfect cap to the evening of surfing the wave with Phish and they left us more than wiped out.

All of the Live Phish series is great, but this show is one of those special moments that sticks out as a monumental display of both Phish's skill and energy. It is very easy to see why they selected it as part of the initial release of shows. This is a must have for any Phish fan and a great introduction for any curious music lover.

I agree with most of the reviewers below. The Wipeout>Chalkdust>Mirror in the Bathroom>.... jam is a spectacular start to an amazing 2nd set. The first set has its moments too. Vultures is great. So is Reba and Ya Mar and Carini.

Nobody has mentioned the Runaway Jim so far so I had to comment. It's the only version available so far in the Live Phish series. I am partial to this song perhaps because it was the first Phish song I ever heard (live and in person only 10 ft away from the band in a small college town bar in Minnesota back in '91). I had no idea who Phish were when my friend persuaded me to go see them but they came on and started with Runaway Jim and I've been a huge fan ever since even if I haven't made it to that many concerts or followed every development over the years (it's hard to when you're living abroad). But beyond my personal connection with the song, I think it's objectively a great song/jam. Why is it not more regularly featured? The version on this CD is a little down tempo than the original version I heard in '91 but it's still has great solos and a nice groove.

What do you get when you hear a Phish concert setlist that has Runaway Jim, Reba, Run Like an Antelope, Mike's-Hydrogen-Groove, Birds of a Feather, Chalkdust Torture, and Carini? Many Phans including myself wouldn't suggest a better choice of songs than what was played on November 27th, 1998. Let's not forget the other highlights of the evening, including sporadic moments of "Wipeout" that occur throughout the show. Other than Volume 4, this is by far the best of the series. Not only is the setlist incredible, but the way they are played stands out as well. I have never heard better live versions than most of the songs played in this show, particularly "Reba". GREAT SHOW... BUY IT

this show is definitely worth having. first of all, it contains a very good version of the original "mike's groove" (with "i am hydrogen" in the middle)and a few rarities that are always good to have like "vultures", "carini", "buffalo bill", and the always great: "sanity". the best track and the best reason to pick this over another volume is "reba". if you're a fan of phish and have heard multiple versions of "reba", you need to hear this one. it's a classic phish long-jam and they really play the hell out of it. so, if you're going to get one of these live releases, get volume six

This show was obviously very high on many fans' wish lists and with good reason.The second set particularly smokes and was the highest energy set I've ever heard at a Phish concert.
Hampton Comes Alive left some with a bitter taste about the '98 tours. Recorded only days after those sub-par shows, this entire performance shines. If its minimum spacey Phish and maximum rockin' Phish you're after, this is the best of the first six archive releases to get.

If nothing else, at least buy the BOAF track. Hands down one of the best live phish versions of any song I have ever heard. Trey's intense jam coupled with the extreme energy from all the other members (listen to Fish) makes this track inexplicably beautiful and full of life. Keep in mind the era that this live volume takes place, and if you know anything about Phish you know you won't be disappointed. See everyone this summer!

This review is to cast doubt on a previous review. This music leaves the Grateful Dead in the past where they belong. I love the fact they sound different. I did the entire dead tour in 1994 and loved every minute of it but they just weren't as tallented as Phish. Sorry but phish's keyboard solos simply leave all the dead keyboard players in the dust including Bruce Wannabe Hornsby. This show gives you a nice place to start or phish heads the piece of mind now that they are now releasing quality shows. If you compare this to music of the same genre this will undoubtably get a 5. Buy it here or get the flacs directly from phish but do it today.

The most creative set I've ever seen. Wipeout throughout the set, and many rarites. Highlight of the show Weekapaug< Weekapaug reprise to a great Antelope. Must Have