Phish, 6.8.95, The Delta Center, Salt Lake City, UT

Set 1: Don’t You Want To Go?, Ha Ha Ha > Runaway Jim > Guelah Papyrus, Mound, Fast Enough for You, Reba, Prince Caspian*, Chalk Dust Torture

Set 2: Simple > Rift > Free > Bouncing Around the Room > Tweezer -> Lifeboy, Poor Heart > Julius

Encore: Good Times Bad Times

*Debut

If you read our review from 6.7.95, you read that we felt like that night the band was a little rusty, getting into the groove. On this night in SLC, they were locked in from the beginning.

In our podcasts and HF Pod Chats, we’ve talked a lot about whether Phish going West and getting out of the Northeast helps them creatively. It does seem to give them a little more space to be creative and comfortable, and this gig seems to be a confirmation of that. And because it was the 2nd show of the tour, they’re getting a little bit more used to the flow. Also worth noting that this show only had one debut (“Prince Caspian”), so they were mostly going back to old material to give them some room to get comfortable.

The opener, “Don’t You Wanna Go?,” kicks off a really high energy first set. They follow that up with “Ha Ha Ha” and then a very nice, almost 10-minute “Runaway Jim” that gets pretty well out there for a first set 1995 Jim. These initial songs give a lot of life to the first set, which is amplified by “Guelah” and “Mound.” A really beautiful “Fast Enough For You” leads us into the 2nd “Reba” of 1995, which almost matches the first one, from 5.16.95.

This “Reba” features some incredibly soulful soloing from Trey, and this one anchors a really nice first set. And a raging “Chalk Dust” closer, following the first ever “Caspian,” made me feel like they were in no hurry to take a break.

As we’ve said, Summer ‘95 really the beginning of another era for Phish, playing large arenas/amphitheaters throughout the year. The second set features the first “Tweezer” of the year, in a year that is FULL of amazing versions. This one is no slouch.

It’s long, it’s exploratory, it’s cacophonous. They sound absolutely in sync even in the composed section, and the jam wastes no time. There’s a little bit of everything, and they’re explaining it from all angles—there’s a “Mule” theme, a “Hood” theme, some rock jamming, some ambient jamming, some pre-funk jamming, and more. This brought to mind an early example of “Cubist” jamming, as explained by @thebabysmouth guys last year.

As Alex explains, this “Tweezer” reaches out in all directions, you really get a feel for WHERE this music can go — which is anywhere they want it to. The band seems pumped, unleashing the fury on only the 2nd night of tour.

Check out this show and let us know your thoughts.