My first MSG experience, I was in NYC for a week my friend was attending school in Manhattan and I figured I would visit for a true NYC experience. I was heading to the ball drop the following night and did everything in my power to trade my tickets for NYE show, it fell on deaf ears, very tough ticket to possess. Anyway I was lucky enough to catch the night before.
SET ONE- Caspian, wow! as an opener, Okay. 2001 > Suzie kept the energy in check and the entire venue was feeling this, Bowie > Simple > It's Ice. Another three pump power packet. I was loving this, it's 1995 and MSG. Christmas just passed and New Years is on the heels. Then Fishman began KUNG, Holy Crap! TMWSIY. My first time hearing this, loved every second of this and was completely shocked, another power ballad which emerged into The Divided Sky. A rare treat, I was thinking the set was done, and Phish pulled out Sample in a Jar. At this time I knew this show was going to be and was something of a post Christmas gift.
SET TWO- Ya Mar got us grooving and continued to do so as it continued into Free and Harry Hood. This is amazing and I reconsidered my prior thoughts of trading tonights show for tomorrows. Ac/Dc Bag continued to bring us heat followed by a Trey ballad of Lifeboy, always enjoyed this tune which got very little play, Scent of a Mule. Hoist was being played to perfection this evening, Cavern > Antelope gave us all that warm Whisky feeling as it was going down. I was beyond pleased to have experience a Holiday show in the Big Apple.
ENCORE- A day in the life, it was the cherry on top, love how Page tears the vocals up in this one. Lennon would be proud. A great time in NYC. A great Phish experience and one of the coldest Ball drops on record, the streets of NYC were cold but inside the venue it was nothing short of scorching.