This show was very special to all who were lucky enough to be there.

But, that's what everyone says about most every show they've ever played! But, that's how I feel about it just the same.

It was the last time seeing them felt like it was a word-of-mouth band, or a cult band, as far for my personal experience. The little gym wasn't packed, there was enough room for everyone to move and dance. The 'security' was some freshman looking girls in bright yellow jackets. I only saw them on the way in and on the way out.

The band was very much on and in a good mood. You can hear this in the tapes as there is a bit of bantering. They also do the Vibration of Life which was incredible. That was so unreal. I wish they would do that again sometime, but it might not work as well in a huge hockey hall.

The show they played is fantastic. It has some incredible jams that have been talked about for years by others, so I won't go into too much detail. Set one, the Simple through Antelope needs to be heard and turned up loud. Second Set, all of it is excellent and very deftly played (despite some minor flubs which I don't notice nor care about). Fishman is the MVP, he is just phenomenal. And, his humor is very much in evidence here... his adlibs this night still make me smile to this day!!

The encore was really beautiful and the way Trey spoke to the crowd was very cool. They felt an affinity for the NC mountain town Boone (and Asheville), and you can hear that in their playing.

The only thing that might hold this back from being a 5 star gig is that they stopped and started a few times during each set, and didn't keep an extended flow from all the songs into another, but I think this made this show interesting because it was totally unpredictable what they were going to play next. I guess not much has changed!

This show was also the last time I showed up to a gig, in the winter, with no place to sleep sorted out! We managed to find floor space with some local kind people who were friends with a girl that was tagging along with us (her first gig).

Listen to more Phish!!