The 3.7 rating this show had before I gave it 5 stars is crazy talk. Though I think there is lots of interesting music in August '93, it is not one of my favorite months. Generally, I feel like shows from this month just don't flow that well and that lots of the jamming just meanders around aimlessly. This was the first time that they were consistently taking BIG chances on a nightly basis, something that I really appreciate, but I feel the success rate is moderate, at best.

All that said, neither of those critiques apply to this show, which has awesome flow and jams!

The other three reviewers have done Divided Sky, David Bowie, and YEM their due justice. I'll just echoe their sentiments: Divided Sky is as perfect as they come, David Bowie is truly magical (really, it's a must listen), and the guitar jam in YEM is quite unique.

The rest of the show is just gravy. They were playing so tight that the setlist speaks for itself. I particularly liked the Weigh > etc > Daniel Saw The Stone run and Purple Rain, which is my favorite Fishman tune. Can't complain about a Memories, Fire encore either.

All told, this is my second favorite show of the month, right behind Tinley and right before Red Rocks.

THE GOOD: The 7th show of a fantastic run, this show won't disappoint. It follows the previous show's setup of a solid 1st set with a second set containing a ground-breaking version of a jam vehicle (in this case, Bowie). The Bowie is, as others have attested, the gem of the show, and in my opinion, a more solid performance than the previous jam extensions that occurred earlier in the week (8/13 Gin, 8/14 Antelope, 8/15 Tweezer) despite not having a critical 'high point'. You'll hear elements of those jams in here, but this Bowie is a much more cohesive performance than, say, the Antelope, which is quite herky-jerky. While I don't find Divided Sky as spectacular as the others, don't miss the Fluffhead, FEFY combination. The second set of this show is on hyper-drive, so listen to Rift and MSO if you want to hear how fast these songs can be played.

THE BAD: While there's not much to dislike in this one, the band is so energized that they play to the point of failure in a few songs. Rift, for instance, is so fast, that Fish can't quite keep up. One also has to wonder what could have been done had Purple Rain not made an appearance.

ETC: This show is also laden with little snippets and teases. Listen for the Oom Pah Pah signal as well as the First Call tease by Trey in Divided Sky. Trey teases Bowie during his acoustic section of The Horse. Page teases 'One More Saturday Night' in a break during Suzy. The band also whistles eerily during YEM, which they would do again at Red Rocks. Trey remarks he "doesn't want to sing with booties on" during Memories, but it's not apparent what is happening.

This show may not be as stacked top to bottom as some others from August 93, but the highs are quite high. Divided Sky, David Bowie, and the somewhat unusual YEM are definitely worth hearing. I especially recommend the Bowie; it's my pick for the best Bowie of the month and is one of my all-time favorite versions.

The top-notch versions of YEM and Bowie deserve all the appreciation that they get. Bowie in particular is a multi-faceted, dynamic work of art. Despite this impressive competition, the highlight in my opinion is Divided Sky. Bar none this is the single best version that I've ever heard. Check out the wild flourishes and accents that Trey throws into the jam around 11:30-12:30 or so. Holy guacamole con chips!!! Also noteworthy is the interesting little jamlet preceding The Horse. Familiar melody, but I'm struggling to place it.

8-17-93 YEM,one of my all time favorites versions
Such a remarkably magnificent jam. a true gem!
hear at all costs!

August '93 has got to be one of the band's hottest and most consistent months. The musicianship, deep repertoire, and exploratory spirit represented in each show on the tour speaks to the phase of development Phish was in at the time. Most notable is the regular prevalence of Type II jamming, which results in dozens of notable and formative performances over the course of a few weeks. The improvisational approach is noticeably still maturing (as it would continue to do so through the next few years), and often comprises of a decomposing / fragmenting a jam, riding along with some harmonic dissonance and rhythmic interplay, and then capitalizing on some new idea that's birthed out of this less structured section without a very fluid transition. While this methodology no doubt produces some awesome music and leads to extremely creative jams, it can also sometimes feel a bit like the band is lost in these liminal segments, looking for some idea with more substance to inspire further jamming.

8/17/93 provides two examples of tunes that I think really demonstrate more thoroughly developed Type II jams: David Bowie and YEM. Sets 1 and 2 both contain some really awesome performances of other tunes: Wilson transitions into Llama with a cool improvisation that launches the show at high velocity from the get-go, Divided Sky and Maze showcase Machine Gun Trey's chops, Fluffhead and FEFY produce some very powerful solo sections, and Page goes balls-to-the-wall on Suzy. But the main focus of this show should be on Bowie and YEM.

Hot off a 2001 set opener, David Bowie dives right into the composed section, forgoing a more unique intro like the one from Murat. However, once the jam begins, it's clear that something special is about to take place. Sections of this jam transition together with such natural fluidity that it's hard to draw distinct lines between them. Through rhythmic variations and key changes, Trey does a particularly phenomenal job changing seats between a soloing guitarist and a band leader that contributes more directly and explicitly to the groove of the moment. Along with Stash 8/15/93, this is one of my absolute favorite August '93 jams. YEM brings a similar improvisational prowess, breaking free of the traditional YEM groove during Trey's solo to develop on a few different cadences, including an utterly blazing jam inspired by Frankenstein. The following BnD jam is swanky and laid back, giving way to an extended VJ. Definitely check these two tunes out.