After seeing Phish at Great Woods the summer before and then at the Centrum for New Year's (Greatest Show ever...) this show was like: "Where did everyone go?"

Some buds and I caught a Greyhound bus out to Penn State thinking we were going to be hanging out in a Shakedown / Parkin Lot Scene.
Didn't happen; This seemed to be a Campus show mainly for students. There didn't seem to be many travelers there...

The show was in like a gym or something; It wasn't very big at all. We sat on bleachers like the type they pull out in an old High school gym...
There was this chic sitting next to us (Penn State Alumni) that had hid in the bathroom for like hours so she could get into the show. Think she said she didn't have the money for a ticket.

The most vivid memory of this show was fishman's mom Mimi gettin in on the action. She was free spirited and liked having fun.

The Epic Jam that was busted out at the New Year's Show in Worcester was now part of a full blown song known as Down With Disease.

If I could was somewhat controversial in certain circles. It was a full blown ballad, and not everyone appreciated it... This was our first time catching it live.

This was the first time we heard Big Black Furry Creature from Mars. Being a group of evolved metal heads we really liked the song.

After the show we went to an afterhours diner near PSU. Some "Jock" type college guy tried picking a fight with me for wearing a three coned cap. We were really out of place... The head scene was all but obsolete.

We had no where to crash so we slept on some grates outside one of the buildings at the University where some warm air was rising up through. Got a couple-a-few hours in before being shoed away. Think the bus station was closed...

Finally it was back on the bus to the next show in Binghamton. Man what a difference when we got there...

One of the best shows they've ever played. Every song is one if the best versions they'be ever played. Foam. It's ice. Even a spectacular contact and my favorite Big Black Furry Creature From Mars. All some of my favorite versions. My favorite Mcgrupp. Every song was one of the best versions ever performed. Everything crackled and burst with energy and creativity.

Great run of songs to start the show from Maze to PYITE. Extremely high energy and gets the crowd raging. That ends however, with The Horse, Silent in the Morning, If I Could, and Lawn Boy putting me to sleep. I think the band even realizes that they did this and plays an "ok... WAKE THE F**K UP" song with llama.

Second set is solid, with good SOAM, extended Page solo in McGrupp. Then there's It's Ice. MAN this was cool. Digital Delay to start the jam, and then Page starts a little groove that the band picks up on and eventually explodes out of. Then a solid Hood with some great Trey guitar work at the climax, followed later by an also solid David Bowie.

Final thoughts: First set builds good momentum at the start, then loses all of that steam. Second set was great, AWESOME It's Ice and great song selections built around it.

Bonus Points: Mimi Fishman in I Didn't Know and BBFCFM

This was my first show. It sounded much better than my 5th gen bootlegs. First set sounded like a heater to my naive ears. I steadily descended into the madness of the dark circus.

I was surprised to tolerate the “Bouncin’”as us 16 year old know it alls had decided the song was an effort to “sell out”.

Perhaps still my favorite It’s Ice. Spilt open and Melt also holds a special spot in my heart still, nearly 30 years later. The BBFCM with Mimi reminds me that sometimes you may be too young and dumb to realize the impact that a singular event can have on life’s trajectory.

Grateful.

Best It's Ice EVER! I remember Red playing guitar w his teeth, behind the head, etc, though I don't know what song it was. The fold out bleachers were rocking, and if you weren't careful they'd give you a little buck. good stuff.

Its Ice is not talked about much but at this show they take it to a different level. Definitely worth a listen.

Overall a very solid show