I have already written a review for this show but I wanted to say more now that today is my 20th PHISHIVERSARY. This show has always been special as it was my first. Now 20 years and 47 shows later there are still reasons I love it. It contains 5 songs that are my only viewings and another four songs with 2 viewings. Soul Shakedown has only been played 10 times total and Love me is only at 9 times total. Musically this show doesn't seem to be faring well on the ratings but I like it. The tweezer is short but beautiful. The Bowie is pretty standard but the intro is unique at least for my shows. I remember Stash getting pretty deep for a few minutes with a welcome Bouncin' at it's conclusion. Trey was making an impact on me with Free around the 4:30 mark until it's conclusion. I swear he looked me right in the eyes a couple times during that number. Not that it was very hard to make eye contact in that tiny little theatre in Milan. I'm not sure of the capacity but it seemed there were only a couple hundred people in there. And I was super close to the stage. I could hear trey's foot landing on the stage as he stomped along to parts of free meanwhile colorful rainbows of sound poured from his guitar. After sweeping me away with Free >Swept Away >Steep they played a Beatles number that made me think "I feel like such a hippie right now" I honestly don't remember much after that except trying to find our hotel and listening to The Prodigy, Music for the Jilted Generation once we got there. I love this band and all it's fans. See you out there!

What can I say? It was my phish cherry popper! Great show from what I remember. I was in the navy at the time and we pulled into Italy just in time for the show. I couldn't go to the Florence show the next night though The highlights for me were..when the circus comes and then Free to the end.

I love the setlist in the first set, but the playing is only so-so. The highlights are the Curtain opener (one of the best ways to open a show) and the Tweezer, which is very good but I found it to be more typical than my fellow reviewers. The Bowie ending is very forced but is redeemed by a nice first-set closing Tweeprise.

The second set has a very mellow setlist and doesn't feature many songs I'd want to see live. However, I do enjoy the flow of the set, especially the second half. The Stash in particular has a nice jam.

Nice to have the whole thing on SBD, which really works well for the more quiet segments (Swept Away->Steep, parts of Stash), but nothing you need to seek out. Gave this 3 stars.

Always good to hear a Curtain opener. This Tweezer is very special. In the Bible & is the divine number. at the 7 minute mark in thiss funk/rock/blues masterpiece show why there were absolutely the best live rock act act at the time.
This tape made feel heroic for somereason when I got it because i got it with a group of 3 europe shows. I was beyond pumped. These shows prepped them for a ridiculous year of growth.
I called this year flying marshmellow funk. This chalkdust is great example. Trey takes his young wailing tone from summer 95 to a clearer more defined conclusion in 97.this chalkdust is an early peak into that. Sick . leaves you speechless . you ever wanted a song to go on forever

This Tweezer is an absolute must hear.Go listen immediately.do not pass go,do not collect $200.

PHISH, THURSDAY 02/20/1997
TEATRO SMERALDO
Milan, Italy

SET 1:

The Curtain: Standard. >

Tweezer: For the era, this one is the definition of standard. >

Soul Shakedown Party: Standard. >

Chalk Dust Torture: Standard.

Love Me: Standard.

Taste: Standard.

Gumbo: Standard.

When the Circus Comes: Standard. >

David Bowie: Ending seems a bit forced/rushed. >

Tweezer Reprise: Standard.

SET 2:

Sample in a Jar: Standard. >

Cars Trucks Buses: Standard.

Character Zero: Standard. >

Uncle Pen: Standard.

Stash: Best jam of the show right here.

Bouncing Around the Room: Standard.

Free: Standard. Super cool space jam for a couple of minutes before it actually segues into Swept Away. This should be labeled Free > Jam > Swept Away but instead they tag the space jam as Swept Away. It’s not. >

Swept Away: I love the meek applause at 2:57. The fans seem in awe. >

Steep: Standard. >

A Day in the Life: Standard.

Runaway Jim: Standard.

Sweet Adeline[1] Not sure as it is not on Phishtracks or phish.in/Relisten

ENCORE:

Julius: Not sure as it is not on Phishtracks or phish.in/Relisten

Summary: Extremely bland. 2.5/5.

Replay Value: None.

[1] Without microphones.

Taste and Stash contained Dave's Energy Guide teases from Trey. Sweet Adeline was performed without microphones.
TEASES
Dave's Energy Guide tease in Taste, Dave's Energy Guide tease in Stash