Debut Years (Average: 1988)

This show was part of the "1996 Summer European Tour"

Show Reviews

, attached to 1996-07-05

Review by dscott

dscott Disclaimer: I wasn't at this show. If that bothers you, then feel free to drive to Firenze and wash the f***ing Uffize instead of reading further. ;)

In terms of the overall Phish canon, this show is well below average and not essential listening. Still, it's plenty enjoyable if your ears happen to cross its path.
Unfortunately we will probably never hear the first several minutes of the show, as the Funky Bitch "soundcheck" reportedly became the opening song of the set, transitioning into Chalk Dust Torture. The tape begins midway through the latter, and graces us with 4+ minutes of typically incendiary tension and release for a mid-'90s CDT. AC/DC Bag is standard, but is played with a fusto (look it up) full of gusto. Possibly the most compact version of YEM since the 1980s comes next, squeezing every usual part besides the bass jam into a little over 11 minutes. Scent Of a Mule comes galloping out of the vocal microjam, and it's a spirited but standard delivery. Bowie is solid but unremarkable in length and execution, with some dissonant and effects-laden tension and release towards the end. Some funny banter about the encore being acapella so that the band could say that they performed a song thusly, and they finish this brief opening act set with a typical Sweet Adeline.
, attached to 1996-07-05

Review by SethG

SethG After taking a train from Trento to Rome during the off day on July 4th, we made it to Rome in time to see the sights before the show. We saw Mike outside the venue before the show, and he said the planned bar gig set for that night was off due to "red tape." The Stadio Olimpico is huge! They were actually playing Funky Bitch as we got in (which is considered the sound check), then stayed on stage and continued into the main show. After the disappointment of these previous 2 nights, this show rocked! Seeing Phish in this massive venue with only a handful of Phish fans made for a funny spectacle. Phish's 48 minute set was followed by Los Fabulous Cadillacs, then Santana
, attached to 1996-07-05

Review by The_Ghost

The_Ghost "this show is well below average and not essential listening" - dscott review.

I agree with this if you don't feel the need to consume more like myself. However, if you are interested, the scent of a mule from this opener is epic! I mean if you close your eyes you can see our hero Kitty Malone racing down the road with the UFO chasing her and firing it's lasers. Page really does a great job with this one, and there is a nice pause and a Santana style guitar pick-up in there Notes don't say he came out for this one, but he influenced that particular part if not doing it himself. It's very very subtle. At 4:22 from the download I have from hoydog's spreadsheet.

Also as dscott mentions the Funky Bitch seems to be non-existent and also the download has CDT>AC/DC>YEM, Scent of a Mule, David Bowie... however this set list is correct not the download track names.

But seriously, this Scent of a Mule is worth a listen in my opinion. I still have relatively virgin ears compared to most, but I have heard a few of them and none have been as entertaining and gripping as this one.
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