The first set has good flow. Runaway Jim>Taste opens the show very nicely. Divided Sky is crushed. Cavern>Rift>Simple is a run of short songs that are played with a lot of enthusiasm. SOAM is solid. Free has a nice jam that is pretty melodic at some points. David Bowie and YEM are huge. The Bass and Drums segment in YEM is ridiculous. The uncommon Theme from the Bottom encore works well, too.
4 Stars

(Published in the second edition of The Phish Companion...)

The summer of '95 was an amazing Phish tour, featuring fantastic runs at venues that we might never get a chance to see the band at again, due to their swelling popularity. Some of these include Great Woods, Sugarbush Summer Stage, Red Rocks, and one of my personal favorites, the Jones Beach Amphitheater. It's a summer shed that is unique because it has fantastic acoustics, no lawn seating, and is located right on Long Island Sound. Regarding the two nights Phish played at this venue in '95, all I ever hear about is how excruciatingly long the “Tweezer” on the 6/28 was. Maybe so, but 6/29 is a fabulous show, and perhaps one of the most criminally underrated shows of all time.
The first set is above average with definite highlights. “Runaway Jim” isn't one of the most common openers for nothing, and “Taste” is gorgeous even in its fledgling form. We also get one of the greatest “Divided Sky”s I've had the pleasure to hear in person. The closing jams are gorgeous and nearly flawless. At this point in the show, the fog was just beginning to lift over Long Island Sound, adding to the beauty of the jam. “Cavern”, “Rift”, and “Simple” were played one after another with no pauses, creating a momentum which made this series much more than the sum of its parts. Then a fiery “Split”, and “Carolina” to close.
I'll never know why the second set is nary to be found on the common “favorite sets of all time” lists that seem to crop up everywhere. At the time, I had never heard “Free” before, and it worked wonders in the opening slot, combining with the fog and bright yellow lights for an incredible experience. The “Bowie” that follows is out of this world — twenty-five minutes long, and proof that Phish can be spacey without being boring. “Strange Design” was another first-timer for me, and the placement for this mellow ballad, after the barn-burner “Bowie”, was perfect. Summer '95 was a watershed time for “YEM”s, and the “YEM” played on this night was no exception, with an insane bass and drums section. Mike is on fire. “Acoustic Army”, and then “Day in the Life” to close, which was a treat before it got overplayed. I've seen thirteen shows since the 6/29, which was my second. This isn't mere nostalgia talking; it was a fantastic and underrated show with one of the best second sets I've seen. In addition to the two sets, “Theme from the Bottom” was an excellent encore, which was gorgeous even in '95. I rarely see this one on tape lists, but it is well worth seeking out.

https://forum.phish.net/forum/permalink/1377705202

6/29/95 is the second of two nights at Jones Beach, and it is currently the more highly-rated of the two. 6/28/95 is not a bad show, but this show stands out for the generous amount of new material, with a good Taste in the first set, Free, Strange Design, and Acoustic Army in the second set, and Theme From the Bottom as a stand-alone encore. As with other '95 audience recordings, Mike's bass is difficult to hear and often lost in the sonic whirlwind. Page fans will be pleased to hear three lead vocal tunes from him. But Fishman is the star of this show, masterfully playing through composed sections and leading the majority of the improvisation.

When the topic of "Sickest/Wildest Phish Jams" comes up, two songs immediately come to my mind: Split Open And Melt and David Bowie. This show has both of them, in Summer '95 "Space Camp" incarnations, specially designed by Phish to peel off the wallpaper of your mind. Listen to Fishman guide the Melt jam farther and farther away from its home, while slowly reeling the Bowie jam back to earth. The playful jousting with Mike during the Bass+Drums segment of YEM is also great.

The other reason for recommending this show is that it circulates on video! Usually, available video is cause for a boost in a show's ratings, but oddly, that is not the case here. Head over to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8zEuRnoLRw&feature=youtu.be and sink in for some pre-spinning-lights CK5 work, while Phish takes 20,000 heads on a musical trip of their own.

PHISH, THURSDAY 06/29/1995
JONES BEACH AMPHITHEATER
Wantagh, NY

SET 1:

Runaway Jim: Great way to open this show. Tons of energy and more fun with Cannonball. >

Taste: This one has some extra mustard.

The Horse > Silent in the Morning: Standard.

Divided Sky: Very long, annoying pause. Good version though.

Cavern: Standard. >

Rift: Standard. >

Simple: Standard. >

Split Open and Melt: If you like your eggs scrambled, you will want to give this one a go. It has mind melting capabilities. Would recommend.

Carolina:

SET 2:

Free: Cool space jam tacked on to the end. ->

David Bowie: Hard charger! It sounds like they are going to sneak into Llama’s backdoor around 18 and a half but it never happens. Trey continues to strum out the intro for a good while. Pretty cool! This is a very long version but it has very little filler. Mostly awesome throughout. Highly recommended!

Strange Design: Much needed breather after that egg scrambling Bowie.

You Enjoy Myself: Average composed and jam section but the B&D really is out of control. Vocal jam is hard core too.

Acoustic Army: Standard.

A Day in the Life: Standard.

ENCORE:

Theme From the Bottom: Standard.

Summary: Solid show, pretty much on the same level as the night before with one huge jam, another big highlight in Melt and a strong supporting cast. 3.8/5.

Replay Value: Split Open and Melt, David Bowie

Runaway Jim contained a Cannonball tease.
JAM CHART VERSIONS
Split Open and Melt, David Bowie, You Enjoy Myself
TEASES
Cannonball tease in Runaway Jim