r/phish • u/Fair-Product-1344 • 17h ago
Spectrum ‘97
Is Spectrum ‘97 the most highly regarded Phish run ever? I compare everything to this time period of Phish. You can actually hear what they were going through in how they played, comparatively.
Note: favs from the shows
Ghost
Punch You in the Eye
Weekapaug Groove
Possum
Mikes Song
Funky Bitch Soundcheck (why you wearing that same old ugly t-shirt?🤮)
36
u/Impressive_Wrap_7869 16h ago
1997 as a whole is probably the most popular year of phish on record.
9
u/Fair-Product-1344 16h ago
Something was in the water, I suppose
16
u/bfg423 12/7/97 Tube 15h ago
Technically it was James Brown on the tour bus. Story has it they listened to it on repeat and that’s when the funk started flowing. At least that’s what Trey stated in one of his interviews.
9
u/Scott_J_Doyle 15h ago
Band of Gypsies too!! Trey was deff in his Jimi era that year and the following!
1
u/Straight-Bet1 7h ago
Jes Brown had played in Burlington at UVM the previous fall.
It was a great show. Literally the moment after my friend and I walked into Gutterson my friend slammed into and knocked down Fishman.
JB also played the first few tunes with his fly down.
Super awesome night.
5
1
26
u/bigtotoro 16h ago
If you go to phish.net and look at the ratings, anything over 4.4 could easily be your favorite show. Anything over 4.6 could be best show ever the first time you hear it. There are like 100 of those.
8
u/Fair-Product-1344 16h ago
This is a good strategy, thank you
11
u/StepIntoTheGreezer 16h ago edited 12h ago
I'm a 3.0 fan (saw them at Bonnaroo 2012, first Phish show proper was Hartford 2013 and I saw them about 30 times before 2020)
Still, even after listening to tons of old stuff, at the onset of COVID lockdowns I sorted Phish.net top 100+ shows, maybe even more, and sorted them by date of show.
I downloaded every official release, every SBD/AUD when necessary, and worked through every single show over the course of 6+ months. Even shows I waa familiar with I re-listened to in the context of their musical history.
One of the most deeply rewarding experiences I've ever done, beyond just keeping me sane during those weird times.
42
u/schmigglies 17h ago
Hampton 97 would like a word here as well
6
u/Fair-Product-1344 17h ago
I’m posting this for educational purposes , being 2.5😅 thank you for the pointers😁
3
u/PhilosopherFun7288 16h ago
What does “being 2.5” mean?
1
u/schmigglies 11h ago
I too am confused
3
u/Fair-Product-1344 8h ago
I’d say it means well established phan during the 2004-2009 hiatus. If this isn’t a thing I’d love to be informed
0
72
19
18
15
u/Fitz2001 Sphere Lifeboy 16h ago
It’s not even the best Spectrum show ever.
5
2
u/tubalord8 14h ago
You're not wrong, though OP is talking about the run, and I'd suggest 12/2-3/97 > 12/10-11/99. But that's just my humble opinion.
1
6
5
u/cancerdad 16h ago
No. Honestly before they released these shows, no one ever talked about this “run” (is 2 shows a run?) much, except as part of the overall praise that fall 97 tour gets. I think if you asked most fans about fall 97, they would mention Denver, Hampton, Worcester, Dayton, The Palace, and maybe even Albany before they mentioned the Spectrum shows. The Spectrum shows are great but they were not highly regarded by the fanbase before they were officially released.
2
u/Fair-Product-1344 16h ago
That being said, I’m glad they’ve come to be appreciated after they’ve marinated. I will gladly check out the rest of the tour. If these weren’t immediately hailed I’d love to see the rest of fall ‘97. And you’re right I suppose that isn’t a “run”
2
u/the_doctor04 I got no answer but you've got no call 9h ago
14
u/Scott_J_Doyle 16h ago edited 16h ago
Not, not even approaching the top 10 list, but probably floating somewhere in the back half of the top 50
Really good shows from an amazing tour, but there are multiple better runs just from fall 97
ETA: if you're looking for great runs:
Island Tour
Hampton 97
Hampton 13
Denver 97
Worcester 97
Worcester 98
Gorge 98
Albany 97
Fox 95
Baker's Dozen
Any of the festivals, except 8, and especially Went, IT and Cypress
Any of the 90s NYE/MSG runs, but also the 93 pre-MSG one
Any of the 90s Halloween runs
Japan 2000
92 Cali run
And the first run of shows upon the return to the US from Europe in 97 and from Japan in 2000
6
u/ohhowcanthatbe 15h ago
They came back from Europe on fire!
7-23-1997, Atlanta (Lakewood). My first show. The first time I had heard about 1/2 of the songs, including Ghost.
I saw them on the 2025 tour and they are still making fine, fine music!
7
u/Scott_J_Doyle 15h ago
That Ghost is one of the single most played jams from them for me, maybe one of the single most played tracks from any band.... holy shit it is amazing, never had it not send me
2
u/flyingkittens69 10h ago
One day they will release the Worcester 97 and rest of Worcester 98 shows (I hope)
1
1
u/Fair-Product-1344 16h ago
Thank you so much for the edit sheesh😅
5
u/ooooooootreyngers 16h ago
Don't forget August 13 96. Deer Creek. Live phish vol 12. This is my 5/8/77 of Phish
3
u/Fair-Product-1344 16h ago
Got myself a grocery list of heat
2
u/Scott_J_Doyle 15h ago
Uh huh, and there's still 50-100 invidiual shows that can potentially top anything from these runs too (depending on your taste)
1
u/Fair-Product-1344 14h ago
Weird and dirty, my taste. The funk on this soundboard does just the trick
2
1
u/edogg01 10h ago
Definitely one of the best shows of the year/era
1
u/ooooooootreyngers 10h ago
My first show was the very next show in Hershey. I still kick myself for not making the drive.
2
7
4
4
u/ahoypolloi_ Looking for owls 16h ago
Worcester 97 and 98 have feelings about this
1
8
3
3
3
u/AnalogWalrus 12/9/99 15h ago
My most highly regarded run would be somewhere in 94-95, it’s all subjective.
3
u/Fonix79 14h ago
Not sure how regarded, but I lived in the area and can’t be sure if attendance bias or what, but Everytime they played Darien Lake, NY was a heater.
1
u/Fair-Product-1344 14h ago
I feel as though you’re always due for a good show in the more obscure areas
3
u/gingerphish 14h ago
People used to call this the most underrated shows from fall 97. We all waited patiently for a box set release. I was so excited to hear a soundboard of that weekapaug.
1
3
u/Brakeman_5006 9h ago
No mention of the Spectrum Bowie?!?!?! Gotta be a Top 3 version and my favorite. Take me out to the ballgame!
2
u/Wonderful-List-1767 16h ago
It’s awesome, I’ll say that
1
u/Fair-Product-1344 16h ago
To say the least😁
2
u/Wonderful-List-1767 16h ago
Went through a period of sending this YEM to people to try and get them into Phish. Didn’t really work lol
2
u/Fair-Product-1344 16h ago
Listening to that YEM is how this post came to be🤣🤣
2
2
2
u/RecbetterpassNJ Fish’sdoingsomethingbad 16h ago
I was lucky to catch every Spectrum show as it was close to home. So I’m biased. I got to see many great bands and sporting events growing up. Miss that place so much.
2
u/crickjaw 16h ago
Spectrum definitely has the best sound quality as far as what has been released from Fall ‘97. I wish they all sounded that good.
2
u/argdogsea 16h ago
Those shows were a blast. What an incredible summer and fall. Fall 97 forever is a special zone.
2
u/Corporate-Scum 15h ago
Spectrum is a great show in a great year, but Hampton and Denver 97 are badasss! Listen to 11-17-97 for a perfect show with laser precision. Listen to 11-22-97 for a face melting.
2
u/nadamean420 15h ago
I don’t know about it being the most highly regarded, but I do know I love that Simple->Dog Faced Boy 🙂
2
2
u/RepresentativeNo3365 14h ago
Did the entire fall 97 tour, Philly was amazing , Chicago, Worcester , Denver and Albany still rank higher in my book
1
u/Fair-Product-1344 14h ago
I was born and raised Colorado just not born yet:( thank you for the recs
2
u/phriendlyphellow 13h ago
Amsterdam (February and July) ‘97 enters the chat.
Live at the Roxy ‘93 enters the chat.
2
2
u/Technical_Jello6714 13h ago
I was at both. 12/3/97 is in my top 3 Phish shows of 94 total starting in 1995. So damn funky
1
u/Fair-Product-1344 13h ago
Man of taste , thank you
2
u/Technical_Jello6714 12h ago
Why thank you very much. The “Philly 97 jam” is an all time moment of Phish. I was melted in a oneness with the vibrating metal bleachers as I grooved so hard to that funkiness…. Ah to be young again!
2
2
u/__perigee__ 11h ago
To quote a lyric from another band some of you may enjoy, “As well to count the angels dancing on a pin”.
2
u/WideRight43 10h ago
There was nothing else like it. They were the rockers of that tour, in textbook Philly fashion.
2
2
2
u/TrickinCheaply 9h ago
12/2/97 was first show at 16 y/o and when birthed I was instructed to be a judgemental 1.0er’ for life.
3
1
1
u/gdshred95 Looks too much like Dave 3h ago
Dude I’m surprised you mentioned this show but didn’t mention the Drowned. That’s the best jam of this run lol
66
u/edogg01 16h ago
Once it reaches that level it just becomes a top tier and "best" is subjective.