On Sunday night while we all rested up for the week ahead, the crew over at LivePhish.com quietly dropped one of the formative Fall 1996 shows Phish played: Nov. 7, at the famed Rupp Arena on the University of Kentucky campus in Lexington.
Just a week removed from covering the Talking Heads’ Remain in Light at the Omni in Atlanta on Halloween, Phish were rolling through a 35-date tour on the heels of releasing Billy Breathes. Trey Anastasio was using his mini-percussion rig onstage as the band took a turn into more rhythm-driven jams, which would eventually give way to the madness that 1997 saw.
The show at Rupp Arena was special in many ways. Opening with a quick and rocking “Chalk Dust Torture,” the first set highlights included “Weigh,” “Guelah Papyrus,” “Guyute” and “Tela.”
A tight “Suzy Greenberg” gave way to what was, at the time, the longest-ever “Bathtub Gin,” which clocked in at more than 26 minutes. A monster “You Enjoy Myself,” in all of its wah-goodness, closed out a set which featured the tour’s only Fishman-led “Bike.” A “Frankenstein” encore closed out the show.
Head over to LivePhish to purchase the show or stream via PhishTracks.
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