Listen to Episode 1.0

Type II got off to a tremendous start as the members of Panel #1 -
Justin Wendt, Scott Bernstein and Tanya Sperry – each discussed
highlights from their first show moderated by Producer/Host Steve
Olker. We figured talking about our initial Phish experience would be
a great way to give the listeners insight into how we came to be fans
of the band.

Justin started us off by discussing his first show, which took place
at the Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, MI on November 11, 1996. Take
a look at the setlist…

Monday, 11/11/1996 Van Andel Arena, Grand Rapids, MI
Set 1: Chalk Dust Torture, Guelah Papyrus, Cars Trucks Buses, AC/DC
Bag, Sparkle, Brother, Theme From the Bottom, Axilla, Runaway Jim
Set 2: Timber (Jerry), The Divided Sky, Gumbo, The Curtain, Sample in
a Jar, Tweezer, Swept Away > Steep, Maze, Contact, Slave to the
Traffic Light
Encore: Waste, Cavern
Notes: Divided Sky included an All Fall Down signal. [all setlists via
Phish.net]

We checked out a funky bit of improvisation from the Tweezer before
Justin revealed the real reason he attended the show that night.

Next, Scotty shared some memories from his first show, which took
place at the Beacon Theatre in New York, NY on April 15, 1994. Take a
look at the setlist…

Friday, 04/15/1994 Beacon Theatre, New York, NY
Set 1: Llama, Guelah Papyrus, Paul and Silas, Harry Hood, Wilson >
Chalk Dust Torture, Bouncing Around the Room > It’s Ice > Down with
Disease
Set 2: Maze, If I Could, The Oh Kee Pa Ceremony > Suzy Greenberg > The
Landlady, Julius, Wolfman’s Brother -> Alumni Blues > I Wanna Be Like
You > Hold Your Head Up > Cavern
Encore: Magilla, Amazing Grace
Notes: Suzy through Magilla featured the Giant Country Horns: Carl
“Geerz” Gerhard on trumpet, Dave “The Truth” Grippo on alto sax, Chris
Peterman on tenor sax, Mike Gallick on baritone sax, Don Glasgo on
trombone, and Joey Sommerville on trumpet. Alumni Blues was incomplete
as only one verse was performed, but it was the first since July 18,
1991 (301 shows).

You’ll never believe what Phishy tradition that continues today Scott
was a part of starting that fateful evening. The Giant Country Horns
joined Phish that night and we listened to the moment the six-piece
horn section strode on stage.

Finally, Tanya took us for a ride in the Wayback Machine as she talked
about her first show, which took place at the University of New
Hampshire’s Memorial Union Building in Durham, NH on April 27th, 1989.
Take a look at the setlist…

Thursday, 04/27/1989 Memorial Union Building, University of New
Hampshire, Durham, NH
Set 1: Golgi Apparatus, Jam, The Sloth, The Divided Sky, Sanity, I
Didn’t Know, Alumni Blues > Letter to Jimmy Page > Alumni Blues > The
Lizards, Whipping Post
Encore: Contact, David Bowie
Notes: The Jam, which is sometimes labelled String Changing Nature,
arose while the band tuned their instruments and included some funny
stage banter. This version of Sanity was the fast version.  This show
is believed to have been sponsored by the UNH Outing Club and
performed in the pub of the Memorial Union Building.

As a UNH student, Tanya had a front row seat to the beginning of
Phish’s career. By the end of Whipping Post at her first show she was
completely hooked. We checked out the peak of that Whipping Post as
well as the hilarious intro to Bowie. The frenetic Alumni Blues from
Tanya’s first Phish concert played us out this week.

Check back next Tuesday when Panel #2 – Eric Wyman, Sam Davis and
Andrew Hitz – get in on the act by describing their first Phish shows
along with Steve.

Note: Be kind on the audio… Still working out the new setup – Steve