Notes: This was the first Phish New Year’s performance. Trey and Mike wore tuxedos and top hats to commemorate the event. Fish came out for I Didn’t Know wearing a top hat and a g-string with tuxedo tails. The opening act was The Ululators.

My first show!! The World Trade Center in Boston is a big hall where they have a lot of conventions, like home shows and MacWorld. The stage was set up along the left wall with a small wooden dancefloor in front of the stage. They had fruit and nachos set out for all the New Year's guests. I had never seen Phish before, but had been very into them from tapes for about 8 months. I had no idea what they looked like except that the guitarist was red-headed with a beard. I saw a guy who fit this description and smiled, but it turned out not to be him.

The Ululators opened. Not so exciting really. Sorta world beat kind of stuff. I got right up front for Phish's set. 3 of the 4 members came out... Trey, Mike, and Page. They started up "I Didn't Know" and when the vac solo came... out came Fish, dressed in nothing but a top-hat and a g-string with tux-tails in the back. (The rest of the band was wearing tuxes and hats) He played his solo, and then got behind the kit. Thanks gawd he hid behind those drums!! What an atrocious sight for an impressionable 16 year old like myself!! The whole show I was yelling for the brand new Reba (debuted 3 months earlier). But never got it. Page sang a "dance tune".. Satin doll. An I saw my first in a string of 6 shows in a row with Mike's -> H2 -> Groove. (9 in my first 10)

After many months of being into the band, I finally got my chance to go see them, the first in a tradition of Phish shows on New Year’s Eve. My friend Dug and I got to the venue fairly early. The room, usually used for home shows and computer shows, had been set up with a stage and a small dance floor, along with a “buffet” of fruit and nacho chips, provided by the band. To start the show, Page, Mike, and Trey came out in tuxedos and started into I Didn’t Know, and then when it came time for the vacuum solo, Fish emerged from backstage, wearing a top hat and a g-string with tails. Fortunately, it was a short song, and Fish got behind his kit, fully hidden from my impressionable sixteen-year-old eyes. I was begging for the brand-new Reba all night long, but I never got it. However, I did get an excellent “Mike’s” > “Hydrogen” > “Groove”, and Page sang a “dance song,” “Satin Doll”. What better way to bring in the ‘90s, but with the band of the ‘90s.

Ah the first New Year’s Eve show in Phish history and the last show of 1989 was a pleasure to hear, though the continuing tape speed issues throughout remind you that it was still the ‘80’s. It seems a lot has changed since the beginning of ’89, some covers have been removed, Gamehenge material has lessened, new Lawn Boy material has taken their place in the set lists, new equipment has been purchased, and the boys are really staring to hone their signature sound down to what we know and love.

The Fishman tuxedo story was great to read as IDK starts off the show. I have seen pictures. I though it was a little ambitious to play YEM next and it was rough at the top, but the post tramps jam was really great and the vocal jam was good too. Oh Kee Pa was good going into a decent Bag, though we lost Mike in the middle somewhere and then the rocking end unfortunately gets cut off because Trey had to start the count down to 1990. Auld Lang Syne was pretty awful, but that doesn’t really matter. Antelope had some rough spots, but the jam was good. Gin was ok and then inexplicably fades out, so there’s no ending jam. Change of tape source as Lizards included more tape hiss and was played ok, but had a weak ending. Fun announcements from the band before they urge everyone to grab a partner and dance to a well played Satin Doll. “Page is going to sing you a love song.” A rocking Highway to Hell closes up first set nicely. YEM was definitely the stand out for that set.

New tape source again as Mike gets the first half of the next set with his Song, which was good; Hydrogen was pretty spirited tonight, and Weekapaug was well played before an average Ya Mar. Melt and Fee were pretty good, but not great. Divided Sky started off ok and the ending jam wasn’t locked in to my ears and then the tape faded out again. They are taking chances and learning how to jam, but it just didn’t pay off tonight. Golgi was a good closer to this average set.

Mike also gets the encore spot tonight with a fitting Contact to send everyone on into the night.

It’s not too bad of a show overall, but its not five star by any means either. I’ll go three stars because of the YEM jam and the tuxedo story.

IMO almost all of this show is pretty lackluster. There's isn't a ton of slop, although there certainly is some (Weekapug, Melt). Mostly it's just...meh. Sounds hurried and perfunctory, lacking energy and enthusiasm, especially the short 2nd set. I don't have any major train wrecks to point to, but there is almost nothing I would point to as a highlight, either. I think two stars is appropriate for this.

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