I have rated this show five stars as it was such a personal live-changing event.

I was vaguely aware that Phish was playing a show soon at the Warfield and, while I'd never heard them before, I had read lots of talk online (and even voted YES to create a new rec.music.phish newsgroup a month or so earlier). It just happened to fall on a rare night off, and a friend had offered an opportunity to expand the third eye a bit, so off we went.

Started the show on the floor with opener Widespread Panic. Another band I'd never before heard, but I was impressed and left wound up by their high energy rock.

The room was quite schwirly as Phish took the stage, and I was left frankly confused (and face melted) by their performance. Was it music? Was it performance art? Why is the drummer in a dress...and playing a trombone? The crazy tempos, the virtuoso guitar keys and drums chasing each other around. The crazy chants that filled my head..."I didn't know that I was that far gone I DIDNT KNOW THAT I WAS THAT FAR GONE!" That neon dressed bassist...is he gay? That dance in the "Santana jam"...are they all gay? It doesn't matter if they're gay, of course, buy why do they keep yelling "FAGGOT! FAGGOT! Sellit tothe butherinthestore?!?" And that Bowie > Catapult > Bowie > Catapult >Bowie we've all drooled over on the tapes? Far more drool inducing in person.

As the lights came up for setbreak. My friend and I were convinced the show was over. There was no way to do more after that epic set, plus the monster WSP opener. Thankfully, as we were walking out the front door, an usher friend chased me down and said "DON'T LEAVE! THERE'S ANOTHER SET!" I didn't believe him, but stuck around.

Second set did not clear up any confusion. Bathtub on stage, while a series of people dance across the stage and climb into it, while the band sings evil "whoooooooOOOOOOOOooooooooh' sounds. Vocal jams and trampolines, WTF? Neil Diamond songs with cymbal up front? Then Tweezer Reprise, shredding so hard that we finally had to go home.

The next day I was in shock, rocked, and confused. What had I experienced? What was this magic band? I rejoined the young rec.music.phish, dove in to find out what I was missing, and eagerly awaited my next opportunity (Santana tour later that year) to see my new favorite band.