1989-05-28: Ian McLean's Farm, Hebron, NY, USA

PHISH

May 28, 1989
Ian Mclean's Party, Connie Condon's Farm, Hebron, NY

Source: SBD > Erik Larson's NAK deck
Transfer: cass3 > HHB > CD > FLAC

Disc 1, Set 1:
1. Pre-set Banter
2. Divided Sky
3. Run Like an Antelope
4. Colonel Forbin's Ascent->
5. Fly Famous Mockingbird
6. Fee ->
7. Slave to the Traffic Light (has a cut for tape flip)
8. Esther
9. Suzie Greenberg

Disc 2, Set 1, cont.
1. You Enjoy Myself (incl. post-set keg run banter)
Set 2
2. Pre-set Banter
3. Fire
4. Mike's Song>
5. I am Hydrogen>
6. Weekapaug Groove
7. Bathtub Gin
8. Sanity (some flaws, see below)
9. Ride Captain Ride
(banter cut for tape flip)

Disc 3, Set 2, cont.
1. Peaches en Regalia
2. A-Train
3. Possum
4. Contact
5. Funky (Breakdown) ->
6. The Price of Love
7. Funky Bitch (UGLY, abrupt cut)
8. (cut into) Split Open and Melt
9. Mango
10. Harry Hood

Disc 4, Set 3:
1. ...Jam ->
2. La Grange Jam
3. (cut into) The Sloth
4. Sneaking Sally Through the Alley >
5. Ya Mar
6. Jesus Left Chicago

This is an upgrade of the version currently on "The Spreadsheet" for several reasons, even though that version's source purports to be a cass0 (it doesn't sound like one!). First, the band members kinda sound like their balls are being pinched together on that version. (Compare, e.g., whenever Trey sings in the high part of his range, like in a goofy way during Contact.) If anything, the source tapes of this version are a hair slow. In any event, the pitch of this copy sounds far closer to reality as I hear it than the current Spreadsheet version (hopefully Kevin Hoy, Master of the Spreadsheet, will replace that version with this one).

Second, the Spreadsheet version of the Slave has at least another ten seconds missing than this version. Also, this version, unlike the current Spreadsheet version, has the post-YEM, hysterical banter concerning the effort to find a sober driver for a keg run.

FLAWS: Cut in the first 45 seconds of Slave (tape flip); banter was cut out (not by me) after Ride Captain Ride and before Peaches, Mango and JJLC; cuts at the beginning of SOAM, the Jam that starts set 3, and Sloth; significant wow and flutter, as well as a bit of tape warbling at one point, during the (fast) Sanity; and Funky Bitch has a very nasty and abrupt cut.

I hope this is an upgrade for you. If it isn't, I hope you transfer it and put it on etree and please let me know (charlie at phish.net). If you haven't heard this early show, it's one of a handful of must-hear 1980s shows in my opinion -- not only for the banter between songs, almost all of which is entertaining, but also for the playing. (e.g., Trey gets paid by the note in YEM in particular, and its vocal jam is ridiculous.) You can hear every band member contribute to the banter between songs here and there, too. The current Phish.net setlist and shownotes read as follows:

Sunday, 05/28/1989
Ian McLeanís Party, Connie Condonís Farm, Hebron, NY

Set 1: The Divided Sky, Run Like an Antelope, Colonel Forbin's Ascent > Fly Famous Mockingbird, Fee -> Slave to the Traffic Light, Esther, Suzy Greenberg, You Enjoy Myself

Set 2: Fire, Mike's Song > I Am Hydrogen > Weekapaug Groove, Bathtub Gin, Sanity, Ride Captain Ride, Peaches en Regalia, Take the 'A' Train, Possum, Contact, Funky (Breakdown) -> The Price of Love, Funky Bitch, Split Open and Melt, The Mango Song, Harry Hood

Set 3: Jam -> La Grange Jam, The Sloth, Sneakin' Sally through the Alley > Ya Mar, Jesus Just Left Chicago

Notes: Trey dedicated the Divided Sky opener to ìthe spirit of the pig.î Trey briefly teased "TMWSIY" before Antelope, which included the word ìspliffî instead of ìspikeî in the lyrics. This YEM featured the infamous ìPoop Vocal Jam,î followed by a set-stopping keg run. Mikeís Song included a tease of the HBO theme song. Sanity was the fast version. 'A' Train featured "Paul," an unknown audience member, on saxophone. During Contact, Trey wished the crowd "Merry Christmas" several times and teased Auld Lang Syne at the end of the song. The first known Phish performance of Funky (Breakdown) as well as Price of Love featured guest appearances by Ninja Mike (vocals) and Magoo (guitar). Fishman intermittently played trombone and vacuum during the latter. The vocal jam at the end of Sneakin' Sally included Changes (David Bowie) and My Sharona (The Knack) quotes. Ya Mar's lyrics included references to wild pigs and Paul.