Setlist
Sound Check
Set One
Set Two
Encore
Stream this show and the entire LivePhish catalog
Setlist
Sound Check
Set One
Set Two
Encore
Show Notes
- ORDER 6 CD BOX SET HERE
- All new 6-CD box set featuring two complete live shows, recorded July 30, 1997 and July 20, 1998 at Ventura County Fairgrounds in Ventura, California, a general admission dirt racetrack between the Pacific Coast Highway and Surfers Point Park. Bits of the each show's Soundchecks are included at the end of both shows.
The new box set was fully remixed from the band's multitrack masters and mastered for release. July 30, 1997 was Phish's first Ventura stop since Trey learned to surf nearby in 1993. The show featured a number of must-hear performances including a bass-driven, syncopated "Wolfman's Brother" > "Chalk Dust Torture", a deep and spacey "Stash" and "Character Zero" in Set I. A "Free", "David Bowie" > "Cities", "David Bowie" combination dominated the show's second half with some of the summer's biggest jams.
On July 20, 1998 Phish again encountered Ventura's breezy oceanside. Ventura '98 was characterized by some new songs and some bustouts. The first set included a "Bathtub Gin" opener, a new arrangement of "Water In The Sky", the swinging funk of "The Moma Dance" and a "Split Open And Melt" Set I closer. Set II exploded with a bass-and-drums-fueled "Drowned", "Makisupa Policeman" pairing that utilized Page's synth stylings to seamlessly blend rock and reggae. "Maze" led to a perfectly placed "Sea And Sand".
- Read Essay by Phish Archivist Kevin Shapiro
Reviews
thisisIT — 9/9/2024 5:26:21 AM
"Top 5 shows "
David G — 7/29/2023 7:10:05 AM
"IMO one of the best 2nd sets of ‘97 which says a lot. Mike is so plugged in it’s ridiculous, well they all are. Fire show. On time and I’m the pocket thepughout"
Unbound destiny 79 — 7/26/2021 9:20:33 PM
"my very first Phish show ever was in Phoenix Az the previous night 7/29/97 & i know how scorching hot they were for that show. they were so hot it made the Phoenix July Night seem a bit brisk even though the thermostat read 100° just before midnight. i was always hoping that they would release phoenix 7/29/97 & tucson 9/5/99 (i believe that is the date they played the pima county fairground just outside of tucson) i would say 97 & 98 phoenix which both either followed or preceeded these two cali shows but there would be too many repeats. if not two nights i'd settle for a release of the 7-29-97 show, which had the first extended/phunked out gumbo."
`HarryHayf` — 1/25/2018 4:52:02 PM
"1/25/18 Second Set>>>PYITE...then Free>David Bowie>CiTies>conclude Bowie. This segue of tunes ranks right up there fellow PhishHeads. Very, Very good. Peace-LoVe be with u all."
TheGreatJugbuh — 9/15/2016 1:08:16 PM
"The NICU on this show is the only rendition I have heard where there is piano and organ when its usually just organ. so to me its pretty unique"