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
YOSH — 3/17/2026 5:30:17 AM
"Here in 2026. This bathtub is moment I just realized Paige was behind back then. He’s amazing always, but you can hear in this Gin him pushing . Trey is so present here. Totally riding. Even when someone tries to start Dirt - he says go for it! But they don’t hit the mark so he comes in and kneels down and kisses the earth and shows me what this thought is worth."
Derek — 11/16/2024 10:47:37 PM
"Was My first show and how I would do just about anything to go back. I had absolutely no idea at the time what great things were happening. Damn this band is so great. Love that we can listen and relive ????"
Valdese El Poderoso — 8/23/2024 7:20:14 AM
"Hands down my favorite show of all time. "
mysoul412 — 8/8/2024 5:09:58 PM
"BEST HOOD EVER "
Matthew — 7/20/2024 8:45:09 PM
"My first Phish show: 26 years ago, today!"