Phish: Ventura Box Set Due In June

The next archival release on CD from Phish looks to be a doozy as a listing for a compilation of two shows the quartet played at Ventura County Fairgrounds in 1997 and 1998 has surfaced on the always reliable Alternative Distribution Alliance website. Phish: Ventura is due on June 18th.

The two shows took place on July 30th, 1997 and July 20th, 1998 respectively and each have a slew of highlights. This audio-only release will provide official recordings for two shows of which excellent audience recordings have never surfaced due to in part to the wind at the venue. According to the tracklisting on the ADA site, soundchecks from both performances will be included in this set.

Here’s a look at the setlists for the two shows…

7/30/97:

Set 1: NICU > Wolfman’s Brother^[1] > Chalk Dust Torture, Water in the Sky, Stash,Weigh > Piper > Cars Trucks Buses, Character Zero

Set 2: Punch You In the Eye > Free > David Bowie^[2] -> Cities -> David Bowie,Bouncing Around the Room, Uncle Pen, Prince Caspian > Fire

Encore: My Soul

[1] Take Me to the River jam.
[2] Simpsons signal in intro.

Notes: Wolfman’s included a Take Me to the River jam. The Bowie intro included a Simpsons signal; Matt Groening, creator of The Simpsons, was reportedly in attendance.

7/20/98:

Set 1: Bathtub Gin, Dirt > Poor Heart^[1], Lawn Boy, My Sweet One, Birds of a Feather, Theme From the Bottom, Water in the Sky, The Moma Dance, Split Open and Melt

Set 2: Drowned -> Makisupa Policeman^[2] > Maze, Sea and Sand, Prince Caspian> Harry Hood

Encore: Sexual Healing^[3] > Hold Your Head Up, Halley’s Comet

 

[1] Several false endings, including a Free Bird-style ending.
[2] Long, atypical jam.
[3] Phish debut.

Performers: Trey Anastasio, Page McConnell, Jon Fishman, Mike Gordon

Notes: Poor Heart featured several false endings, including a Free Bird-style ending. Makisupa included a long, atypical jam. Sea and Sand (first since NYE 1995, or 166 shows) was an appropriate choice, given the venue’s location near the beach. Sexual Healing made its Phish debut at this show with Fishman reading the lyrics off the back of a show poster. As delay loops built to end Halley’s Comet, the band left the stage one by one.

[Setlists via Phish.net]

We’ll be sure to let you know when more details about Phish: Ventura emerge.

[Sleuthing by @duanebase]

Tracklisting via ADA…

Disc 1

1. NICU  
2. Wolfman’s Brother
3. Chalk Dust Torture
4. Water In The Sky
5. Stash
6. Weigh
7. Piper
8. Cars Trucks Buses
9. Character Zero

Disc 2

1. Punch You In The Eye  
2. Free
3. David Bowie
4. Cities
5. David Bowie

Disc 3

1. Bouncing Around The Room
2. Uncle Pen
3. Prince Caspian
4. Fire
5. My Soul  
6. Ventura ’97 Soundcheck Jam

Disc 4

1. Bathtub Gin
2. Dirt
3. Poor Heart    
4. Lawn Boy
5. My Sweet One
6. Birds Of A Feather
7. Theme From The Bottom  
8. Water In The Sky  
9. The Moma Dance  
10. Split Open And Melt

Disc 5

1. Drowned  
2. Makisupa Policeman
3. Maze
4. Sea And Sand      
5. Prince Caspian    
6. Harry Hood    

Disc 6

1. Sexual Healing     
2. Hold Your Head Up         
3. Halley’s Comet     
4. Ventura ’98 Soundcheck Jam