7-7-99 -- Blockbuster Pav, Charlotte, NC

review submisions dws@www.phish.net or dws@gadiel.com

Date: Fri, 9 Jul 1999 06:23:46 -0400
From: dmac james.mccallister@gte.net
To: Daniel W. Schar 
Subject: charlotte review

Charlotte 7-7-99
 
Charlotte ^Ö what can you say?  Ugh.  Lousy venue with terrible, outrageously
priced beer, horrible traffic, incompetent, reactionary security okay, I
could go on but you get the picture.   I thought that the band acquitted
itself well in spite of the attendant nonsense of seeing a show like this in
a whitebread little backwater like Charlotte.
 
My party of revelers, tapers and relative novices departed Columbia the
humid sub-tropical jewel of the south at about 3pm, made a quick potty stop,
got caught in rush hour traffic twice on I-77, and still got into the
parking lot at about 4:45 or 5.  (I could describe the secret way to go to
avoid traffic delays when going to this venue, but I took a blood oath to
keep it under wraps.)
 
Thanks to an old hypnosis technique that I picked up in the east, I was able
to suggest to a parking attendant that we be directed to the VIP lot.
Powerless under my aggressive technique, she waved us up toward the venue,
where we able to park about 20 feet from the taper line.  A round of ice
cold ales was had by all in celebration.
 
Six or eight ales later, the party fragmented as individuals began heading
off to assume their various roles in the lot community: Merchant, taper,
thrill-seeker, food-eater a brief rain shower had cooled off the lot
considerably, and the occasional light drizzle kept things temperate.  A
reasonable shakedown developed out near the main road, with a little
security hassling going on, but not too much.  Vignettes:  Two ales traded
for a couple of rice-krispy treats tinged with an odd shade of green.
T-shirt negotiations with a bleary-eyed, track-marked junk casualty.  A
cheese quesadilla proffered, purchased and eaten.   Security chasing a dude.
Finger in the air, even though they^re still on sale at the box office,
dude.  Guy checking out a sack that he bought.  Whispered offers,
clandestine transactions.  Dog barking.  Drums.  Music.   Smiles.  Frowns.
Laughter.   A line of traffic snaking off into the distance
 
Inside the show, familiar faces abound in the taper section, in the section
where the other mail order seats are, at the food stands, in the john this
is as close as a home town show gets for us, this or maybe Charleston.  (Won 
^t you come back, Bill Bailey?)   Lots of friends and hugs and good cheer.
 
One or two people in our party are smuggled into the upfront reserved
section.  Foolproof wristband/ticket mark system of crowd control is easily
thwarted even without using the power of suggestion.  Stopping by a VIP box
to speak with these cats that had been parked beside us, I take the
opportunity to sweet talk the waitress into giving me one of the pink VIP
wristbands. For the rest of the night I am able to come a few rows up from
my seat, grab a chair in the box, and get service from the waitstaff, if I
choose.  After trying this once, I determine that it would take less time to
just go out and get the provisions that I need.  Besides, the waiter can^Òt
urinate for you.
 
I won^Òt recount the setlist, but the band came out with some of the new
stuff that Trey had road-tested in May, as well as a couple of jams from the
Siket disc, so it seemed like there was a lot of fresh material, mixed in
with Phish tentpoles like Rift, Maze and DWD.  Random notes:  Sneaking
Salley was the biggest crowd pleaser.  Loving Cup^×in some ways the best of
the rock and roll covers^×made a strong set closer.  Also Sprach seemed to
have the longest build up at the beginning that I^Òve heard.  Axilla 1
featured the Axilla 2 ending.  DWD was just okay.  Velvet Sea was strong.
YEM was about 22 minutes, not nearly as way out there as YEM can be but
still cool. Derek Trucks made a strong impression during the encores, making
me interested in seeing the ABB again after feeling a little let down by the
shows I saw last summer.
 
Overall I thought the sound was poor to passable, depending on the spot I
chose in the pavilion.  (Can^Òt speak for the lawn.)  The sound seemed muddy
and flat compared to Lakewood.  I must hand it to Languedoc, running the
front of house in a shed like that must be tough.  Better to just get rid of
the roof altogether^Åbut I digress.
 
Traffic was again a breeze for us on the way out.  The ride home was tough,
due to some raw ether that had spilled, but we made it nevertheless.  I must
say I liked Phish playing about 90 miles from my home, but would rather see
them at another venue.

Date: Sun, 2 Jul 2000 13:08:46 EDT From: Phish7799@cs.com To: dws@gadiel.com Subject: 7-7-99 Blockbuster Pavilion I know that this review has been along time coming - six dayz shot of entire year but i still have some words to speak about it. In a nut-shell, this was the greatest consert i've ever been to. It was my first show and me and my best bud had tickets to virginia beach and maryland, but we chose to drive eight hours from pa to nc just on the chance that we'd get a ticket. After spending three hours in gridlock we made it to the lot - 8 bucks for parking! But we weren't disheartened, the lady said that we could get our money back if we didn't get in - thanks lady. Out to the lot - fingers in the air and a phishy smell filled the lot. Being this was my first i can tell you that it felt like a homecoming for me. We got our tickets at the venue and some secruity guards made us go in cause they din't want a clutter, but when we were walking in one of the guards said he was sorry and enjoy the free ride - i didn't know at the time that he ment that he wasn't gonna give me and my friend a pat-down- thanks again to you man. The show started around a half hour later and this was like a dream - then the boys came on. Get Back on the Train - awesome opener, got the groove settled in. What's the Use - completly spaced me out. Billy Breathes - slowed down the pace but the jam was excellent My Mind's . . . - Mike sang this very well, but three outof the four songs i didn't know so i was waiting for one song to push the funk too it's edge. Sneakin' Sally - oh my got, they funked out hard-core on this one! nice jam that brought us too . . . Axilla - i called for the second but this was cool. Rift - nice jam but i don't really care for this song. Wolfman's - oh my god, this is one of the sickest setlists in history - what's next? Maze - amazing Loving Cup - when they started this all of my buddies that were at the show just ran up to us and celebrated - setbreak - lots of talking, smoking, and uncaped-bottles of four-dollar water. Then they lights went out again Also Sprach - called this one and this was one of the spaceyest and sickest version of this song. DWD - the higlight of the set. danced with this awesome girl named colleen. Velvet Sea - almost trippy in its way. blue sea of people. Bug - didn't know this one and sessioned during it so don't remember much of it. YEM - oh my god - if this wasn't a dream, i don't know what was! awesome voacl jam right now i'd give this show a ten, but wait there's more trey come's out and introdices their friend - Derick Trucks Possum - trucks and mike were king ot there. trey sat back and had a little jam with them. Funky Bitch - crowd went wild. Then reality set in when the boys left. I can honestly say that musically this was one of the sickest shows in history - and it was my frist show ryanphish7799
Date: Sat, 18 Dec 1999 14:55:13 EST From: Retnuhnave@aol.com To: dws@archive.phish.net Subject: Ease your pain @ Blockbuster I was reading some of the reviews on Charlotte 7/7/99, and discovered that many of you had some parking-lot complaints, and hassles in side the show. I grew up in Charlotte, and now live 2 hours away. I've been going to shows at Blockbuster Pavilion since they built the shack, and dozens of my friends have worked at the facility. So, I will offer you some of my time tested tricks to make seeing a show a Blockbuster a breeze. -Park on the streets of the near by neighborhood of Wexford, save $8 in parking, and walk 5min down the street. -Stop at the ABC store (NC liquor store), and buy airplane bottles of your favorite libation, bring them in whatever pockets you have (i.e. where ever you hide your green). -Buy cokes at the concesion stand instead of beer, and mix your liquor with this. Once again you get more for less. -Its incredibly easy to talk those guarding the good seats into anything, a little harder at the quality shows. -Going into the show a little early will easily get you past the security for the quality seats before they even set up. Just walk right in, and sit down. -Anything goes on the lawn, smoke-em if you got-em on the grass. Jay and the magic bat are preferable to other instruments of inhaling. -If your under age, hang on to a cup you'll never know when a clean cup will come in handy. -I'm sure this is basic to most of you guys on tour, but maybe it will ease your pain following these phrindly helping tips. Otto Noe
Date: Thu, 22 Jul 1999 02:46:50 -0400 From: Susan Blevins sblevins@abts.net To: dws@archive.phish.net Subject: review 7-7-99 Charlotte I live in Statesville, N.C., normally about forty minutes from Blockbuster. We left about three-thirty and were in Charlotte at five till four. We might have been going a little fast. (Gotta get to the lot!) Then the jam, and I don't mean that funky YEM jam that closed set two. I mean the forty five minutes it took us to go maybe twenty miles just to get to the lot as the rain set in, and then slapped in the face with a eight dollar parking fee!...the fuck? What the hell are they spending that money on? It's not so the beer will be cheaper.($6.00). When we got in, money was the last thing on my mind, although I was hoping they would play "Dark Side" again, but they started out with I think "Get back on the train", then "What's the Use?" then "Billy Breathes" with a different jam at the end. Then the crowd woke up when they broke into "My Mind's..." This was just a sample of the night that would belong to Michael "Soft G" Gordon. He was so on. I can't put it into words...obviously. All the way through Mike was nailing every note. He was a step ahead of everybody, just like he was last fall the first night in Worcester, Mass. (Get that tape!) The YEM jam imparticular. I'll play the tape of this show just prove to the dumbasses that think Trey is a one man show. Don't get me wrong I love Trey. I'm not at all a "Trey" basher. It just gets to me that Mike, Page, and Fish don't get the credit they deserve. The Loving Cup first set closer was a plus. Trey and Chris Koroda were fucking with the crowd. I think it was during 2001, Trey would hold his guitar in the air and as it rose the lights got brighter. Then DWD, Mike was still on but I've seen this video on The Real World Channel (Mtv) and really never got into it. Then My Left Toe into Velvet Sea which is just damn beautiful. How cool would it be if everybody brought a small peice of velvet with them into Phish shows and if they play it, just break 'em out and wave them. From up on stage it would look like a Velvet Se...nevermind. Back to Left Toe. Then Bug. I heard Trey play that in Asheville on his little shindig. Everyone sat down during Bug. I've only sat down once during a show while they played and it was during Frankie Says, when they say, "Relax...the world will spin beside itself..." and I was like, "If you insist, I just might do that." Then they got everybody back on there feet with YEM, except for these dumbasses in front of me. They sat all the way through. Boy...sittin. Man...sittin. God and Shit...sittin and still sittin. I had never seen such a thing. Then as we were leaving after an awesome Possum and Funky Biatch those guys asked me if I was going to go see Ratt or some shit the next night. I was like, "Yeah. Man. I'm going to pay money...to see Ratt...and be in the same general location as you two days in row." I'm not saying this was a great Phish show, it wasn't. It was just...you know, a Phish show. I hope they don't play in Charlotte (outside) again. I know its close and all, (I'd rather drive for days to see them any way) but Blockbuster sucks. Everything about it. Sucks. Everything. Everything sucks. Nothing doesn't suck. Because everything sucks. I hate myself. Goodbye.
Date: Sun, 18 Jul 1999 02:43:58 -0400 (EDT) From: Gary naturalG@webtv.net To: dws@archive.phish.net Subject: Charlotte 7-7-99 review Hey phans, First of all let me get my objections to the $8 parking fee outta the way.I mean do they really need $8 this is the most i have ever payed to park at a concert. On a positive note we didn't have to wait in the traffic like most of the other reviewers did,and when we did park we were extremely close to the gates of the ampitheater. Now on to the lot scene. Well driving in as soon as we passed Winston-Salem i could actually see the warm and cold fronts moving in to each other.As most of you know this is a recipe for a thunderstorm.You could see the dark cloud wave coming at you 3 hours before it hit (trippy).Soon as we got there we introduced ourselves tothe phans around us as always and began to party.Quickly after we began to party some of our friends from tour met up with us,and after grabbing a Newcastle for the trip we began the exodus to Shakedown Street. The rain began to fall heavily as we neared the center of the lot.Noone really seemed to care and we could hear the soundcheck coming from the stage better than at other ampitheaters.Everyone around us was dancing as they played water in the sky as the rain drenched us.It was a happy scene and a pretty good shakedown street i found some good bargains.Why does it rain at every phish show i've ever been to in NC. I was half expecting A Water In The Sky opener like in Walnut Creek last year.So when the rain stopped it cooled off the place nicely it was good grooving temperature. Soon after it stopped i also scored some really crystalized nuggets from these cool phans.Well we had drunk about seven Newcastles a piece so it was time to enter the show. a quick observation about the venue. It seemed smaller than other Ampitheaters.Outrageous beer prices,but having the concessions on the lawn saved alot of time! Now for the music! SET1 *Get Back On The Bus: i liked this tune it was a new one for me unexpected opener. *Whats The Use: another of the newer tunes for me my friend tells me it segued into another song but i hadn't noticed. *Billy Breathes: by this time i was convinced the guys were in a mellow mood three slower tunes in a row but i liked it. *My Mind's:still on the slower motif but it had been awhile since i heard this one. *Sneakin' Sally: YYEE--HHAAWW i totally called this one i had never heard this tune live before and was completely stoked to hear it.Man MIke was on fire for this song! his basslines had everyone dancing. marvelous song! *Axilla: this is always a grooving tune and it had the Axilla2 ending *Rift: oh yeah one of my favs so high energy you ca't stay still during this song they played it well also. *Wolfman's Brother: what can i say i never get tired of this tune no matter how much i hear it the bass on this song was deep and grooving. *Maze: OMG Oh man i thought you can't close a set on a maze you might flip someone out.My friend got stuck in this maze too as it was a unusually long maze really grooved out and freaky *Loving Cup: Mike's Voice carried me through this one always a good song "What a beautiful BUZZ" this set started out slow and speed up quickly i wondered how they were gonna follow up their first ever forth of july show.Now to set2 *Also Sprach Zarathustra (2001): one of the best covers phish plays Chris's light show is totally awesome during this song. i love how the boys play together on it and when they do the spacey sounds to go with the lights ,wicked *DWD: oooohhh good song the bass at the begining jumped out at me after that extremely long 2001 and the crowd absolutely went apeshit!this song was jammed out in the middle also. *My Left Toe: this song is average i my book but i was so happy after the openers so i just went with it especially when it segued into ... *Wading In The Velvet Sea; This is one of my favorites of the slower songs but i always thought they could jam it real hard after the first verse if they wanted to. Guys how about it? then it segued back into *My Left Toe: i was surprised they went back into it but pleasently so they ended it kinda quickly though *Bug: one of the new songs nice to put a sound with the reviews The jury hasn't come back with the verdict yet on this one *YEM: yeah you can never hear to many yems but this one wasn't one of the better i had heard still the trampoline jam is always a treat. I knew this was the set closer ENCORE: when we see phish come out with someone else we got stoked I had just seen Allman Brothers In VB. on The 2nd wow! then they played..... *Possum:YEAH i been wanting to hear one since Lemonwheel oh and with Derek Trucks taking the forefront and Mike on Vocals This was the best one i've ever heard. glad to see that the rumors about Trucks from the lot were true! Go Gamehenge! *Funky Bitch: YES but i could see this one cming since Trucks was there but the guitar duel between Trey and Derek was inspired.Mike singing again wow this was a good show. IN conclusion Mike totally owned this Concert his basslines were ripping and he sung more than usual. I don't like the new configuration of the band though. WHY IS FISHMAN IN THE BACK? I do like the way Trey let Derek take the lead in the encore. The hghlights in this show were Sneakin' Sally,Maze,2001,and Possum. wow do yourselves a favor and get the tapes of this one phans. See you on the road! bye @}~~~~}~~~~~ sincerely G
Date: Mon, 12 Jul 1999 11:50:34 -0400 From: Kaluzne To: dws@archive.phish.net Subject: 7-7-99 Charlotte,NC I though i would write in and make some comments on the show the other night in Charlotte. First, the HELL that was called parking. It took me longer to wait in line and park than it did to get to the show. The cops should have moved cars in faster than drinking those free sodas being passed out. Then $8 to park. Come on that is such a rip off. I could see a couple of dollars but eight is was to f*&%@#% much. Parking was way to spread out to get the great parking lot scene going but the area i found myself in was great. Nice people and great found were everywhere. On to the show. I read the people ragging on Blockbuster but its not about the place its the music and the music that night was great. It was slow at the begining but after Billy my energy was pumping and i danced all night long. The second set had some great songs and jams. The beginning of 2001 was a very cool intro especailly with the lights going crazy. Loved DWD and Velvet Sea. I have never heard DWD live and loved it. The trampoline in YEM was great and i was bouncing up and down right with them. Trucks was a great add to the encore. He and Trey played a great Possum. Overall the show was great. The only problem were ones that the venue had and needs to fix. See you at a show.
Date: Fri, 9 Jul 1999 12:53:56 -0700 From: Mike Indgin IndginM@suissamiller.com To: "'dws@gadiel.com'" dws@gadiel.com Subject: 7/7/99 Charlotte review MY name is Mike Indgin and here's a review to post on Phish net. It's the first of many. Thanks for putting it in for me. --------------- I flew in from Los Angeles to be with my family for the 4th festivities and to take my sister Sally to her second Phish show. Sally and I sneaked out of Greensboro and met our friend Tim at the Marriot one exit past the venue. We hung out there and watched the rainstorm which mercifully cooled things down for the show. Tim had hit the venue website, so we had a map of the secret back way into the venue(hint: for all shows, go by the specific venue website directions instead of the Phish flyer directions or get off freeways an exit late and take surface streets). I miracled a few people some Phish sampler tapes and grabbed the best falafel of my life(the secret was they toasted the pita). After we gave our decks to Jimbo to tape the proceedings we settled into our Paviliion seats. I'm not used to doing one show runs, so I had set myself up to be happy with whatever songs I heard and not be too upset if I didn't get my Divided Sky. Still it would have been a perfect soundtrack for the glorious post-rain sunset. Instead we got Get Back on the Train, which I liked, What's the Use, which I disliked (a real energy killer) and Billy Breathes, which I appreciate so much more now than I did when I compared it to Summer Breeze in my 95 San Diego review in The Pharmer's Almanac. Trey, if you ever read this, I take back what I said, it's a beautiful song. My Mind has a Mind of Its Own was a nice treat but we just couldn't belive they pulled out Sneakin' Sally Through the Alley. TIm had jokingly said they would play it for my sister, but we didn't believe it would actually happen. Sally was besides herself with glee on this one. Axilla kept the momentum going, but I wish they'd go back to Axilla II's lyrics. It had been eons since I heard a Rift, so I was yippin' on it. Wolfman's Brother, however was an uninspired choice and a lame version with Trey screwing up the lyrics. We chose this point in the show to walk back to the top of the lawn. Hey, if we couldn't hear a Divided Sky, at least we could watch one. We wandered back down and the uneven set was salvaged by a killer Maze>Loving Cup pairing to close out the set. Nice save, guys. Set 2 should really read Space>Also Sprach Zarathustra. This 22 min. version would have been more epic if Trey hadn't missed several notes during the first theme(c'mon guy, it's only a five note melody). I'm surprised people weren't as blown away by the Down with Disease as I was. For me it was one of the hottest versions ever. My Left Toe>Wading in the Velvet Sea>My Left Toe fit my tired mood well. Bug was a downer. I don't like lyrics about things not mattering(not that it matters) You Enjoy Myself came too late for me(proof that I'm getting old). I actually sat that one out at a picnic table sharing some last-minute bonding with Sally. It's one thing for someone to call a song, but quite another to call the song and the special guest. Kudos go to Tim Cox for saying Derek Trucks would join the band for Possum a full four hours before it happened. When I heard the rumor that Derek would be there, I guessed Funky Bitch but was shot down because they had just played it. Not only was I vindicated, but I'm one of the few Americans that's seen two generations of Trucks' play that song (I was at the Coral Sky show with Tim in 95). After the show we picked up our decks and I found the best veggie burrito I've ever had(the secret is four kinds of beans and fresh peas). Sally loved her second Phish show, despite What's the Use scaring the crap out of her. The next day I flew home to LA to find my phall mail order tickets waiting for me. Yippie! See y'all in September.
Date: Fri, 9 Jul 1999 17:01:07 -0400 (EDT) From: Lewis W. Holloway IV lhollowa@liberty.uc.wlu.edu To: dws@archive.phish.net Subject: Rewview: Charlotte Ouch! Rough reviews for the venue in genral it seems. Although I admit to the fact that I haven't been to many shows, charlotte was my fifth, I thought it was pretty damn good. I had a little trouble getting into the show at first. Enjoyed Train, but felt like things were too slow for awhile after that. Billy Breathes is a great song, but I personally felt later in the show might have been better placement. The show from Sneakin on blew my mind. I've been dying to hear sneakin, axilla's always good, so's rift, wolfman's was nice too. I thought page went nuts during maze. Lovin Cup is a great cover and this was my first time seeing it live so very exciting personally. The second set was dope. I always feel like the measurement of a good jam is the number of times I forget what song the jam came out of. This happened multiple times in both 2001 and DWD. This is the second 2001 (first Winston-Salem in 98) and it blew my mind. The intro. confused me severly because I had a feeling that they were headed toward 2001, but it took them awhile. DWD was a first for me and that's something I've always wanted to hear. I love Mike and DWD and Weekapaug are two fav's. Anyway, other than YEM the rest of the set was new for me, but very good tunes. I've seen YEM a few times and although I wasn't knocked off my feet by this one, the song itself is to good not to enjoy. The encore rocked. My first two song encore so I really enjoyed the increased amount of music. Derek Trucks rocks, I'd never heard him before, but his slide guitar on possum was great and the funky bitch was a lot of fun. Finally, just to highlight the fact, the show was particularly enjoyable for me because Mike was on fire. There were numerous bass solos in the above songs that really got my funk groove flowing. Peace
Date: Fri, 09 Jul 1999 14:44:26 -0400 From: tdharrym tdharrym@uncg.edu To: dws@archive.phish.net Subject: 7/7/99 Hey first off, let me rant at the guy at the top of the page who said Charlotte was a 'whitebred little backwater'...dude you're an idiot. Ok, enough of the bad stuff, onto the show. I thought the first set rocked, I loved Billy Breathes, one of my favorite songs, good version I thought, though Trey did mess up a couple of times during the solo, but thats what live music is all about :-). Maze was excellent (I didn't see Trey on the little keyboard, contrary to phish.net). Second set: I called 2001, but I started questioning what the hell was going on when they did that 17 minute intro!! My favorite 2001 had been 11/19/98, but this kicked its ass! Down With Disease was great! I was surprised that they did YEM b/c they did it at the last show, but it was great, especially the groovy ending. Encore: I went to Allman Brothers Saturday at the same venue and developed enormous respect for Derek Trucks and went crazy when he came out, b/c this kid needs that kind of recognition. The crowd really got into his duel w/ Trey during Possum (they didn't do a coda for Possum, b/c they were being forced off the stage). Funk Bitch was great, better than the Warren Haynes one from '95. Sidenotes: Mike owned this show!!! He came out dancing with the first song, and just put on a hell of a good show. Chris Kuroda also did an excellent job, especially during the vocal jam with the airplane effects ;-). Everybody should go see ABB 9/5/99 in Raleigh, should be special since its the last show on their 30th Anniversary Tour!!!!
Date: Fri, 09 Jul 1999 08:54:37 -0400 From: Brian Compton BGCOMPT@CLEMSON.EDU To: dws@archive.phish.net Subject: review, blockbuster Loved the show....I like the way they have been channeling so much energy into the slower, more ambient jams. Its not the fast blazing guitar work and complicated phrases of days past, but its new and exciting....the traffic indeed sucked, but that's usually the story (its not however the show). I loved the train opener and I thought derek trucks was a great slide player....he reminds me of how greg allman used to look when he was young...Mike took hold of some really nice bass breaks 2001 which eventually lead into DWD....you could feel that one coming. another highlight was the sloppy vocal jam after YEM...I like it when they let Paul lead....I think he likes to spin the lights around and have them follow. Overall the show was pretty OK....being on the lawn I was a bit distracted when the screens began to flipp really fast from camera angle to camera angle.... they had some really nice morphing effects and the picture was great...its just when they were flashing really fast I got dizzy and my stomach hurt....yikes....(but like I said, thats not the show) well I hope you all enjoy the remainder of the tour.....tell 'em I said hello! BGC
Date: Fri, 9 Jul 1999 02:54:38 EDT From: BenjieBBA@aol.com To: dws@gadiel.com Subject: Charlotte Review hello everyone, i just got off the four show run from nashville through charlotte and i would like to throw my two cents in on the charlotte show. First let me point out all the good things about the show: 1. Sneaking Sally- i was so happy they played this, i figured i would never get to hear this live. 2. 2001- very cool jam and was another song i was so happy to see performed live 3. Loving Cup- I love phish and i love the stones put them togather and you have one great combo. 4. the encore- Derek Trucks was really awesome on possum and funky bitch. 5 seats- i actually had pavillion seats for a phish show. im usually used to sitting on the lawn for summer phish shows. 6. Mike put on another stellar performance! GO MIKE!!!!! Now the bad points and these are pretty bad: 1. Charlotte needs to get there act togather with traffic. We showed up in charlotte and got off exit 46 at 3:30 pm. We got into the show at 5:30. NO EXCUSE FOR THIS. We got into Lakewood and First American in no time at all. You would think a Cop could direct traffic at that light near blockbuster. 2. This maybe because is saw phish a few times in a row but i really hate when the majority of the show is rerun songs they played one, two or three shows ago. Get on the train, Whats the use, Billy Breathes, Wolfman's Brother all were nashville or atlanta rerun songs in the first set. DWD, YEM and Funky Bitch all in the second set were played in Nashville or Atlanta also. My main complaint with this is that DWD and YEM were nothing compared to the Nashville show. They were sloppy and Trey just didnt seem to be into them. 3. The parking lot scene sucked!!!!! Maybe rain may have had something to do with the atmosphere but the atl and nashville scenes blew this one away. The lots in charlotte suck too they are too spread apart. Oh yeah and security/parking staff were dickheads. I don't apperciate when some low paid 40 something year old parking lot staff guy comes up to me and my friends and starts yelling and cussing at us b/c we havent left the lot yet. Why chase people off so fast when the traffic going out is impossible in Charlotte until about 30-45 mins after the show. 4. Cops were bad in the lots 5. The acoustics sucked, you couldnt even hear them playing from outside the venue when i was going in during Get on the train. 6. PARKING WAS 8 DOLLARS, that is way too much to park in those crappy lots. Did i mention Atlanta was FREE!!!!!!!!!!1 So to sum everything up. Im glad they played some songs ive never heard live before (sneaking, mmgmio, axilla I, loving cup, 2001, bug, left toe) But I hope Phish's management, promotors or whoever chooses to skip charlotte for another day in Atlanta or move the shows back to Raliegh next year. I hope everyone enjoys the rest of the shows on tour! Have fun and be safe everyone!!!!!!! Benjie
Date: Sat, 10 Jul 1999 01:18:13 -0000 From: ian15 maestoso024@email.msn.com To: dws@gadiel.com Subject: 7-7 thoughtabout angrypeople contrary to public opinion charlotte is not a terrable place so dont let one not-so great experience keep anyone from returningand yes folks derrick trucks is really good and so is phish and bad reviews are written by silly unhappy people---lighten up- you will enjoy yourself and life SO much more---best of luck to everyone on the road -see yas at Oswego (axilla 1 always throws me off but its fun to be confused) please come back to charlotte its a neat place
Date: Thu, 08 Jul 1999 22:41:11 -0400 From: Jason Beckwit guyute@bellsouth.net To: dws@archive.phish.net Subject: Blockbuster Pavilion review I hadn't actually planned to go to this show, but seeing as how I live in Raleigh, I blazed work early and drove the two hours to catch the boys. I ended up getting there very early and got to the box office where even Pavilion seats were available for the same price as lawn. Anyhow, the venue seemed a typical ampitheatre with not as much of a slope on the lawn. Maybe I was spoiled on Atlanta, or maybe I've just seen too many shows, but this one just didn't grab me like many of the others I've seen. I found the first set to be much more energetic than the second. A lot of nice jams, especially in Sneakin Sally and Maze. The Axilla really got me pumped. Loving Cup is always a sweet set closer, so the first set didn't disapoint me at all. I moved up to the lawn for the second set, and the acoustics weren't nearly as good. 2001 made a good set opener, but it seemed to lack a lot of the funk energy that the other 2001's usualy have. Still, who can complain about a 2001? The DWD was nice in the jam, but usually a sitter for me. After that is when the show seemed to lose energy. My Left Toe, Velvet Sea, and Bug all in a row was just a little too many slow tunes in a row to keep me jiggin. Not that there is anything wrong with a chill set, I just prefer the high energy shows. The YEM closer was okay, but seemed a little basic for a YEM. Unfortunately, I had to leave during the Possum encore, because I had to get back to Raleigh and work this morning, but walking out, it sounded like it jammed pretty hard. I heard the start of Funky Bitch as I left, but seeing as I just heard it two nights before and countless other times, I wasn't too disapointed to miss it. Not to be a pesimist, but it surely wasn't the best show I've seen, but when you see Phish all the time, you can't expect the energy to be through the roof every night. Just an opinion from a phan. later Jason
Date: Thu, 8 Jul 1999 19:22:28 -0400 From: Talbot w_talbot@email.msn.com To: dws@archive.phish.net Subject: 7/7/99 The show was pretty nice (being five rows back). Solid jams in first set (esp. Sneekin' and My Mind's) and wonderful 2001 opening set two. Got there pretty early, so no problem with traffic, but a lot of people did come in late. No problem with acustics since i was so close, but I've been on the lawn at Blockbuster before so I know what you mean. A couple of dickhead security guards at first, but then the show started and they had no control - Ha Ha Ha! Trey was dressed like Jerry (black t-shirt and jeans). Trampolines were great in yem. Bout shit my pants when they played Funkey Bitch! Anyways here's the setlist. 1: Get Back on the Train, What's the Use, Billy Breathes, My Mind's, Sneakin' Sally, Axilla (I), Rift, Wolfman's, Maze, Loving Cup 2: 2001, Down w/ Disease, My Left Toe> Velvet Sea> My Left Toe, Bug, YEM E: (w/ Dereck Trucks) Possum, Funkey Bitch Oh yeah, Trey points to his foot to indicate My Left Toe Later, Jonathan
Date: Thu, 8 Jul 1999 18:48:30 EDT From: Dreamerph@aol.com To: dws@archive.phish.net Subject: 7-7-99 Charolette NC A great show from what i heard. I got to my seat just as Rift ended. Security was very unhelpful in helping me find my reserved seat. Im only going to say one thing about the traffic. People without tickets, please dont come to the shows. I think that may have contributed to the traffic problem. Also, security could have directed traffic a little better. Ok, thats 2 things. Highlights of the show for me were loving cup and the encore. I love all the Gordon songs, so the encore was especially good for me. Derrick Trucks added the extra spice. I just wish i had got to hear My Mind. But there will be plenty more chances. My last show of the tour. Hope everyone is having fun at the concerts and continues to.
Date: Thu, 8 Jul 1999 15:55:34 EDT From: Kellogc@aol.com To: dws@archive.phish.net Subject: 7/7/99 A Phish Show for all kinds of Phans Well first of all i thought that this concert rocked. I took a newbie and she not only loved it, but it became one of the best concerts she had ever been too. I only wish i new the names of a couple of songs they played, but all in all i heard a few songs i realy wanted to hear. They played (atleast what i rember) Guyute, wading in the velvet sea, You enjoy myself, Billy Breathes, Down with disease, Wolfman's Brother, 2001 and a few more. Forgive me but for some strange reason my memory is not as good as it should be. A few things caught me off guard, like when they brought out tramplines. Yep, it was crazy. I am also intreasted in Derek Trucks, the special guest they had. The songs that he played guatar in where awsome. This if you ask me was one of the better Phish shows i have been too. The last time i saw them was in th Gorge, WA for two days straight last year. Blockbuster Pavilion, i am going to have to say sucks, it is defentley no Gorge, but who cares it was Phish i was going to see, and Phish is what i got. I hope you guys all enjoyed the concert. Any one who was there please post the rest of the songs i am real intrested in some of the new songs i heard. Till October (Phish yet again) have fun
Date: Thu, 8 Jul 1999 15:45:08 -0400 From: Anna Paige DuRant apdurant@email.msn.com To: dws@archive.phish.net Quick and Honest review- Hope You Read It. Definitely not the best amp. for acoustics, but it still produced good sound. All shows are good- fuck you if you write a bad review - There is always something good to say. Problems: 1) Traffic is the worst thing about the show. Sat in traffic for 3+ hrs. Still caught the whole show. 2) Lot scene scattered and there was a possible chance of rain all night. No rain though. Probably prevented people from forming a Shakedown. The Good stuff: 1) Encore = fantastic! Derek and Trey, back and forth- It raged trust me! 2) Songs you want to hear on tape or CD: Get Back on the train, Sneakin Sally, 2001, You Enjoy Myself, and the Encore. These songs were played perfectly wonderful. Great vibes. ( Wish I could say better about the Wolfman's, but I thought it just never got there. It was fun to dance to non-the-less. Maze raged and so did Loving Cup but the above listed songs were exceptional.) I think it's pretty unimportant to tell how many shows you've been to so that people will be able to judge your opinion accurately, but if you must know, Atlanta on the 3rd was 50- Charlotte 52. My name is Rutledge. I'm a student @ the College of Charleston in South Carolina. Feel free to E-mail me @ grutledged@msn.com I also need tickets to Deer Creek. Thanks for reading, and hope you have a wonderful day!
Date: Thu, 8 Jul 1999 13:30:00 -0400 From: Brian Poteat poteat@conita.com To: "'dws@gadiel.com'" Subject: Review: 7/7/99, Bolckbuster Pavilion, Charlotte, NC I sat in traffic for over 4 hours. When I got to the parking lot, there were cops standing around talking to each other instead of helping to direct traffic. I missed the first set and when I got in, I tried to ask an event staff person to show me where my section was and she started acting like I was trying to sneak into the front seats and yells at me to stay where am and don't move (while she is still holding my reserved ticket without looking at it). The acoustics of Blockbuster Pavilion suck. The parking lot scene (after the show at least) was scattered due to the layout of the lots. For the set that I did see, Phish played good. The songs with Derek Trucks were really good and I want to go see his band play now. As for Charlotte and Blockbuster, I felt very unwelcome and will probably skip that show if they play there again next year. Overall the second set was a sturdy set with a lot of guitar. It would be hard to match the previous Atlanta shows though. just my opinion. later. brian p.
Date: Thu, 8 Jul 1999 10:14:59 -0400 From: "Currie, Eddie" ecurrie@ci.charlotte.nc.us To: "'dws@www.phish.net'" Subject: Incredible Show I've only seen Phish twice now, but D*** they ROCK. I've listened to a lot of boots and they really jammed last night. I didn't even realize till this morning that they didn't play anything off Ghost. There's a band that just wants to play and doesn't care about making money. They even brought out the trampolines! The best part was the encores with Derek, two kick ass songs. Date: Thu, 8 Jul 1999 13:42:16 -0400 From: "Currie, Eddie" Subject: RE: Incredible Show Ok, Velvet Sea is on Ghost, I goofed; I thought it was on Billy Breathes, Sorry, don't stone me.
click here to return to the 1999 reviews page
number of hits since 5pm pacific on 7-5-99 (many)