From: John Foulks 
Subject: Phish in Cologne 7-22-96

I didn't see a review of this one so I thought I might contribute.


After getting up at five in the morning to catch a train to Cologne, 
I was pretty beat and not that psyched.  This changed after I found
out that the youth hostel where I had reservations was about a five
minute walk from the Tanzbrunnen.  I headed over at about three to 
pick up my ticket, and was again thoroughly ticked by ever-virulent
German capitalism...they had told me 35 marks on the phone and when I 
got there they were charging 55 marks. (that's about $40...and Phish 
was only playing one set!...of course that included Santana).  The 
lines were long and at this point it was very hot.  Finally they 
opened the gates and what an awesome place I saw.  Outdoors...no 
seats, just a small  park with crazy, huge umbrella structures in front of 
the stage and a fountain/pool in the background.  A hundred yards or 
so away were
 the grassy banks of the Rhein 
and across the river, the sun approaching the Cologne skyline 
with it's magnificent cathedral and bridges.  Phish made us wait 
until 5:30 while we watched Trey and some sound guys walk around on 
stage.  I spotted a bull horn and 
thought Fee might be in order (ungh.)
.  I've never been so close to them...standing room only and I 
was in the second layer of people.  There were two groups of 
Americans, some of whom I'd met by now,
 hudled up front amidst Germans who'd never heard nor heard 
of Phish......what a cool scene it became.  
Finally, release!!!  I don't remember the exact order, all I can say
is that this was the best sound I've ever heard...no echos, no 
nothing, just clear as day, perfect balance.  I was almost deaf
in my right ear (wall of speakers off to my right) the next day, but 
I was willing to suffer.  
SAMPLE:  Not what I was looking for but extremely convincing and the 
sound was so good, they could have played a michael jackson tune and 
had me like it.  Trey's solo was great, inventive...this became a 
trend...he wailed all afternoon (for the whole hour, at least).  The 
band was so tight.  The uninitiated Germans started to dance a 
little...they liked this one.  
POOR HEART:  Same as above...great contributions from all four of 
them, awesome solo.  What made it so good was that all their facial 
expressions were clear as day and I felt like they were playing to 
ME...Trey even looked right at me while I was nodding my head up and 
down like I do, and he laughed  and started nodding too!  
CAVERN?:  I think they played this...it's been a while.  Can't really 
remember.  
BOUNCING:  It was especially fun to jump up and down here because 
there were only about twenty people out of the whole crowd doing 
it...definite snobbery.  As if to say, haha, look at all the fun 
we're having and you others haven't even heard this before!
MAZE:  Ultra-high energy version., this is one of my favorites.  This is where 
my ear started to hurt.  Phish definitely lost the German audience 
here, but we were psyched.  
STASH:  Absolute highlight of the show.  The Germans had no idea what 
was going on, they sort of sat there and watched.  What an awesome 
jam, I've never heard such great playing.  Unfortunately it wasn't as 
long as it may have been.  The best part was when it was time to clap 
clap clap.  The same twenty pairs of hands emerged from the audience 
of gawking Germans, and the band was visibly psyched about it.  I saw 
Trey look at Page as if to say, "check this out," and Page looked 
over his shoulder at the next round of isolated  clapping and then they all 
just laughed.  Maybe they were laughing at us, who cares.  
DAY IN THE LIFE:  I'd heard about this being played earlier in the 
tour and this definitely got the Germans back into it.  What a great 
song being played by a great band.  What more to say? 
YEM:  Trey thanked the audience for having them "come play in your 
country," and then announced this one before they started.  Talk 
about premature ejaculation!  The song was no disappointment, 
although trey actually didn't hold THE NOTE for the usual 12 bars.  I 
didn't care because what he did do gave me chills.  Too bad the jam 
was probably even shorter than on Junta...I think they had time 
constraints.  
General Notes:  After Phish, Santana came on and IMHO sucked.  But 
one guy who usually hates Santana said he liked him this time so no 
call on that one.  Word has it Phish walked around after the show but 
I didn't see them.  The sunset around 10 pm over the Rhein and 
Cologne was among the most beautiful sights I've ever seen in an 
urban setting.  Has anyone else ever noticed that 
when trey turns on his Compressor/overdrive solo effect that there 
are red lights that flash back and forth on the bridge of his guitar? 
That is pretty tough if you ask me.  

John A. Foulks
jaf@Dartmouth.EDU

________________
Feel free to edit out whatever junk you don't think belongs.  I could 
do the Clifford Ball too, if you think it's a good idea.  
Cool page!  
thanks, j