Phish Live in Brooklyn by Phish

Phish Live in Brooklyn

$26.99
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Phish Live in Brooklyn

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Phish phanatics will probably debate the merits of Live in Brooklyn ad infinitum, but while this June 17, 2004 show from what was apparently the quartet's final tour is neither their best nor their worst, it's certainly representative: two long sets (a total of more than three hours, on two discs), some exuberant, uplifting highs, some stretches that are less than spectacular, and lots of jamming. Guitarist Trey Anastasio and his mates are good players with decades of experience together, and when they get into the groove in the course of their many lengthy improvisations, the results can be inspiring (cf. "Moma Dance > Free" and "Maze"). But the band also suffers from the same shortcomings that often afflicted both their jam-minded predecessors (the Grateful Dead being the most obvious) and contemporaries like Widespread Panic and the String Cheese Incident. Simply put, Phish's singing is weak, and their songwriting is frustratingly inconsistent. Their best tunes are either the ones they didn't write (like their arrangement of Strauss' "Also Sprach Zarathustra," here called "2001" and directly copped from the hit version by Deodato) or the ones most closely resembling someone else's; comparisons to the Dead are no doubt tiresome, but the bluesy "Possum" and the country lope and cracked three-part harmonies of "Nothing" make them unavoidable. On the other hand, give these boys credit for actually using words like "ensconced" and "rescind" in their lyrics. Kudos also go to director Eli Tishberg, whose work is interesting but never edit-heavy or reliant on extraneous bells and whistles (the steady downpour that drenched the crowd through much of the Coney Island show is its own special effect), and to the folks responsible for the splendid digital sound. Bonus material includes songs from the band's sound check and June 18th show, as well as a few backstage minutes with Anastasio. --Sam Graham

Product Description
Live in Brooklyn was filmed on June 17, 2004 at Keyspan Park at Coney Island in Brooklyn, NY. It marked the start of what would be the final Phish tour and was the first date after the emotional news of their breakup was announced. The show was simultaneously broadcast to movie theaters nationwide-arguably the most successful live theatrical broadcast to date, with legions of loyal Phish fans reportedly dancing in the aisles across the country. Included on this DVD are the two complete sets the band performed that day along with sound check footage and three full peformances from the second Brooklyn date. Phish were a cultural phenomenon-touring and recording for 21 years with a remarkably dedicated following who cintniue to celebrate everything Phish.

Track Listings:
A Song I Heard the Ocean Sing
Dinner and a Movie
Curtain With
Sample in a Jar
Moma Dance
Free
Nothing
Maze
Frankenstein
46 Days [Disc 2]
Possum [Disc 2]
Oh Kee Pa Ceremony [Disc 2]
Suzy Greenburg [Disc 2]
Axilla I [Disc 2]
2001 [Disc 2]
Birds of a Feather [Disc 2]
Kung [Disc 2]
Mike's Song [Disc 2]
I Am Hydrogen [Disc 2]
Weekapaug Groove [Disc 2]
Divided Sky [Disc 2]

Reader Reviews
"Live in Brooklyn" is a good DVD with issues. True, the show choice is odd considering that there are probably more worthy shows within the Phish vaults. It seems that in the previous reviews, the musical quality has been exaggerated to both extremes. The simple truth is this is an average show -even if it was during their decline. It is true that this performance features unexpected sloppiness. While one would expect a DVD concert to be above average, let's remember "Live in Vegas" -the show where phans actually cheered the impending hiatus. Add that to "Bittersweet Motel" and the band has a lukewarm video offering. Yes there are issues, but let's also remember that on such an average night, Phish still outshined most of their musical peers. Highlights include 'Moma Dance,' 'Free,' '46 Days' and 'Weekapaug Groove.' While the music may have issues, the video is high quality. Without bells or whistles, the camera work and video editing is straight forward. Listening to Phish in 5.1 surround sound is deeply satisfying. Especially during the jams, the audio editor spread the psychedelic sounds around the room to maximize the experience. Some believe that it is their duty as real phans to hate this DVD because it shows a moment long past the band's climax. Instead of being hypercritical, appreciate "Live in Brooklyn" for what it is: an average night. While not as strong as "It," "Live in Brooklyn" is an entertaining snap shot of an emotionally charged time in Phish history. Comment | Permalink | (Report this)

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