Another archival Phish release is available for streaming and download: 11/30/96 Arco Arena Sacramento, CA:
On November 30, 1996, the Saturday after Thanksgiving, Phish played at ARCO Arena - a 15,500-capacity basketball arena opened in 1988 for the Sacramento Kings. This was the 31st show on a 35-date national tour following the release of ‘Billy Breathes’ that stretched from Lake Placid in mid-October to Las Vegas in early December. Fall 1996 tour included the Atlanta Halloween ‘Remain in Light’ show that catalyzed a shift to more extended funk jamming over the coming year. Sacramento fell among the ten tour-ending shows in the West. The tour was already heated up with strong outings dotting the landscape and Sacramento continued to elevate, deploying the extra element of special guests to the elixir, as they had done elsewhere along the tour. This was their only play at ARCO Arena and tickets cost $22.50.
Sacramento ’96 set I hit the ground running with a 4-song opening sequence of Runaway Jim > Punch You In The Eye, and the penultimate All Things Reconsidered to date. Immediately there was a special energy flitting around the stage and arena. Stash came next with a bit of dissonant jamming, followed by Fluffhead which nearly blew the roof off the ARCO before the band introduced the evening’s first guest, John McEuen from the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, who added banjo to Old Home Place and Uncle Pen. Prince Caspian > Chalk Dust Torture closed the set, interlacing James Brown testimony and proto-1997 funk sections into an otherwise fast and furious Chalk Dust. Set II launched with La Grange > It’s Ice > Glide. It’s Ice found some dramatic space before the only Glide performed on fall ’96 tour. A molten Brother followed (with a shout-out to Page’s brother Steve) – the last to be played until Island Tour two years later. A mid-set Contact > 2001 > Timber > Taste saw more funky JB teasing during 2001 and introduced Sacramento’s second guest, Peter Apfelbaum on tenor saxophone for a tribal Timber, and Taste imbued with a unique and beautiful slow introduction. Apfelbaum stayed onstage for Funky Bitch and a stunning Amazing Grace Jam that also included John McEuen on lap steel guitar and left the place buzzing with inspiration. The guests returned for the encore, a rocking Possum finale that drew this extraordinary night in the Golden State’s capital to a close.
11/30/96 Sacramento was recorded by Paul Languedoc to digital multitrack and was mixed by Jon Altschiller.
Setlist and notes from phish.net:
SET 1: Runaway Jim > Punch You in the Eye[1], All Things Reconsidered, Bouncing Around the Room, Stash, Fluffhead, The Old Home Place[2], Uncle Pen[2], Prince Caspian > Chalk Dust Torture
SET 2: La Grange, It's Ice > Glide, Brother[3], Contact > Also Sprach Zarathustra[1] > Timber (Jerry the Mule)[4] > Taste[5], Funky Bitch[4], Amazing Grace, Amazing Grace Jam[6]
ENCORE: Possum
1] James Brown antics from Fish. [2] John McEuen on banjo. [3] Lyrics included reference to Steve McConnell. [4] Peter Apfelbaum on tenor saxophone. [5] Peter Apfelbaum on tenor saxophone, slowed down intro [6] Peter Apfelbaum on tenor saxophone and John McEuen on lap slide guitar. The Old Home Place and Uncle Pen featured John McEuen on banjo. Timber through Funky Bitch featured Peter Apfelbaum on tenor saxophone. Taste included an intro jam that was basically a slowed-down version of the song. The Amazing Grace Jam and Possum featured Apfelbaum on tenor saxophone and McEuen on lap slide guitar. Punch You in the Eye and 2001 featured Get Up Offa That Thing quotes and James Brown antics from Fish. 2001 also contained Super Bad teases from Trey. The lyrics to Brother included a reference to Steve McConnell.
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