Lost in the long shadow of 10-31-94 is a fabulous and unique show. In just about any other position in Phish tour history other than the show before "OMG Phish Does The White Album," this set list would have been an instant contender for best set list of the tour. Most heads know about this show, but if you're just starting to mine the vast treasure trove that is 1994, put this one in your top 10. To my ears, there was a strange feel to this show - maybe the impending Halloween spirits were gathering two days early, or maybe it was just the entire aura of well-controlled craziness that glowed around the entire tour.

Who knows? Whatever the reason, this show deserves classic status. It's got it all - the bust-out factor, the great (if compressed slightly) fall 94 jamming, the creative set list design for both sets, and a killer encore.

Let's dive in.

Set I: Um, hello? A rare and intense My Friend opener; a strangely placed Simple->Runaway Jim combo (and a strange combo for any show); and the pure treat of SOAM->Buffalo Bill->Makisupa->Rift to cap it off makes what would have been an otherwise typical warm-up set for a Fall 94 jamfest in Set II become absolutely mandatory listening for any phan. Forever.

Set II: You mean it gets better?!

DWD->TMWSIY>Avenu>TMWSIY->Sparks>Uncle Pen to kick it off. I don't think I need to really say much more about that string; it's self-explanatory. The DWD is high-energy and rocking; the TMWSIY sandwich is always serene-plus-fun; and just throw in a dash of The Who's Tommy for seasoning. Plus some bluegrass for good measure. w00t!

Caught your breath? Good. Next stop: YEM. A typical strong 94 YEM, and actually a short and sweet version considering the other YEMs of that tour and year. Jazzy-creepy vocal jam.

Good Fishman-tastic fun and banter with Bike is next. Now they'll probably wind it down with something lame like Sample or maybe a nice Horse>Silent, right?

WRONG. How about a smoking Antelope with Sleeping Monkey plunked right in the middle of it? Bam! That. Just. Happened.

Encore? A beautiful, soaring Harry Hood. The perfect way to end any show, and a pitch-perfect way to end this one.

For those who don't know the set list by heart already, this show is a lot of fun to just put on from start to finish and try not to remember or even guess what song comes next.

Because 9 times out of 10 with 10-29-94, what comes next is anyone's guess.

Highly recommended.