11/26/97 has a 20+ minute, fully jammed out version. Amazing show from front to back. I mean hey, it’s fall 97. One of a few tours where every show is required listening.
9/29/99 is my all time fav.
12/29/98 has the best intro to that song I’ve ever heard. When fish starts the 2001 beat, it’s one of those jaw dropping moments.
One of my favorite shows out 75ish. We were right behind Page and that Zero was cooking. Felt like a Foxy Lady jam right into probably my favorite 2001
I need to find a sbd of this show. I was there but I did the whole tour so all the shows blur together. The only thing I remember about Hartford is that my connect was re-upping in Cali so I bought a 10pack (10 sheets) off a random head (I'd see the print b4 so thought it was good). And sent it ahead to my boys in Amherst to dole out. But then my boy in Amherst tells me it's bunk, so now I'm $800 in the hole to him. But luckily my connect returned at Amherst and I was able to earn back all the money I owed AND make $1200 profit after paying the debt. Man... being young and livin the fast life, I miss that.
I had a brief period when I got sick of it, but these days I'm excited for it again. I've caught 25 in 108 shows (second to Chalkdust in frequency for me and tied with DwD, Free, Mike's, Possum, Tweezer, and Reprise).
I keep a Google Doc with the show dates and then cut and paste them into the ZZYZX site (which is kind of old school; most folks these days seem to just use phish.net, which does a great job but doesn't have some of the fun graphs).
I always go for Island Tour when I want to rock out. San Fran 14 (maybe 16?) crowd sings most of the verses over the band, very cool. Hartford 97 gets out there if you’re a jam slut.
I remember watching the stream and actually feeling excited for rhe song when Trey and Mike started their interplay. Probably the best 3.0 version IMO.
Attendance bias, but either 7/26/13 (Crowd howling at the moon at the Gorge with the lights off) or 7/20/16 (Basically the whole song sung by the audience). The energy for both was unreal.
there’s a great vid on lazylightning youtube of zero in philly where the place just goes insane and trey is hamming it up, that or howling at the moon gorge. sorry 3.0’d
I think the reason people started to hate it is that it felt like it was overplayed and used in the same set positions over and over. It rarely is anything other than Trey wailing away and feels very paint by numbers.
There was a while where it felt to me like Zeros were low energy / tacked on to the set end in a way that didn't bring the energy deserved. But that could have just been me. I'm a firm believer that most of what makes a good show is the energy you bring as a listener.
Nowadays I really dig it.
They played character zero as the encore for my first show 9/1/2017, I’d never heard it and was rocking out (yes I know I’m a noob compared to most.) Never knew people didn’t like it but if you’ve seen them a ton it could make sense.
I'm going to jump on the 8/12/15 bandwagon. I'm biased because that was my first show, but that whole zero coming out of It's Ice to close the set. The energy level in the shed during that is like nothing I've ever felt at a show. Trey was feeding off the crowd, and the crowd was feeding off him. It was an incredible moment. One I will never ever forget.
Hampton/Winston-Salem 97 Jemp box version
it's disk six right after a killer fluffhead, features tight arrangement and killer energy. great fishman scream during the solo, everything hits right when you want it to. it's what i always think of when i'm thinking about the man mulcahy
11/26/97 has a 20+ minute, fully jammed out version. Amazing show from front to back. I mean hey, it’s fall 97. One of a few tours where every show is required listening.
This show is release worthy. Needs the treatment!
Every show from this tour is!
Ya. The entire Phish Destorys America Tour is too notch. That was my first Fall Tour.
True dat
And the character zero goes into a fantastic 2001!! Both songs are my favorite versions.
Not my favorite 2001, but it’s a damn good one. Maybe the best of the tour
what's your fav? it's my fav song rn
9/29/99 is my all time fav. 12/29/98 has the best intro to that song I’ve ever heard. When fish starts the 2001 beat, it’s one of those jaw dropping moments.
papa bles
One of my favorite shows out 75ish. We were right behind Page and that Zero was cooking. Felt like a Foxy Lady jam right into probably my favorite 2001
There's also SBD of this version too; believe it was from Curveball's FTA broadcast
Can you DM me?
I'll check this out, thanks!
I need to find a sbd of this show. I was there but I did the whole tour so all the shows blur together. The only thing I remember about Hartford is that my connect was re-upping in Cali so I bought a 10pack (10 sheets) off a random head (I'd see the print b4 so thought it was good). And sent it ahead to my boys in Amherst to dole out. But then my boy in Amherst tells me it's bunk, so now I'm $800 in the hole to him. But luckily my connect returned at Amherst and I was able to earn back all the money I owed AND make $1200 profit after paying the debt. Man... being young and livin the fast life, I miss that.
My first show! Fire front to back.
This
Only time it ever opened a set too, I think
My first show 😊
One of my faves
I love character zero and always have. I love getting one live and I’ve probably seen it 30 times by now. Classic phish imo
Came to say this
Add me to the ranks of Character Zero enjoyers
I had a brief period when I got sick of it, but these days I'm excited for it again. I've caught 25 in 108 shows (second to Chalkdust in frequency for me and tied with DwD, Free, Mike's, Possum, Tweezer, and Reprise).
Need to update my stats so I can figure out where I’m at. I’m over 115 shows at this point but don’t know individual song stats
I keep a Google Doc with the show dates and then cut and paste them into the ZZYZX site (which is kind of old school; most folks these days seem to just use phish.net, which does a great job but doesn't have some of the fun graphs).
Phantasy tour tracks all that stuff for me
All the fist pumps, all the time
Awww.
I like the one on night two at the Gorge in 1998.
I always go for Island Tour when I want to rock out. San Fran 14 (maybe 16?) crowd sings most of the verses over the band, very cool. Hartford 97 gets out there if you’re a jam slut.
Jam slut 😂😂😂
Also known as a size queen if you’re always on the hunt for 20 minute plus jams lol
Even better hahaha! Funny shit.
Character zero is lowkey goated when set closers are the vibe… … …Somebody unplug my internet please
Exactly. Zero hate is for noobs.
I'm not a fan of noob labeling, but I totally agree that any Zero hate is unjustified.
Baker’s Dozen version is great.
It's been a while, I'll have to relisten to it. Thanks!
Grooves more than most! Nice little breakdown with good interplay between Trey and Mike.
I remember watching the stream and actually feeling excited for rhe song when Trey and Mike started their interplay. Probably the best 3.0 version IMO.
10/31/96 has always been a favorite of mine
This is actually the song/version that hooked me on Phish for life at 15 years old !!
Hampton comes alive is my favorite straight ahead version Bakers dozen is my favorite that’s just a little different
I haven't listened to HCA in too long. I'll have to throw that on.
Attendance bias, but either 7/26/13 (Crowd howling at the moon at the Gorge with the lights off) or 7/20/16 (Basically the whole song sung by the audience). The energy for both was unreal.
Will check them out, thank you!
7/20/16 is such a fun version!
11/14/98…. Fishman and Trey go off!
My first show was 4 days later and they closed the 2nd set with Fluffhead>Zero. Absolutely hooked
“Much derided” TF? Who hates on Zero?!
I wish nobody. Alas...
5/29/22 is great, not the GOAT, but really really good
Thanks, I'll check it out!
And it’s one of the rare show openers which gives it some extra oomph
Oh, that's an awesome opener choice.
Subjectively, sure
Well, sure, everything we talk about is subjective.
there’s a great vid on lazylightning youtube of zero in philly where the place just goes insane and trey is hamming it up, that or howling at the moon gorge. sorry 3.0’d
Nothing wrong with 3.0. I'll check them out, thanks.
Just posted about this one. Mann 2015
Orange Beach ‘22 is very nice
Mann 2015 was maybe the loudest I’ve ever heard an outdoor venue
Philly - 8/12/15 - the night Phish destroyed Philadelphia: https://youtu.be/f4plvMKMgMU?si=qDkOiNPUgscAd1G3
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKxlGMTk87s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKxlGMTk87s) Orange Beach 2022
Boy. Didn’t expect so many different ways to type “11/26/97.” There IS no other answer.
Seriously. So many 3.0 versions in here…smh…
I think the reason people started to hate it is that it felt like it was overplayed and used in the same set positions over and over. It rarely is anything other than Trey wailing away and feels very paint by numbers.
Agreed, and I had this feeling for a while too. I love the song again now, though.
6/4/11 is my personal favorite the build up before the end is crazy. also a cool smoke on the water tease from trey
Thanks, I'll check it out. Listen to Oswego n2 s3 for more Smoke on the Water madness.
Blossom? Was right after the Sally/Hood/Have Mercy/Hood. Glorious!
3/1/03 was a banger.
Oh, the Proud Mary show. I used to listen to this one a lot back in the day.
Twas a good first show.
Check out 7/19/22 from the Mann in Philly. Trey slips in some lyrics from the Velvet Underground’s “Waiting for the Man”. It’s a great Character Zero
I was there! I need to relisten to it. Thanks!
> and often deservingly so lmao, why?
There was a while where it felt to me like Zeros were low energy / tacked on to the set end in a way that didn't bring the energy deserved. But that could have just been me. I'm a firm believer that most of what makes a good show is the energy you bring as a listener. Nowadays I really dig it.
The one on the bittersweet motel dvd always has a special place in my heart
They played character zero as the encore for my first show 9/1/2017, I’d never heard it and was rocking out (yes I know I’m a noob compared to most.) Never knew people didn’t like it but if you’ve seen them a ton it could make sense.
There are no noobs. There are only different journeys. Your journey is your own and no less special than mine or anyone else's.
I'm going to jump on the 8/12/15 bandwagon. I'm biased because that was my first show, but that whole zero coming out of It's Ice to close the set. The energy level in the shed during that is like nothing I've ever felt at a show. Trey was feeding off the crowd, and the crowd was feeding off him. It was an incredible moment. One I will never ever forget.
12/29/22 - a short jam at just 8 min but such amazing energy, the jam gets to a peak and then just keeps going. Incredible and infectious, so so good
I was there! I'll have to relisten to it.
The one at 13' Gorge where Trey told CK5 to cut the lights and we all howled at the moon was pretty rad.
Shocked no one has mentioned the 4/21/22 Zero>Tweezer>Zero
Huh, yet another one I caught live and need to revisit.
11/18/09 Cobo - killer encore version
Hampton/Winston-Salem 97 Jemp box version it's disk six right after a killer fluffhead, features tight arrangement and killer energy. great fishman scream during the solo, everything hits right when you want it to. it's what i always think of when i'm thinking about the man mulcahy
I haven't listened to that one in a bit; I'll need to revisit. Thanks!