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Honorable Mentions 1-5 (no order)

Charleston 2022—expectations weren’t high enough, shows weren’t bad enough

Fenway 2009—Getting all the jamming songs w/ no jams was disturbing but still a fun time

Fillmore 98—Hard to be too disappointed when the show was so unobtainable/unknown to most

Curveball—Tough call but I left this off to make room for another

9/27/95 Cal Expo—One of the worst shows ever. Mild expectations bc of venue/GD connection but not enough

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Honorable Mentions 6-10 (no order)

2/24/03 Meadowlands—terrible show, terrible guest. Neither had much hype

7/3/16 SPAC—Just missed the cut

12/12/97 Albany—S2 setlist was a disappointing war crime for first Knick show since 12/9/95, but this show is really good

8/5/17 Boston Creme—Missed the cut despite some putrid setlist calls on a hyped BD night

Dicks 2015 1st 5 Sets—First time Dicks was a true disappointment but then that DWD & encore. Apology accepted.

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#40 12/15/95 Philly Spectrum

First Spectrum show. Trey’s hometown venue. Epic tour loaded with epic improv. The centerpiece of the second set? A brutal rotation jam.

For many fans, this was their first show, and it holds a special place in their hearts. Too bad the band members didn’t stick to the instruments they know how to play to leave some lasting musical memories.

You might think this is harsh. And maybe it is. Blame Fall 95 for setting the bar high.

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#39 Dicks 2017 Saturdays & Sunday

After slaying the Baker’s Dozen, the no repeats restrictions came off, and Phish played a show for the ages on Friday, 9/1/17, at Dick’s.

Fans braced themselves for an epic 3 nights, but something happened at setbreak on Saturday. 3 meh sets followed. The band either ran out of gas or ran out of fucks. Too bad, because the #Phish who showed up on Friday played like they wanted to conquer the world.

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#38 10/24/14 The Forum, Los Angeles

Did you hear MSG bought the Forum and spent millions renovating it into a concert palace? Yeah, man. Phish’s first indoor show in LA in 10+ years. They’re gonna slay!

Well…

The show was pretty strong from DWD on. But after that first set and the 555 > BDTNL dagger of an opener, it didn’t matter. Jimi Hendrix could have risen from the dead and not saved it. At least LA fans will get more Forum shows in the coming years…

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#37 9/14/11 Essex Junction, VT

First hometown show since 3/18/97 Flynn (Essex might as well be Burlington).

What would they do? Old school throwdown? Local special guests? A nod to their Burlington roots in some manner, right?

How about a very average setlist with very average play? I wonder how many fans called in favors, paid through the nose, or did despicable things to get in?

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#36 12/30/95 MSG

Bet you didn’t expect to see this one here? I didn’t either. As a wide-eyed n00b, I LOVED this show at the time. I paid no attention to the Caspian opener, mid-second set Mule, and complete lack of type II improv in ::checks date:: December 95.

I might be pushing it a bit with this show in the top 40, but this night single-handedly keeps 1995 from having the best Holiday Run ever. It deserves a call out.

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#35 12/3/19 The Met, Philadelphia

Unlike other rare small venue shows of the last 20 years, this one occurred mid-tour and in prime Phish country. It was hyped to no end being a special event for SiriusXM and broadcast live on Phish Radio.

While this show is average for Fall 2019, the broadcast mix and compression from Sirius were so terrible that the only word to describe how the show sounded was “ass.” A laugh-filled letdown for tens of thousands listening.

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#34 10/16/96 Lake Placid

First show since the Clifford Ball at an intimate arena only a two-hour drive from Burlington, VT. Can’t miss!

It missed. Commonly cited as “worst show I ever saw” by fans in attendance, this night set the tone for an underwhelming Fall 96 swing that still plagues that tour’s reputation to this day.

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#33 7/4/12 Jones Beach

Summer 2012 was an exciting tour for the early 3.0 era, and on July 3 at Jones Beach, the band played a fantastic show with big-time bustouts and a brilliant Sand->Golden Age. Certainly they’d kill it the next night for the Fourth of July.

Not exactly. This show embodies everything fans disliked about early 3.0 with 27 songs and ripcords galore. But the worst part? July 4th on the beach and not a single firework. Independence Day fail.

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#32 7/19-7/21/2013 Northerly Island, Chicago

First outdoor shows in Chicago proper ever, and what a disaster they were.

You can’t blame the band for the weather. But putting that aside, they played 3 nights without a single memorable musical moment and assembled one of their weaker 3-set shows of all time.

The kicker? Google “worst Harpua ever” and see what pops to the top of your search results.

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#31 9/4/22 Dick’s

In 2022, Phish shifted the annual Dick’s tradition from a three-night run to a four-night run. Over the first three nights something was conspicuously missing—all of the songs many fans prefer not to hear.

That all changed Sunday night with an armada of modern bathroom tunes. Even an Icculus encore couldn’t save the show. The only reason this Summer 2022 closer isn’t higher on the list is everyone saw it coming a mile away.

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#30 10/22/13 Rochester & 10/23/13 Glens Falls

“Love these Fall 2013 dates. I’m sure Hampton, Worcester and AC will be fun, but the shows of tour will be Rochester & Glens Falls. Tiny arenas, first time back since Fall 99 & Halloween 94. Old school throw downs!”

Nope. Neither of these shows is terrible, but they were the two (non-Wingsuit) worst of tour. Anyone who sacrificed a big weekend to get there, chose very poorly and likely has big regrets.

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#29 8/14/22 Alpine Valley

After a great Summer 2021, brilliant Fall + fantastic Mexico & MSG runs, hopes were high for #Phish on Summer 2022. But despite some great highlights, the tour never caught fire. Fans said “just wait for Alpine” with high expectations for the 3-night closing run at the famed venue.

Wrong. Not only did Alpine not deliver as the run of Summer, but they arguably played their worst show of Summer and one of the worst shows of 4.0 to close.

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#28 1/1/15 Miami

Second show of the Holiday Run. New Year’s Day. Band was able to work out all the kinks during 3 sets of an up and down 12/31 night 1. It’s go time!

Ehh, maybe not. While the setlist isn’t quite as offensive as you’d think a show ranked this high should be, it’s hard to put into words just how flat and lifeless this show came off. Give a listen and try to keep your eyes open.

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#27 7/12/96 Melkweg, Amsterdam

Ever have an older head tell you how awesome everything was in the 90s? The one part they usually leave off is needing to fly to another country to smoke weed legally.

Maybe it’s unfair to categorize this highly anticipated show with the band high as fuck as a disappointment when it produced the expected results. Either way, it’s hilarious. If you’ve never heard this gem, don’t look at the setlist. Spark one up and just hit play.

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#26 Broomfield Colorado 2010

You’d think a 3-night run at a tiny 6,500 capacity arena set between the Phish fan Meccas of Boulder and Denver would be memorable in some way, right? Wrong.

These shows are so boring and uneventful that I can’t even pan them in an interesting way for this post. They didn’t even bomb in a memorable manner. They just kind of happened and disappeared without leaving a trace, and our collective memories have been wiped of them.

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#25 6/18/19 Toronto

First show on Canadian soil in 6 years. On top of that, it’s right after Bonnaroo. The band is going to let loose after playing festival sets, and the loyal fans in Canada will reap the benefits.

LOL

There’s plenty I can say about this show, but I don’t want to ruin the fun of reading the setlist and song timings. Oh Canada. Oh indeed.

#24 6/6/09 Great Woods

Ahh, the first week of the first tour of 3.0. One night at Fenway, 3 nights at Jones Beach, then back up to Great Woods before heading south. Surely the band would kick down at the famed Massachusetts venue? Kick they did, but it was squarely in the nuts.

Stealing Time opener, Golgi > Sparkle, Lawn Boy > Let Me Lie, Caspian S1 closer, S2 Mule > Heavy Things, Bug S2 closer…

And then Camden slayed the very next night.

🎶All my friends come backwards down I-95🎶

#23 6/12/09 Bonnaroo

Phish is back and they are playing the mighty Bonnaroo. They are a headline act and a big reason for many to attend. Not to mention, it’s a great opportunity to leave an impression on a new generation of fans. Giddy up!

Instead, this show made “festival set” a dirty word. While not the worst show ever, this late-night performance most certainly didn’t inspire much more than a few naps and left the ‘Roo kids wondering why the “olds” were so excited the band was back.

#22 10/21/96 & 10/22/96 MSG

Save me your stories about the “Freakapaug” and the Miles/Saunders sit-in. These shows were downright terrible. 10/21/96 is devoid of a single highlight. 10/22 was quickly on its way to joining it (umm, second set Lawn Boy > Mule) before an army of costumed dancers sparked some life into a set-closing Weekapaug and Buddy Miles delivered one of the more awkward sit-ins ever.

First shows at MSG following 12/31/95, too. What a shame. That start of Fall 96 was rough.

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#21 10/7/99 - 10/10/99 Nassau & Albany

A four-night run at two popular venues (Nassau was in good favor after Island Tour) to close out Fall Tour. It felt like EVERYONE was there. The band was in solid form leading up and everything was primed for a top notch run

Instead, we got four druggy (and not in a good way) up and down shows that oozed bad vibes. Even one of the best YEMs ever and some other choice jams couldn’t save the run. What a weird four nights.

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#20 Dicks 2018

Curveball canceled. Fans crushed. There was one more stop on Summer 2018—Dick’s. Easily the toughest Dick’s tickets ever with fans scrambling to make the run and bury their Curveball sadness. No way the band wouldn’t give it all they got!

The first set was incredible. The next set also great. But each set got progressively worse leading to a clunker Sunday closer. Phish had a chance to make us forget Curveball ever happened, but they blew it.

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#19 5/21/00 Radio City

This is the single hardest Phish ticket I can recall. The band played in front of 80K people for the turn of the Millennium at the absolute peak of their popularity and then held their next shows at the 5,500 capacity Radio City Music Hall in New York City. WTF.

To the relief of everyone shut out, the Big Cypress energy did not carry over. The next night would be listed here as well if not for the heroic Ghost.

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#18 12/30 & 12/31/96 Boston

1996 was weird. Fall started terribly on the east coast. This was before downloads, so these shows were what most fans knew of the tour. It gave Fall 96 a terrible rep despite the rest being solid to great. After slaying out west, Phish was back east for the Holiday Run. Surely, they would make up for October.

Nope! While Philly was solid, the Boston shows were about as bad as 12/30-31 gets. Only conclusion is Phish hates Boston.

#Phish40Disappointments #RANKED

#17 Fenway Park 2019

The first night of Fenway 2019 left a lot to be desired: 16-song first set, up and down second that closed Wading > Fuego > Zero, a Bug > Coil encore. Oof. But the magic of this disaster lies in night 2.

After a massive rain delay, it was announced that the band would play one long set. Hopes were high. Hopes were crushed. Once again, #Phish proved there are few places they despise more than Boston.

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#16 Turkey Tour 2003—20th Anniversary Run

Put aside the idiotic idea of 4 cities in 5 nights. In retrospect, these shows aren’t terrible. They even contain two all-timers—the Albany Wolfman’s & Boston R&R.

But compared to Summer, something was off. Up & down setlists, ripcords (for the time) and a general lack of inspiring play left fans wondering why the band wasn’t in a celebratory mood for their big 20th. Looking back, this run was the beginning of the end.