#Phish40Disappointments #RANKED

#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.

#Phish40Disappointments #RANKED

#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.

#Phish40Disappointments #RANKED

#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.

#Phish40Disappointments #RANKED

#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.

#Phish40Disappointments #RANKED

#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.

#Phish40Disappointments #RANKED

#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.

#Phish40Disappointments #RANKED

#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.

#Phish40Disappointments #RANKED

#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.

#Phish40Disappointments #RANKED

#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.

#Phish40Disappointments #RANKED

#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.

#Phish40Disappointments #RANKED

#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.

#Phish40Disappointments #RANKED

#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.

#Phish40Disappointments #RANKED

#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.

#Phish40Disappointments #RANKED

#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.

#Phish40Disappointments #RANKED

#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.

#Phish40Disappointments #RANKED

#15 7/28/21 Arkansas

First post-pandemic show. If you couldn’t move heaven and earth to get there, you were likely tuning in from home. It was going to be a cathartic release for the ages.

Umm, no. Maybe it was the rust? Maybe it was the tech/gear? Either way, this show sounded like the band hadn’t played in ten years. What was supposed to be the cathartic release of Summer quickly became the butt of jokes for the rest of tour and beyond.

#Phish40Disappointments #RANKED

#14 12/8/19 Charleston (aka Charleston3)

When Fall 2019 went no repeats, it was well apparent that the tour finale would go one way or the other. And it most certainly went the other. Just a brutal assault of songs that individually are the hallmarks of subpar shows effortlessly strung together in a tapestry of hilarious disappointment.

Even Trey was aware of how much of a turd the band laid when he gave Pebbles, Izabella & CDT Reprise as penance in the encore.

#Phish40Disappointments #RANKED

#13 Hampton 2003

When seeing Phish in 1.0, there was no such thing as bad Phish—at least in the sense of Phish sounding like a bad band. There were bad shows with uninspired setlists or play. There was the occasional flub. But they never sounded like a weak or unrehearsed band.

That all changed at Hampton 03. Trey having the band restart YEM on N2 was the cherry on top. At least it motivated them to hit the woodshed and turn into a beast for 2.0.

#Phish40Disappointments #RANKED

#12 7/22/16 LA Forum

This show is a god damn legend. The hype factor isn’t all that special outside of being in Los Angeles where there always seems to be extra eyeballs. But the failure? It’s downright spectacular.

The first set, second set, and encore all delivered incredible letdown moments. I’d list them all, but 500 characters won’t do it justice. Go read the setlist and set times. Then call a friend who was there to laugh at them.

#Phish40Disappointments #RANKED

#11 Grand Prairie 2016

When asked what the worst run of the sober Trey era is, it’s hard to come up with anything but this stop in Texas. As for the single worst show of the era—look no further than 10/25/16.

Look at these setlists and set times in all their glory. Just magnificent debacles to behold!

The only reason Grand Prairie didn’t crack the top 10 is no one expected much from this random tour stop. But no one thought it could be this bad either…

#Phish40Disappointments #RANKED

#10 10/31/21 Sci-Fi Soldier

Fall 2021 was relentless. It made a case for the best #Phish since June 2004. New sounds. New modes of exploration. Was practicing Halloween the inspiration? Surely the “costume” must be something incredible.

Not exactly. The band doubled down with a futuristic twist on the beloved Kasvot gag. But unlike Kasvot, Sci-Fi Soldier was droning and repetitive—lacking the poppy earworms that made Kasvot work.

At least the band loved it…

#Phish40Disappointments #RANKED

#9 12/17/99 Hampton

Hampton 97 is legendary. Hampton 98 lacked jams but was so fun the band made it a box set. Hampton 99 was maybe the most hyped non-Halloween/Festival/Holiday/comeback tour stop ever.

The show alone doesn’t seem terrible enough to be a top 10. But what makes this night stand out is the near universal dislike of it in the moment.

Vets, n00bs, fluffers, haters—they all banded together to pan this show in a way rarely seen in the 1.0 era.

#Phish40Disappointments #RANKED

#8 Holiday Run 2011

Name the best show from the 2011 Holiday Run without looking at setlists. Now look at the setlists. Still stumped? Exactly.

While 1996 might be the weakest holiday run, 2011 is easily the most boring, uneventful, and disappointing. If not for the Steam gag and countdown, you might not have known it was new years at MSG. Special shout-out to the 12/31 S3 Alaska > Wading for being the cherry on top of a terrible week of #Phish.

#Phish40Disappointments #RANKED

#7 12/31/2016 MSG

When Trey’s gorgeous orchestral composition Petrichor debuted in Fall 2016, one thing was clear—it belonged nowhere near an arena rock show. Naturally, the next move was to make it the NYE centerpiece.

Visually, the gag was spectacular, and the show could have recovered with a rocking horns set. Then, 12/31/16 Set 3 turned to 12/31/11 Set 3’s Alaska>Wading and said “hold my beer” with Breath & Burning > Tide Turns > 555 > Ocelot.

Ouch.

#Phish40Disappointments #RANKED

#6 6/16/09 Fox Theatre St. Louis

Smallest U.S. show (ticketed & announced as part of a tour) since NOLA State Palace Theater 95. Smallest U.S. Summer tour stop since 94. The hype and demand for this show was obscene.

The show itself? One of the worst shows of a Summer tour that was already quite weak. KDF > Ocelot > Brian & Robert > Sample > Rift to open S1. TTE in the middle of S2.

At least fans weren’t desperate enough for tics to sell their bodies. Oh wait…

#Phish40Disappointments #RANKED

#5 Coventry

You all knew this one was coming. I could have made it #1, but what fun would that be? Plus, anyone who didn’t expect a disaster was kidding themselves. Though between the traffic, floods, and literally dancing in processed human shit, the experience was far worse than anyone could imagine.

Oddly enough, the music is rather compelling now—knowing the band eventually reunited healthy and happy. But those who went will never forget that “mud.”

#Phish40Disappointments #RANKED

#4 10/31/13 Wingsuit

Poor #Phish fans. Band uses Halloween tradition to debut 1st album of new music in 4 yrs—declaring they will not become a nostalgia act. Then band plays 3rd set for the ages. But you expected Eat a Peach. Life is hard.

What was harder? Getting through that “costume” set. It’s fair to respect the intent of Wingsuit while acknowledging the legendary disappointment in the room. If only Wingsuit had less baked songs w/ costumes and lasers…

#Phish40Disappointments #RANKED

#3 Vegas 2004

2.0 was weird. MSG>Hampton was rough. Winter & Summer mostly slayed. Turkey Tour left fans disenchanted only for the band to kill it in Miami. So what would a non-tour 3-night run in Vegas bring?

Disaster. The band was embarrassingly bad. Trey looked terrible & had no voice. Kuroda missed the run. His sub blinded fans w/ strobes. The drug scene was darker than ever.

Soon after, Trey announced the breakup following an ugly but honest Relix review.

#Phish40Disappointments #RANKED

#2 New Orleans Jazz Fest 2014

This is a perfectly ordinary festival set. The problem is New Orleans Jazz Fest is no ordinary festival. There’s an unmistakable heritage, sound, and vibe unlike anywhere else. #Phish knows this.

Yet they played Jazz Fest for the first time in 18 yrs w/o a single acknowledgment of the sacred ground they had the privilege of playing. No timely covers, no special guests (with a city full of them), no nothing. Such a disappointment.

@chopaganda since 1983, Phish has tried to destroy every expectation - “you expect us to do that? fuck that check this out” ~ master pranksters

"In 1988...I was trying to do a lot of stuff like that: breaking ground in every direction." [https://jambands.com/features/2000/05/15/trey-anastasio-the-elegant-complexities-of-groove/]

Couldn't find reference where Trey says his teachers would give rules of music & then he would go home & write a song to break those rules...will keep looking

Interview from 1993 "stifled" at UVM [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fv9t9XGqWDI]