The year 1997 was a simpler time for Phish fans. With 14 years of incredible growth, Phish hit its stride and kept swimming with it. Before any hiatuses, there was simply a band and its silly music, as well as a trip to Europe in the winter of 1997.
On this day, 27 years ago, Phish hit the Alter Wartesaal in Cologne, Germany for a monster two-set performance. The show saw Phish not only debut a new cover of The Del McCoury Band‘s “Beauty Of My Dreams”, but also play a powerful performance that included a noteworthy “David Bowie” jam. The show closed out with a rocking “Johnny B. Goode”, sending Phish fans home smiling.
Since the show was rebroadcast on German TV, some quality footage of this ’97 heater still exists. Check out pro-shot video of the entire show below.
Phish – Alter Wartessal – Cologne, Germany – 2/16/97 – Full Show
[Video: The Pharchive]
Scroll down for a full setlist of Phish performing at Alter Wartessal in Germany on February 16th, 1997.
Setlist: Phish | Alter Wartessal | Cologne, GER | 2/16/97
Set 1: Beauty of My Dreams[1], Split Open and Melt, Bouncing Around the Room, Crosseyed and Painless > Guelah Papyrus, Ginseng Sullivan > Tweezer, Waste > Cavern > Chalk Dust Torture
Set 2: Sample in a Jar > Cars Trucks Buses, Free, Sparkle > Simple -> When the Circus Comes, Swept Away > Steep -> David Bowie, Loving Cup > Tweezer Reprise
Encore: Theme From the Bottom > Johnny B. Goode
[1] Phish debut.
[Originally published February 16, 2016]