Good Things Come in Small Boxes
December 27, 1999 - Portland Oregonian
By JD Constantine
Album Review - Hampton Comes Alive

Two nights with Phish.

Package: An ingenious box that opens front and back, with three CDs tucked into each side.

What you get: The next best thing to being there. Phish played two nights at the Hampton Coliseum in Hampton Roads, Va., in November, and recorded everything. So not only do we get typical Phish fare, we also get to hear Phish-ified covers of Gary Glitter's "Rock and Roll Part II" and Will Smith's "Gettin' Jiggy wit' It."

What you miss: The ultra-lengthy instrumental jams. Although Phish plays around with these tunes, only five of the set's 35 selections break the 10-minute mark. Instead, many of the performances are more melodically focused, showing off the band's often-underestimated pop side. This still leaves plenty of room for solos.

Review © 1999 Portland Oregonian