Whatever You Do, Take Care Of Your Shoes

It’s been a while since a new archive release (was it the Haiti relief of 2010?), but the band quietly announced the release of 7/31/99 with a release date of April 15.  Just like the Haiti relief, this release will see 100% of the proceeds to go relief in Japan, specifically Peace Winds America.

The set will include the entire two sets performed that day (as part of the Fuji Rock Festival), as well as the 7/29/99 “What’s The Use?” soundcheck as an added bonus.  Fans of the jams will be delighted to listen to set two, featuring an extended “2001 > Bowie” sequence to kick off the set.  For the “Caspian” haters, this is the “fuckerpants” version hailed as the exception to the norm.  Trey just owns the solo and takes the song into a new and incredible dimension.  The encore features friend of the band, Nawang Khechog lending his talent on a unique jam (also featuring Fish on vac) and “Brian And Robert.”

Set I: My Friend My Friend > Golgi Apparatus, Back On The Train, Limb By Limb, Free > Roggae > Sparkle > Character Zero

Set II: 2001 > David Bowie, Wading In The Velvet Sea > Prince Caspian, Fluffhead > The Squirming Coil

E: Nawang Khechog Human Rights Speech, Jam* > Brian And Robert*, Simple

Filler: What’s The Use? (soundcheck from 7/29/99)

*with Nawang Khechog on flute

For the latest installment of Vintage Phish, I wanted to focus on a sleeper show from summer 2003.  Summer ‘03 was a great tour, full of unsuspecting jams and bustouts, culminating with the great two-day festival, IT.  Night two at Camden was one of the sleeper shows of the tour that went largely unnoticed.  The band had just wrapped up two landmark shows at Burgettstown and a first night at Camden, both chock full of rarities, and many folks skipped the second night at Camden to get a head start up to IT.

Set one opened with “Llama”, one of my favorite show openers.  There’s great interplay between Trey and Page, quickly amping the crowd up with a fast, upbeat opener.  “Moma Dance” is next, and jammed out nicely.  The jam is quite funky, eventually segueing into a “Ghost”-like jam that easily could have continued on for many more minutes.  The “Moma” jam dies off and Trey hits the opening notes to “Divided Sky,” keeping the high energy alive.  The pace is slowed with the Farmhouse gem, “Dirt,” but quickly picked up again with the 2.0 jam, “Seven Below.”  “Seven Below” is a definite set highlight, allowing Trey and the boys to stretch out.  “The Sloth” was a nice treat, giving us a taste of Gamehendge.  Set one is capped off with a blistering “Possum,” with Trey tearing it up on the ‘Doc.

Things really heated up with the second set.  The band hit the stage and quietly entered a gorgeous “Piper,” stretching over twenty-minutes in length.  The jam takes many forms, evolving into a fast, hard rock jam lead by Trey, eventually cooling off and becoming quite spacey, before the opening notes of “Mike’s Song.”  The “Mike’s Groove” is nothing fancy by most standards, but full of energy.  The ending jam in “Weekapaug” teases the Iron Butterfly epic “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida,” transitioning perfectly into “Free.”  “Friday” brought everyone back down to earth, with many folks thinking the set would be over.  Instead, the band broke out of the most exploratory “Harry Hoods” played in years.  Stretching almost twenty-five minutes long, the jam becomes spacey, melodic, and at times full of distortion, as the band ended the set in perfect form.  A quick “Frankenstein” encore sent us packing for IT.

This show has always stuck out as a highpoint of Summer 2003.  In a period where the band was often hit or miss, shows like this showed the potential of what the 2.0 era could have been.

Setlist:

Set I: Llama, The Moma Dance, The Divided Sky, Dirt, Seven Below, The Sloth, Water In The Sky, Wolfman’s Brother, Possum

Set II: Piper > Mike’s Song > I Am Hydrogen > Weekapaug Groove* > Free, Friday, Harry Hood

E: Frankenstein

*with In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida jam

download the show here.

In anticipation of summer tour and Phish’s return to Hersheypark, I thought it was appropriate to revisit of their most memorable appearances there.  Phish’s first visit to the chocolate capital was back in 1995, in a show that has been considered one of the finest shows the band ever produced.

Opening with “Buried Alive,” the tone was set, as Trey wasted no time firing off note after note in the first solo of the evening.  “Down With Disease” immediately follows, with Mike dropping some serious bombs in the intro.  Albeit short, this is a great version that really helped kick the first set off.  An early rendition of “Theme” follows, allowing the band to really explore for the first time all set.  The highpoint comes with “Colonel Forbin > Mockingbird” where Trey narrates about the Rhombus, telling the crowd its location being in King Of Prussia, PA, kicking off another practical joke on the fanbase that some still believe today (its real location being in Princeton, NJ).

Set two kicks off with “Halley’s Comet,” with a short jam that ends just as quick as it begins.  The “Mike’s Groove” that follows is one for the books though.  Diehard fans will note that this is the first time “Mike’s Song” and “Weekapaug” were ever played together without something between them.  “Mike’s starts out quite standard, but where they typically segue into “Hydrogen” or “Simple,” they keep the flow going.  It’s one of my favorite “Mike’s” that really travels to new territory.  The transition into “Weekapaug” is also noteworthy, as this version is actually played/sung in a higher key, making it one of the more obscure versions ever played (there is also no slap-bass intro from Mike).  I highly recommend checking it out, as it’s a great example of the type of jamming and risks that they took during this time period.  Set two ends with one of my favorite “Bowie’s,” with “Catapult” recited over the hi-hat intro.  Other teases, including “Simpsons’ language, Beatles’ “Get Back” language, and Trey quoting Homer (“Mmmmm Chocolate”).

All in all, a great show, and capped off with a rocking “Suzy Greenberg.”  Check it out, as it’s a real classic.

Setlist:

Set I: Buried Alive > Down With Disease, Theme From The Bottom, Poor Heart, Wolfman’s Brother, Chalk Dust Torture, Colonel Forbin’s Ascent > Fly Famous Mockingbird, Stash, Cavern

Set II: Halley’s Comet > Mike’s Song > Weekapaug Groove, The Mango Song, Wilson, Suspicious Minds, David Bowie > Catapult > David Bowie

E: Suzy Greenberg

download the show here.

Maybe the boys read my post the other day about artists pitching in for Haiti relief, or maybe they just wanted to release a kick ass show now that they are on a little break.  Either way, this show has been floating around the rumor mill for quite some time, and was first brought to my attention that it was being remastered by Dog Gone Blog late last month.  I remember receiving a cassette of this show when I was in high school and just really getting into Phish.  It’s great to finally hear a crisp soundboard recording.

The show takes place in an interesting time in Phish history.  They were still playing small clubs and gaining their audience, but people knew they were about to explode (which would not really happen until 1994 arguably).  The band had just wrapped up recording Rift, which would be a departure from the looser, more free-form releases like Junta and A Picture of Nectar.  Rift marked their first attempt at putting out a mature, serious recording.

Several songs made their debut this show, including the first ever “Axilla”, “Big Ball Jam”, “Lengthwise”, and “Fast Enough For You”.  A cover of Johnny Cash’s “I Walk The Line” also makes its first appearance.  Rift session musician and fellow Vermonter Gordon Stone sits in on “Poor Heart,” “Fast Enough For You,” and “Llama,” adding a nice country twang with the addition his pedal steel playing.  The band was really on this night, playing two solid sets filled with humor (see “BBFCFM” played instrumental to teases of “Ring Of Fire” and “I Walk The Line”), tight interplay and improv, and pure energy.  An added bonus included here are the soundcheck songs, which to my knowledge have previously been unheard.

All proceeds from this release will benefit Haiti Earthquake Efforts, Partners In Health and The American Red Cross.

Soundcheck: Weigh, Caravan, Shaggy Dog, Funky Bitch

Set I: Maze, Fee > Foam, Glide, Split Open And Melt, Mound, The Divided Sky, Esther, Axilla, The Horse > Silent In The Morning, Run Like An Antelope

Set II: Mike’s Song > I Am Hydrogen > Weekapaug Groove, Bouncing Around The Room, It’s Ice, I Walk The Line, Tweezer > Big Black Furry Creatures From Mars > Tweezer, Big Ball Jam, Poor Heart*, Fast Enough For You*, Llama*, Lengthwise, Cavern

E: Bold As Love

*with Gordon Stone on pedal steel

download the show here.

image courtesy of www.phish.com

Much can be said about Phish in 2004.  For the most part, 2004 was the low point in Phish history, as it was visibly apparent that something was not right with the band.  Between drugs, exhaustion, and the sloppy playing (most notably by Trey), it’s easy to write this year off as a waste and one to forget.  However, 2004 had moments of brilliance.  There were a few nights where the band was on and able to deliver some stellar jams (see Live In Brooklyn for a perfect example).

Phish’s first night at SPAC was not just one of these “rare 2004” moments, but rather one of the greatest shows the band ever played.  The energy from the jams unleashed this night, just proved how strong the band could have been.  Set one opens with a gutsy “Reba.”  Trey flubs a few of the composed sections, though for the most part, he nails it.  This “Reba” jam is one of my favorites.  The band settles into a groove and clicks early on, treating the crowd to a nice melodic jam early on in the show.  “Reba” climaxes just over twelve minutes (no whistle and reprise), before Trey begins the opening to “Runaway Jim.”  “Jim” is a great follow-up, albeit short by post-hiatus standards.  After a standard “NICU,” the quartet launches into the 2.0 staple, “Scents And Subtle Sounds.”  Trey owns this jam, leading the band through a powerful rendition that stretches to ten minutes.  Page kicks in the piano intro to “Wolfman’s Brother,” and the band delivers what is arguably the funkiest version post-hiatus.  Mike drops bombs the entire jam, with Trey delivering an incredible solo over him…definitely a version to here.  “Walls Of The Cave” follows, and the band uses this as the first real jam vehicle of the evening.  After the silent trees segment, the band takes off, keeping the jam in theme until around the fifteen minute mark.  The jam eventually dissolves into a quiet musical passage (almost drone-like), with Mike’s bass being the prevalent instrument.  Fish’s drum beat quickly segues to the recognizable hi-hat beat, and the boys deliver a set-closing “David Bowie.”

The band returns for a second set that easily rivals anything pre-hiatus.  Opening with the newly crafted “A Song I Heard The Ocean Sing,” they wasted no time settling into a rocking jam that showed the song’s potential.  They return to the intro theme just past the eighteen minute mark, and as the song comes to a close, Trey starts the opening to “Piper.”  Much has been written about this version of “Piper,” and I will say that this is THE “Piper” to hear.  Not only was this the jam of the night, it was easily the jam of the year, as the band took the tune to new heights and delivered some of their best playing ever.  “Piper” is pretty standard until around the twelve minute mark.  Mike’s bass kicks in, leading the band through a “type-II” jam that is quite adventurous.  I’m reminded of the “Mission Impossible” theme, not that it sounds like it, but the bass is so powering and definitely the leading force in this segment.  This jam continues up until the twenty minute mark or so, before Trey really takes control and segues perfectly  into a “Tweezer Reprise” jam that is the definite high point of the show.  You can just hear how good a time they were having.  The “Tweeprise” jam cools off just past the half-hour mark and Mike begins the transition into “Gotta Jibboo,” with his bass rhythm.  Trey follows suit and the band transitions to the Farmhouse classic without any hesitation.  It’s a must hear, and one of my favorite jams ever.  “Gotta Jibboo” keeps the energy high, and once the jam kicks off, the band never returns to the intro.  “Jibboo” cools off and “Limb By Limb” is next.  The band just keeps going, showing no signs of slowing down, delivering one of the best renditions of the song to date.  Fish kicks into “Cavern” to close the set.  Trey forgets the lyrics to the second verse, but other than that, it was a great set ender.  They return for “Wading In The Velvet Sea,” an appropriate ending to an incredible evening.

This night proved the band still had it in them and were capable of great music.  As noted in Parke Puterbaugh’s biography of the band, Trey told Mike after the got off stage that if they could play like they did tonight, they could keep on going forever.  It’s certainly worth hearing, as this night has gone down as one of my favorite shows ever.

Setlist:

I: Reba, Runaway Jim, NICU > Scents And Subtle Sounds, Wolfman’s Brother, Walls Of The Cave > David Bowie

II: A Song I Heard The Ocean Sing > Piper > Gotta Jibboo > Limb By Limb, Cavern

E: Wading In The Velvet Sea

download the show here.

image courtesy of Mr. Miner.

After a fantastic summer and fall run, I’ve been reflecting on some of the songs Phish brought back to life.  In my opinion, one of the recurring themes this year was the back catalog.  We saw several songs that had been dropped from the repertoire brought back in to everyone’s delight.  I can’t name them all of the top of my head, but “Destiny Unbound,” “Peaches En Regalia,” “Walk Away,” “Uncle Pen,” “Nellie Kane,” “Weigh,” — all these and more resurfaced this year, making the number of individual songs played in 2009 more than most years (I think 1998 beats it though).

At any rate, it makes me think of the Burgettstown 2003 show.  The night before this gig, the band members all received iPods with their entire catalog loaded in.  They decided to play a show of rarities, showcasing songs that had not been played all tour, or even longer (this would roll over into night one of Camden as well).  For those in attendance, this would prove to be “one of those nights.”  Set one opened with the spiritual, “Daniel Saw The Stone,” last heard in Italy 1997.  Page dominates on the organ and the band takes a mini vocal jam before going right back into it.  “Camel Walk” followed, allowing the band to get funky.  Later on in the set, the band takes a quick jam out of “Fee” before Trey plays the opening notes of “Timber.”

Set 2 would prove to be a monster.  Opening with the Talking Heads’ “Crosseyed And Painless,” the band used this as a jamming vehicle which carried on over 25 minutes before dissolving into “Thunderhead.”  “Brother” kept the energy going, but it was “Harpua” that kicked everything into overdrive.  “Harpua” had been unheard since the infamous Dark Side Of The Moon version of Utah 1998.  This time around, Jimmy was older, and reminiscing about his life and his searching for IT.  This opened the gates for Fishman to debut the Elvin Bishop classic, “I Fooled Around And Fell In Love.”  “Bowie” would end the set and a fitting “Farmhouse” encore sent everyone home with stories to tell.

Setlist:

I: Daniel Saw The Stone, Camel Walk, Gotta Jibboo, Cool It Down, Scent Of A Mule, Fee > Timber > When The Circus Comes, McGrupp And The Watchful Hosemasters, Golgi Apparatus

II: Crosseyed And Painless > Thunderhead, Brother, Harpua > Bittersweet Motel > Harpua > I Fooled Around And Fell In Love > Hold Your Head Up > Harpua, David Bowie

E: Farmhouse

download the show here.

12 years ago today, Phish played two explosive sets at the Nutter Center that have gone down in history as one of their finest shows of their fall tour (if not of all time).  1997 was the year of the funk, and this definitely was the theme of the evening.  Opening up with the always-crowd-pleaser, “AC/DC Bag”, the band quickly segued the jam into the first “Psycho Killer” since 1993.  “Psycho Killer” quickly transcends into the ZZ Top classic (and one of Page’s best covers), “Jesus Just Left Chicago.”  This slow moving blues number kept the energy alive, despite its tempo.  Later in the set, the band explored the jam segment of “It’s Ice” weaving into “Swept Away/Steep” before finding their way back into the conclusion of “It’s Ice.”  Finally, the “Tube” deserves significant recognition.  After funking it out and concluding the song, Trey counts off and they launch back into a “post-Tube” funky jam that eventually leads into “Slave To The Traffic Light” to end the set.

Set two was just one giant jam.  Opening with the obscure “Timber,” Trey wasted no time unleashing some of his best guitar work before Page kicked in the opening notes of “Wolfman’s Brother.”  This “Wolfman’s” is especially bass-heavy and funky (keeping with the theme of the year) and the band easily transitions to the classic “Boogie On Reggae Woman” to end the main jam segment of the set.  “Reba,” “Guyute,” and “Possum” close the set, and the Beatles classic, “A Day In The Life” close out this perfect performance.

Set List:

I: AC/DC Bag > Psycho Killer > Jesus Just Left Chicago, My Mind’s Got A Mind Of Its Own, It’s Ice > Swept Away > Steep > It’s Ice, Theme From The Bottom, Tube > Slave To The Traffic Light

II: Timber > Wolfman’s Brother > Boogie On Reggae Woman, Reba, Guyute, Possum

E: A Day In The Life

You can download the here.

Thank goodness for LivePhish.com and Kevin Shapiro.  Over the past few years, Phish had made a point of releasing shows from their archive that are special to them and warrant an official release.  One show in particular that is constantly in my rotation, is the classic 1993 show at the UNH Fieldhouse.  This particular night, they were so on point, and just had a blast from the first note to the encore.  Chances were taken, and some of the greatest jams ever, happened in front of a relatively small college crowd.

Set 1 opens with a scorching “Chalkdust Torture” to set the pace.  The highlight of the set comes a few songs in with “Stash”.  Trey is on fire as he leads the band out of the typical jam and into some dark territory.  The jam calms as they begin the “Kung” chant to give a little taste of Gamehendge.  Soon after, they launch back into “Stash” to finish it off.  ‘My Friend, My Friend” is next, with Trey on acoustic for the into…I always loved it when played that part acoustic.  Page sings a rare “Satin Doll”, a classic Duke Ellington tune, for the roadies and crew, and a nice “Cavern” ends the set.

Set 2 begins with zero nonsense.  A classic “David Bowie,” complete with Secret Language and an Allman Brother’s “Jessica” tease get the crowd going.  “Bowie” segues into “Have Mercy,” then back to “Bowie” to end the jam.  “The Horse” features a nice extended intro by Trey on acoustic.  Finally comes the “Mike’s Groove,” and it’s one of the best ever.  Out of the jam, the band weaves into their first ever “Crossroads” by Robert Johnson (made famous by Eric Clapton).  The “Weekapaug” jam climaxes before dissolving into an a capella “Amazing Grace.”  Fishman goes back into the “Weakapaug” drum beat and the band continues to jam on “Amazing Grace.”  They encore with “AC/DC Bag” and call it a night.

This is one of the best releases Phish has put out.  Pick up the CD for some extras, including the “Shaggy Dog” soundcheck, “Tela” and “Tweezer” from 5/6/1993, and a monster 30 minutes “YEM” featuring the Aquarium Rescue Unit and The Dude Of Life on 5/5/1993.

Set List:

I: Chalkdust Torture, Rift, Mound, Stash > Kung > Stash, Glide, My Friend My Friend, Reba, Satin Doll, Cavern

II: David Bowie > Jessica > David Bowie > Have Mercy > David Bowie, The Horse > Silent In The Morning, It’s Ice, The Squirming Coil, Big Ball Jam, Mike’s Song > Crossroads > Mike’s Song > I Am Hydrogen > Weekapaug Groove > Amazing Grace > Amazing Grace Jam

E. AC/DC Bag

You can purchase the show here.