POPULARITY
Episode 61 celebrates an extraordinary 22-year journey to reach the century club. The one and only Erik “The ECloud” Lundquist returns to the podcast to talk about an incredible personal and musical milestone – 100 Phish shows! (And he has the custom Phunky Threads t-shirt to prove it.) Now you may be wondering what the heck Phish the band has to do with skiing in the northeast. Well; stick around, because we're going to tell you. In typical phish fashion, the episode will have 3 games that will take the form of Set 1, Set 2 and an Encore. Expect a few extended jams along the way. Grab a pint of Phish Food, settle in and bask in the wonder of 100 Phish shows – the people, travel, meals, venues, weather, credit card points, and of course musical improvisation at its finest. Read the f'ing book! Segment Time 0:00: Punch You in the Eye (12.31.23) 4:20: 100 Phish Shows 26:11: Game 1 – 100s of Skiing 31:39: The Lizards (12.31.23) 34:00: Game 2 - Phish Food for Thought 53:58: Tweezer (12.30.24) 55:37: Game 3 - Final Jeff-Pardy 1:01:40: Tweezer Reprise (12.31.24) 1:02:40: Gag (B-roll) Notes: Total Points: 20 pts (Game 1: 3 pts; Game 2: 7 pts; Game 3: 10 pts) Correction: Oblivion is a trail (blue square) at Waterville Valley, NH; Ovation is a trail (double black diamond-lower and black diamond-headwall and middle) at Killington, VT. Dank Mix Gamehendge (04.16.92)
Text us, and Rock on!What happens when you blend jazz, fusion, bluegrass, rock, and Latin rock into one album? Get ready to experience the magic of Phish's third studio album, "A Picture of Nectar." Join Chris and Tim as they embark on a musical journey, celebrating the eclectic soundscape of this 1992 release. As we explore the band's early roots at Nectar's Tavern in Burlington, Vermont, we draw fascinating parallels between Phish's unbreakable chemistry and the legendary trio, Rush. With Chris chiming in as a fair-weather fan and Tim bringing his deep Phish knowledge, we dissect the non-hit tracks like "Tweezer Reprise," "Chalk Dust Torture," "Stash," and "Llama," appreciating how the band's dynamics elevate their music.Ever wondered what it's like to be at a Phish concert? Tim takes us behind the scenes, sharing his personal experiences from multiple Phish festivals and concerts. We discuss the crowd's electrifying energy for favorites like "Cavern," "Tweezer," and "Chalk Dust Torture," and delve into the revolutionary themes of "Llama," even touching on its rare slow rendition. From catching glow sticks to sneaking in cucumbers, our concert anecdotes add a fun, personal touch to the episode. This chapter is a tribute to the vibrant and unconventional world of Phish fandom.Peek into the quirky and vibrant universe of Phish as we analyze their unique lyrics and musical genius. We tackle everything from the atmospheric, dream-like experiences their music conjures to the dedication of the 'rail riders'—Phish's most passionate fans. Special shoutouts to shorter attendees who struggle in the crowd and a nostalgic nod to iconic venues like Wetlands in New York City. Wrapping up with reflections on Trey Anastasio's brilliant compositions and the rarity of certain live tracks, this episode promises to leave listeners with a newfound appreciation for Phish's unparalleled creativity and musicianship.Support the show
Text us, and Rock on!What happens when you blend jazz, fusion, bluegrass, rock, and Latin rock into one album? Get ready to experience the magic of Phish's third studio album, "A Picture of Nectar." Join Chris and Tim as they embark on a musical journey, celebrating the eclectic soundscape of this 1992 release. As we explore the band's early roots at Nectar's Tavern in Burlington, Vermont, we draw fascinating parallels between Phish's unbreakable chemistry and the legendary trio, Rush. With Chris chiming in as a fair-weather fan and Tim bringing his deep Phish knowledge, we dissect the non-hit tracks like "Tweezer Reprise," "Chalk Dust Torture," "Stash," and "Llama," appreciating how the band's dynamics elevate their music.Ever wondered what it's like to be at a Phish concert? Tim takes us behind the scenes, sharing his personal experiences from multiple Phish festivals and concerts. We discuss the crowd's electrifying energy for favorites like "Cavern," "Tweezer," and "Chalk Dust Torture," and delve into the revolutionary themes of "Llama," even touching on its rare slow rendition. From catching glow sticks to sneaking in cucumbers, our concert anecdotes add a fun, personal touch to the episode. This chapter is a tribute to the vibrant and unconventional world of Phish fandom.Peek into the quirky and vibrant universe of Phish as we analyze their unique lyrics and musical genius. We tackle everything from the atmospheric, dream-like experiences their music conjures to the dedication of the 'rail riders'—Phish's most passionate fans. Special shoutouts to shorter attendees who struggle in the crowd and a nostalgic nod to iconic venues like Wetlands in New York City. Wrapping up with reflections on Trey Anastasio's brilliant compositions and the rarity of certain live tracks, this episode promises to leave listeners with a newfound appreciation for Phish's unparalleled creativity and musicianship.Support the show
3:02:46 – Frank in New Jersey, plus the Other Side. Topics include: The DMV, new recorder, Phish at Dick’s, Tweezer Reprise, Mitch Hedberg, The Sharper Image, dead mall, gun incident, Futurama, secret action figure, VHS effects, vegan Nutella, Wacky Packages, Florida trip, The Obtuse Angle with Steve Dupont, Upon a Wysiwyg Yonder, British Empire Exhibition, The Rings […]
3:02:46 – Frank in New Jersey, plus the Other Side. Topics include: The DMV, new recorder, Phish at Dick’s, Tweezer Reprise, Mitch Hedberg, The Sharper Image, dead mall, gun incident, Futurama, secret action figure, VHS effects, vegan Nutella, Wacky Packages, Florida trip, The Obtuse Angle with Steve Dupont, Upon a Wysiwyg Yonder, British Empire Exhibition, The Rings […]
A Festival Odyssey: Phish, Mondegreens, and Moments with My SonLarry Mishkin reflects on his recent experience attending the Mondegreen Festival, a Phish festival in Dover, Delaware, with his son and friends. He shares his enthusiasm for the event, highlighting the performances and the significance of certain songs, including "The MoMA Dance" and "NICU," which have deep ties to Phish's history and fan culture. Larry provides a detailed history of Phish festivals, from the Clifford Ball in 1996 to the most recent Mondegreen Festival, noting memorable moments, attendance figures, and unique aspects of each event. The episode also includes a brief discussion on the 60th anniversary of The Beatles' performance at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Denver, Colorado. Larry expresses his excitement about attending the festival with his son and reminisces about the special bond they shared during the event.MONDEGREENPhishAugust 15 – 18, 2024The WoodlandsDover Delaware Band's 11th festival, NOT counting Curveball set for 2018 that was canceled at the last minute due to contaminated water supply due to heavy rains and flooding. Nine year gap between MagnaBall in March, 2015 and Mondegreen, biggest gap between festivals in band's history. INTRO: Moma Dance Night One, August 15, 2024 First Night, First Set, First Song (into Back On The Train) Phish @ The Woodlands, Mondegreen Festival, Dover DE 2024-08-15 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive Track #2 2:31 – 4:05 By: Anastasio/Fishman/Gordon/McConnell/MarshallPlayed:First Played: 6/30/98 in Copenhagen, DenmarkMost recent: August 15, 2024 (Mondegreen)Current Gap: 3 shows The title of “Moma” is another example of Phish Phonetics, cleverly transforming the moment ends lyric into a reference to a display of “The Rhombus” at New York City's Museum of Modern Art (MoMA).Mondegreen: are they saying, “The Moma Dance” OR “the Moment Ends”?? SHOW No 1: NICU Night One, August 15, 2024 First Set, 6th song (out of Roggae and into A Wave of Hope) Phish @ The Woodlands, Mondegreen Festival, Dover DE 2024-08-15 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive Track #7 3:00 – 4:56 By: Anastasio/MarshallPlayed 156 timesFirst Played: 3.6.92 at The Music Hall in Portsmouth, NHMost Recent: August 15, 2024 (Mondegreen)Gap: 3 shows Has any Phish song had as many names with as many explanations as “NICU”? At its debut in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Trey introduced the song as “In an Intensive Care Unit.” Shortly thereafter, the name was changed to “NICU,” which some considered a play on a line from the backing vocals in the chorus (“and I see you”) and others noted was the abbreviation for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.Shortly thereafter, the “controversy” began, as controversy can only begin among rabid Phish fans. Some called the song “And I See You.” Some stuck with the original “In an Intensive Care Unit.” Other interesting theories developed, including one from the Internet where a fan noted that the elements Nickel (NI) and Copper (Cu) are side-by-side on the Periodic Table and that the title “NICU” may thus be a reference to nickels and pennies or, more likely, small change. Title is a Mondegreen for “And I See You” Music News (from Mondegreen) Matthew's crew: Matthew, me, Donny, Jake, Dave and Seth Michigan Crew: ??? NYC Crew: Max & Jess, Joey and Darby, Darby's brother, Brad and Sam, Dan the drummer (and?), Dude from Florida and girlfriend (??), Tesh,WHO ELSE SHOULD I MENTION? CLEVELAND CREW: Kevin, two buddies? Aaron Anyone else? Hot and humid/ AC unitsTents v. RV's/bathrooms/food/water and ice/maintenanceStorm – cut Sunday short Modern weather technology – good and bad Just like 2022 Sacred Rose Festival Secret Set on Aug. 16th second night Driving 12 hours each way SHOW No. 2: I Am Hydrogen > Weekapaug Groove Night 3, August 17, 2024 – Second set opener traditional Mike's Groove>Theme From The Bottom November 11, 2012, MSG, NYNY Mike's>Chalk Dust Torture>I Am Hydrogen>Weekapaug Phish | 12.29.11 | Mike's Song → Chalk Dust Torture → I Am Hydrogen → Weekapaug Groove - YouTube 15:44 – 17.43 I Am HydrogenBy: Daubert/Marshall/AnastasioPlayed: 350 timesFirst: April 6, 1985 at Finbar's in Burlington, VTMost Recent: August 17, 2024 (Mondegreen Night 3)Gap: 1 show The story of “I Am Hydrogen” is a love story. Conceived by Tom Marshall and Marc Daubert around 1984-85 on piano and acoustic guitar, they brought their creation over to Trey's house, where it was recorded. Trey added a harmony to it on his electric guitar, and the “Hydrogen” we have come to know was born. Initially intended for Tom, Marc, and Trey's band Bivouac, “Hydrogen” ended up in the Phish lineup and made its debut, all alone, on 4/6/85. After a few years, it became the connector between Mike's Song and Weekapaug Groove. Into Weekapaug GrooveBy: Anastasio/Fishman/McConnell/GordonPlayed: 523 timesFirst: 7.23.1988 at Pete's Phabulous Phish Phest in Underhill, VTMost Recent: August 17, 2024 (Mondegreen Night 3)Gap: 1 show “Weekapaug Groove” takes its name from the town of Weekapaug, located on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean in southwestern Rhode Island. According to Mike, the song's lyrics (“Trying to make a woman that you move, sharing in a Weekapaug Groove”) are meaningless. As Mike said in a 9/9/97 interview with Parke Puterbaugh: “So we came back to Boston [from Weekapaug, after playing a gig there at a yacht club], and I guess we were in the van or the Voyager we used to drive in, and that song “Oh What a Night” came on the radio. You know that one? That awful Four Seasons song? We just constantly listened to songs and changed around the words as to what they might sound like. I always had a particularly hard time hearing lyrics anyway, so I always would sing a song on the radio, sing along with the wrong words. So the bridge of that song goes ‘Oh I-I-I trying to something,' but I was singing it, ‘Oh I-I-I trying to make a woman that you move,' which means nothing, 'sharing in a Weekapaug groove.' So we all just started singing that, as complete nonsense: ‘trying to make a woman that you move.' It never occurred to any of us that it had any meaning, ever. There was a period of time that we were singing it, and I used to just yell out the lyrics, between singing them I would just yell them out as if I was preaching them, just to sort of make it more ironic that they have no meaning.” SHOW No. 3: Yamar Night 4, August 18, 2024 – First set 10th song out of Stash and into Timber August 17, 1996, Clifford Ball, Plattsburgh AFB, Plattsburgh, NY (1st Phish Festival) into It's Ice Phish-Ya Mar-Clifford Ball (youtube.com) 0:13 – 1:45 By: Cyril Ferguson 27th November 1951 - Cyril 'Dry Bread' Ferguson was born in Nassau, New Providence, Bahama Islands.Ferguson was a Bahamian musician and entertainer. He composed songs in the genres of goombay, calypso and Bahamian pop music.Some of his more popular songs include: Ya Mar, Sunshine On My Body, Bahamian Music and Don't Squeeze The Mango.Ferguson died of complications related to diabetes on 9th April 2009. “Ya Mar” resides as a favorite in the hearts of many fans. It represents one of Phish's few forays into calypso and is among the most playful and danceable songs in the band's repertoire. And anytime Trey screams for Page to take the reins – “Play it, Leoooooo!” – the crowd is apt to go wild. Page's nickname actually comes from this line in the original, where The Mustangs urged their own piano man to step into the spotlight. The title seems to reference the slurred interpretation of “your ma,” as the singer recounts the disdain his lover's family has for him. Phish put their own unique stamp on it by often changing the “no good pa” lyric in the chorus to mimic their own “oh kee pa” phrase. Played: 232 timesFirst: 2.21.1987 at Slade Hall, UV, Burlington, VTMost Recent: 8.18.2024Gap: 0 shows Marijuana News Senator Says Harris Will ‘Be Ready To Sign' Marijuana Reform Bills If Elected PresidentGOP Senators Claim Marijuana Is A ‘Gateway Drug' As They Oppose Rescheduling And Legalization3. People Who Use Marijuana Are Less Likely To Be Obese, New Study Shows SHOW No. 4: Simple Night 4, August 18, 2024 – First set second to last song of Izabella and into Golden Age July 27, 2024, Alpine Valley, East Troy, WI second set out of Sigma Oasis and into The Howling Phish - 7/27/2024 - Simple (4K HDR) (youtube.com) 0:18 – 1:28 By: GordonPlayed: 209 timesFirst: 5.27.1994 at the Warfield Theater in San FranciscoMost Recent: August 18, 2024 (Mondegreen Night 4)Gap: 0 shows "Simple" was first written and recorded by Mike Gordon in a four-track medium in the Doo-wop style and introduced to the band during the studio sessions forHoist. This version reflected the country and bluegrass writing style of many previous Gordon compositions. The song was left off of the albumand the band showed hesitation in performing it live. Then, on 5/27/94, “Simple” debuted in a very strange and raw fashion during the “Mike's Song” at the Warfield in San Francisco. In contrast to the song we know today, the debut version of “Simple” was Mike's original lyrics sung by the band members over a jam that had emerged from “Mike's.” Three weeks later, “Simple” was played for a second time at the historic 6/17/94 gig, the same night that much of the country was watching the low-speed police chase of O.J. Simpson's white Ford Bronco through L.A. This version was significantly reworked and sounded much like the “Simple” we are accustomed to hearing today, with the exception of a minor humoristic augmentation providing the line “We've got O.J., cause we've got a band.” Mondegreen: We've got a cymbal (simple) cause we've got a band OUTRO: Twee Pri Night 3, August 17, 2024 – Encore out of YEM into end of show April 20, 2024, The Sphere, Las Vegas, NV Encore out of A Life Beyond the Dream into end of show Tvidler 202202 11 by Ryan Maguire (youtube.com) 0:00 – end By: Anastasio/Fishman/Gordon/McConnellPlayed: 321 tiesFirst: 2.1.1991 at Alumnae Hall, Brown University — Providence, RIMost Recent: 8.17.2024 Mondegreen Night 3Gap: 1 show A "reprise" is a sort of musical afterthought – basically a reintroduction of and variation on the main theme of a piece of music. Thus, “Tweezer Reprise” is a slight variation – a condensation of sorts – of “Tweezer.” As it does on the album A Picture of Nectar, the “Reprise” often follows “Tweezer” in concert, most frequently as an encore song. It is also common as a second set closer following an earlier “Tweezer.” A few times, the “Reprise” has even been spewed out of some long, monster “Tweezer,” serving as the thrilling exclamation point at the end of a raging, set-long sentence (e.g. 5/7/94, 6/22/95).On occasion, “Tweezer Reprise” has shown up as a surprise in a show where there has been no performance of “Tweezer” proper. Although usually this occurs because the “Reprise” will be referring back to a non-reprised “Tweezer” at the previous night's show (e.g. 12/30/96's “Tweezer” was reprised on 12/31/96), the song has been known to appear, albeit rarely, completely free from its Granddaddy counterpart, like on 9/29/99. The most interesting example of this, and perhaps the most unusual “Tweezer Reprise” ever performed, was on 12/8/99, which featured an a cappella version that came out of a “YEM” vocal jam to close the second set. The band later finished off the show with a traditional “Tweezer Reprise” to end the encore. Other interesting versions include 10/27/94 and 10/21/95. .Produced by PodConx Deadhead Cannabis Show - https://podconx.com/podcasts/deadhead-cannabis-showLarry Mishkin - https://podconx.com/guests/larry-mishkinRob Hunt - https://podconx.com/guests/rob-huntJay Blakesberg - https://podconx.com/guests/jay-blakesbergSound Designed by Jamie Humiston - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-humiston-91718b1b3/Recorded on Squadcast
This week's guest is Tim Bangert! After a few failed attempts by some friends to get Phish to stick in Tim's ears he finally took the plunge and went to The Great Went, and the rest is history! After The Great Went, the majority of Tim's Phish shows fell into the years of '98 & '99. We talked about Tim's First show experience, some of his favorite jams, the songs he is chasing, and what member of Phish he would most like to meet. To be featured on a future episode, shoot an email to sttf.weareeverywhere@gmail.com Tim summed up his trip to The Great Went in an essay that you can read below. How did I end up in Limestone, Maine, in August of 1997 to see a band in which I had relatively little interest? I will start the tale of my first Phish show a few years prior to that. I did know a little of the band and had a few friends loan me their music telling me how great they were, but even with all the music I chased down in used music stores and played on a weekly college radio shows, Phish was a barely part of it. The first time I recall hearing the name of the band was in 1992 in a local radio ad for a Santana concert. Funny story there is that the announcer said, “with special guest Phish,” over Santana's “All I Ever Wanted.” I only knew the few Santana songs in K-SHE 95's rotation (“Black Magic Woman,” “Oye Como Va”), so my brain immediately associated “All I Ever Wanted” with Phish. Thinking about it, that might be a fun cover for Phish to play. Phish obviously wasn't getting played on local commercial stations in St. Louis, so that was that. The following winter in college a guy named Joe who lived across the hall from me told me I had to listen to Phish. He handed me a copy of A Picture of Nectar. I am not certain how much of it I listened to, but I think I thought it was too goofy and underproduced as it jumped from the manic “Llama” to gentle “Eliza” and so on. I still think it's goofy and underproduced but in a much more endearing way. A short while later my cousin came to visit me at school. She was a senior in high school and brought a copy of Junta along. I remember hearing “Fee” and once again thinking what a goofy band this was. Why were people recommending them to me? What was I missing here? Later that year she made me a mix tape that include The Mango Song. A strange one to hand anyone to say, hey, listen to this band! Somehow it wound its daft way into my brain with every listen. I think I thought the piano had a bit of Vince Guaraldi's sound from all the Charlie Brown specials. In the fall of 1994, a fellow RA named Matt asks me if I play any music by Phish on my weekly college radio show. I tell him I had heard a bit, but they never did it for me. He hands me a copy of the just-released Hoist and says to give it another shot. I immediately liked the opening track “Julius” and played it on my show. I recall liking “Down with Disease,” “Sample in a Jar,” and possibly “Wolfman's Brother” enough that I dubbed the whole thing and had it on a steady rotation in my car's cassette deck. There were a few songs I always skipped past. “Lifeboy,” “Dog Faced Boy,” and “Demand” come to mind. I'm still not big on them and oddly enough they are the three that I have never seen live (“Riker's Mailbox” and “Yerushalayim Shel Zahav” notwithstanding). Jump ahead to spring of 1996 and Andy Rosenhack, who worked in the dorms with me and showed me how to run the board and queue up songs at WRBU, returned to Peoria for Senior Walk (that's a whole different story). We were out to lunch with a group of friends and he starts telling me about going to see Phish and how great it was. His first show was the 12/7/95 Niagara Falls show. He was also talking a lot about seeing DMB and how great they were, which I think steered the conversation because by that point DMB was pretty big on the radio. I'm pretty sure I was evangelizing for Wilco around that point in time, which seemed pretty not-Phish. That summer I moved out to Colorado for a short time. Phish was in the news, as their four-night stand at Red Rocks was marred by the weird clashes taking place in Morrison by fans unable to get tickets to the shows. I was nowhere near it and Phish still was not really on my radar. I moved back to Illinois in early 1997, bounced around looking for work, and ended up with a contract job in the suburbs of Chicago. It was a pretty dreary time and I was looking for a way to get out of the rut that was surely forming in the 8-to-5 world of I.T. Andy contacts me and says I should come see Phish with him. Where are they playing? Why, in Maine! It's a festival! I tell him sure, why not. I've been at my job a few months and deserve some time off, right? He sent me two 90-minute cassettes to prep me for the show. The first was set 2 of the first night of the Clifford Ball 1. It's an interesting set covering a wide range of styles. The second tape was a doozy that probably made me say “What the hell is this?” It was the Bomb Factory Tweezerfest set. Really, is that what you hand somebody when you want them to listen to live Phish for the first time? It was out there. We wrangled another college friend Bill Korbecki to come along for the road trip. Bill lived near Chicago, so I had company for the drive to Rochester. If I recall correctly, we drove the northern route through Detroit and Niagara to get to Andy's place in Rochester, New York. Ah, for the days when crossing into and out of Canada didn't require a passport or a lot of suspicion. We didn't head straight up to the show, though. Andy was working as a day camp counselor that summer. Bill and I tagged along to help out, as they were making tie-dye t-shirts that day. I made mine out of a Sugar 1994 Tour shirt 2. That evening Bill and I hung out at Andy's place because he had tickets to take his girlfriend to see James Taylor. When he returned from the JT show we took off for Maine. It couldn't be that far, right? It's just getting to Massachusetts and then through a sliver of New Hampshire. Ha. Little did I realize how remote this concert would be. The route couldn't be easier. Take I-90 east until it hits I-95 outside Boston. Head north on I-95 until the final exit before New Brunswick. Hop off and go north on US-1 and follow the traffic jam to the decommissioned Loring Air Force Base. I remember hearing on the radio local kids in Arastook County were out of school for potato harvest. The residents in the area were curious about the parade of cars winding northward, but they were gracious nonetheless. Getting to the lot the morning of the show we were parked far back on the right side of the runway. The scale of it was overwhelming. Where the heck was the stage? Attempting to piece together the first day of music here. The walk to the concert grounds was far but did not feel that way. Too many interesting people and too much interesting merchandise being hawked. I don't remember much of the festival area. Andy did paint on one of the wooden planks flanking the area. Those planks would become part of the sculpture that evolved on the scaffolding to the right of the stage. I think Andy met Page in that time, too. I had no clue who any of the band were. 1 Split Open and Melt, Sparkle, Free, The Squirming Coil, Waste, Talk, Train Song, Strange Design, Hello My Baby, Mikes Song, Simple, Contact & Weekapaug Groove. 2 I can't believe I did that. My apologies to Bob Mould. The show started late that afternoon. “Makisupa Policeman” holds the honor of the first live song I saw Phish play. Keyword? “Goo balls.” Me being the neophyte I am, I thought Trey said “blue balls.” Ha. I had no idea the significance of the partial “Harpua” that followed. That day warped me for how long an opening set should be at around 100 minutes. I later learned listening to the tapes that the first few songs were a de facto soundcheck. Looking back it's strange to think I got a daytime YEM (it's hard to think of it without the lights) and a beautiful solo to end “Squirming Coil.” Page's words after his bow? “Stick around.” I knew only two songs they played that day. “Wolfman's Brother” to open the second set and “Julius” to close it out. That helped keep things familiar for me. I was worn out late in the third set and told the guys I would meet them back at the car, so I listened to the encore from afar. Not knowing much of anything, I obviously missed the late-night DJ set the band put on in the disco tent. The next morning was crisp and bright. Flyers had been circulating requesting participants for a mass photo shoot. The catch? It called for folks to doff their clothes. Anyone hearing this story would think I was the one who had to be dragged into such an event, but the opposite is the case. I told Bill and Andy that we should be in the photo. They thought I was bluffing and said if I was in, they'd be in, too. So sometime late that morning I led them to the staging area to sign waivers, drop our clothes near some bike racks, and parade out onto an empty stretch of runway in our birthday suits with 1,100 other people. It was not as nerve-wracking as I thought it might be. For our participation, we were supposed to be sent a copy of the photo, but unfortunately, I was bouncing between addresses at the time and mine never made it to me. Andy did receive his. The photo is rather morbid in my eyes. It's monochrome and looks like a thousand corpses lined up on pavement, which completely belies the festive atmosphere of the shoot. While I did not receive the poster, there is proof of me in one of the pictures in 1998's The Phish Book. Yep. My caveat for anyone seeing that page in the book is that northern Maine mornings are chilly. ;) We meandered about that day. I was amazed at all the vending taking place, though I was still too green to understand references to songs or other cultural touchstones. I did buy a lot shirt, though. It was tie-dye, had a Phish logo with Summer Tour 97 around it, and on the back a faux Maine license plate with GR8-WENT. It cost me $5 because it had some rips in the front and was the last of the vendor's lot. I don't think I ever wore it, but it's still stowed away too cherished to be thrown out. I remember much more of the second day of music. I loved the song “The Wedge” the moment they opened with it. Limestone blocks so large, indeed. After the set we wandered a bit for food and water. Getting back into the concert area we ended up about 20 to 25 rows back Page side. The place was buzzing as the night and cool air creeped in. One anomaly of this show that I did not realize was Fish not wearing his trademark donut dress. He was in jeans that weekend. For the second night he had on a fleece adorned winter hat. Trey also had on a warm striped beanie for the second set. They kicked off the set with “Down With Disease” which I knew from good old Hoist. The song raged on for twenty minutes and then dropped down to a simple little guitar and bass conversation between Trey and Mike, as Page and Fish stepped to two easels on the stage. We could see the two of them painting on shaped boards, similar to those Andy had painted on in the festival area. Trey played the chords of “Bathtub Gin” as Fish found his way back to the drum kit. The song was new to me, but it's so catchy. The cadence of lyrics at first reminded me of Bob Dylan's “Subterranean Homesick Blues” and of course was familiar with its Gershwin quotes throughout. Something clicked for me right then and there. Little did I know this would be one of the signature live jams of the band's career, but I did know something special was happening. It's a version that never loses steam and never grows stale on repeated listenings. There's a group on Facebook called “The Great Went Bathtub Gin Changed My Life.” I did not start the group, but I certainly understand why it was created. The song is 20 minutes of inspired playing and improvisation. As Gin wound down and melted into the quick bluegrass fix of “Uncle Pen,” we were only halfway through the set. The next 45 minutes would be just as inspired. The next song was just as familiar because Strauss' “Also Sprach Zarathustra” is embedded in the DNA of anyone alive after 2001: A Space Odyssey. More painting, this time Trey and Mike stepping to the easels while Fish and Page keep the jam going. What's up with all this painting, anyway? As 2001 fades into what becomes known as “Art Jam” on tapes, Trey tells us about creating art with the audience. The band's planks are crowd surfed over to the scaffolding where all the planks painted by festival-goers hang in one crazy pile. The spotlight is on the newly created sculpture as the band kicks into “Harry Hood.” Another new one for me, but it's a glorious swell. As “Hood” drops into the post “Thank you, Mr. Miner” jam, Trey asks Chris Kuroda to cut the lights because the moon is bright and the sculpture is growing in beauty with every passing second. With that, the air begins to fill with colored lights. A glowstick war breaks out. Without the usual concert lights to dampen things, the sticks take on an epic feel. The jam seems to rise and fall with the number in the air. It was exhilarating. I couldn't imagine being anywhere else. As “Hood” ended Trey tells the crowd to go get more of those things because they look amazing. 90 minutes had gone by in what seemed like 9. The crowd was floating. And we still had another set to go. Over the course of the second set the crowd grew more dense. We had nowhere to go between sets. I remember gallon jugs of water being passed around the crowd. I was so thankful for a few sips. It sustained me through the end of the show in an incredibly cramped space. The final set was not as epic, but introduced me to a few more facets of the band. I remember each song, but specifics of only a few. We were still pinned in with the crowd and hadn't had a chance to sit down in hours (maybe we did? I remember standing the whole time). I'm sure a lot of people took “Dirt” to be a chance to rest after the intricate “Guyute,” but it hit me just right. Combined with the cold air, Trey's whistling and the simple guitar line were an emotional high point for me. The same goes with the set closing “Prince Caspian.” I was thrilled hearing “When the Circus Comes” as the encore, since I am a big fan of the old Los Lobos tune. I didn't realize its lyric “the day I burn this whole place down” would soon become a reality as they tore into “Tweezer Reprise.” A huge timber dressed up as a match was lit and tipped against the sculpture that an hour or two earlier we had been admiring during “Harry Hood.” The whole thing went up in an intense blaze as the encore raged. The crowd was going crazy. Wow. Is this what every Phish show is like? Maybe so, maybe not. One of the great things about the fest were all the folks vending from their vehicles. I was famished after the nighttime sets. As we strolled back up the runway I hear a voice singing out “15 ingredient veggie burritos!” A burrito sounded like it would be perfect, so we stopped to grab one. As the woman is wrapping one up I can't resist asking, “So, what are the 15 ingredients in this burrito?” Here's how Andy recalls her reply: “Rice, 5 kinds of beans, cilantro, cheese, cilantro, rice, cilantro, 5 kinds of beans, cheese, rice, and cilantro.” Ha! Who am I to question that? It was delicious. We took time to rest at the car and headed out of the base the next morning. Traffic was heavy, but moved pretty well. When we hopped on I-95 again one of the strangest things I've ever seen happened. Troopers were pulling cars over en masse. We were not among those targeted by the state patrol, but it was weird. The only other Maine thing we really did when we were up that way was a stop at the L.L. Bean flagship store. I bought a wool plaid cap that I recently passed on to my daughter. The rest of the ride back to Rochester I remember mainly for Andy introducing us to the music of Ani Difranco. As the rest of the year went along, I got a bit more into Phish, but really sought out Ani's stuff. Two completely different sounds, but artists who completely do things their own way. The drive to Chicago is a bit of a blur to me now. I'm guessing exhaustion was setting in and we were looking forward to getting home.
Hometown shows, cookie dough, and Atlanta in August. In today's episode, NYC resident Brad Mislow talks us through Phish's performance of "2001" from the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater at Encore Park, or simply, Alpharetta. This version closed a 3-night run and is, to date, the only version of the song to close a show.Although he has lived in New York for the past 21 years, Brad is originally from the Atlanta area and these were his first shows in the area since 1997. A classic version of one of Phish's best covers, Brad chose this version because it exemplifies why he will see them again and again. It starts out as your standard 2001 build but in the middle Trey starts adding “You Sexy Thing” quotes and the band follows. He then adds “Tweezer Reprise” quotes, and all of a sudden, they're playing three songs at the same time. Mind blowing. Important links mentioned in this episode:Recording used in this episodeBatter Cookie Dough Follow Brad on Twitter
Welcome back to 36 from the Vault! In Episode 7 we momentarily diverge from our trek through the larger Dick’s Picks series, to chat about the post-Jerry years. Focusing on the larger touch points between Phish & The Dead, we dive into Phish’s 1998 Island Tour, highlighting the April 3, 1998 performance from Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, NY. A high point for Phish, they’d just reinvented themselves stylistically throughout 1997, and then booked a surprise run of shows just a few weeks prior to dive back into the Eno-inspired atmospheric funk jams they couldn’t get enough of. A true turning point in the band’s larger history, The Island Tour marks the point where the party begins to consume the band, and the darkness that’s lingering will soon consume them. A celebration & an ominous sign of what’s to come, it’s a fascinating moment in their history. Opening with stellar jams in “Mike’s Song” and “Weekapaug Groove,” the band later focuses on intra-band communication in “Reba.” The second, however, is the highlight of the overall show. Running just four songs, it reads: “Roses Are Free -> Piper -> Loving Cup> Run Like An Antelope.” Particualrly in the “Roses” and “Piper” the band connects with such effortlessness that they sound pre-recorded. In the encore, “Halley’s Comet” leads into the second-ever stateside “Carini” before the rare “Tweezer-less” “Tweezer Reprise” closes the show.Steven and Rob focus on the energy that guided Phish throughout the 90s, highlighting the decisions that led to their 1997 reinvention, and how this run shifted the band towards their more modern incarnation with all its surprises and challenges. In addition, they discuss the legacy of the thoughtful groove-driven jamming that defined the era. 36 from the Vault is production of Osiris Media. It is edited and produced by Brian Brinkman, and mastered by Matt Dwyer. All music composed by Amar Sastry, unless otherwise noted. Logo design by Liz Bee Art & Design. The executive producer of 36 from the Vault is RJ Bee. Please consider reviewing this podcast on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. We invite you to listen to Dick’s Picks Volume 7 in anticipation of our next episode on April 15. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
In Episode 089 we discuss the advanced jam off David Bowie from April 8, 1992. At a time when the band was rarely flirting with deep improv, this shock jam off David Bowie hears them toying with a Tweezer Reprise jam before experimenting with Post-Peak Jamming in a calypso-ladened jam that feels four years ahead of its time.Songs featured in this episode are: Daniel Lanois: “Panorama,” Calexico: “The Black Heart,” The Kinks: “Do You Remember Walter?,” Pixies: “Bone Machine”In addition, we discuss two new 2020 records we highly recommend: Futurebirds: “Teamwork” and Bonnie Light Horseman: “Bonnie Light Horseman”— — —We encourage all BTP Listeners to check out The Road To Now, the most curious history podcast online!— — — Politics of Truth is a new Osiris original podcast focusing on the 2020 Presidential Campaign. Hosted by Bob Crawford of The Avett Brothers, the mission of the show is to connect with our nation’s most reliable journalists and socially-conscious musicians, with the goal of empowering our listening audience when they cast their votes in the upcoming primaries and general election.The primary structure will be one-on-one interviews with Bob and notable political journalists or politically-active musicians. This biweekly show will kick off on Friday, February 7, with Bob interviewing Washington Post reporter Robert Costa just after the 2020 Iowa caucuses. Future guests to include:John Heilemann, Showtime’s The CircusMark McKinnon, Showtime’s The CircusRobert Costa, The Washington PostMargaret Talev, AxiosMickey Hart, The Grateful Dead— — —Check us out on Spotify: Beyond The Pond Podcast SongsYou can find us on Twitter: @_beyondthepondMedium: https://medium.com/beyond-the-pondEmail: beyondthepondpodcast@gmail.comPlease check out the Osiris Podcast Network at: OsirisPod.com and JamBase.comPlease leave us a review on iTunes! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
On this phantastic episode, Uri and Rivky talk to Phish aficionado Jonny Miller about the unique phenomenon that is the band Phish, and their fans, affectionally called Phishheads. Why does Phish have such a large and passionate following - particularly among the Jewish community? [Don't worry - you don't need to be a Phishhead for this episode to be fun. Just ask Rivky, who is, as of yet, unconvinced.] PSA: Our conversation went a little longer than usual, so we decided to release the episode in 2 versions, a long one and a short one. Just be thankful we didn't make this a 5 part episode (we were tempted!). Check out the links below to dive deeper into the Phish pond, but most importantly, read the effing Book! Related links: Why do so many Jews love Phish? https://www.jta.org/2019/05/21/culture/why-so-many-jews-love-the-band-phish NYT interview with Trey: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/06/24/magazine/trey-anastasio-phish.html Baker's Dozen: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/07/arts/music/phish-bakers-dozen.html Analyze Phish Podcast: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/earwolf/analyze-phish Read The Book: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDo0qKkvfcQ Songs from the episode: Tweezer Reprise: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOD65CEX-_Y Avenu Malkenu: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eE7L4PAv0Rc Yerushalayim Shel Zahav: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bG8k2jRdmLA Halley's Comet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4MZWwYtQdk More: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnZ9i180wJE Drift While You're Sleeping: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlukEsPKgws Down With Disease: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuTK-MGr6q0&t=27s Cool Amber and Mercury: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdwCblgzap8
On this phantastic episode, Uri and Rivky talk to Phish aficionado Jonny Miller about the unique phenomenon that is the band Phish, and their fans, affectionally called Phishheads. Why does Phish have such a large and passionate following - particularly among the Jewish community? [Don't worry - you don't need to be a Phishhead for this episode to be fun. Just ask Rivky, who is, as of yet, unconvinced.] PSA: Our conversation went a little longer than usual, so we decided to release the episode in 2 versions, a long one and a short one. Just be thankful we didn't make this a 5 part episode (we were tempted!). Check out the links below to dive deeper into the Phish pond, but most importantly, read the effing Book! Related links: Why do so many Jews love Phish? https://www.jta.org/2019/05/21/culture/why-so-many-jews-love-the-band-phish NYT interview with Trey: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/06/24/magazine/trey-anastasio-phish.html Baker's Dozen: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/07/arts/music/phish-bakers-dozen.html Analyze Phish Podcast: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/earwolf/analyze-phish Read The Book: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDo0qKkvfcQ Songs from the episode: Tweezer Reprise: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOD65CEX-_Y Avenu Malkenu: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eE7L4PAv0Rc Yerushalayim Shel Zahav: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bG8k2jRdmLA Halley's Comet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4MZWwYtQdk More: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnZ9i180wJE Drift While You're Sleeping: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlukEsPKgws Down With Disease: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuTK-MGr6q0&t=27s Cool Amber and Mercury: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdwCblgzap8
Episode 002 - January 2017 Set 2 Down with Disease -> Free (1995-06-26)Piper -> Gotta Jibboo (2004-06-19)Also Sprach Zarathustra (1999-09-29)Prince Caspian (1997-08-17)You Enjoy Myself (1994-06-11)E: Golgi Apparatus > Tweezer Reprise (1999-12-08 )
This week, we're bringing you a set from the archives: Set 1 of 2.1.91, from Brown University. This week is the the 24th anniversary of the show, which has a couple key debuts and some wonderful improv that reminds us how talented this band was even in its first couple years of touring. Their playing is deft, precise and inspiring. Setlist is below. And a request. We do this podcast for one reason: to bring music and commentary to fans like you. And we hope 2016 will be another great year. So please help us continue to make the show better by taking this one-question survey. We appreciate the input, and you helping us make it better. If you haven't yet, review us on iTunes. And you can follow us on Twitter. -- Phish, 2.1.91, Alumni Hall, Brown University, Providence, RI Set 1: My Sweet One, Foam, Tweezer, Tweezer Reprise*, Magilla > Guelah Papyrus*, Runaway Jim, Split Open and Melt > Bouncing Around the Room, David Bowie (Reba from Set 2 included) *Debut Intro Music: Grateful Dead, Cold Rain and Snow See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
This week we are going all the way back to the Fall of 1992 to listen to a nice show with some real gems, 11.28.92, from Port Chester, NY. We hope you enjoy it! Setlist and chapter markers below. As usual, please review us on iTunes and send comments and feedback to helpingfriendlypodcast at gmail dot com, and follow us on Twitter. And check out CashorTrade.org for face value tickets to shows across the country. If you are on Stitcher, give us a review! Chapter 1 0:00 Introduction Chapter 2 9:30 Phish 11.28.92 Chapter 3 2:54:35 Show Breakdown -- Phish, 11.28.92, The Capitol Theatre, Port Chester, NY Set 1: My Sweet One, Foam, Stash, Esther > Chalk Dust Torture, Sparkle, Fast Enough for You > All Things Reconsidered, Mike's Song > I Am Hydrogen > Weekapaug Groove Set 2: Suzy Greenberg > Paul and Silas > Tweezer -> The Man Who Stepped Into Yesterday > Avenu Malkenu, Maze, The Man Who Stepped Into Yesterday > Bouncing Around the Room, The Squirming Coil, Love You > Hold Your Head Up, Harpua, Golgi Apparatus Encore: Contact > Tweezer Reprise See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
This week we're happy to be joined by Steve Judd, a great guy and a big fan who picked an absolutely epic show, the second night of the Island Tour, 4.3.98, from Uniondale, NY. The setlist is at the bottom of the page, and the chapter markers are below. Please review us on iTunes, and send comments and feedback to helpingfriendlypodcast at gmail dot com, and follow us on Twitter @hfpod. And check out CashorTrade.org for face value tickets to shows across the country. Chapter 1 0:00 Chat w/Steve Judd Chapter 2 22:38 Set 1 Phish 4.3.98 Chapter 3 1:40:56 Set 1 Breakdown Chapter 4 1:57:11 Set 2 Phish 4.3.98 Chapter 5 3:20:14 Set 2 Breakdown -- Phish 4.3.98, Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, NY Set 1: Mike's Song -> The Old Home Place > Weekapaug Groove, Train Song > Billy Breathes, Beauty of My Dreams, Dogs Stole Things > Reba, My Soul Set 2: Roses Are Free > Piper > Loving Cup > Run Like an Antelope E: Carini > Halley's Comet > Tweezer Reprise See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
This week Brad and I are back solo, back to our roots, and we're playing a show we've been looking forward to sharing for a long time: 2.3.93, from Portland, ME. The setlist and chapter markers are below, and visit http://hfpod.blogspot.com/ for more information. Lastly, please take a moment and review us on iTunes! Chapter 1 0:00-8:00 Intro Chat Chapter 2 8:00-1:22:54 Set 1 Phish 2.3.93 Chapter 3 1:22:54-1:35:37 Set 1 Breakdown Chapter 4 1:35:37-3:15:06 Set 2 Phish 2.3.93 Chapter 5 3:15:06-End Set 2 Breakdown -- Phish 2.3.93, Portland Expo, Portland, ME Set 1: Loving Cup, Rift, Fee > Llama, The Wedge, Divided Sky, I Didn't Know, My Friend, My Friend, Poor Heart > Guelah Papyrus, David Bowie Set 2: Runaway Jim, It's Ice > Tweezer, The Horse > Silent in the Morning > Sparkle, You Enjoy Myself > Lifeboy, Hold Your Head Up > Terrapin > Big Ball Jam > Hold Your Head Up, Possum Encore: Amazing Grace, Tweezer Reprise See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
This week we were joined by guest Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman), and he chose a really fun show, 12.28.11, from the New Year’s Run of 2011, from the hallowed ground of Madison Square Garden. The setlist and chapter markers are below, and visit http://hfpod.blogspot.com/ for more information. Lastly, please take a moment and review us on iTunes! Chapter 1 0:00-17:13 Conversation with Jake Sherman Chapter 2 17:13-1:39:18 Set 1 Phish 12.28.11 Chapter 3 1:39:18-1:55:31 Set 1 Breakdown Chapter 4 1:55:31-3:26:28 Set 2 Phish 12.28.11 Chapter 5 3:26:28-End Set 2 Breakdown -- Phish 12.28.11, Madison Square Garden, New York, NY Set 1: Free, Glide > Possum, Cities, The Ballad of Curtis Loew, Stash, Contact > Sample in a Jar, Kill Devil Falls > Bathtub Gin Set 2: Birds of a Feather, Carini > Tweezer > My Friend My Friend, Rock and Roll > NICU, Bouncing Around the Room, Harry Hood > Bug E: Tube > Rocky Top > Tweezer Reprise See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.