Jam Central Station 10.03.09: Phish - Part 1

Posted by Jeff Modzelewski on 10.10.2009

After covering the members individually, it's time to take a look at the greatest jam band of our generation as a whole. Come take a closer look at Phish!



Welcome back to Jam Central Station this week. Right off the bat, I want to give a huge Thank You to The Groove Prophets for having me out to last weekend to the Northern Ohio NORML Harvest Festival. I only went for Saturday (it was a weekend camping event), but I had a lot of fun and heard some great music. There were a bunch of bands at the show, but I have to give some love to both The League of Proper Musicians and The Groove Prophets. The League of Proper Musicians were very eclectic and a lot of fun. Good groove, very funky. As for The Groove Prophets, those guys are a very talented bunch of musicians. Last time I saw them they reminded me a lot of The Allman Brothers, but, this time around, they really brought out a lot of The Grateful Dead. I'm talking 1973 Grateful Dead. They had some very trippy, very spacey jams. So, again, please check them out on Facebook, since they still don't have a website up yet (slackers).

Also, if anyone cares, I celebrated my 30th birthday this past Wednesday, so happy birthday to me. I'm old now. My wonderful wife bought me a new satellite radio, since she's awesome and stuff. Our old Sirius radio had been working great for seven years until someone tried to steal it out of our car. Since then, it's been very off and on, and I just can't live like that. So, bring on the new radio! Serious, if you don't have satellite radio, I'd strongly recommend getting it, especially if you spend a lot of time in your car. Anyways, on with the show!



So, after covering each member of Phish over the past four weeks, it's time to take on the band as a whole. Since I've already given so much time to the members, I didn't want to skimp on covering the group. After doing some research, I decided to take on the band in two parts. Today I'm going to look at the history of Phish, starting with their inception and going through what is considered the defining moment for the band, Big Cypress.

In 1983, guitarist Trey Anastasio was looking to start a band at the University of Vermont. With some experience playing both drums and guitar in high school, Trey was looking for a serious musical challenge. He met guitarist Jeff Holdsworth, and the two of them quickly recruited Jon Fishman for the drums and Mike Gordon on bass. The band's first gig was at a Halloween party, where legend has it that the band was ushered off of the stage by someone putting Thriller on a radio. Despite that rocky start, the band began regularly playing shows at college parties and bars, mixing covers and some Holdsworth-penned originals.

The band went through a few lineup changes early in their career. Marc Daubert joined as a percussionist, but only lasted about a year in the band. Keyboardist Page McConnell began going to Phish shows in 1985, and, by September, had been invited to join the band. Jeff Holdsworth left the band he helped found after he graduated from the University of Vermont in 1986. The style of music that the band was moving towards, including epic compositions coming from Trey and a heavily improvisational style that the rest of the band was interested in, wasn't a direction that Holdsworth wanted to go. With Holdsworth gone, Trey and Fish joined Page at Goddard University, leaving Mike as the only remaining Phish member at UVM.

At Goddard, the band began recording a number of songs in cassettes, using studio space and doing much of the rest of the work in their dorms. The White Tape was recorded during this time, along with Trey's concept album The Man Who Stepped Into Yesterday. After graduation, the band began focusing the majority of their time and energy on Phish. They recorded and released Junta, their debut album, in 1989. The album was only available at shows, and included the Phish classic "You Enjoy Myself."

The band was gaining popularity by playing extensively in New England clubs, constantly performing either on stage or in practice. Trey's talent at composition helped shape the direction of the band, but the entire band lent their improvisational talent. The band also spent so much of their time rehearsing and working on their material that they began to understand and anticipate what each member would do during a performance. The band released Lawn Boy in 1990, but the record label that released the album subsequently went bankrupt. This did nothing to slow their growth, as their fanbase steadily grew throughout the New England area, and they began to branch out to other parts of the country.

The early part of the 90's was a time of massive growth for Phish. By being one of the first bands to utilize the internet, the were able to grow their fanbase across the country. Fans were able to share stories, trade tapes of live performances (from the start, Phish was a taper-friendly band), and spread Phish news. A Picture of Nectar was released by Elektra Records in 1992, and Junta and Lawn Boy were re-released by Elektra. A Picture of Nectar was a moderate success, but the re-release of Lawn Boy got the band some mainstream exposure. The poppy song "Bouncing Around The Room" garnered more radio play than any Phish song, either before or since. Other songs from Lawn Boy continued to be essential songs in the Phish library, such as "Bathtub Gin" and "Run Like An Antelope."

Phish also joined the first H.O.R.D.E. tour, playing in front of large amphitheatre crowds for the first time. This experience exposed the band to a much larger audience than they had ever had a chance to play in front of. It also helped the band learn how to manage the difference between a show at a club or a theatre and a show in front of a much larger crowd. They toured arenas later that year with Santana, and continued to see their own popularity grow.

By 1993, Phish was in an awkward position. They were too big to play clubs in theaters in many cities, but they also didn't have the following to play arenas or amphitheatres either. Over the next few years, they often played to half-filled arenas, but the number fans that did attend kept growing. Their online presence also grew quickly, and, in an era where many people didn't yet know what the internet was, Phish had over 40,000 members of their online community. They released Rift in 1993 and Hoist in 1994. Neither were commercial successes, but Hoist again included a number of songs that the band would play extensively live. "Down With Disease" even had a video made, which, while it didn't get much play on MTV, did get a slot on "Beavis and Butthead."

1994 also began a new Phish tradition: the Halloween show. They had a mail-in vote for fans to decide which "musical costume" they would don for Halloween. The fans voted and, for the second set of their Halloween show, the band played The Beatles White Album in it's entirety. They actually teased a performance of Dark Side Of The Moon by playing "Speak to Me" over the PA before going into the actual performance. The band continues to cover many of the songs off of this album to this day. They then released their first live album, the double album A Live One in 1995. The album was the first Phish album to go Gold, and it went a long way in selling new fans on the Phish experience. They continued their Halloween tradition in 1995, performing The Who's Quadrophenia during their second set. The encore ended with "My Generation" and the band destroying their instruments on stage.

1995 ended with a performance at Madison Square Garden, a concert that Rolling Stone listed as one of the "Greatest Concerts of the 90's." They were able to follow up the momentum that they had been gaining with 96's Billy Breathes, which was their most successful studio album up to that point. The band also began a tradition that would help define their career: the Phish Festival. Their first festival, dubbed The Clifford Ball, was held in the summer of 1996 in Plattsburgh, New York. Over 80,000 Phish fans attended, making the event a complete success. They took on a new challenge for Halloween, covering Remain in the Light by The Talking Heads.

As Phish moved through the rest of the 90's, their festivals continued to become bigger and more elaborate events. The Great Went in 1997 brought nearly 80,000 people to Maine, and included a late-night "disco set" with the entire band on keyboards. They skipped Halloween that year, but released Slip Stitch and Pass, their second live album. 1998's Lemonwheel festival was slightly smaller (only 60,000 people), but included the longest Phish show up to that time. The band continued to struggle with attendance in certain parts of the country, however. Two days after their Halloween show (where they covered Loaded by The Velvet Underground), only 4,000 fans turned out to their show in Salt Lake City. The band gave these fans a treat by finally performing Dark Side of the Moon in it's entirety.

1999 ended up being a turning-point year for the band. Trey started the year touring solo for the first time. The band didn't go on tour until the summer, and the tour was somewhat less extensive than others. However, the band added new wrinkles into their repertoire such as "The Meatstick Dance," which they would use throughout the summer. They held a smaller festival that summer, called Camp Oswego. Unlike other festivals, the band only played five sets over the two nights. They also unsuccessfully attempted to break the Guinness Book of World Records record for most people doing a dance at the same time with "The Meatstick Dance," but they ultimately were unable to do so.

At the end of 1999, the band undertook two of their most ambitious projects to date. First, in November, they released Hampton Comes Alive, a six-disc CD set consisting of two full concerts from the previous November. Despite the size and price of the set, Hampton Comes Alive was certified Gold in under two months. They then took on their largest festival to date, the Big Cypress festival, set to coincide with New Years Eve 1999. Over 85,000 people attended the event, making it the largest paid New Years Eve concert of the year, and the largest Phish Festival yet. The band played three sets on the 30th, and two sets on the 31st, including the second set known as "The Show." "The Show" began just before midnight on the 31st and the band played until sunrise. The 7+ hour set included over 30 songs and numerous extended jams. For a band that was known for continuing to push themselves further, this was an achievement that simply could not be topped…

(To be continued…)



We'll start out with "Chalk Dust Torture" from Phish's New Years Eve 1995 show



This is the oldest Phish video I've found to date. It's a 1989 version of "Bathtub Gin" from Goddard College



Here's "It's Ice" from The Clifford Ball DVD



From Halloween 1996, here's "Born Under Punches"



And "Maze" from The Great Went




And I had to throw in a couple of clips from Big Cypress. Here's "Bug"



And the ABC broadcast of "Heavy Things"





Phish gives more albums the axe

Phish cut 17 more albums over the past week. Out of the running now is:

fIREHOUSE Flyin' the Flannel
X Los Angeles
Peter Gabriel So (the first of my possibilities to get cut)
Bob Seger Against the Wind
David Bowie Scary Monsters
Elvis Costello This Year's Model
Bob Dylan and the Band The Basement Tapes
Neil Young Everyone Knows This is Nowhere (a little surprised this was cut early)
Duran Duran Rio (not a surprise)
Michael McDonald If That's What It Takes
Pink Floyd Meddle (the only Floyd album that had even an outside chance. They're not going to cover both Dark Side and The Wall)
John Lennon Plastic Ono Band

After giving it some thought, I'm sticking with my picks from last week with one change. I should have cut Velvet Underground and Nico from my list of possibilities last week, since they covered Loaded in 1998. That somehow slipped my mind. I'm still holding out hope for Thriller, though.

The band has also started making some odd changes to their Halloween website. Some alternate album covers, and some subtle (and some not so subtle) changes to existing covers. They're obviously ramping up for a good time at Festival 8.

Phish announces fall tour

Phish won't be done for the year with their festival. Instead, they've announced shows through the beginning of December. They'll start in Detroit and end up in Charlottesville. No word yet on any New Years Eve show, so this may be it for Phish this year.

November 18 Detroit, MI Cobo Arena

November 20 Cincinnati, OH U.S. Bank Arena

November 21 Cincinnati, OH U.S. Bank Arena

November 22 Syracuse, NY War Memorial at Oncenter

November 24 Philadelphia, PA Wachovia Center

November 25 Philadelphia, PA Wachovia Center

November 27 Albany, NY Times Union Center

November 28 Albany, NY Times Union Center

November 29 Portland, ME Cumberland County Civic Center

December 2 New York, NY Madison Square Garden

December 3 New York, NY Madison Square Garden

December 4 New York, NY Madison Square Garden

December 5 Charlottesville, VA John Paul Jones Arena

Dave Matthews and Time Reynolds to play Vegas

With the Dave Matthews Band pretty much done until the end of the year, Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds will be performing three dates in Las Vegas later this year. The duo will play the Las Vegas Theatre for the Performing Arts at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino on December 12, 13, and 14. Tickets will be available through the DMB fan club, and confirmations will go out by October 23. Rumors persist of a full Dave and Tim tour this winter, but no dates are scheduled yet. If anyone wants to fly my broke ass out to Vegas for this show, I would very much appreciate it. :)

Keller Williams announces new project

Yes, he just released another new CD, Odd but Keller Williams is never one to sit still. Keller announced his new project, Keller Williams and the Added Bonus. The group will close out the year with the "Nocturnal Negative New Year's Nomadic Notion Run," a four-night run of shows at venues that begin with "N." An odd way to choose show locations, but, hey, it's Keller. All of the shows will blend solo Keller stuff with group stuff. No word yet if this group will be touring long-term or hitting the studio, but I wouldn't bet against it.

Bob Dylan extends tour

Apparently Bob Dylan wants to spend some more time on the road. Dylan and his band have extended their tour through mid-November, with dates that will criss-cross the country. Check out if he's coming to a city near you:

October 10 Berkeley, CA Greek Theatre 

October 11 Berkeley, CA Greek Theatre 

October 13 Los Angeles, CA Hollywood Palladium 

October 14 Los Angeles, CA Hollywood Palladium 

October 15 Los Angeles, CA Hollywood Palladium 

October 17 Phoenix, AZ Veterans Memorial Coliseum
October
18 Las Vegas, NV The Joint

October 19 Salt Lake City, UT Salt Air 

October 21 Denver, CO University of Denver – Magness Arena

October 23 Salina, KS Bicentennial Center

October 24 Tulsa, OK Brady Theater

October 25 Springfield, MO Shrine Mosque Auditorium

October 27 Rockford, IL Rockford Metrocentre

October 29 Chicago, IL Aragon Ballroom

October 30 Chicago, IL October Aragon Ballroom 

October 3 1Chicago, IL Aragon Ballroom 

November 2 Bloomington, IN IU Auditorium

November 5Canton, OH Canton Memorial Civic Center

November 6 Detroit, MI Fox Theatre

November 7 Kitchener, ON Memorial Auditorium

November 9 Philadelphia, PA Temple University – Liacouras Center

November 11 Fairfax, VA GMU Patriot Center

November 13 Boston, MA Wang Theatre

November 14 Boston, MA Wang Theatre

November 15 Boston, MA Wang Theatre

November 17 New York, NY United Palace Theatre

November 18 New York, NY United Palace Theatre

November 19 New York, NY United Palace Theatre

Karl Denson's Tiny Universe to pay tribute to Michael Jackson

Phish may not be the only band playing some of the King of Pop on Halloween. Karl Denson has announced that his show, at the Bowery Ballroom in New York, will not only focus on his new album Brothers Keeper but will serve as a tribute to Jackson. Hopefully we'll see more details coming soon.



So, I don't want to make a judgment based on one song, but I heard "I Ain't Hiding" from the new Black Crowes album, and I really don't understand the direction the band is going. Way too poppy, it reminded me of The Killers or some of those other modern-alternative bands. I almost thought it was a mistake, since it doesn't really sound much like anything I'm familiar with from The Black Crowes. I haven't listened to the album yet, but I'm hoping it's better than this.

Also, I want to give a huge shout out to my friend Amanda Laffin (aka Boo) for providing me pictures for my Michael Franti and Spearhead review. I was too busy dancing and jumping (and taking notes) to take pictures, so she provided them to me from the show in Indianapolis later that week. She had tons of great pictures, and I had more than enough shots to choose from. Thanks Boo! :)

And thanks to everyone for checking out the column again this week. I'll be back next week for Part 2 of my Phish profile. I'll be spending this weekend hooking up my new Sirius radio in my car. Until next week, Jam On!