Bands 101: Phish
Like most music junkies I've gone through phases. Started early listening to old-school funk, soul, and beach music that my parents played in the house, transitioned into classic rock (Zeppelin, Beatles, Sabbath, Neil Young), somehow made my way into an emo kick when I entered high school, and then my friend Josh sat me down with a CD he'd just bought by a band named Phish.
That record changed it, it was Live Phish 16, it was a concert recorded in Indiana in 1996, and it was the beginning of what has become an obsession with one of my favorite bands of all time. I love Phish, I'm not ashamed of that fact and am happy to share that love with others. Collectively, Trey Anastasio, Mike Gordon, Page McConnell, and Jon Fishman have been delighting millions of ears for over 30 years (my own ears for 13 of those). However, there are many who trash on them as a bunch of dudes with long hair playing stoner jams to hippies. I can't necessarily say that all of that is not true but what they pump out on tour is stuff that sometimes you just have to give a chance. The traditional route to a band intro is to hand someone the studio catalog but that'd be plain silly to do in this instance because what makes this band so wonderful is what happens on stage. Phish is a band that puts on damn fine shows, improvises better than most, and consistently amazes me with their quality of play (or jams) the older they get.
So I decided to undertake an epic chore, I'm going to provide a large sampler of Phish for you. I'm going to go song-by-song (not every song, just their heaviest tour hitters) and give you my take on their best renditions, where to find them, and why you should be wowed by them. I'll make sure I give you video links and resources on where to get the shows/songs. And all of this just in time before they kick off their summer tour in a few weeks!
So let's begin with the song that converted me from the very beginning!
Divided Sky
Man, I can't imagine hearing the opening to this song and NOT wanting to hear the remaining 12 minutes or so. Soaring, moving, and bright, this song can do no wrong. Working effectively in any spot of the first set of a show it provides a boost of airy energy whenever it's heard. And I'd defy anyone to find a better version than the one that popped my cherry on Live Phish 16. Hear it below:
Maze
So I've told you the song that brought me to Phish, now how about the song that locked me in forever. This song starts mysteriously, builds quick, and does not let up until the very end. Consistently put smack dab in the middle of most first sets, it's a pulse pounding 10 minutes of Trey shredding. And that's what hooked me. When first dabbling in Phish's archives I was always seeking the songs that just moved at blistering speed and had plenty of shredding throughout. That's changed but this song is still near and dear to my heart. Especially the version on Live Phish 10, easily the best ever documented. Check it out:
Fuego
Let's take a peek at one of the band's newer tunes. Debuting in 2013 at the Halloween show as part of their traditional "musical costume" set, only this time from the future (playing songs from a forthcoming album), "Fuego" is clearly a fun party rocker. A song that seems to descend from the band's ability to still write sing-along songs like they were still a bunch of strange college kids in Vermont. This song get's into the good groove early and can either be short and to the point or stretched out. This may be my favorite live translation of the song to date:
Runaway Jim
Alright, we've arrived at our first major "jam vehicle" (ie a song that commonly get's stretched to it's limits with improve). "Jim" is a song I'm hit or miss with, when they're locked in on this one it seems anything is possible, but when it's not going too hot in the jam section things get messy and this thing get's rip corded fast. There's a large number of memorable versions of this track, including the nearly an hour version from 11/29/1997. But for my money, their best work on this tune comes from Star Lake in 1998. A version filled with exploration both technical quick and near-ambient sound tip-toing towards spacey grooves, the band returns to the song cleanly and triumphantly. Check it out:
Gumbo
Very easily a song that could just be thought of as a standard first set filler with a little groove, this song has some versions that really liven up shows. Even better? Some of those have horn sections involved, and there's no better Phish song to incorporate horns into. There are a couple really solid horn versions of this song from the early and mid 90's but I've always really enjoyed the version from 12/02/94, which is coincidentally featured on the band's first release A Live One, take a listen:
Cities
We arrive to the our first cover and and it's a real gem. "Cities" is a song that first appeared on the 1979 Talking Heads album Fear of Music and then eventually made it's way into the Phish rotation in 1984. Played a little looser than the TH version, Phish's rendition didn't really find it's own until the late 90's throwing out a great near 30 minute version at Deer Creek in the summer of 1998. But if I had my pick I'd always go with the gloriously sharp and graceful version from Phish's now-famous show at Drums Logo in Fukuoka, Japan in 2000 (a personal favorite show). A show full of highlights and top shelf versions of many songs, "Cities" included. Seriously give this a try:
Ocelot
After the band came back from an extended 5 year hiatus, one that many thought would last forever after calling it quits, the band was clean, reenergized and supremely mature. Fans refer to the modern era of the band as Phish 3.0, 2.0 being 2002-04, and 1.0 being the 80's-2000. And hot damn if I don't love what they do in 3.0. Ocelot is a highlight of a lot of sets for me these days. Something of a country rocking backwoods tune Ocelot has yet to be played poorly live which is why it's immediately found a soft spot in my heart. There's no better version than the one played in Chicago in 2013, the fellas really tear into this version. Give it a good listen:
Roggae
I wouldn't necessarily call this song required listening for a newcomer but this song is way to pretty and beautiful to ignore. A song built around some really wonderful melodic weavings played delicately, it often builds and peaks at wonderful heights. Also, I'm not often a fan of the lyrics Trey writes but man these lyrics are so wonderfully matched to the music on this one. Give this version from a PBS taping in 1999:
Down with Disease
Ah, look, our second big jam vehicle. And I'll be honest, I never understood the appeal of this song. Sure it can produce some solid improvisation, but damn if I don't like any of the composed section. I've had versions that I've enjoyed over the years, but it's usually ones that stray FAAAAR from the origins of the song. If you like straight up solid rocker tunes, any version of this song from 1994 or 1995 will do you just fine. But the version I fancy the most is from the IT Festvial (one of 10 festivals Phish has hosted) in 2003, things get dark in this one and I like it:
Sanity
A song purely built and fueled by the insanity of it's lyrics and music, Sanity is one of the odd tunes that people love or hate. I used to hate it, and than I heard them play it last summer in Alpine Valley and it kicked my ass. At points sounding like a song Black Sabbath sold to the Vermont rockers, this may be the single best version of the song, and I'd argue that until I'm blue in the face. Give it a peak and see for yourself:
Fluffhead
One of the oldest and most beloved of songs in the band's catalog. Fluffhead is a shining beacon representing the earliest of Phish's music. It has a catchy intro, supremely goofy lyrics, and is packed full of complex composed sections (see: Divided Sky).
Sadly at one point Fluffhead was a super rarity. Played once in fall of 2000, it didn't appear during the band's brief return during Phish 2.0, and fans were up in arms about it's absence, and absence that did not go unnoticed. After 9 years and several dozens of shows, the band reunited in 2009, and what jaunty tune would be perfect to kick off the night and signify it's return? None other than Fluffhead, the eruption of joy in that moment is contagious, have a look for yourself:
David Bowie
Another hefty sized song with some blisteringly paced composed sections, it's marvel just hearing this and wondering how night in and night out they pull this song off. Often times erupting into dark and heavy improvisations, the peak on this track is frenzied and elating much like "Maze". While "Bowie" is still in rotation, some of the best versions were played in the mid 90's. I don't think you'll find a better version of this song than the one featured on the boxset, Chicago '94, lots of cool teases, builds, and jams on this one:
Stash
One of the very earliest memories I have of Phish is reading a Rolling Stone special edition magazine about the "Greatest Guitar Solos of All-Time" and seeing the song "Stash" by Phish on there, being played by a guy with a ridiculously long last name. Hearing it's complexities and digging into what Trey is doing at parts gives me a headache but watching him work the neck on this one blows my mind. And he's only gotten better on tracks like this as he's aged. Check this one out from 2013:
Waves
During the early 2000's the band seemed to buck writing songs based around overly complicated and technically impressive lines in favor of writing songs around a sound or a feeling even. Songs were made simplier but in doing that the band gave them selves room to stretch sonically, "Waves" is a perfect example of that. Easily my favorite song of that album Round Room, it get's fleshed out in such magical ways live. A great example of one of their deepese plunges is from the 2003 IT festival, both spacey and full it's a real treat in a good pair of head phones. However I've recently fallen in love with a version played live, without an audience at Bethel Woods in 2011 during a soundcheck. The song really hits it's stride in the final few minutes but every thing up to this is a purely sublime build. Give it a listen:
Alright, let's get into the two songs who's regular appearance and hefty history provide some wonderful debate about which version is best and why. I have my distinct opinions on each but I'll give some perspective on them as well (all while providing links to each version), so without further adieu let's talk about...
Tweezer
Debuting at a house party in 1990, played 375 times since then, with at least 200 version that could be consider classic. "Tweezer" is undeniably Phish's greatest and most beloved jam vehicle. No single version is ever the same because this song seems to evolve closer with the band's sound than any other song. There are a million version worthy of your attention, beginning with one from 1994 played at The Bomb Factory in Texas, This version is not only a 26 minute party, but it extends throughout the course of the second set as the band weaves it in and out of other songs. Come winter of '97 Tweezer had taken on many of the spacey cowfunk qualities that other songs were picking up. No other '97 version personifies this better than the one from 12/6/97 in Michigan. When the band came back from a short hiatus in 2003, "Tweezer" came along with it. Very quickly blowing minds with a truly fiery beast of a version delivered on 2/28/03 in Nassau. This would be my favorite version for a long time, until, of course I heard this next version. As the years of Phish 3.0 began to pass, many fans had given up on hearing an epic and deep jam like the ones from years past. That is, until, Phish pulled into Lake Tahoe and dropped a 36 minute piece of perfection. There's not a single point in this masterpiece where the guys sound out of sync, seem to struggle, or just bide time. It honestly sounds like they rehearsed this entire thing, and the fact that it's improvised with crowd participation taboot, well consider this my all time FAVORITE "Tweezer" hands down.
You Enjoy Myself (aka YEM)
Every band has their masterpieces, their magnum opus. "You Enjoy Myself" is that song for Phish. Arranged in several segments, musically complex, and with lyrics that are up for debate to this day, YEM is THE quintessential Phish song. I'd venture to guess everyone's first time hearing this song is something of a kick in the ass. Now because the band has played this song at a whopping 33% of their shows dating back to 1985, there's a ton of amazing versions. Some versions are just straight fire (or hose in Phish lingo) and consist of overwhelming amounts of shred, like the version played at Red Rocks in 94. Some versions are just goofy and strange like the one from Hartford on 8/14/09. Some take deep plunges throughout like the 40 minute version played on Halloween in 1995. But then there are perfect versions from perfect shows that just need to be heard. No other version, in my mind, exemplifies the best parts of YEM than the version played at the, now famous, New Years Eve concert in 1995. There's shredding, silliness, funky grooves, killer rhythm, and a stellar vocal jam to round things out. Just give this tune a listen:
Well that's that, I sincerely hope you enjoy what you've heard! Make sure you go see the fellas this summer in a city near you or just live stream their shows whenever possible!