Ten Tunes for Friday
12.30.09 (W.Rogell)
To take you through this Friday, I have created a ten-song playlist that you can listen to on the site and download. Click each individual orange track title to download the song; take all or some, it’s up to you. Enjoy!
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“Ghost” 8.16.98 II Lemonwheel, Limestone, ME
Phish’s 1998 ambient experimentation began to emerge at their summer-emding festival. Taking a step away from pure-funk, the band started to infuse a more amorphous quality to their music, a development you can hear in its genesis via this “Ghost.” Phish capped a summer of decidedly funky episodes something distinctly different.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/ph1998-08-16d3t01.mp3]***
“Free” 12.15.99 II MCI Center, Washington, DC
Towards the end of, arguably, “Free’s” most exploratory year, Phish threw down a defining version of the song in the middle of the second set in Washington, DC. Showcasing some of Trey’s most creative work on his late ’99 keyboard, he hopped off guitar for a good portion of this jam playing sparse, yet engaging hooks. Then he slung his axe back over his shoulder and took this jam to the top; an upper-echelon version by anyone’s standard.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/ph1999-12-15d2t04.mp3]
12.29.09 (W.Rogell)
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“Split” 11.6.98 I Kohl Center, Madison, WI
This well-known version of “Split” is famous for one reason – an insanely tight groove session. Absolutely locked together, the band shredded this first set closer to pieces. Not experimental, but staying on a driving course of menacing momentum, this version provided the jaw-dropping moment of the evening. Mike has called this jam one of his favorite moments from Fall ’98.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/07-Track-07.mp3]***
“Wolfman’s Brother” 11.13.98 I CSU, Cleveland, OH
An oft forgotten version buried in a lackluster show, this “Wolfman’s” is – straight up – the bees knees. Boasting addictive dino-funk and a pronounced “Mind Left Body” segment, this dark horse is a personal go-to version. Enjoy reacquainting yourselves with one of the hottest versions around.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/ph1998-11-13d1t02.mp3]***
“Reba” 12.29.09 I AAA, Miami, FL
A simply sublime version of “Reba,” soars gently through musical peaks and valleys on a stellar flight above a blissful sea of awareness. A dynamic mixture of delicate playing and liquid grooves, this jam rolls like water gently over a river bed.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/ph2009-12-29t07.mp3]***
12.30.09 (W.Rogell)
“Scents and Subtle Sounds” Deer Creek 7.23.03 Deer Creek I
…And sometimes Phish opens with twenty-minute jams; gotta love ’03. One of three extended “Scents” during this summer tour, the band began their third and final night at Deer Creek with one of the song’s defining performances. As the song finally dropped at MSG last fall, here’s to some more summer explorations of post-hiatus’ most interstellar vehicle. (Apologies for the low bit rate on this track.)
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/I-01-Scents-and-Subtle-Sounds-.mp3]***
“Waves” 8.2.03 II Limestone, ME
Another post-hiatus song that often stretched into psychedelic excursions, none were more profound than this twenty-minute odyssey in Limestone. With some of the most ambient psychedelia of the weekend, this jam helped define the glorious festival – IT.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/Phish2003-08-02_d3t02_Waves.mp3]***
“Tweezer” 6.24.00 I Lakewood, Atlanta, GA
A classic through and through, this “Tweezer” passes through some serious swamp funk on the way to a completely different and triumphant jam.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/Tweezer.mp3]
12.31.09 (W.Rogell)
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“Ramble On > Slave” 8.12.98 I Vernon Downs, NY
This gorgeous combination of songs peaked the first set of Vernon Downs with majesty. Laying out “Ramble On’s” melody in the peak of “Slave,” Trey combined these two pieces masterfully. A piece of aural reverie, this sequence held up as a Summer ’98 highlighht after an extensive tour.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/ph98-08-12d1t07.mp3,http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/ph98-08-12d1t08.mp3] Tags: Jams
good call WT, thanks for the reminder. I find Conan pretty freaking funny myself. Not bad though, 30 million for 8 months work.
Is Kuroda doing lights for TAB this run?
Mr. Palmer…
See Alvin (for the girls)… the go see Avatar… there are some true moments…
@ Butter…I was in Set I when you were discussing Tweezer and Manteca, and there are some definite Mantecas being played there
But as you, KWL, and C said: whatever, its the shit
losing conan is a huge loss.
for comedy and music.
jimmy vivino + weinberg 7 are the best.
conan is tight w/ all the good bands, including phish.
he should move to fox. new show + write for the simpsons again.
boycott nbc! because we do matter!
@Mr. C – making any converts to (back to?) Phish with the disks? I’ve long ago stopped trying to bring people in, I find even normally open minded people closed off to phish if they have already formed an opinion, even if it based on perception going back 20 years.
gotta love the old “cone bone”
I saw Vivino come out with the Almann’s one night and absolutley tear shit up.
I went and checked
no one ever does the full 7 note quote IMO
at the show I remember thinking that was about as close as I’ve ever been to a Manteca jam since 98 Vegas
I still think it was just a jam with the Manteca feel
and I was yelling Manteca down in Miami
it felt like it was coming and then
nope
I’ll need to check it out again
still think close, but slightly different
like I said before a Manteca feel
that not full on Manteca
I think I stand by that
great tweezer either way
vivino shredded ‘while my guitar gently weeps’ w / trey at the jammies 2 years ago.
dude can wail.
plus he’s in the best beatles band…fab faux.
i think I’m slowly being converted, it’s not a manteca tease. Feel is probably right. damn close to a tease.
Just listened to the 98 Gumbo & I hear what Miner is talking about (it’s in the Halley’s too), but not quite the same as miami tweezer, which is much closer to manteca.
countdown to weekend freedom is on. T-minus 30 minutes and counting!
KWL
if you actually sing the tweezer melody and manteca they are similar
just with the pattern rearranged
that is why they sounded so great together in Vegas
a natural fit
my hear wants to hear it
I was yelling Manteca to the youngsters by us at the show
they were like what the fuck is Manteca?
joe – too early to say, I think I’ve got one for sure
these are all folks who are on the fence or casually interested, mostly deadheads from my era, old friends and new, and a couple guys who went to phish shows in the 90s but fell out at various points along the way. not interested in trying to push anyone into it, these are folks who want to check it out but don’t have the knowledge/time/energy to go track down the tunes
but all the kind of folks that even if they don’t know the songs, you don’t play them Sample, you start with the Ghost or the Tweez.
my buddy Doug, I think he’ll be in. In fact I bet they bring the kids if the Gorge happens again. He wants to like it, I can tell. He wants to be back in the mix at shows.
Then another guy is a total loss, no way, his taste in music is terrible – thinks Gov’t Mule is the greatest band on earth. But he’s one of my oldest friends and I delight in proving him wrong over and over. It’s kind of a funny relationship – party animial, great guy, green thumb, kind heart…tin ear.
im feelin confused on the whole Manteca issue. i’ll be lookin into that. Conan is def. on in 3. c-ya
they were like what the fuck is Manteca?
llfa, i was yelling manteca right away, in the car, my girl was like what the fuck are you yelling, i’m trying to drive here
my friends who aren’t into it kind of like the spacy stuff, but the “regular” phish antics/songs are what get in the way for them. To each his own.
have a good weekend everyone. Get some Fresh Air, even if it’s freezing!
sticking with manteca-esque
one last thought for me before I hit the road. I actually really like backwards down the number line…I feel a big weight lifted off my shoulders now that I’ve come clean to myself and others. Still don’t like heavy things and you can’t convince me otherwise even if there were a few nifty jams in it in the latter half of 09.
So I haven’t been up on the Conan/Leno/NBC thing the last couple of weeks. Did NBC go ahead and fuck Conan? When’s the last show, if so?
I’ve always liked Heavy Things, and I’ve liked Number Line since I first heard it from the Rothbury show; fell in love with it then, actually.
I’m just fine with a good pop song
last show right now
nbc screwed conan and america!
@AW
i know we’ve talked about the ross before. I’m not familiar w/it & have never owned a compressor, but I’m about to start looking for one. Any recommendations other than the ross?
I believe the last show is airing right now. I DVR’d most of this week, and I might even watch back on some of it. Conan has been on fire!