“Go-Suto” (Japanese: Ghost)
Osaka 2000
As soon as Phish debuted “Ghost” in their first show of Summer ’97, the song became a staple jam vehicle for Phish. Moving with the band’s musical direction of the late-90s, “Ghost” featured groove, rock, and ambient jams depending on the era, almost always providing a highlight for any show in which it appeared. And then in Phish’s second show of 2000, at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, the band rewrote the record books for their late-90’s song. Exploring the hyper-complexities of groove and moving far beyond them into completely transcendent music, Phish threw down, perhaps, the greatest version ever played.
After such a blowout, one would figure the band continued magnifying the song for the rest of the summer, let alone the rest of the year. But they didn’t. While the Phish played solid “Ghosts” in Hartford (7.1), Chicago (9.22), and Denver (9.27), the band only took out the song six times after Radio City. And only one truly stood out – 6.15.00. Phish let loose on the final standout “Ghost” of the pre-hiatus years on the penultimate night of Japan tour in Osaka, Japan. Towards the end of the first set, the band unveiled the only Japanese version of the song, and as it turned out, the last truly great version of 2000.
6.11.00 - Tokyo (E.Sakai)
In Big Cat, a small club, elevated six floors amidst a shopping plaza, the audience squeezed into the small, square room. The predominantly Japanese audience packed it in, as the concept of personal space differed from that in the states – a lot. Before long, a combination of fans began filling the room with blown-up balloons, like a life-sized lottery bin. But when the music started, silence fell, and everyone’s focus turned squarely to the stage.
After a routine four-song, set-opening sequence, Trey quietly initiated a series of siren loops, opening the only “Ghost” of the Pacific. Following the composed section, the band oozed into the piece with a methodical, bass-led groove. Taking ample time to settle into a thick rhythmic canvas, the band pondered the early course of the jam before diving in. Mike took the melodic lead, while Trey and Page added effects, beginning the excursion in a sparse dance pattern. Trey coyly began to pick a melody within the groove, very much blending with whole, yet bringing a whole new element to the table. Amidst a increasingly murkier plane, Fishman hit a disco-like groove that Mike immediately latched onto, bringing memories of the infectious dance odyssey weeks ago at Radio City. Page and Trey began to gently toy with the beat, and all of a sudden, the band rolled into subconscious territory.
6.15.00 - Big Cat Ticket
Offering independent melodic ideas along these uptempo rhythms, Trey stepped into prominence, before long, playing an open chord progression that would guide the band through an upbeat, out-of-character second half of the jam. The rest of his band mates picked up on his idea, gradually building a triumphant build over these changes, Meanwhile, after setting the musical plate, Trey transformed into the a cathartic waterfall of notes and melody, peaking the piece in a rolling, cyclical fashion. Uniting all the energy in the room, Phish took sailing on the majestic seas of bliss, drawing out the apex of the jam in an all-out celebration of the human spirit. After the peak, the band seamlessly slid back into “Ghost,” bringing this version to a close.
The Osaka “Ghost” became an immediate highlight of Japan 2000, and without anyone knowing at the time, represented the last pre-hiatus triumph for the song. This moving piece of music goes under-circulated due to its international origins, and has thus been under-appreciated over the years. Everyone knows the Radio City “Ghost,” and rightfully so. This one came next.
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Jam of the Day:
“Ghost” 6.15.00 I Rmstr
This standout version of the song has recently been remastered by Phish Thoughts reader, “Kenny Powers,” and is available to download by clicking the orange title above.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/ph2000.06.15-Ghost-remastered-MTX.mp3]=====
DOWNLOAD OF THE DAY:
5.23.00 Roseland, NYC, NY SBD < Torrent
5.23.00 Roseland, NYC, NY SBD < Megaupload
Roseland Ballroom - NYC
During and after the first Radio City show, fans lined the sidewalks of Manhattan to get tickets for Phish’s just-announced show at Roseland the night after. The intimate gig was filmed for VH-1’s “Hard Rock Live,” and though the show was relatively jam-less, the event provided a special night in the spring of 2000.
I: AC/DC Bag, Wilson, First Tube, Ya Mar, Mike’s Song > Simple > It’s Ice, When the Circus Comes, Back on the Train, Gotta Jibboo, Taste, Sleeping Monkey
II: Punch You In the Eye, Twist, Waste, Piper, You Enjoy Myself, Run Like an Antelope, Train Song, Bug
E: Boogie On Reggae Woman, Cavern
Source: SBD
Tags: 2000, International, Jams
Good deal. I’m happily willing to put up for both, as you don’t know me from Adam. I’ll keep a look-out if you can do the same.
I have a lawn for 7/4, and ideally I’ll hit 7/1 and 7/2, but those are in the air; 7/3 is the one other I’m definitely going to hit, and I’d like to have a ticket in hand when I show up 🙂
my email:
bradfordthedeep@yahoo.com
Chef – gotcha, I’ll do the same.
I have 7/1, 7/2, & 7/4 Pavs… just need the 7/3. I just want in the venue – I’m not strictly going for pavs.
Cool man. I’d rather get a pav(s); I’ve only been to a few Phish shows, haven’t ever been remotely close to the stage, but I’m happy just getting in the door
Chef you have mail
Wilson chant, please go away.
Hood retort, please stay away.
Glow sticks, toss, toss, hooray.
But not at the band.
That’s not like a true fan.
C’mon, man.
On second thought, it’s never been like 97 Gorge, so ya’ll just stop with the damn things. It’s just more garbage for the green crew to pick up.
Oh, and the Stash claps are as close to being part of the song as trampolines are to You Enjoy Myself. Not necessary, not original, but certainly would be missed. So, I’m cool with those too…
But only if you can clap with some sort of rhythm…because everyone is already dancing to their own beat…let’s not give them another one.
Fest looks totally professional BTB. Great fvcking invite man. You are a true asset to the community. Don’t think I’ll be able to make it, but never count out an ex-wook to show up on your doorstep.
I’ve always loved it when 100s of those glow things are tossed at the same time…
And then NO ONE throws them up again.
It happened like that many times this summer, and I loved it!!
Bingo – It would be great if you could make it. It’s all hype though. It’s just going to be me, my dog and some balogna sandwhiches 🙂
ditto
@BTB,
I used to know the guy and his mom who used to own the Nelson Ledges park that had access to the quarry. I’ve taken many a high diving plunge of the cliff’s edge. Do you know those folks?
One of my own former band mates was in a band with that gentlemen…that’s how i first met him, many years ago. Had some good times hanging in his house with his whole family, while the campground was buzzing with activity. Lovely place to gather, that’s for sure.
I won’t be there as I won’t get my PHiSH happening until the next week.
But I look forward to reports on the water, the best cliff cannonball, and some good stories.
Jumping into quarries is intense Corey. Better add life preservers to go with the bologna sandwiches. Make sure Page doesn’t hear about those or your party is f’ed B.
Board going off today. Busy work day. All work. The “tour is coming” vibe is palpable here. Getting pumped. I think Fee4zy will smoke me under the table. I wanna get down with SOAM.
I have a Camden>MPP pav pair trade comin. Hang on for specifics.
:hangs on:
BTB – cant make the fest but stoked to meet you in NC.
what up Frankie? you want the re-release of Shuggie Otis’ “inspiration information” friend…
It’s high up, but not like the spot where those “pros” down in Mexico jump (if you ever saw that Nitro Circus episode with the cliff divers…I think that’s a similar spot). At Nelson Ledges, I’m gonna say maybe 30-40 feet up off the water. The water’s nice and still in that quarry. Is swimming and/or cliff jumping no longer an option out there?
Of course, there’s the beach if you want to get in the water that way…
waiting for a text back Bingos…just trying to get the info right. it’s my good friend…he has a pair of pavs to trade…just can’t figger whether he’s got camden for MPP or vice-versa…will holler back.
this board has been great for tix…i’ve thrown some love around…kaveh is hooking my friend who is coming with me to NC…love it.
Good to hear gd.
30-40 feet is pretty damn high Corey. Me and my friends used to go to an abandoned quarry in HS and jump off about a 50 foot cliff in the middle of the night. One night we were spun and a couple of them decided to swim to the other side, thankfully they made it back. Ah, youth. Can’t even fart nowadays without worrying if my asshole’s gonna fall out.
@Corey – I do not know anybody personally, but the NLQP was in its hey-day when I was in high school and I was up there a lot. Just a confused Ekoostik Hookah wannabe / PH novice. But yeah, I know a guy, who knows a guy…who knows the guy. It was sold a couple years ago.
My ranch is located by the race track though – about 1 mile away. It’s Floyd/Zeppelin weekend at the Ledges so I don’t think any of us will pay for that, but it could be fun the Sunday after the show.
Jumped off those cliffs many a time – mostly trippin ballz – ha.
@GD – NC is on, should be fun.
and hey KP…your ghost remaster = proper.
Here’s some old school Midwest…
Jumped off a railroad bridge into a river in Western PA. No joke, probably 80-100 feet. Very intense.
This was last year during the “great recession” , looked down at the railroad ties and the steel read, “CARNEGIE STEEL – CLEVELAND, OH – 1932”; spooky…there I was…in the worst financial downturn since that bridge had been built. Never forget it. Starred long and hard.
Thats a long way down brotha. Plenty of time to think
BTB’s inspiration
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DdLH75GKkc
@BTB, now that’s a hell of a leap. Thanks for the NLQP update. Haven’t been there since 2002.
I remember being in a music camp in Monterey, CA (actually at that private Pebble Beach school right atop the golf course grounds) and we had a day trip to somewhere in the woods around Carmel…to swim and hang around in the water and soak up some sun. Well, the cliffs around the water were just too damn enticing, so a bunch of us decided to climb the cliff wall, sans ropes or anything, and then turn, push off, and about 50+ feet later hit the water. It was a rush, to say the least.
When you have enough time to think a few rational thoughts and recognize what you’re doing…well, that’s a long way down.
As BingosBrother said, back when I was a youngin’…
Frankie
Inspiration Information (Shuggie)
Mr. Minor –
Calling 5/23/00 “relatively jam-less,” while an accurate statement, ignores one of the best jams of the entire year: the Ya Mar>Mike’s. That jam after Ya Mar is just out of control, all dance groove and no wah-wah funk, and then the jam drifts into a tropical territory, almost seemingly like it’s going for Lizards, before instead falling into ambient space, out of which the opening Mike’s riff emerges. It’s by far the improvisational highlight of the night, and a newly remastered Matrix source on the etree really pops. You should definitely post it.