Number 9…Number 9…
Today’s December time travel brings us back to the ninth of the month in Albany during Fall ’95, and in Arizona during Fall ’94. The highlighted pieces — Albany’s classic “You Enjoy Myself” and Mesa’s lesser-known “Antelope — showcase two outlandish mid-’90s jams that will leave your jaw on the floor.
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“You Enjoy Myself” 12.9.95 – Albany, New York II
"YEM" - Fall 98 Unknown
Albany and “You Enjoy Myself” have always enjoyed each other. Phish has performed their seminal piece in all but two visits to New York’s capitol during their entire career. Though many of these versions brought highlights and exclamation points to shows at The Knick and beyond, none stand out like the version that went down fifteen years ago today. This breakout “YEM” — with no parallels through the years — brought wide open improvisation to a largely structured jam. Though stellar versions allowed for plenty of freedom within the groove, “The Albany “YEM” broke down walls and transformed into a triumphant masterpiece that is generally considered the “best version” ever played.
This all-timer got moving in full when Trey scripted a now-iconic, melodic theme early in the jam. This chord progression ran through the entirety of this monstrosity, setting the musical framework for the band to blast off. Amidst a slamming rhythmic template and in a moment of full-speed revelation, this free-form piece left any semblance of “YEM” in a wake of original dance music. The band toyed with the jam’s signature theme throughout sparser grooves, as Page and Mike each emerged for periods of prominence. When Trey assumed the lead again, he tore into a solo that kicked the band into another gear and Phish chugged forward as a four-headed machine fueled by IT. Fishman and Gordon took center stage as Trey tickled a series of repetitive “disco” licks. Fully immersed in a bass-led groove, the band slowly peeled out of the mix, leaving the stage quiet as Phish entered a “silent jam.” Continuing to play their instruments in animated fashion without making a sound, Phish infused this mind-bender with a brief dose of antics. But almost two minutes later, Trey led the troops in a cliff dive back into the conventional “YEM” jam, taking the adventure to one last peak. One for the record books — take a moment to celebrate the 15th anniversary of a “You Enjoy Myself” like none other.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/ph12-9-95d2t05.mp3]***
“Run Like an Antelope” 12.9.94 – Mesa, Arizona I
NYC '94 (C.McGann)
Frenetic. Diabolical. Psychotic. These are words that come to mind when describing “Antelope” from Mesa, Arizona on the penultimate night of Fall ’94. Taking a step into the desert during early December, the band hit the ground running in this skull-fucking set-closer. Phish demolished the opening of the jam, wasting zero seconds getting into the middle of a ferocious music. Moving directly into tightly-laced chaotic improv, the entire band crushed the type of “Antelope” that no longer grazes the Western plains. Aggressive and hardcore machine-gun patterns underlined this twisted blast from the netherworld, as Phish explored music that could only have come at the end of 1994. The band communicated so closely that their offerings fused into a sonic bolt of lightening in which one could hardly decipher a single instrument from the explosive whole. This is full-on, ballistic Phish, a style unseen since its mid-’90s hey-dey. Fasten your seat belt for this fifteen-minute trip — things could get hairy.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/08-Run-Like-An-Antelope.mp3]=====
Jam of the Day:
“Simple > Timber Ho!” 12.9.97 II
This unconventional take on “Simple” turned into the centerpiece of Penn State ’97; another jam that proves Fall ’97 wasn’t only about funk.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/ph1997-12-09d2t02.mp3,http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/ph1997-12-09d2t03.mp3]=====
DOWNLOAD OF THE DAY:
11.28.98 The Centrum, Worcester, Massachusetts
FLAC Torrent (etree), Mp3 Torrent, Megaupload < Links
Worcester '98
With Worcester fast approaching, here is a small dip into the venue’s history. The middle show of Fall ’98 three-night finale featured some hot moments, but didn’t carry the weight of its two surrounding dates. “Wolfman’s > Timber” and a late-set “Tweezer” held down the second frame, while “Gumbo” and “Split” book-ended a solid first.
I: Gumbo, Tube, Down with Disease, Guyute, Albuquerque, Foam, The Moma Dance, Split Open and Melt
II: Julius, Wolfman’s Brother > Timber Ho, Loving Cup, Scent of a Mule, Prince Caspian, Crossroads, Tweezer, Cavern
E: Sample in a Jar, Tweezer Reprise
Source: FLAC – Nakamichi CM300’s/CP4s :: MP3 – Schoeps cmc6/mk41
i love bug top to bottom
always have
Love to hear Bug in person. Love to jump in the air while dancing and land right as Trey nails that power chord. Feels good.
I miss Windora Bug.
I recall the Albany ’00 one being really cool.
I had just discovered it on the Trey solo CD (Grand Pecking Order??) and felt like one of the priveleged few in the room who knew it at that point.
Always thought it could be a cool song to insert into a silly jam.
Who knows.
Which night in NYC do we get the Feats Don’t Fail Me Now?
@Mr P
I was thinking about that – my bet is on either 12/30, or (dark horse) 12/28 encore. The latter would be a little mean, though.
Or maybe something like Bag>Feats to open up 12/30.
In any case, it’s totally happening.
@Neemor
Nope, it’s not Grand Pecking Order, that would be Oysterhead… I don’t know what album it IS on, just that it’s not that one…
Hot Damn- That Bug video is excellent. Thanks for posting. Some of my people hate on that song. I freaking love it. Always have. Always will.
8/14/10 was a great fucking show.
Windora Bug is a song written by Tony Markellis and Trey i believe….
its on Trampled By Lambs, Pecked by the Doves
written by Trey and Tom
GarretC,
Do you have a good copy of that 10/20/1989 show? It was my first Dead show and that Other One Jam blew my mind; I’d love to get a copy.
@Waputik
I’m listening to a Hunter Seamons matrix, and it sounds pretty great! If you’re a torrenter it’s on etree here:
http://bt.etree.org/details.php?id=539490
If you’re not a torrenter, just say so, and I’ll mediafire you my copy (In mp3, but if you’re not torrenting I’ll assume you aren’t big on FLACs anyways right?)
@waputik, that’s a hot first show!
I did that whole tour, which was VERY up and down in terms of quality – some real slop, and some true greatness. That was one of the good nights.
If you do the torrent thing, there’s a Seamons matrix being seeded here:
http://bt.etree.org/details.php?id=539490
I haven’t heard it but his matrixes are usually at least pretty good when he has clean sources to work with.
here’s the Charlie Miller SBD, which only has a couple seeders and might take awhile to download:
http://bt.etree.org/details.php?id=505606
“Which night in NYC do we get the Feats Don’t Fail Me Now?”
Encore, night 2 or Worcester.
First full listen through of LF WfC in a while. Really, really, really good stuff.
I’ve loved your theme all week, miner. Great stuff.
Finals suck.
ha @garretc FTW there!!!!
here are links to the Archive pages, for streaming goodness:
http://www.archive.org/details/gd1989-10-20.mtx.seamons.102200.sbeok.flac16
http://www.archive.org/details/gd1989-10-20.sbd.walker-scotton.miller.83317.sbeok.flac16
@Mr. C
Ah, well, it’s not really a race, is it? I think we’re both winners, because we both did something nice for someone…
I’m willing to share my title!
California Earthquake? Right after the one during the WS in ’89. I have a show where they opened with that. Charlotte ’89 i think. Those the only two times it was played by the Dead?
@Mr. P
Only a couple, yeah. 3 maybe?
I do think those were the only 2, yeah. We expected they’d drop it at one of the December shows back on the west coast but they never did. Either they decided it was too soon for people who’d been through it, or they just forgot about it.
My money’s on the latter.
Garretc and Mr. C, Thanks!!! I’m downloading the first torrent now. I don’t post much, but the BB community never ceases to amaze me.
the one bummer about transferring to Colo State U in Fall of 89: not getting in E. Coast GD shows that tour. The plus: Getting in my first chunk of W. Coast shows *and* my first NYE run (’89) at Oakland Coliseum. fine times. traded a fat kola for my NYE tic on an off ramp way behind the venue.
if anyone else got shakes at Chubby Freeze across from the Dennys please holler.
Some great SBDs floating around from GD Fall ’89. After Miami I think my current fave is 10/19, particularly the beginning of Set 1: H>S>F Esti>Eyes.
Saw Bug at Nassau ’99 and had never heard it before- it blew me away! Odd that I hadn’t heard it yet since that was the first tour where tapes were being turned around in less than a day…and I think I had hopped on broadband by then…strange.
Theme has been tunes from this (December) date in phistory.
Miner also has been known to publish ten tunes for Friday.
Tomorrow is Friday, December 10th.
I’m JUST SAYING.
12-31-89 is one of the few really good NYE shows. The Etta James one (’82) is pretty good too, but I think that’s about it.