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
all this snow YEM talk has caused me to load the show on the pod -almost ready for lift-off, sans snow
we drove all the way from Boston in my front wheel drive Sunbird for that Albany facemelter -after catching the New Haven & Amherst shows the week before there was no way in hell I was going to skip a show because of white fluff
I tend to drive fast (and having grown up in Maine snow doesn’t usually faze me) but when we pulled off I-90 onto the elevated off ramp the car began to fishtail -thought for sure we would pinball & flip but was able to miraculously correct course and off we were to the crazed lots of Albany for the first time ever.
We were Page side that evening, as usual. I’ve never forgotten how intensely intimate that show felt -we were all crazed & felt grateful to have made it thru the turnstiles that evening. To this day I can still see the room and how the band blew minds with that silent jam in YEM.
We really fell into the phish worm hole that fall, and subsequently caught a third of the December shows (thanks, Odie!)
Life was never better
12/30/94 ‘Tweezer’ please, miner
so much phish is being re-seeded lately on etree…….all of December 1995 is there for the easy torrenting
Still working my way through Mr. C’s GD kickdown from yesterday. Kids are finally in bed, ready to puff. Just got to the space>Tiger> dew section….yeehaw!
Phish ranks #21 on Billboard’s annual Top Tour rankings (Nov 09 – Nov 10)
Total Gross: $33,240,962 Number of Shows: 43
Total Attendance: 658,243 Number of Sell-Outs: 21
Setlist Essential: “Prince Caspian”
(^ our prince the hero! tho in all fairness he has had a surprisingly good run in 3.0)
http://www.billboard.com/features/best-of-2010-1004133971.story#/features/top-25-tours-2010-1004134022.story
Interesting company there Sumo.
Right in between Nickelback and Miley Cyrus.
It’s just not a Phish show without that good ol’ setlist essential Prince Fuckerpants!
Prince Cashpian?
something to ponder: Of the 658,243 in total attendance, what is the number of individual people to see phish during that time? In other words, how many different people saw Phish?
i guess: 230k…. wild guess.
Wow, interesting thought there Palmer. And I wonder how that has changed across years. I’d imagine it’s probably at an all-time low… Maybe better now than 09.
Your guess sounds about right. Right under ~3 shows average.
haha.. I didn’t even know that Metallic and U2 toured this past year. Not that i care, although i have actually seen both at some point in the past.
Matthews puts up some serious numbers. dude makes bank.
I saw three shows last year
two this year
I did three last year, I’ll have done 6 this year, and I’m doing at least one next year
Our averages so far?
’09: 3
’10: 4
’11: 1
That seems like a pretty accurate sample size, right?
’09- 7
’10 – 9
My scientific way of guess was to look on facebook, see how many “fans” they have, and work off that number, which was like 360k.
Yeah Garret, and not biased towards people that REALLY REALLY like Phish.
’09-1
’10-4
How many people see one show a year per Miner that sees>40? Or every Palmer that sees 9?
yeh Palmer and Miner = lucky SoBs.
’09: 3.5
’10: 5.25
i live in the sweet spot, only reason. No way i could see as many shows ( that that 9-10 is a lot) if i didn’t live in NE
’09 – 2
’10 – 15
’11 – 1
Granted, MSG 2 ’09 was my first show.
Ditto to what Mr. P said.
i think 5 from south MS isn’t too bad
yeah, lycan. The south is no West Coast, but they haven’t been down south as much as we’d like either.
Not to say that NC/Va and MS are on the same level.