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
@palmer – my buddy thomas (you met him at term 5 TAB) and I drove up to New Haven 93 from the GSW house in Ossining NY. we borrowed our friend Michelle’s car and crashed it just a little bit into a guardrail. Traffic was berzerk getting off the exit and we pulled the total DICK MOVE of snaking the entire back up and pinching in at the front of the line at the exit ramp. Made it in for Peaches. always remember seeing the Timer there in the sweaty hallway behind stage with his clipboard. Great show that nite.
gotcha. I’ve had an annoying time trying to get the OG WFC. The original is nowhere to be found – which is what Phish played. All that I’ve found is the Deluxe edition (switched the track order – so it doesn’t flow like the album did or Phish’s set did) or the single disc that cuts out don’t bogart and apoloitical blues…anyone have the OG WFC in lossless they can upload?
I think its the vinyl pressing miner
Miner-
What you’re looking for is probably going to be a transfer of the vinyl…don’t think the original tracklisting/running order ever made it to CD.
^pardon the redundancy.
@Miner, the individual tracks didn’t get edited (beyond remastering) so I’d just take the “deluxe” remaster and re-sequence the tracks in the OG order
FWIW the OG track order mirrors a normal Feat setlist for the era much more accurately than the revised edition. The Dixie Chicken/Tripe Face/Rocket sequence is the Big Finale of the main set.
also, Little Feat is awesome yay!
you enjoy myself has always been one of my favorite songs around christmast time. festive
” I was rocking your 7/13/99 Remaster. That entire show is great but man…that Wolfman’s always makes my knees week. ”
^ punkmug
One of the greatest jams I’ve ever seen live, in concert.
I used to set my days around listening to that version.
This Antelope was a great choice, Miner, thanks as always.
I believe I’m a virgin to this virgin.
Truly the four-headed monster at its best and most furious.
Hope all’s good guys.
If you listen closely, the jam in this YEM is the melody that would become piper….I have talked to Trey about this and he confirmed it 100%, they listened to this jam and extrapolated it into piper. And THE SNOW!!!
The Simple jam>Timber from today calmed me into almost wetting myself.
What a gorgeous passage.
If anyone has the time or the inclination, give another listen to the Providence Mike’s Groove tonight.
Not sure if it was the syrup I was on, but the ‘Wall of Sound’ ‘Peek-a-Boo’ jam, on the edge of Sanity right before they drop into that slick-ass Rhode Island Weekapaug gets me every time.
Mike and Fish climb out of the darkness and start to kick off Week (Peek-A-Boo carryover from the Sanity lyrics, Fish tittering “peek a boo!”) only to dip back into the wall of sound they’d developed as a band.
For just a few moments until Trey opens the door and Mike steps through with the gooey robot bass walk intro.
This one was absolute bliss to me.
My vote for Mike’s of Fall 2010, a tall order.
It bears emphasis:
This Simple is brilliant.
That Simple was pure magic
“I have talked to Trey about this and he confirmed it 100%, they listened to this jam and extrapolated it into piper.”
^ two years later? Interesting if true, the melodies don’t really sound the same….
@Miner, the individual tracks didn’t get edited (beyond remastering) so I’d just take the “deluxe” remaster and re-sequence the tracks in the OG order
^ Mr. C…you’re a genius!
@neems: you have very neat handwriting.
Seriously, willowed.
I’ve gotten time warped like four times in this Simple.
I think I’m still me, but how would you know, really?
Sickness.
I might’ve missed Timber, for all I know. Twice!
Jiminy.
Christmas.
Ope.
Nope, there’s Timber.
Wow.
This was truly legendary, but not in a, “neemor, check this legend out” kind of way because no one ever said that until today.
Thanks Miner, as always.
llfa.
Yeah.
I get that a lot.
People have me make signs for them.
And stuff.
Why am I now hearing a crazy spooky Bowie intro…wtf is going on here?
What song are we getting out of ALS this year?
Light?
Runaway?
another Disease?
I don’t know what’s happening. I’m freakin’ out, man.
I liked BB story time today, funny how many were at that Albany show so long ago before we would’ve ever known one another…
How many times do you guys think you’ve passed Robear or TIII or Miner or any of you other silly bastards without knowing it?
I bet lots.
That was definitely a Bowie fakeout>Timber…
I love this jam right now, in a big way.
Is that evident yet?
I had never hear the jotd either. Gonna have to check out the whole show. ’97, the year i decided to give Phish a break. Saw 2 shows that year. 7.29 and 12.30. Decided to spend all my money on a west coast WSP tour.
……fail.
Smokin Timber taboot.
I love this slick little ditty.
Nice pickup.