MSG Memoirs: The “2001” of 12.29.98
12.29.98 - MSG
Coming off a sequence of earth-shattering Phish in the second set of 12.28.98, fans filed back into the Midtown lair of MSG on the 29th, and few could predict what might materialize. When a solid opening frame set the table for the main event, however, everyone was eager to find out. The band opened up the second set with “Free,” it seemed that over-sized, mammoth rhythms would soon engulf the arena. But Phish took a different route. Showcasing a grungy, distorted, and slow-paced jam, this version sidestepped funk in favor of searing psychedelic textures. Trey offered screaming and dissonant guitar lines that dominated the musical landscape while the rest of band was immersed in slow, elephant-like rhythms. Without much full-band jamming, the guys wrapped up their opener and delved into “Limb by Limb.” This song-based start provided a stark contrast form the worm-ridden psychedelia of the night before, but the band was crafting a different sort of show. And when the inspiring Trey-led version of “Limb” concluded, the real meat of the set began.
Out of the silence came a sonic groaning that likened the sound of spirits opening one eye after hibernating for years in the rafters of The Garden. A subtle but collaborative soundscape emerged from nothing, as Mike and Trey played off each other amidst a quiet, ambient beginning. Commencing a gentle, cymbal-based beat, Fishman moved into more syncopated patterns as he framed the increasingly abstract experiment. Trey layered a “cow groan” sound that he had employed in several ambient Fall ’98 jams over Mike’s upper-octave melodies, contributing to a sonic amalgam very much in the vein of the band’s abstract fall jamming. And once Page added spacey effects to this musical tapestry and slightly shifted the band’s focus, everyone knew where this was heading.
Amidst this layered landscape, Fishman gently oozed his beat into “2001,” morphing the abstraction seamlessly into groove. Following the extended intro, Phish took off in a high-octane, funked-up sprint. Trey set spirits free with a repetitive and dissonant three-chord pattern at the jam’s onset (possibly a quote of Spiritualized’s 1997 single “I Think I’m In Love”) and all four members locked into a relentless uptempo groove. Trey’s distorted offerings gave way to sped-up, marksman-like lead lines that coaxed the whole band onto his cresting wave. Unquestionably the leader of this jam—and the entire set thus far—Trey took command of this version with shredding yet intricate leads that left any funk stylings in a vapor trail of his super-hero-like axemanship. Eventually coming to a mini-peak with prominent “Crosseyed” melodies, he burst out this tease like a banshee. With fingers dashing up and down his fretboard like an army of madmen, Trey took the jam through the song’s first “chorus.”
MSG - December 1998 (Adam Foley)
As Red burst into the second half of the jam with enthusiastic James Brown rhythm chords, it felt like this “2001” might transform into a buck wild filth-fest. But instead of maintaining a rhythmic focus, Trey returned to his exceptional lead playing, painting high-speed, staccato-esque licks atop Fish’s quickening beat and Mike’s assassin-like bass lines. The entire band locked into a furious dance escapade as The Garden spun like a high-flying, death-defying, 360-degree slam dunk. Trey continued to stand out as the leader of this passionate affair as his sense of urgency never let up for a second. And the band sailed into the song’s second “chorus.”
Bringing the scorching instrumental to a climax, Phish had harnessed the energy of 20,000 fans and beyond, in a nearly 20-minute ballistic throwdown. Following a randomly placed “Boogie On Reggae Woman,” Trey counted off into an all-time version of “You Enjoy Myself” to round out the set. And while “YEM” may very well have stolen the show, its mid-set running mate was the greatest “2001” in Garden history.
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Jam of the Day:
“2001” 12.29.98 II
A torrid, four-piece chase through the galaxy.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/phish1998-12-29-haugh-mtx-d2t02.mp3]Tags: 1998, Jams, Venues
where’d you see that article @tela’s?
did a marco benevento interview once and a TAB artcle for online…trying to think of what else…
http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2010/03/wiseguys-indicted/
you kill one roach, but there’s a hundred more hiding in the dark.
but I would prefer for a fan of the band to get first dibs at these tix vs someone who is swooping in to get tix only to resell.
^ Me too! Same with all of us! But it ain’t happenin. They give us a shot in Mail Order (a system that CAN be easily manipulated w/ the right amount of entries) and then its a free for all.
There are so many problems in the world. I just don’t see scalping as one of them.
When is the last time anyone was shut out or had to pay a redic price for a show after besides Radio City, 12.31.92 or Hampton comeback?
I skipped the reunion for that very reason, Tela not spending 1,000 for concert, can pay off a security guard cheaper than that to let you in.
Also once tickets start shipping here this week, we should see alot more real ticket offers…
Ring between 200-300 is still here. Not all the way around though. Not behind stage or right in front. It is beautiful inside though.
Big rumors about special guest tonight.
When is the last time someone paid $200 dollars for a show and then even thought about it after they passed through the gates?
Sweet Palmer. have a great show..looking forward to hearing your re-cap.
@ Palmer. Where I first “met” you with GDad…is it there? Does that exist?
cool cool i mean, yea i guess they plan out their specific phish articles and probably get a million freelance submissions… idk tho i wish theyd devote more of the print issues (or at least online stuff, since theres unlimited space) to some more external POV phish articles etc.
an article from someone like yourself who has a name people recognize and a reputation, would benefit relix and phishthoughts equally, since it would create buzz for relix and obviously link back to your name and site. and obviously you wrote from jambands back in the day which relix now owns.
tis a shame
Yes Miner. Parallel to stage , until dead center.
Backpack policy at MSG?
Relix wants to be indie now. kinda funny. I guess indie is the new mainstream
Radio Free Palmer
MSG they let you bring in bongs and framed backpacks
You can bring a back pack.
like does the walkway cut off at the front of the stage?
like a whole semi circle is cut off?
No pat down even, fwiw.
Picture the big oval. The smaller parts, behind stage and directly in front, have no dance ring. The sides do.
Make sense?
Thanks Palmer. Never been to MSG…just got a daypack.
Left the hikingpack + tube combo at the crib
Any problems with grabbing xtras?
Just gotta sling some crystal before NYE, yo
Just make sure you hit up some foils of China beforehand, ya know gotta keep that ish interesting
hahahahhahahahahhhahahahha jesse pinkman hahahahhahahhahahahahah
that is so great.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uys7Zfu9H6o
this is the goods too:
http://chilipyo.tumblr.com/