Reader’s Picks: Marc “Kaya” Tosh
SPAC 2012 (SammyC via Crowdseye)
All text and selections by @Kayatosh
“Mango Song > Jam” 9.17.00 II, Columbia, MD
A loose, tired sounding version that feels like it might fall apart at any moment but doesn’t thanks to Page Piano. After the triumph of successfully holding it together, a dark, percussive, free-form jam emerges.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/Mango-Song-_.mp3,http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/Jam-_.mp3,http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/Free1.mp3]***
“Yamar” 11.2.96 II, West Palm Beach, FL
One that slipped through the cracks the last time Miner covered 1996. Karl Perazzo enhanced.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/1.01-Ya-Mar.mp3]***
“David Bowie” 6.24.95 II, Philadelphia, PA
This long form version starts off promisingly with a spacey intro. The “Low Rider” flavored jam hints at the funk the band would actively mine in the next few years. From the chunky funk, the jam journeys into a slower, softer vibe that retains the trademark 95 dark edge. A subsequent move into speed metal features Trey out front blazing a white hot path with the other three matching his intensity.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/Track-03.mp3]***
“McGrupp” 8.7.93, Darien Lake, NY
A confident version of a favorite Phish tune from a golden era. Page tickling the ivories; Fishman tickling the washboard. See also, 11.30.94 McGrupp for more of Page channeling Keith Jarret.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/II-11-McGrupp-and-the-Watchful-Hosemasters-.mp3]***
“Jam > Leprechaun” 8.24.93 Sndchk, Vancouver, BC
Four-way bluesy, uninhibited play. A pocket so deep you could lose a joint in it. Listen to Fishman’s super human fills. Midway through the 10 minute jam, Fishman settles on a steady groove, and the jam becomes a composed sounding romp. And then the elusive Leprechaun does his jig.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/ph1993-08-24sct01.mp3,http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/ph1993-08-24sct02.mp3]***
“Chalkdust Torture” 7.16.94 II, Sugarbush, VT
A take no prisoners, almost off the rails, “Barracuda” teased Dust, featuring Trey in berserker mode.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/2.11-Chalk-Dust-Torture.mp3]***
“Sneakin Sally > Frankie Says” 4.2.98 II, Uniondale, NY
Slower, thicker version of a classic phish groove vehicle. Your head will involuntarily bob as the laid-back, syncopated riffs start bumping up against your brain. “Sally” jam slides smoothly and gradually into “Frankie Says,” which features a nimble fingered Trey.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/2.06-Sneakin-Sally-Through-the-Alley.mp3,http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/2.07-Frankie-Says.mp3]***
“Ghost > Drowned” 12.28.97 II, Landover, MD
Silky, late ’97 funk feel with a healthy dose of clavination. “Ghost’s” jam is of the hypnotic variety with intermittent hints of “Psycho Killer.” After you’ve been mellowed to the point of floating, the jam inconspicuously swirls into a funnel cone (twice), stops on a dime, and then launches into “Drowned!” Trey’s strong Hendrix impression in the “Drowned” jam finishes off the listener. Listen for The Note. “Drowned” jam concludes in soft, spacious fashion.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/2.05-Ghost.mp3,http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/2.06-Drowned.mp3]***
“Makiuspa Policeman” 11.23.96 II, Vancouver, BC
“Woke up in the morning. Border Guard in my Bunk.” Listen for the Star Wars effects.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/II-04-Makisupa-Policeman-.mp3]***
“Bathtub Gin -> Cities -> Jam” 7.1.97 II, Amsterdam, NL
July ’97, Amsterdam — a time traveler’s dream destination. There’s a segment mid-“Gin” that mirrors the feeling of falling down stairs in slow motion. After a slick “Gin” theme tease, the jam patiently builds to a murky, not quite peaked conclusion that becomes the intro to “Cities.” The “Cities” jam sonically represents what it might feel like to be adrift at sea on a gelatinous raft. After all “Cities” flavor has been wrung from the jam, an ambient, looped section takes hold of your dome and places you right on the back of the worm. By mid ’97, this band was an ear candy machine.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/PH97-07-01D2T05.mp3,http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/PH97-07-01D2T06.mp3,http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/PH97-07-01D2T07.mp3]***
“Timber Ho!” 7.26.97 II, Austin, TX
More liquid gold from July 97 with a looped out, cosmic jump rope jam conclusion before the “Timber” themed coda.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/ph97-07-26d2t01.mp3] Tags: Reader's Picks
Been tending a fire outside here in the woods since 3. I like this.
I have fantasies about musicians using a yapper detector that causes them to halt whatever song they’re playing when the yapping gets too loud, blare some obnoxiously loud siren, then start back up where they left off when the audience quiets down. Repeat as often as necessary.
purple rain LOL
what was so cool about the sigur ros show was how quiet the crowd was
cheers folks . . . play by play over and out
Glad u liked sigur @phoamm. I went solo a couple
Weeks ago. Very very unique experience. Would
Love to see them outside.
Sigur Ros show I caught on tuesday was so quiet I could hear the concession people cracking open cans of beer. Also not one cig smoker. Very polite crowd. I think I was the only person vaping. Wook4lyfe.
nice, gdad and aj. i got drunk . . . what’s new
Your never gonna feel bass bombs or the spin of a rotating leslie if you have little speakers over your ears
I’ve worn wireless headphones at home and had music blaring out of my speakers/subs. Can move around the house and subs move air more than produce sound.
Guess I’m saying you’ll still feel the music with headphones on.
4/4/98: my first phish show, also my first show to be shut out of. Didn’t realize what I had missed until years later, but the ticket game was a lot different back then and I didn’t stand a chance being a noob.
Gonna say I think “Slip, Stitch and Pass” is the best engineered and sounding Phish recording they have ever released. Kevorkian may be there go to guy but Bryce Goggin is fantastic.
I wish every Mike’s sounded like that with the delay.
I screw up their/there all the time…
^yet you are still a great guy, Mia!
VW, great call on the 2001. Sick line after slick line.
@miner and others – one of the reasons I love BOAF so much is catching that first one. I don’t expect a ton from the song dynamically…it’s just a fucking ripper. Fun as hell to dance to. Great pace. I actually dig the underlying theme of the lyrics. AC was tight!
Pageside – even seeing u on here is giving me the Bangor itch. I’ve got it really bad.
@Miner are you going to all of them this summer?
^ not quite.
not sure trey tears apart any other 2001 like he does the island run.
he plays this melody in the 4/4 tweezer opener that he reprises in just about every jam in 4/4…Used to call it the 4/4 melody….nothing special, but interesting to see how he uses it in different contexts…
Fair enough, you can still feel the subs with headphones on.
Heaphone land is a seperate reality though. Wont catch me wearing em at a show.
Also, I was thinking more silent disco style dance parties… when there is no PA
Also love the mix on slip stich. $$$$$
LP jam lengths for island run just for fun, since people mentioned it earlier—
Stash: 19:27
Twist 18:34
Mike’s 14:19
Weekapaug 16:27
Reba 16:41
Roses 27:29
Piper 16:43
Antelope 14:43
Tweezer 16:58
Birds 15:57
2001 16:40
Brother 12:35
Ghost 17:49
Bowie 16:25
Hood 16:40
YEM 25:23
DwD 16:30
Yamar 14:19
Cavern 12:57
Thank you Miner!
thats leaving out the 12 and unders like split, gin, cities, etc…
I had such a weird nite 4/4. A difficult time getting my spot. Danced in hall portal behind stage. Lots and lots of kinda gnarly kids around me. I was deep into being clean but the vibes from that part of the scene were permeating me. I feel shitty that at such a ripper I kept getting distracted. At the same time I didn’t want to wander and find a new spot. I was stuck. I never even saw the inside of the arena. Strange nite.
Don’t mind me…ramblin.
Island tour, IMO , was the peak of Phish’s power. They were the greatest band in the world at that moment and they knew it. They had that swag in those performances. Don’t know how else to describe it. Brilliance from Tube-> Axis