New York News Day
MSG NYE 2013
This week, Phish dropped two noteworthy pieces of news centered around the state of New York. First and foremost, the band announced that they will return to Madison Square Garden for the fourth consecutive year for their Holiday Run. Though this comes as no surprise, it’s always nice to see more Phish shows on the docket. Phish also announced their next remastered release—a straight heater from Niagara Falls, New York on December 7, 1995. In my opinion, this is one of the very best shows from—arguably—the very best month in Phish history. A shrewd selection from Kevin Shapiro, this drop highlights the band at their absolute career peak (up until that point) as they worked their way to MSG at the end of the month. United in their Empire State of mind, each of these pieces of news deserve a tad more inspection.
12/7/95 Cover
Madison Square Garden, Phish, and New Years Run have become a 3.0 tradition. Starting in 2010, the band has returned to the hallowed round room each and every year for their Holiday bash, and each time we’ve witnessed a subsequent phase of renovation that has decreased the fun and all-out free for all that once existed in the late ‘90s. Now, the venue is extremely segmented, causing fans to scurry for GA West tickets only to discover the section packed like sardines and being forced to go small on the dance floor. Let’s face it, MSG ain’t what she once was and it’s time for a change. Hopefully the band will switch things up sooner than later, but for now it looks like we are heading back to the Big Apple to brave the cold weather for the holidays. With the band peaking again and returning to one of their favorite rooms, however, these shows carry a boat load of potential. Good luck in the ticket lottery!
Niagara Falls is the best release by Phish in quite some time. This highlights one of the peak shows of a peak era—December ’95. Within this show, the band throws down a fantastic first set “Slave” that sets up Hall of Fame versions versions of “Split Open and Melt,” “Reba,” “Mike’s” and “Weekapaug” in set two, not to mention an early, scorching version of “Taste.” This is an absolute can’t miss purchase, as Fred Kevorkian’s remastering has been dialed in on recent releases like Ventura and Hampton-Winston Salem. Bring that oh-so-crisp sound to the fast, frenetic and layered jamming of December ’95, and this drop is bound for glory. Here’s a 2008 piece I wrote on four shows that should be remastered—including Niagara Falls. Hey, two out of four ain’t bad!
***
Jams of the Day: Niagara Falls 12/7/95
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/ph95-12-07d2t02.mp3]
“Reba“
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/15-Reba.mp3]
just storage jammed my office. told the dude in here “if this gets on your nerves lemme know”
were on sleeping monkey now. ftw
As someone who has been at every new year’s run show in 3.0 (except Miami 1 and 4), I can say that… I’m pretty cool.
geez. i don’t care for KDF but went back to bethel to spin thru the good stuff. dang, this is money.
Hate Kill Devil Falls. Suck on Bethel KDFs tittays.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3Jv9fNPjgk
just cause i haven’t seen this in a while and think its a great video
re-spinning some of these 3.0 holiday run highlights. 12/28/2012 is wonderful i think. sick wolfman’s to end the first set. tweezer is unbelievable! then a very fun and well played maze>twist>theme>fluff>bowie. it all segues and flows nicely. a very good show
i remember loving the tweezer live, but thinking that it was a little bit hyped (i think i was jaded by dick’s) after the run. i have not listened to it in a while and my mind just got blown away. i dig it more now then i did nine months ago.
Did the same with that Tweezer a couple of weeks ago @ Heady. It is a hot one.
T’was a great Tweezer for sure.
Bethel KDF
http://www.phishtracks.com/shows/2011-05-27
I feel like Bobby D just rick rolled me..
i like your comment palmer. but for real i like that video. everything about it.
MSnrG
don’t kid, bingos!
i’ve been studying bbq, smoking, sauces, grills/smokers . . . and i like it!
i’m not sure if that was a testimonial or a confession, Df
me like Bethel KDF
Listening to said KDF now. me like too.
seriously though . . . this study on bbq is mouth watering . . . to say the least!
smoked 15 lbs of beef ribs and 3 lbs of pork ribs this past weekend . . . my god you’ve gotta love smoking your meat . . . no?
whaddaya think the chances of me cutting back on the . . . . . . . . . . . . .
like @btb’s adjectives for nye 99
meh 98, of course…
maybe listen to MSG 98>Big Cypress now… clarification
Straight cash fucking money. Babysass gets it hard. Deservedly.
http://thephunion.com/?p=1075
I third the MSG12 Tweezer talk. 28th may have been the strongest show to me. loved the Disease>Carini as well
That dude just destroyed the Baby’s Ass… Oh my…
Great article taboot…bravo… A-fucking -men
Palmer. He had him at the intro paragraph! The rest = piling on!
Love MSG for New Years. Always an adventure in that city. Every visit been so different. Good times.