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!
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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]
Speaking of New Years, love this show from Oakland.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqasJ8CTPBM
Spinning that Tweezer now… Then the Bowie from same night.. I remember it being pretty nice for 3.0 Bowie.
So my daughter plays the flute. She’s been playing for a few years now. She has gotten good. I don’t know anything about the flute. Does anyone have any recommendations on a couple good flute players that I could show her? Thanks in advance.
My son just started on the sax. He is not very good at this time, but is willing to learn. Work in progress there. Love that they love music.
phishm- James Galway, Bobbi Humphrey, Dave Valentin, Jean-Pierre Rampal, Chris Wood (Traffic).
Here’s a good looking playlist with tutorials for various grades:
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6998E88DCCB0DADA
That’s awesome voopa. Thanks man. She will be thrilled.
Wolfmans, Tweezer, Bowie from 12.28.12 are def worthwhile spins. The Tweezer is particularly good.
Think Trey goes back to his newer guitar again this Fall or sticks with is 2.0 one?
@phishm, I endorse Voopa’s list. I would add Eric Dolphy and Rashaan Roland Kirk.. or how about Ian Anderson?
-Palmer, he’s not goin back…
88 New Years huh. damn. deep in Tweez MSG 98.
The link I put up of that 88 NYE has some audio issues. Switched back to Phish. Can’t seem to make my mind up tonight on what to listen to. Think I found it however.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PoBWrUYrSUs
As I’ve said before, the phunion comes correct. Great stuff.
“Al-Shaababy”
Glad I picked that show to listen to tonight. Never heard it before. Amazing Hood to end things off. Wow.
hilarious and well written: http://thephunion.com/?p=1075
Al- Shaababy
Now this is how you open a show. Regrettably I’ve never heard this show until now. So far so good. 7.31.99 Fuji Rock Festival.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jp_9vT0cY6M
More like open a set. Either way I’m really enjoying this show so far.
Check out around the 33 minute mark of the link above where the band goes silent, and you can not hear a peep out of the crowd. Just silence. Amazing. Bet this goes big. Anyway, good show.
But seriously. The Prince Caspian is incredible. There I said it. Great version of Prince Caspian. Trey in another world sticking his tongue out and getting down. Not even sure he knows he’s in Japan. Lost in music it seems.
And on that article, it was funny. I don’t read Twitter and could care less what someone named the baby’s ass or mouth or anything else has to say on a daily basis. Dude sounds like a douche. Never read his thoughts and never will. Time to crash. Night.
Special request to all stoner fucks….
Just saw that this 12″ is up for auction on eBay and was reminded how sweet of a track it is. . (A no-go for me. Exchange rates are a bitch.)
Cygnus – Babylon (12″)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JK4TaeNKZNU
Another gem from the 80s roots scene. Just hypnotic with the skankiness.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJFrGzNTYB
While I’m at it plugging the dubz… dubstep gets a bad rep but I’ve found that’s mostly due to mislabelling. I’ve been digging this “Space is King” compilaton. The Ruts / Ranking Dread mash up is bonkers. Linked above…. (By the way, wtf is up with copy and paste on android devices? Makes no sense sometimes. Tried to link below this paragraph but google gods decided line 1 was more appropriate…)
How does 6 AM to 7:30 AM go by so fast?!
^ Wake and Vapes?
J, I haven’t experienced that, but if I try to paste in a comment box, the previous character gets removed. Weirdness. Oh well, whatever you do, take care of your
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