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]
OSU needs to replace Braxton Miller with Kenny Guiton. Miller looks disinterested in the game and has fucked up too many times.
So, how is everyone doing? Must be a good party day and night.
Silence is suddenly smothering me. Or better yet. Silence contagious in moments like these. Love good Phish lyrics.
At least they squeaked out a win. Closer then I thought it would be. Northwestern is a pretty good team.
voop-star! funny you mentioned the pipe inspectors and the gas pipe explosions.
checking into hotel down by sfo last night, and there’s two guys with an entire luggage cart filled with duffels and huge pelican style dry boxes. I start joking with them. Asked if they had to run NSA surveillance out of hotels due to budget cuts. They laughed. Said it was equipment for inspecting gas pipelines.
hey what’s up Phishm! How’d the little man’s birthday go? Big game tomorrow, Bengals v Pats.
It went great Stoney. Thanks for asking. I’m more into the Packers Lions game. The Lions are sneaky good. Reggie Bush really helps out that offense. Plus he’s on my FF team so theirs that. I’d say the Bengals will beat the Pats. Upset of the week. What up with you?
Damn hard to keep everyone’s team straight. Go Lions! Now I gotta contend with you and Kaveh. Catching up on Breaking Bad. Chillaxin
just got back from playing a crazy wedding. party animals. they didn’t want us to stop playing and kept thowing money at us to keep it up.
the drummer from ‘Of Montreal’ was in attendance, dance’n it out all night. told me he loved our band. ive never listened to them but I should probably check em out.
‘thowing’….
…..well dome.
It’s all good. Been a Packers fan since High School when I lived in Milwaukee. I dig the Bengals too as that is most of the talk on local sports radio. When Green Bay played Cincy, I rooted for Green Bay. Lot of good that did me. I also dig the NY Rangers, Reds and Buckeyes college football. After that, I’m looking for a close game. How about you? I thought you were a Lions fan? Sup lu. Weddings are fun. Esp the one’s with open bars.
Damn lil Umb! Better than throwing tomatoes! You cats were hosing the wedding party!
Of Montreal is one of my favorites. They make great weird psychedelic anti-pop, very unique musical style, have an amazing trippy high energy live show, closer to full on performance art. The drummer is fuckin tight, the whole band are a bunch of real musicians and artists. Got some strange mythology going on in their songs, crazy artwork on the albums. Fun stuff. I recommend The Sunlandic Twins as their best album. Their recent stuff is even more weird and inaccessible, I haven’t actually decided if I like it yet. But the earlier stuff is really awesome. Satanic Panic in the Attic is another good one.
Walked outside. Football weather. Fuck yeah. Bearz.
Any Jets fans on here? Trying to figure out if Kellen Winslow will play with that knee injury. Also have Clay from Miami but my Ravens haven’t allowed at TE TD since Denver. And that game doesn’t count.
Anyone ever received epidural/steroid injection in their back? Got some Fri and doc totally F-d up, hit a spinal sac and I’ve been out of commission all weekend. Pain back in lumbar and leg, back to square 1. #winning
Need some serious limbering up and cardio work in next few weeks so I’ll be ready for shows. Minor aches and pains getting out of bed lately getting older sucks at times like that
Awesome Ghost list for October. Fall Tour 2013, soon to be added, Hampton 2013 Ghost
Whoops
http://blog.phish.net/1380769315/phishing-poll-thursday-vol-8-boo
I voted 7/23/97, but haven’t heard every Ghost. Toyota Park and Alpine prolly the best I’ve caught in 3.0
Come on Cutlet! Fotre & Bennett need to score me some pts.
Come on Cutlet! Forte & Bennett need to score me some pts.
lesean and desean with some vicks vapor action.
E – A – G – L – E – S eagles!
Please pardon the drive-by:
Anyone have a 10/26 (Saturday) DCU Floor?
yetanotherfakeemail420 at the gmail
Thank you!
@Marcoesq! Dang man. my neighbor gets those shots for his back pain and usually relieved for some time after. But shit! the doctor messed up!! yikes. Seems like there should be some major compensation for something like that. Mal Practice or whatever, shouldn’t be able to get away with that. Sending vibes to ya bruddah man. Hope your back starts to feel better soon.
Artists at Hardly Strictly today. see what i can catch:
Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers
Edie Brickell
Tim O’Brien
Darrell Scott
The Devil Makes Three
Tumbleweed Wanderers
The Wood Brothers
Tift Merritt
Justin Townes Earle
The Brothers Comatose
Allah-Las
Kevin Welch
Kieran Kane
Fats Kaplin
Emmylou Harris
Rodney Crowell
Robert Ellis
Richard Thompson
Ryan Bingham
Shovels & Rope
Della Mae
Nicki Bluhm & The Gramblers
The Deep Dark Woods
Evolfo Doofeht
The Time Jumpers
Vince Gill
Jeff Taylor
The String Cheese Incident
Gogol Bordello
Martha Wainwright
Buddy Miller
Pieta Brown
Dry Branch Fire Squad
Billy Bragg
Moonalice
Trampled By Turtles
Chris Isaak
Laurie Lewis and The Right Hands
Mike Farris
Warren Hood And The Goods
Ralph Stanley and his Clinch Mountain Boys
I don’t know what The Brothers Comatose sound like but I would check that out on the name alone. If it turns out to be a shoegaze bluegrass band, that would be about perfect.