DOWNLOADS OF THE WEEKEND:
After playing three out of four Holiday Run shows at The Garden in 1997, Phish decided to make it four of a kind in 1998. Staging an entire New Years’ Run in a single venue for the first time ever, the band chose the largest stage on which to do it. The peak of a incredible year of Phish, these four nights showcased the diverse jamming styles that defined the year. From groove-based improv to ambient jams, this show presented a microcosm of 1998. As a bonus re-post, I am including my favorite show from the run – 12.28 – an odyssey through darkness that included the inter-galactic warfare of “Carini > Wolfman’s.” With three MSG dates just announced, I can hardly wait to get back inside the greatest arena on earth. Here are some memories to tide you over.
12.31.98 Madison Square Garden, NYC, NY < Torrent
12.31.98 Madison Square Garden, NYC, NY < Megaupload
I: 1999* > Mike’s Song > I Am Hydrogen > Weekapaug Groove, Ghost > Ha Ha Ha, Cavern
II: NICU, Character Zero, Tweezer > Cities > Wading in the Velvet Sea, Run Like an Antelope, Frankenstein
III: Runaway Jim > Auld Lang Syne > Simple, Harry Hood, Tweezer Reprise, Llama
E: While My Guitar Gently Weeps
*Phish debut.
Notes: Prince’s 1999 included dancers on stage and synchronized steps from Trey and Mike, who wound up lying on the stage with the dancers surrounding them. Weekapaug and Runaway Jim subsequently featured 1999 teases. For this show, the Holiday Run dancers’ costumes included a devil, a prostitute, and a pimp. The band jammed Runaway Jim until just before the New Year. The dancers reappeared throughout the crowd and handed out thousands of glowrings to the fans just before a grand balloon drop and pyrotechnics display at midnight. The band counted the crowd into the New Year before busting into Auld Lang Syne.
Source: Schoeps CMC641 > Lunatec V2 > Apogee AD1000 > DAT
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12.28.98 Madison Square Garden, NYC, NY < Torrent
12.28.98 Madison Square Garden, NYC, NY < Megaupload
I: Axilla, Stash, Farmhouse, Taste, Sleep*, Albuquerque*, Driver*, Tube, Golgi Apparatus, Good Times Bad Times
II: Carini > Wolfman’s Brother, Birds of a Feather, When the Circus Comes, Quinn the Eskimo > David Bowie
E: Been Caught Stealin’
*Acoustic.
Notes: For the first show of the Holiday Run, the stage was decorated with flowers and sculptures. During the encore, parts of the set began to grow and sprout leaves. This stage setup was used for this show only, and disappeared for the rest of the run. Before Sleep, Fishman’s drum kit was moved to allow the crew to roll out a small mini-stage with a scaled-down drum set and a baby grand piano. Trey and Mike sat on stools and both played acoustic guitars. This acoustic set-up was used for Sleep, Albuquerque, and Driver. During the Wolfman’s jam, three people in inchworm-like costumes came on stage and danced for the rest of the set.
Source: Schoeps CMC641 > Lunatec V2 > Apogee AD1000 > DAT
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11.18.09 Cobo Arena, Detroit, MI
11.20.09 U.S. Bank Arena, Cincinnati, OH
11.21.09 U.S. Bank Arena, Cincinnati, OH
11.22.09 War Memorial at Oncenter , Syracuse, NY
11.24.09 Wachovia Center, Philadelphia, PA
11.25.09 Wachovia Center, Philadelphia, PA
11.27.09 Times Union Center, Albany, NY
11.28.09 Times Union Center, Albany, NY
11.29.09 Cumberland County Civic Center, Portland, ME
12.02.09 Madison Square Garden , New York, NY
12.03.09 Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
12.04.09 Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
12.05.09 John Paul Jones Arena, Charlottesville, VA
The ticket “lottery” is officially underway! The ticket request period will end Friday, October 16th at 5:00pm EST.
Tickets go on sale to the public beginning Friday, October 23rd, with additional dates going on sale Saturday, October 24th. For full show and ticketing information, please visit Phish.com.
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Jams of the Weekend: 12.31.98
Two of the most significant jams from a New Year’s Eve extravaganza in New York City.
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VIDEO OF THE WEEKEND:
“Mike’s Song” 12.31.95 MSG, NYC Pt. 1
