Welcome back to Friday! This week’s “ten tunes” includes a couple one-two punches on the menu. Enjoy the songs, and as always, click the orange song titles to download each selection. Have a great weekend!
***
“Stash” 4.2.98 I
The Island Run in the spring of ’98, resulted in some of the best music the band has ever produced. With four shows chock full of lightening, one of the most impressive jams of the weekend gets overlooked in the first set of the whole shebang. Moving through the darkness, Nassau’s “Stash” arrives in sacred territory.
***
“Seven Below > Buffalo Bill” 6.25.04 II
Phish jammed coherently right up to the end of their post-hiatus years, contrary to what many’s believe. Their last full tour in the Summer of ’04 provided more than a few highlights that stand up long after the fact. This “Seven Below” from the first night of Alpine is one of them.
***
“Tweezer > On Your Way Down” 10.2.99 II
A serious groove-fest from the Target Center in Minneapolis opened a phenomenal second set. One could tell by the methodical pace of this “Tweezer” that it would be a keeper, and with a perfect come down, this combination remains in listening rotation to this day.
***
“Bathtub Gin > Keyboard Cavalry” 12.5.95 II
Typical of December ’95, this UMASS “Bathtub Gin” ferociously rips through many different places before landing in “Keyboard Cavalry.” Trey and Mike’s interplay direct much of this version, as the band moves dynamically through an intense musical trek.
***
“Twist” 2.24.03 II
An alien encounter in northern New Jersey.
***
“Antelope” 10.24.95 II
A fierce relic from Fall ’95, this “Antelope” is renowned as one of the all-time greats.
***
The second Target Center excursion featured this Friday, this show represented one of Phish’s last gasps before calling it quits the first two weeks later. Moving from liquid funk into deep space, Trey emerges from the ether with a set of rhythm chords setting up a transition into “Free.”
***
“You Enjoy Myself” 10.10.99 II
In the last show of Fall ’99, Phish opened their final set with this multi-faceted “You Enjoy Myself,” including a lengthy ambient jam before the song even begins.