The Magical Moments of MSG
12.31.02 - Madison Square Garden (J.Remy)
Last Friday we looked at the top moments in Worcester New Year’s Run history, and this Friday our focus turns to Madison Square Garden. Selecting the ten best moments in MSG Holiday Run history proved to be quite the task, thus I decided not to rank my selections. Rather than claim a “top ten,” these are, rather, My Favorite Moments From MSG Holiday Runs — in no qualitative order. Instead of ranking them, I chose to craft a “set” out of these top-shelf highlights. Phish has played eleven shows at the end of December at the World’s Most Famous Arena, from their debut in 1994 to their first comeback in 2002. And as we prepare for numbers twelve, thirteen and fourteen, here’s a look back at some of Phish’s greatest moments ever at 7th Ave and 32nd St.
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“Tube” 12.29.97 II
The Mecca
This best-ever “Tube” came amidst of one of the hottest sets ever dropped at MSG.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/2.04-Tube.mp3]***
“Carini > Wolfman’s” 12.28.98 II
Just as MSG housed “Tube’s” peak rendition, it did the same for “Carini” on 12.28.98. Taking the song for the interstellar jaunt of its lifetime, the band sculpted a ferocious and psychedelic masterpiece that fused “Wolfman’s” based in ambient space-groove. A straight monster.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/ph1998-12-28d2t01.mp3,http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/ph1998-12-28d2t02.mp3,http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/ph1998-12-28d2t03.mp3]***
“Harry Hood” 12.30.95 II
My personal favorite version of Phish’s seminal piece; a cathartic journey that changed my life forever.
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“Tweezer > Cities” 12.31.98 II
The centerpiece of a smoking second set on New Year’s Eve. The “Tweezer” spotlights the band’s place at the end of ’98, straddling ambient soundscapes and thick grooves.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/ph1998-12-31d2t03.mp3,http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/ph1998-12-31d2t04.mp3]***
“Antelope” 12.29.97 II
12.31.95 (M.Remedy)
One of the best versions of the late-’90s came in the first set of one the band’s greatest nights at MSG.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/1.09-Run-Like-an-Antelope.mp3]***
“Reba” 12.31.95 I
This famous first-setter from New Year’s ’95 is a staple of any best versions list.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/1.03-Reba.mp3]***
“Mike’s Song” 12.31.95 II
The final rendition of “Mike’s Song” in, perhaps, its greatest year ever, brought one of its most impressive jams of the year.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/2.07-Mikes-Song.mp3]***
“Disease > Bowie > Possum” 12.29.97 II
We’re covering most of this epic second set here.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/2.01-Down-With-Disease.mp3,http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/2.02-David-Bowie.mp3,http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/2.03-Possum-I-Cant-Turn-You-Loose-Possum.mp3]***
“You Enjoy Myself” 12.29.98 II
A version so good I wrote an entire piece on it.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/05-You-Enjoy-Myself.mp3]***
“AC/DC Bag > McGrupp” 12.30.97 II
12.31.95 (Crothers)
A smashing segment of improv that kicked off a marathon second set.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/ph97-12-30d2t1.mp3,http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/ph97-12-30d2t2.mp3]***
“Tweezer” 12.30.94 II
Gotta’ give a nod to the biggest jam of the band’s first-ever show at The Garden.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/Tweezer.mp3]***
“Auld Lang Syne > Weekapaug > Sea and Sand” 12.31.95 III
The best post-midnight jam in MSG history. Easily.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/3.02-Auld-Lang-Syne.mp3,http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/3.03-Weekapaug-Groove.mp3,http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/3.04-Sea-and-Sand.mp3] Tags: Jams, Venues
fat bastard!fat bastard!fat bastard!
Lovin all the gametime decisions! vortex pulling…
yeah, with any luck, we can all take a pitstop at my place on summer west coast run!
nice work FB. can’t help you in worcester. going to the Garden afterwards?
Disease>Bowie> Possum… $$$($).. this band is good.
winchester will rip. 🙂
you flyin out of SFO robear? 😉
mitch & aw, get your asses to winchester
nice robear. I’m sure you’ll have the yarden up and running in no time. Rather than going up for the new year’s run, I’m saving my cash for next summer’s west coast run. Save me and mrs. w some space…at least enough for a tent in the yard.
done and done, leo.
yes Kingflegionaire. Y do U ask 🙄
@ Leo…is that the art we discussed? send it over! looks cool 🙂
I would love for the Hood from 12/31/98 to get its due one day.
Yeah miner. it’s a quick photoshop of the logo based on the sketch I sent you. I’ll send the sketch again with a file of the avatar image. it’ll need some graphic design work that’s above my pay grade to get it right. avatar was simple, no need for detail on our little faces on here.
got it robear. thanks man. good luck on sunday, you’ve been on a helluva roll. thought guyute had you last week.
What? Robear at MSG? Nice!
looks like im in for wechester 2 nights goin home after that. perfect. two nights go home. see what miner thinks about msg. i can handle that
robear: just want to make sure mitch’s beard is properly stocked 😯
im just sayin…denver looks like a good new years party too
mitch will be flush, and dazed, sufficiently
one more thought from me. listening to runaway jim from miami. i went to deer creek looking for a runaway jim opener. found it. some dont dig runaway jim. my advice to those people is to chase the song. good luck
runaway jim to open worchester either night=good bet
anyone still around?
5 hours later…BTB around. Need to catch up on the Thoughts chatter…Bravo post Chef
Nope. No one around.
surfside: I love that Hood (12/31/98)
BTB: hey man, been wondering if you’re still around, hope you’re doing well
“The” moment from 2002 was the moment they stepped onstage and played those first notes of piper. Mound was a nice treat. I agree nothing even compares to the other highlights mentioned, but the energy as they hit the stage, and then played a pretty damn good piper was insane. Also noteworthy was the snow during the first 7 below. I dug that quite a bit.
12.31.95 JB Goode encore – this makes it onto every “”Intro to Phish” noob mix I make. And that auld lang syne>paug = pure joy! best NYE i ever had.