TTFF: The Beginning of December
As the calendar flips to December, memories of Phish jams past always dance in our heads. The month is synonymous with vintage Phish, as the band brings their explorations of the year to a head each year. Throughout history, many fall tours spilled into the early weeks of December, and in 1999, the band gave December a tour of its own, as the band geared up for Big Cypress. This week’s playlist is taken from shows that took place on the first two days of December throughout the years. Enjoy the tunes as we fade into the weekend.
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“Peaches En Regalia” 12.1.96 I, Los Angeles, CA
This bustout of “Peaches,” for the first time since 12.31.94, opened the show at Pauly Pavilion at UCLA.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/ph96-12-01d1t01.mp3]***
“Mike’s Song > Weekapaug” 12.1.95 II, Hershey, PA
Nineteen-ninety five was, arguably, the peak year for “Mike’s Groove,” and as the band careened towards ’96,every single version in December absolutely slayed. This is the first one—a legendary rendition from Hershey, PA.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/2.02-Mikes-Song.mp3,http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/2.03-Weekapaug-Groove.mp3]***
“Split Open and Melt” 12.1.94 I, Salem, OR
Another outrageous ’94 “Split.” They just don’t make ’em like this anymore.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/1.07-Split-Open-and-Melt.mp3]***
“Tweezer” 12.2.95 II, New Haven, CT
This fierce all-timer transcends groove and lands in pure musical annihilation. In SBD clarity thanks to @shapsio!
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/1995-12-02-Tweezer-12-2-95-Vets-Memorial-Coliseum-New-Haven-CT.mp3]***
“Reba” 12.1.96 II
A big-time second-setter from Pauly Pavilion.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/ph96-12-01d2t05.mp3]***
“Light” 12.2.09, NYC, NY
One of the first jaw-dropping versions of “Light.”
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/ph2009-12-02t13.mp3]***
“Bathtub > 2001 > YEM” 12.2.99 II, Auburn Hills, MI
This show kicked off the Phish’s torrid December Tour of ’99, and this sequence formed the scorching centerpiece—and a tour highlight.
[audio:http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Phish1999-12-02d2t03.mp3,http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Phish1999-12-02d2t04.mp3,http://phishthoughts.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Phish1999-12-02d2t05.mp3] Tags: TTFF
@gdad
Funniest show on TV right now, IMO.
UIC Light now, only second time I’ve heard it since that night. Great stuff, can’t wait till the real goods. Couldn’t believe it kept getting better that night.
What’s up @duke? Look forward to custy cribbin’ it sometime in ’12 with you.
Fuck, just cleaned/tidy’d my closet, I think I have more blazers than Trey. I need to stop buying work clothes and start wearing them to work. I easily have 200 ties, and I never wear ties. Wtf?
Workaholics is very tight butthole. Take it sleazy.
Boardwalk Empire was ridic tonight. Wow.
ACL ’10 on Palladia. It’s a two hour show. I missed the first 15 minutes. Anyone know if Phish’s performance is in first 15 minutes. If so, I can stop flipping back to this crap.
Drummer Vampire Weekend has a phish shirt on.
Game developing here…but I choose bed.
Nite gents.
Yo TG! Likewise. Spydah Tour 2k12.
Custy Crib Bethel ’12 ?
I like the sound of that. Place is great.
Yeah, glad I made the extra effort to get to Phoenix that year Tela’s…Ghost is a monster, plus a bunch of other surprises at that show. Anyone who hasn’t heard the Antelope, Fluff, Mike’s or Ghost from that show needs to do so now.
Also, 49’ers, best in the West!
Phish on now.
Bethel/spac would not be out of the question. Might not be a year to pick and choose. Trying to download an app to locate cold Ukrainian waitresses though. Might help my decision process.
That chick was awesome. Mean bitch that she is.
Haha Palmer, that place made memories every time. Can’t imagine how cool it would have been basking in the orange sunshine.
Back from the Hampton box set release party at Higher Ground. *Very* sparsely attended, not a big windfall for the charity tonight (Toys for Kids). They showed the video from the ball, all 4 hours, good and loud. Nice. A fun evening on the cheap 🙂
the end of the denver -7 is siick. some psychadelic stuff