“Tube” 9.18.99 I, Chula Vista, CA
***
“Reba > Carini” 7.13.99 I, Mansfield, MA
***
“Ghost” 8.2.03 II, Limestone, ME
***
“Seven Below > Buffalo Bill” 6.25.04 II, East Troy, WI
***
“Tweezer > Ha Ha Ha” 7.2.95 II, N. Fayston, VT
***
“Birds of a Feather” 7.23.99 II, Columbus, OH
***
“Bathtub Gin” 7.20.98 I, Ventura, CA
***
“Piper > What’s the Use?” 9.11.00 II, Mansfield, MA
***
“YEM” 12.2.99 II, Auburn Hills, MI
“Tube” 9.18.99 I, Chula Vista, CA *** “Reba > Carini” 7.13.99 I, Mansfield, MA *** “Ghost” 8.2.03 II, Limestone, ME *** “Seven Below > Buffalo Bill” 6.25.04 II, East Troy, WI *** “Tweezer > Ha Ha Ha” 7.2.95 II, N. Fayston, VT *** “Birds of a Feather” 7.23.99 II, Columbus, OH *** “Bathtub Gin” 7.20.98 I, Ventura, …
On Twitter yesterday, while groveling for post ideas, @KevinMSpence and @david_artis each suggested “remaking” studio albums with live selections; forming a playlist that would look like the album, but contained all live music. For today, I took that exercise and twisted it a bit. When Phish dropped A Live One in 1995, it was their first-ever official live release. The double-album was filled with cuts from 1994, and released to give mainstream audiences a taste of what the band’s heralded concerts sounded like. Since 1995, the band and technology have come a long way, and now every live show is released within hours, making the concept of a “live album” totally obsolete. But what would A Live One look like if it were re-conceived today in order to showcase the past two years? Maybe a little something like this…
DISC ONE
“Bouncing Around the Room” 6.17.11, Charlotte, NC
This was a “pick ’em.”
***
“Stash” 10.31.10 I, Atlantic City, NJ
My favorite “Stash from this era.
***
“Gumbo” 5.28.11 I, Bethel, NY
Packed in the middle of a monster set.
***
“Nevada“
A Live One had “Montana,” a 2 minute and 4 second excerpt from an exploratory “Tweezer” played in Bozeman, MT. Well, this is 3.0, and “Tweezer” ain’t what she used to be, so I took a 2 minute and 4 second excerpt from one of Phish’s most exploratory jaunts this era. Can you tell what it is?
***
“You Enjoy Myself” 6.13.10 II, Hershey, PA
The Hershey “YEM”—it’s whaley, but it’s good.
***
“Chalk Dust Torture” 8.16.11 I, Chicago, IL
A furious first set version.
***
“Slave to the Traffic Light” 6.19.11 II, Portsmouth, VA
A gorgeous, mid-set masterpiece.
=====
DISC TWO
“Wilson” 7.3.11 I, Watkins Glen, NY
One of the top performances of this song ever.
***
“Tweezer” 9.3.11 II, Denver, CO
One of the defining jams of this go-round.
***
“Simple” 8.6.10 II, Berkeley, CA
An all-time version of “Simple” from The Greek.
***
“Harry Hood” 12.28.10 II, Worcester, MA
One of everyone’s favorite tracks on the original album was “Harry Hood,” and this time it’s back with a vengeance.
***
“The Squirming Coil” 8.19.11 E, Lake Tahoe, CA
The first and only “Coil” that came to mind when making this list.
***
On Twitter yesterday, while groveling for post ideas, @KevinMSpence and @david_artis each suggested “remaking” studio albums with live selections; forming a playlist that would look like the album, but contained all live music. For today, I took that exercise and twisted it a bit. When Phish dropped A Live One in 1995, it was their first-ever …
“Gumbo” 7.22.03 I, Noblesville, IN
A hugely cathartic first set jam that doesn’t get its proper due. Welcome to Friday.
“Reba” 8.2.03 I, Limestone, ME
There’s nothing quite like a daytime “Reba” in Limestone. And this one has a post hiatus twist.
***
“After Midnight Reprise” 12.31.99, Big Cypress, FL
The peak of the Big Cypress’ marathon set which came out of “Drowned.”
***
“Horn” 7.15.98 I, Portland, OR
A beauty spawned out of nowhere.
***
“Slave to the Traffic Light” 6.15.95 II, Atlanta, GA
A patient and slowly unfolding gem.
***
“If I Could” 12.29.94 I, Providence, RI
Trey and Page come together in a poignant and powerful version.
***
“Tweezer” 8.1.99 II, Niigata, JP
Slow and melodic in the Field of Heaven.
***
“Prince Caspian” 7.31.99 II, Niigata, JP
You know the “2001 -> Bowie” from this set, but do you know this crushing “Caspian?” I kid you not.
***
“You Enjoy Myself” 6.9.00 E, Tokyo, JP
A hearty helping of laid-back funk was served as the encore of Japan 2000’s first show.
***
“Harry Hood” 9.11.99 II, George, WA
There’s nothing quite like a “Hood” at The Gorge. This one is big time.
“Gumbo” 7.22.03 I, Noblesville, IN A hugely cathartic first set jam that doesn’t get its proper due. Welcome to Friday. “Reba” 8.2.03 I, Limestone, ME There’s nothing quite like a daytime “Reba” in Limestone. And this one has a post hiatus twist. *** “After Midnight Reprise” 12.31.99, Big Cypress, FL The peak of the Big …
“Drowned -> Rock and Roll” 6.29.00 I, Holmdel, NJ
A blistering end-of-set combo as the sun went down in New Jersey.
***
“Tweezer” 12.2.95 II, New Haven, CT
A classic face-melting extravaganza.
***
“Mike’s Song -> Sparks” 8.2.93 II, Tampa, FL
A rowdy August ’93 sequence.
***
“Simple” 11.29.98 II, Worcester, MA
Dark, seething psychedelic shreddery.
***
“Piper” 10.2.99 II, Minneapolis, MN
Just another gem off from the jewel case that is 1999.
***
“Antelope” 10.24.95 II, Madison, WI
Another classic piece of Fall ’95 history.
***
“Wolfman’s Brother” 11.19.97 II, Champaign, IL
From funk into a furious and full-on “Crosseyed” jam.
***
“Split Open and Melt” 12.1.94 I, Salem, OR
Hard-edged music that doesn’t come around these days.
“Drowned -> Rock and Roll” 6.29.00 I, Holmdel, NJ A blistering end-of-set combo as the sun went down in New Jersey. *** “Tweezer” 12.2.95 II, New Haven, CT A classic face-melting extravaganza. *** “Mike’s Song -> Sparks” 8.2.93 II, Tampa, FL A rowdy August ’93 sequence. *** “Simple” 11.29.98 II, Worcester, MA Dark, seething psychedelic …
“Ghost” 9.12.99 II, Portland, OR
One of the most slept on jams of all time. Don’t sleep.
***
“Bathtub Gin -> Simple” 12.7.99 II, Portland, ME
Phish returned to Cumberland Country Civic Center during December ’99, an era where ambient jams were prominent.
***
“Jam -> Bug” 12.17.99 II, Hampton, VA
Though it sure felt like the Mothership was about to lift-off into “2001,” but the band teased everyone by dropping into “Bug.” This jam was the music behind the Hampton reunion announcement video.
***
“Waves” 8.2.03 II, Limestone, ME
The magic fields of Limestone…
***
“Twist” 2.24.03 II, E.Rutherford, NJ
Aliens visited The Meadowlands.
***
“AC/DC Bag” 11.7.98 II, Chicago, IL
This gorgeous jam from UIC illustrates the ambient shift of Fall ’98.
***
“Drowned” 9.14.2000 II, Darien Center, NY
Forget about it—a true monster.
***
“Roses Are Free” 1.1.00, Big Cypress, FL
The music that dawned a new millenium; the cerebral masterpiece from the end of an all-night marathon.
***
“My Left Toe, Stash” 6.30.99 II, Bonner Springs. KS
Phish paired the debut of “My Left Toe” with “Stash” to close the second set of 1999’s very first show.
“Ghost” 9.12.99 II, Portland, OR One of the most slept on jams of all time. Don’t sleep. *** “Bathtub Gin -> Simple” 12.7.99 II, Portland, ME Phish returned to Cumberland Country Civic Center during December ’99, an era where ambient jams were prominent. *** “Jam -> Bug” 12.17.99 II, Hampton, VA Though it sure felt …
