Welcome to the last Mystery Jam of March here at Phish.net. Why might that be significant? Well, as you may or may not know, March is International Vacuum Month (ok, fine, those buzzkills at the Vacuum Dealers Trade Association have changed it to "International Spring Cleaning Month," but they kinda suck). Purists among us know March is the month of the vacuum. As usual, we will be playing for an MP3 download, courtesy of our friends at LivePhish.com / Nugs.Net. The rules haven't changed: you need to correctly identify the song and the date to win. Post your guess in the comments. One guess per person per day (with the second “day” starting after I post the hint). A hint will be posted on Tuesday (if necessary) and the answer will be posted on Wednesday. Good luck...

Tuesday Hint: Sigh. No hint needed this week.

Wednesday Answer: Congratulations to NickSalv for -- god only knows how -- getting the 3/31/92 "Love You." The Blog will be back next week with another Mystery Jam.

The letter that accompanied the grant award offered assistance in publicizing the support from the foundation. We would welcome any and all assistance you could provide. At this time I will be contacting the Mayor of Bridgeport in the hopes of staging a media event featuring some of the students and announcing the support of the foundation.

Once again, thank you for honoring us and our children with a grant award. June G. Malone, Ph.D. Director of Development (volunteer) CT-PAS"

If you donate to the all volunteer Phish Fan Mockingbird Foundation through the "donate" button on Phish.net, buy official LivePhish.com releases or "The Phish Companion", thanks for helping make this happen.

By the way, The Mockingbird Foundation celebrates its 15th Anniversary tomorrow...we incorporated as a not-for-profit on March 26, 1997!

Dave says:

"This jam is one of the long-form jams of the 1994 Fall Tour that would in retrospect, stand out as some of the best improvisation Phish has done. Earlier in the year at the 5/7/94 Bomb Factory show, Phish blew the lid off the place with a wacky mixed-up song set that seemed to be a natural evolution of the best of what 1993 had to offer. Personally my favorite part of a Phish show, and I know I'm not alone, is the improvisation (duh!). The jam before a song, or in between two songs, the ten minutes after the song usually stops. This fall tour had many of these moments. The 11/16/94 Simple, the 11/2/94 Tweezer, 11/12/94 DWD, 11/28/94 Tweezer, 11/30/94 Fix' to Die, basically every other show or two featured a lengthy improvisational suite, and it kept going until the 12/29/94 Bowie. For fans of spontaneity, this tour was one of the best.

On this night, somehow the taper captured this jam nicely. The first set of the VHS copy of this show is unwatchable, the taper was clearly having a good time. Camera in one hand, who knows what in the other, and shaking a leg. Then by some intervention, maybe from above, possibly a junior mint, this unsung hero found a ledge to set his camera on, 30 seconds before the start of this super jam. For the next 25 minutes, he kept it trained on the stage. Thank God!

A powerful jam right out of the gates, with several changes from soft and twinkly with colors spinning to menacing ferocity spiralling into darkness. Chris Kuroda plays between light and dark like the band does with the tempo and volume. Fitting that at the end of this jam, out of serenity it morphs into Yerushalayim Shel Zahav, whose lyrics translates to "Oh, Jerusalem of gold, and of light and of bronze, I am the lute for all your songs." Beautiful end to a sometimes frightful 25 minutes!

I asked Dave a couple weeks ago where all these fantastic videos were coming from:

"I've been going thru a lot of DVD's that were once on VHS that a friend transferred to DVD for me a few years ago by means of DVR. A lot of them never really got seeded as DVD's for download type torrents on Trader's den or the like. And many were 1st or 2nd gen. Sometimes the audio was bunk or a bit shaky or too dark or too light. I've been using some software to sync a better audio copy and fix what can be fixed, as not to alter anything too much. I always been a huge Phish video fan, so I collected everything I could as it was going around. Sharing the groove is the whole reason for it all."

As for this particular show:

"I came upon this tape with many others starting in 1994 and 1995 with the invention of the Internet. I remember rec.music.phish being the third music group after the Beatles and Elvis to have a group formed. I actually went to some record conventions and bought (i know) a few 1st or second 2nd gen Phish videos sold by slithery types, muggles. Then never went back. I'd record it 30 times, put one post up, get 30 trades set up, and then get 30 packages in the mail. Unreal. The networking of Phish fans still blows me away. This tape was one that I got in one of those trades. Quickly grew a nice list and kept in contact with the first Phish video tapers and grabbed everything that was out there. Funny thing though. With the fast and furious pace Phish had, you had to roll with it like NOW. So if a video was shaky, dark, poor sound, or lots of static, they were kind of forgotten. Better cameras were making better videos. Now, again with the internet and software, it is worth the time to search out a sweet copy of the show, and fix it up the best that I can. I watched that Columbia Jam really for the first time last nite. Couldn't sleep."

Couldn't agree with you more Dave: Sharing in the Groove indeed! Thanks for sharing this great video on YouTube and specifically debuting it with us on Video of the Week.

For a bit more reading beyond our song history, check out http://www.jerusalemofgold.co.il/ for some in depth reading on this extraordinary song.

Every Friday, we highlight a video with a brief recap of the show it is from and what makes it interesting, noteworthy or simply fun. With the help of Dan Saewitz from Phishvids.com, we hope to keep the stream of videos coming at you entertaining and interesting. Have a cool video you’d like to suggest? Interested in contributing a review yourself? Submit ideas here.

Be sure to check out the article written by the Associate Principal Second Violinist of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Mark Kashper, about performing with Trey, that is available on Relix, here.

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Welcome to Mystery Jam Monday Part 91 at Phish.net. This week we will be playing for TWO MP3 downloads, courtesy of our friends at LivePhish.com / Nugs.Net (and @RabeldyNugs). The rules haven't changed: you need to correctly identify the song and the date to win. Post your guess in the comments. One guess per person per day (with the second “day” starting after I post the hint). A hint will be posted on Tuesday (if necessary) and the answer will be posted on Wednesday. Good luck...

Tuesday Hint: No hint needed this week.

Wednesday Answer: Congrats to morgentown for being the first to name the 11/16/91 "YEM," an oldie but a goodie if ever there was one. Enjoy your two livephish shows! The Blog will be back on Monday with another Mystery Jam...

After the mammoth that was Big Cypress, Phish played a number of radio sessions leading up to their first full show of 2000: May 21st at the world famous Radio City Music Hall. Starting off the tour with a short 60 minute set, Phish played only one Farmhouse tune in the first set: the opener – First Tube. They would continue on to play five more songs off Farmhouse including Gotta Jibboo, Dirt, Twist, Piper, and The Inlaw Josie Wales.

Although it was not the most incredible show, many fans seemed to absolutely love their night of Phish. After Velvet Sea, Page told the crowd how he had come to Radio City many times as a child to see concerts. Trey then exhibited his affection for the venue and their loyal fans. “...we don’t want to screw anything up, so let’s just keep this going for as long as we can.” As you all know, Phish went on hiatus a few months later. Josie Wales was played on acoustic guitar and “a roll-lickin' Loving Cup sent [the crowd] out to 6th ave with smiles on!”

Jeff recounts:

"This was a really special show....even though it often gets overshadowed by the next night with that legendary Ghost. For the most part, tickets were very difficult to come by. I suspect that in 2000, most fans were still trying to get through to Ticketmaster by TELEPHONE at 10:00am on the day of a ticket release...because I got my tickets online and it was a SNAP!

Security at the venue was very friendly, for the most part, although they DID ask us kindly to put the video camera away during Limb By Limb. As the night progressed, I saw the security guy less and less, and we decided to go for it. Glad we did.

This was Phish's first show after Big Cypress. I remember hearing lots of people here & there try to get a Cheesecake chant going, but it never took. LOL. They didn't say it like they were pissed. It's kind of interesting watching this Banter video where Trey is talking about how grateful the band is for all the fans, and about them wanting to continue on for the long haul and he mentions specifically about NOT WANTING TO MESS ANYTHING UP...........is it just me, or did he seem reeeeeally uncomfortable during that chat? Almost like he knew what was going to happen..........oh well.....it's all good now!

A few more random memories........I remember, before the show, Trey stuck his head out of a window above RCMH and we all waved to him. I also remember seeing people stomping out their cigarette butts on the brand new carpet at Radio City. I didn't like that."

Why upload now?

I LITERALLY stumbled upon it in an old shoebox filled with junk and a few DV tapes. I had totally forgotten we had filmed anything more than a few minutes worth of footage! Enjoy!!!!!!!!!!

Check out the rest of the never before seen footage below along with some reviews of the night.

Especially enjoyable is the pre-show footage including shots of the spectacular lobby.

Harry Hood - http://youtu.be/pkgo8iiEB5Y

Velvet Sea - http://youtu.be/8J1wpxTDafI

Guyute - http://youtu.be/ZLxSY2tFT0A

Inlaw Josie Wales - http://youtu.be/p9h0dVkppNo

Loving Cup - http://youtu.be/fmG8_1nlSt0

Thanks Jeff for the videos and the memories.

Every Friday, we highlight a video with a brief recap of the show it is from and what makes it interesting, noteworthy or simply fun. With the help of Dan Saewitz from Phishvids.com, we hope to keep the stream of videos coming at you entertaining and interesting. Have a cool video you’d like to suggest? Interested in contributing a review yourself? Submit ideas here.

GlowStickWars.com has launched a brand new online store, carrying a bunch of new products. The new store includes tubes of solid color Show Sticks (blue, green, and red), LED Gloves (reusable), LED Shoe Laces (reusable) and lots of other accessories so that you can glow at the show from head to toe. GlowStickWars.com is a Mockingbird Foundation partner and will continue to donate 10% of all Assorted Show Sticks purchases to help fund Mockingbird grants supporting music education for kids. Plus, five of the new products will each also generate an additional 10% donation to Mockingbird: Blue Show Sticks, Green Show Sticks, Red Show Sticks, Glow Glasses and Glow Ball Connectors. Order your Show Sticks and other goodies today and take advantage of a 25% off storewide discount!

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In honor of Trey's recent orchestral tour, Drew Hitz sat down with Joe Alessi, principal trombone of the New York Philharmonic. Joe, who many consider the greatest trombone player in the world, discussed his experience perfoming with Trey Anastasio at Carnegie Hall in 2009.

Drew Hitz: Had you ever heard any of Trey's music, either solo or with Phish, before he played with you guys?

Joe Alessi: I'm ashamed to say I had not.

DH: Well you won't really stumble upon them in too many mainstream media outlets. Had you ever heard of Trey or Phish?

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Hard to believe we've been at this for 90 weeks, but welcome to Mystery Jam Monday Part 90 at Phish.net. As usual, we will be playing for a free MP3 download, courtesy of our friends at LivePhish.com / Nugs.Net. The rules haven't changed: you need to correctly identify the song and the date to win. Post your guess in the comments. One guess per person per day (with the second “day” starting after I post the hint). A hint will be posted on Tuesday (if necessary) and the answer will be posted on Wednesday. Good luck...

Tuesday Hint: THE USERS NEED A HINT!! It's a pretty exciting day at Blog HQ. The correct song has been named.

Wednesday Answer: Welcome back, Rabeldy and nice call on the 6/10/00 "Piper," which (as Rabeldy notes) is not even the jamming highlight of that show. Nevertheless, the Blog will call this one a moral victory and comply with his request make next week an double MJ.

In April 2000, Charlie Dirksen interviewed Carl "Gears'" Gerhard, longtime Phish guest and member of the Giant Country Horns. The following exerpts from that interview were published in the first edition of The Phish Companion.

Charlie Dirksen: What are your greatest musical influences?

Carl Gerhard: I grew up in a family that totally supported my music. I used to sit in my living room at home for hours and try to play along with every song that came on the radio. That really helped me develop my ear, and from that, I was able to recognize and memorize tunes. I had a great band director in high school (Norris Birnbaum), who loved quality music, regardless of idiom or genre. Our band was always performing the most challenging pieces. He pushed me to be a more well rounded player. I've been a Navy musician for 14 years, and I've played with some super-talented people who have influenced how I play today. I mean, some really hot musicians. I can't say enough about Phish. You can't help but be positively influenced and motivated by their music and their musicianship. No doubt about it, they are the best at what they do.

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The following foreword to the second edition of The Phish Companion was written by Lois Harris, who taught Page, Trey, and Fish at Goddard College.

I suppose this little contribution to The Phish Companion should be called a Backward rather than a Foreword, but I guess Foreword will do, given that we will all seem to go that direction without requiring any declaration of the fact. Backward is a different business altogether. In music it’s called retrograde – taking the melody and playing it backwards – in life it is simply memory.

So here are some memories of Phish, as individuals and as a band. First, you have to imagine Vermont: multiple small buildings covered in snow – not always snow, but just to keep this thing rustic, let’s say snow. One building, large by Vermont standards, covered in brown shingle and punctuated by two former hay silos at the far end of the two corridors is the so-called Community Center. The other end of the hall gives access to the Haybarn Theater, wood paneled and multi-functional – a far cry from the massive performance venues the Band would later fill.

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Welcome to Mystery Jam Monday Part 89 at Phish.net. As usual, we will be playing for a free MP3 download, courtesy of our friends at LivePhish.com / Nugs.Net. The rules haven't changed: you need to correctly identify the song and the date to win. Post your guess in the comments. One guess per person per day (with the second “day” starting after I post the hint). A hint will be posted on Tuesday (if necessary) and the answer will be posted on Wednesday. Good luck...

Tuesday Hint: No hint needed this week.

Wednesday Answer: Congrats to FunkyCFunkyDo for being first in line with the 8/10/11 "Runaway Jim." Mystery Jam #90 coming next week...

In July 2000, Ellis Godard interviewed Ben "Junta" Hunter, the band's first manager/agent, for whom the double-CD Junta is named. The following exerpts from that interview were published in the second edition of The Phish Companion. Additionally of note, this is the 500th blog post on the site!

EG: How did your association with Phish begin?

BH: My “official” association with the band began when we rented a nightclub called Molly’s in Allston, Massachusetts, on 11/3/88. It was the kind of place that had live music only one night a week. If memory serves, they had Dead cover bands and the like on Sundays, and the rest of the time it was a rather, if you’ll excuse the expression, “Euro-trashy” type of dance club.

I would say my primary strength was my ability to proselytize – to spread the good Phish word amongst my friends – and act as sort of a “Johnny Appleseed.” The band’s name was on my lips in nearly every conversation I had during the several years in which I was affiliated with them. I was friendly with the band Ninja Custodian and promoted a gig for them at the Paradise in Boston (with not such terrific results), in late 1990 or early 1991. In fact, it was their drummer, Mike Billington (he of the permanent antic disposition), who first turned John Paluska and myself onto Phish.

EG: What interested you about them so early on?

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