Date | Song | City | Timing | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
1987-02-21 | Boogie On | Burlington, VT | 5:17 | Debut. Mike's bass playing is noticeably strong and funky even in this first version. |
1987-02-21 | Ya Mar | Burlington, VT | 5:40 | Debut. |
1987-08-21 | Hood | Hebron, NY | 14:09 | Strong early "Hood" includes a long, slow-tempo intro (to 3:50) with dogs barking in the background, and a soaring and unusually long (for this period) Trey-led jam, prompting Fishman to comment "that's why I'm in the band." |
1987-08-21 | Curtain With | Hebron, NY | 12:12 | Gotta love the dogs, Marley and/or others barking in the background throughout. The Curtain section is very precise, and filled with a sense of energy. Listening along, you can imagine the band had practiced the composed section extensively. The With jam begins with delicate, lofty soloing by Trey, then gradually builds up to a crescendo, before easing back down and fading into the ether. |
1987-08-21 | Wilson | Hebron, NY | 6:25 | First ever "Wilson" chant from the band in a stretched out intro with nice droning organ and funky Trey comping before reaching the chord changes. When the band takes the volume down, some incredibly well-timed dog barking leads the band into a few lysergic, descending, atonal moments. Signature, briskly-paced, early version. |
1987-08-21 | Mike's | Hebron, NY | 13:14 | Very improvisational version, for any period. Has "Fluffhead"-like moments, a Grateful Dead vibe at times, and the jamming covers a huge range of exploratory ground. Must-hear early Phish improv. |
1987-08-21 | Skin It Back | Hebron, NY | 13:12 | Replete with Marley or some other dog's barking, the band launches an exploratory, improvisational take on the Little Feat classic. The driving jam features great Mike and Page, and predictably rapid-fire Trey action. Becoming increasingly abstract after 10:30, the playing begins to settle, and Mike leads the band with a great -> into "Low Rider Jam." |
1987-08-21 | Low Rider | Hebron, NY | 6:30 | -> from an improvisational "Skin it Back," this early nod to the War classic works to cool down the fury from the preceding jam, as Trey humorously sings "La Bamba" lyrics over the "Low Rider" melody. Picking up a blues-tinged theme after 4:30, this great and grooving full-band improv rocks on and -> "Back Porch Boogie Blues." |
1987-08-21 | Back Porch Boogie Blues | Hebron, NY | 7:47 | -> in from a fun "Low Rider Jam," you may initially hear Grateful Dead-like jamming in this blues-based instrumental. Trey leads the band into increasingly frenetic playing, and Mike and Fish heroically manage to keep up with the torrid pace. Settling down into a more groovy bent, Trey cleverly sets the deck for an unexpected -> to "The Sloth." |
1987-08-21 | McGrupp | Hebron, NY | 9:42 | The first version with lyrics sung rather than narrated. The jam follows a similar pattern to others from this period, with Trey strumming quite a bit while Page rocks the keyboard, but this one grows increasingly intense before seeming to veer towards "Possum." Instead, the jam explores more ground, then -> to "Stir It Up Jam" with no return to the typical closing. |
1987-08-21 | Stir It Up | Hebron, NY | 5:37 | -> in from a strong "McGrupp." While all members contribute (Page's early playing is varied and inspiried) Trey dominates, slowly working Marley's "Stir It Up" into its more traditional form, the ensuing jam informed by lines warm and melodic, rich in tone. Beautiful, must-hear material. |
1987-08-21 | Makisupa | Hebron, NY | 10:56 | A supremely odd version. "Makisupa" proper begins more than six minutes in, after the "Stir It Up Jam" comes to a full stop. The first few minutes feature Trey ad libbing, lyrics over a loose, playful jam. It's mostly weird, but the last minute of the jam is a long, magnificent segue -> "David Bowie." |
1987-09-21 | Antelope | Burlington, VT | 12:25 | Great tension and energy building early in the jam, then there's a funky, rhythmic, 3+ minute section before "Marco." |
1987-09-21 | Makisupa | Burlington, VT | 10:32 | As is typical in this era, a very pretty jam begins around 5:40 and lasts for a few minutes. Gorgeous version, one of the best. |
1988-06-21 | JJLC | Burlington, VT | 11:32 | Fantastic Trey as he builds the jam from low-down, mournful blues to church service-like inspirational rocking. |
1988-06-21 | Whipping Post | Burlington, VT | 25:26 | The extended first jam is unusually improvisational, seems to come back to normal "Whipping Post," then breaks into dissonant "DEG"-like jamming, and then more exploration. The second jam features Page on the B-3 and is more soothing and straightforward than the first. |
1990-09-21 | YEM | Somerville, MA | 18:45 | Excellent jam segment; "Sweet Emotion" tease (Mike). |
1991-02-21 | Bowie | Charlottesville, VA | 12:52 | Jam begins with heavy "Manteca"-like jamming, then grows extremely shrill and dissonant. |
1991-07-21 | Gumbo | Parksville, NY | 6:36 | With the Giant Country Horns, this widely-circulated Arrowhead Ranch version is must hear. |
1991-11-21 | Esther | Somerville, MA | 9:42 | An especially thoughtful and busy intro sets the foundation for a strong version featuring dynamic playing and impressive modulation, with particularly strong contributions from Page and inventive soloing from Trey. |
1991-11-21 | Weekapaug | Somerville, MA | 10:12 | First "Weekapaug" to really break out into an extended improvisational jam, with significant exploratory play, an excellent tease/jam of "On Broadway," signals, a fiery peak, and multiple endings. |
1992-04-21 | SOAMelt | Eureka, CA | 10:37 | Very improvisational and exploratory jam with excellent dynamics modulation. Awesome Mike and Trey. |
1992-04-21 | Possum | Eureka, CA | 12:42 | Extended intro with many signals and "DEG" teases. Great jam that has a nice swingy feel to it before going full throttle. |
1992-04-21 | It's Ice | Eureka, CA | 9:05 | Good jam and nice work by Page on the Hammond B-3. Segue to "Eliza." |
1992-04-21 | Tweezer | Eureka, CA | 13:31 | Very melodic, enchanting jam in part. Still among the coolest versions in history. |
1992-04-21 | Mike's | Eureka, CA | 7:56 | Played at slightly slower tempo, the jam includes great Mike, "HYHU"-like jamming, then a tense, spiraling jam. The 2nd jam has some unusual descending riffs, dissonance, and more spiraling tension. |
1992-04-21 | Weekapaug | Eureka, CA | 8:56 | Simmers at a rather low intensity early on with Trey's playing noticeably restrained. The jam works its way into an improvisational segment with building tension, after which the expected musical fireworks go off. Includes teases of "Happy Birthday to You" and "Linus and Lucy" as well as a birthday announcement from Trey. |
1992-11-21 | Buffalo Bill | Stony Brook, NY | 1:46 | Debut. Played at a faster tempo than later versions, with Fish on washboard. |
1993-02-21 | Esther | Atlanta, GA | 10:43 | Reggae style and other fun throughout the intro, as if to set the table for Page. And Page responds in kind, his playing strong throughout the version, both when soloing or providing fills for Trey. |
1993-02-21 | Antelope | Atlanta, GA | 12:25 | Frenzied and chaotic version that briefly pushes out beyond standard "Antelope" several times. Page expertly adds dissonance to the harmonics. |
1993-02-21 | Stash | Atlanta, GA | 10:38 | "Stash" -> "Manteca" -> "Stash" at the close of the jam. The jam itself is also very good, with nice improvisational action throughout, an unusual ending, and a -> to "Lizards." |
1993-02-21 | Manteca | Atlanta, GA | 0:45 | -> in from "Stash." Sweet little "Manteca" jam towards the end of a very solid "Stash." -> back to "Stash." |
1993-02-21 | Stash | Atlanta, GA | 0:55 | -> in from "Manteca" to complete this strong version of "Stash," which ends in an unusual manner and -> to "The Lizards." |
1993-03-21 | SOAMelt | Ventura, CA | 12:38 | Very exploratory jam which veers away from standard "SOAM" and makes a clean break at 7:50 into improvisational, slightly off-kilter playing. Shifts into some good rocking and gets really great as it works its way back to "SOAM." |
1993-03-21 | My Friend | Ventura, CA | 7:25 | Nice little melodic outro jam is tacked on with no "Myfe" ending. |
1993-03-21 | Hood | Ventura, CA | 13:15 | Beautiful, delicate playing at first. Then at 7:55, there's an incredible section where the power builds in a cool and very unusual way for "Hood." From here, there's a brief settle before launching into a blistering ending. |
1993-04-21 | Antelope | Columbus, OH | 12:07 | Unusual, intense and improvisational jam that almost sounds like a "SOAM" jam at times. |
1993-04-21 | SOAMelt | Columbus, OH | 11:36 | The jam from this fiery, intense version was attached to the end of the song "Demand" on the studio album Hoist. In a 1994 interview, Trey noted this performance marked the beginning of a watershed, 14-month period, during which the band really clicked and coalesced on "SOAM's" complex jam rhythm. Not surprisingly, the golden age of "SOAM" overlaps with this 1993 - 1994 period of technical mastery considerably. |
1993-04-21 | Weekapaug | Columbus, OH | 9:12 | Nice interplay between Trey and Page in the breakdown section, then the jam seems to be headed for home with a fiery peak, but instead veers off-course into more improvisational jamming, gradually diminishing unfinished, and (arguably) > to "Gumbo." |
1993-07-21 | SOAMelt | Middletown, NY | 9:32 | After a good improvisational start to '93, "SOAM" suffers a slight "Type I" malaise in late spring and early summer. Here, the jam progressively frays the edges, getting more outside the box and paving the way for the huge August versions. |
1993-07-21 | Runaway Jim | Middletown, NY | 9:38 | As @SLAVEPHAN notes, the band pushes through an Arabic, minor-key groove, and the version features some distinct hey-jamming, with each musician taking turns changing the musical direction. Play becomes quite tense, and, at times, there seems to be no real resolution on the horizon. One of the finest "short" versions. |
1993-08-21 | Stash | Salt Lake City, UT | 14:58 | Extremely improvisational, with multiple movements. Perhaps lacking the melodic grandeur of 8/15/93, it is nonetheless stunning, fly-by-the-seat-of-the-pants exploration. |
1993-08-21 | Runaway Jim | Salt Lake City, UT | 10:36 | Very improvisational, dissonant and chaotic version. |
1993-08-21 | Possum | Salt Lake City, UT | 10:04 | Still August '93, so "Possum" is still exploratory as far as "Possums" go. The jam starts off a little odd, then comes back to a more "normal" mode. Has a cool slow down section plus Mike singing falsetto/extra low. (*skip in tape, timing inexact). |
1993-08-21 | Fee | Salt Lake City, UT | 6:55 | With Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, who add some extra flavor to this outro. > to "Llama." |
1993-08-21 | Llama | Salt Lake City, UT | 4:42 | > from a terrific "Fee," and featuring Bela Fleck on electric banjo, Victor Wooten on bass, and Roy "Future Man" Wooten on drumitar, here's one of the coolest versions you've "ever heard." While sticking close to "Llama" proper, the musicians gel wonderfully, offering up a wonderful passage of chill improvisation, which offsets traditional fire play. |
1993-08-21 | Bowie | Salt Lake City, UT | 12:34 | Bela Fleck and the Flecktones. "Bowie" -> "MLB" Jam -> "Bowie." Very improvisational version, really no surprise given the month and year. And the Flecktones are no slouches when it comes to improvisation. Nothing like Victor Wooten and Mike going at it, or Bela and Trey. |
1993-08-21 | Mind Left Body Jam | Salt Lake City, UT | 1:03 | -> in from "DB." Phish and Bela Fleck and the Flecktones team up for a little "Mind Left Body" jamming. -> back to "DB." |
1993-08-21 | Bowie | Salt Lake City, UT | 1:32 | -> in from "MLB" Jam. Returns to "Bowie" to conclude this dynamic, exploratory version with Phish and Bela Fleck and the Flecktones teaming up for group improvisation. |
1993-08-21 | Jam | Salt Lake City, UT | 2:09 | With Bela Fleck and the Flecktones. Fish and Future Man play around with rhythm, then the others join in a low-key jam. |
1994-04-21 | Possum | Winston-Salem, NC | 11:12 | Intense jam rocks the house, hard. Great Fish and Page. |
1994-04-21 | Jam | Winston-Salem, NC | 5:25 | With the Dave Matthews Band. -> in from "Drums" featuring Fish and Carter Beauford. A rocking and very percussive jam with both bands playing along together builds into a good groove which slows and -> to "All Along The Watchtower." |
1994-06-21 | My Friend | Cincinnati, OH | 8:08 | The jam includes a nice little tease/jam on Rick Derringer's "Rock And Roll, Hoochie Koo" (which sounds similar to Led Zeppelin's "Moby Dick"). |
1994-06-21 | SOAMelt | Cincinnati, OH | 15:02 | The jam starts into a tense, exploratory groove before launching into a stunning, melodic Mike/Trey duet. At 12:00, the tension and power return, but the jam doesn't return to "SOAM" proper until 14:00. |
1994-06-21 | Esther | Cincinnati, OH | 8:39 | Mike mows everyone down on this bass-centric version. 1994 is a great year for "Esther," and here is one reason why. Page's and Trey's solos smoke, but it's Mike's powerful playing that distinguishes this version, not a song one normally associates with Mike. |
1994-06-21 | Hood | Cincinnati, OH | 13:01 | The jam has spots of improvisational playing, including an unusual and dark section from 6:55 - 8:00, and a nicely trilling peak. |
1994-10-21 | Antelope | Sunrise, FL | 13:04 | Chaotic and crazed version with a number of short but discrete exploratory departures. |
1994-10-21 | Weekapaug | Sunrise, FL | 7:16 | High-quality "Type I" action followed by a "CYHMK" jam to close. |
1995-10-21 | Reba | Lincoln, NE | 13:58 | Super Fish sets a shuffling beat atop which Trey grooves, and a wonderful, rolling jam ensues. Mike incites a mini-breakdown, from which a concerted passage of energy builds to burst. Trey employs any number of staccato-like licks, with Page matching him upon his piano. Huge sustain and powerful trilling drive this version to a thrilling conclusion. |
1995-10-21 | Bowie | Lincoln, NE | 16:36 | Although it doesn't get way beyond "Bowie," this very good version includes a lot of little unexpected improvisational twists and turns and a psychedelic edginess. |
1995-10-21 | YEM | Lincoln, NE | 22:42 | "Oye Como Va" teases and HUUUUGE B&D! |
1995-11-21 | My Friend | Winston-Salem, NC | 6:55 | Version follows "Guyute," the only time these kindred compositions have been paired together, and includes a spooky outro jam with strong Fish which -> to "Dog Faced Boy." |
1995-11-21 | Simple | Winston-Salem, NC | 9:25 | Teases of Maze, Bowie, Possum, Day in the Life, and Bowie again. Very long, funky percussion jam, with Trey on the "mini kit." |
1995-11-21 | Bowie | Winston-Salem, NC | 10:23 | Great fall '95 version with a "Bowie" -> "Take Me To The River" -> "Bowie" in the jam and some thunderous and blistering exploration following the debut of this song popularized by Talking Heads. |
1995-11-21 | Take Me to the River | Winston-Salem, NC | 1:23 | -> in from "DB." Great brief jam on this Al Green song popularized by Talking Heads emerges in the midst of a solid "Bowie" jam. -> back to "DB." |
1995-11-21 | Bowie | Winston-Salem, NC | 8:45 | -> in from "Take Me To The River." The real heavy meat of the "Bowie" jam is in this section. |
1995-11-21 | Ya Mar | Winston-Salem, NC | 9:53 | Fish solo. |
1995-11-21 | Mike's | Winston-Salem, NC | 14:02 | After a high powered but otherwise typical 1st jam, the band breaks into a nice melodic 2nd one, with Trey electing to stick with the guitar, and good accents provided by Page and Mike. The jam ends with a nice -> to "Keyboard Army." |
1996-07-21 | Tweezer | Nüremberg, Germany | 11:39 | Powerful version. In the final two minutes (the coda), Trey plays in a "staccato" or so-called "plinko" way. |
1996-10-21 | Possum | New York, NY | 8:57 | Here's an odd one: the entire song is played in a different (lower) key. Go figure. |
1996-10-21 | Simple | New York, NY | 11:57 | Funky version with Trey on the "mini-kit." -> to "The Horse." |
1997-02-21 | DwD | Florence, Italy | 16:05 | Nice melodic departure from the standard that grows increasingly funky as it progresses. Great Page B-3 action. |
1997-02-21 | YEM | Florence, Italy | 18:43 | Finally played in Firenze, a feisty, typically strong "YEM" strengthens after the 10:00 mark to become outrageous. Similar to the Holiday Run's "Izabella," Trey outright attacks, and then goes off, as if goading the others to keep up. Play "cools" through a righteous "Bass and Drums" section. |
1997-02-21 | Wilson | Florence, Italy | 4:38 | The heaviest of all the Heavy Metal style Wilsons comes bursting -> out of a gnarly unfinished "Antelope" jam with a transformed thrashing arrangement and properly gutural vocals from Trey. |
1997-06-21 | Twist | Scheeßel, Germany | 18:17 | The jam breaks to funk early, returns to "Twist," then a very good funky-blues jam develops which gets energized and upbeat. A quieter, spacey section follows before a return to the funk-blues jam and > to "Cavern." |
1997-07-21 | Gin | Virginia Beach, VA | 21:51 | Brilliant, exploratory "Gin" that includes funk, "Drowned" jamming (9:25 - 11:55), syncopated, blues-infused rocking, and stops. At 18:30 with the others still playing, Trey addresses the audience, talking about new songs. |
1997-07-21 | Magilla | Virginia Beach, VA | 5:47 | Summer 97's brilliant Creature Double Feature. -> from "Wolfman's Brother," the intro features Trey's signature sound, before a more traditional "Magilla" takes shape. True to that summer's form, the version veers into more exploratory ground, with Trey trading solos with Page and lending a funky effect to Mike's playing. |
1997-07-21 | Velvet Sea | Virginia Beach, VA | 8:15 | The solo section begins all the way down, allowing Trey to expertly switch between sparkling chord arpeggiations and soaring single note lines with supreme patience, before his cathartic, Leslie-affected chording brings it home. |
1997-07-21 | Theme | Virginia Beach, VA | 7:10 | At 7:10, the jam veers into a nice funky groove. Then at 8:30 LeRoi Moore pipes in on the saxophone. He plays a tease from the "Theme To Woody Woodpecker" and then he and the band embark on a funky, jazzy exploration. Page switches keyboards several times and the jam grows weird, dissonant and chaotic towards the end. |
1997-07-21 | Jam | Virginia Beach, VA | 12:33 | -> in from "Theme." The "Jam" leaves "Theme" and veers into a nice funky groove. Then at 8:30 LeRoi Moore pipes in on the saxophone. He plays a tease from the "Theme To Woody Woodpecker" and then he and the band embark on a funky, jazzy exploration. Page switches keyboards several times and the jam grows weird, dissonant and chaotic towards the end. |
1997-07-21 | Slave | Virginia Beach, VA | 12:27 | Trey's playing includes some subtle and effective melodic variation. Meanwhile Page and Fish add really nice color and texture, transforming this lazy summertime version into one with a powerful sense of grandeur, reaching lofty heights in its strong conclusion. |
1997-11-21 | Emotional Rescue | Hampton, VA | 16:58 | A dark and stormy groove with Fall '97's unique sound. Funk is the predominant style initially but the jam becomes more ambient and throbbing towards the end and taps into that same enveloping power found in the next night's "Halley's" jam. |
1997-11-21 | Caspian | Hampton, VA | 9:59 | Jam is well played but typical - then there is a long digital delay loop fade out instead of the usual closing chords. |
1997-11-21 | Bag | Hampton, VA | 25:42 | > in from "Ghost." The band dexterously weaves together layers of hard rock, funk, and delicate, ambient space almost imperceptibly, as the transitions are so fluid. Difficult to break into easily defined sections or movements, it's more like a dynamically evolving life form. -> to "Slave To The Traffic Light." Simply must-hear. |
1997-11-21 | Slave | Hampton, VA | 12:30 | -> in from a monster "Bag." '94 and '97: Great years for Phish and for "Slave." But the styles (for both) are very different. This "Slave," like many '97s, has a feeling of gradual building, rather than skyrocketing from valley to peak. |
1998-07-21 | Tube | Phoenix, AZ | 9:06 | The Cosmic Tube. Funk jam with a reprise of the jam section. Spacey outro. Released on From the Archives-Superball IX. |
1998-07-21 | Mike's | Phoenix, AZ | 16:57 | After opening in a nice groove, this long single jam settles into familiar "Mike's" ground. After some "Manteca"-like jamming, the play settles and grows more funky. When Page hits the piano just after 14:00, the big peak kicks in with all guns blazing. |
1998-07-21 | Simple | Phoenix, AZ | 11:23 | -> in from "Mike's." A gorgeous straightforward jam eventually dissolves into ambient space and -> to the debut of "Bittersweet Motel." |
1998-07-21 | Ghost | Phoenix, AZ | 19:36 | Funky groove into epic soaring balls-out rock and roll supernova that throbs smoothly into bluesey intro for "She Caught the Katy." [Quality and extended straightforward "Ghost" jamming eventually takes on a nice swinging blues vibe and -> to "She Caught The Katy."] |
1998-11-21 | Foam | Hampton, VA | 9:51 | Super Page solo followed by ever-so-delicate-and-nimble Trey. Fish rocks the build-up with some serious drumming. |
1998-11-21 | Simple | Hampton, VA | 15:21 | The straightforward jam is galacticly beautiful. |
1999-07-21 | Funky Bitch | Burgettstown, PA | 8:10 | Definitely among the better versions even if it's "just type I." |
1999-07-21 | Taste | Burgettstown, PA | 12:37 | Extended, unhurried and skillful soloing by Trey. Only very gradually does the band notch up the intensity. |
1999-07-21 | Mike's | Burgettstown, PA | 12:53 | Once again, the band uses the instrumental space in "Mike's" to launch a groove-based jam. In this one, there's a nice ebb and flow of energy, with great Page B-3 action around 7:30. As the jam progresses, it gets increasingly incendiary, with good '99-style Trey shredding. |
1999-07-21 | My Left Toe | Burgettstown, PA | 16:08 | -> in from "Simple." A swirling transition jam meanders for bit, but after 8:00 it finds its full stride, and the result is gorgeous and lilting improvisational playing. -> to "Caspian." |
1999-07-21 | Weekapaug | Burgettstown, PA | 12:41 | Mike is strong and out in front, leading another extended, funky breakdown jam. Gradually, Trey and Page take the lead back, riding atop the groove as it returns to "Weekapaug" proper. |
1999-09-21 | Drowned | Tucson, AZ | 17:19 | Huge, powerhouse version, featuring incendiary, Jimi-esque Trey, and pounding Page. More wall of sound than musical, the jam drones until, set off by some scattershot riffs, play cools to assume a remarkably chill, wavy groove, full-band improvisation suspended in sound somewhere between 99 and what would arrive circa 2000. |
1999-09-21 | Vultures | Tucson, AZ | 12:05 | If not quite a carrion, than perhaps a clarion call to the desert's mystic surroundings. Trey breaks from the vocals to launch an all-out assault, his signature 1999 tone on full display. After setting a loop, Trey's beautiful, patterned soloing, artfully phrased, is matched by Page, with Mike soon leading the band through deep and cerebral play. Fish's perfect off-beat and stylized play soon smooths, with Trey's cool, slashing chording informing the -> "LxL". Awesome. |
1999-09-21 | Antelope | Tucson, AZ | 17:09 | A killer Antelope that starts off with swirling, whirling loops and a relaxed energy typical of Fall '99, builds up tension by Trey playing some stabbing chords, then builds to a ferocious peak. Proof positive that Antelope still had its fastball even after the mid-90s. |
2000-05-21 | DwD | New York, NY | 20:23 | At 10:35, a very good quality, quick tempo groove-based jam emerges. It settles some and returns to "DwD" to conclude. |
2003-02-21 | DwD | Cincinnati, OH | 17:12 | Nothing too deep, just a nice "feel good" jam that bops along with sprinkles of improvisation from Trey and Page before returning to "DwD" to close. |
2003-02-21 | Boogie On | Cincinnati, OH | 6:47 | Breakdown jamming. |
2003-02-21 | Mike's | Cincinnati, OH | 14:40 | The jam begins with a semi-dark tone, includes some nice Trey/Page interplay, and Trey makes it more interesting by varying the melodic lines away from standard "Mike's.". Around 10:00, the jam settles into more spacey, effects-heavy play, where it remains until a -> "Free." |
2003-02-21 | Velvet Sea | Cincinnati, OH | 8:07 | Rough, rugged, and raw, a glimpse (the video is up on YouTube) of the band - Page included - at their most vulnerable. But boy, man. It's Phish. Pouring it on through an incredibly difficult point in their history. Listen to Trey's sustain. Then stick around for the closing coda. It's almost too much. |
2003-07-21 | Stash | Noblesville, IN | 13:43 | Not way out there, but has some good moments that stretch beyond normal "Stash" (8:45 - 11:45) and a solid finish. |
2003-07-21 | BOAF | Noblesville, IN | 11:11 | Leaves standard "Birds" behind at about 5:20 and breaks into an up-tempo, upbeat jam that also has moments of a darker sentiment. There's a brief return to "Birds" proper, before Page leads a quiet section that > into "Mike's Song." |
2003-07-21 | Weekapaug | Noblesville, IN | 11:24 | Searing hot "Type I" play through 5:00, then the jam settles into some excellent exploratory and rocking play with great percussive action from Fish and Mike. Returning to "Weekapaug," the conclusion has an unusual rave-up ending. |
2003-07-21 | Taste | Noblesville, IN | 11:14 | The energy and power start to build at the end of Trey's solo, then he settles everyone back down for a bit before rallying the band into an overdrive finale. |
2003-07-21 | 46 Days | Noblesville, IN | 14:46 | Jam moves on from the typical hard driving standard to some really serene, quiet thoughtful space. With lots of little twists and turns, this one is very improvisational. > to "Tweezer." |
2009-06-21 | C&P | East Troy, WI | 15:04 | Very nice second set opener. This one rips from start to finish. Around the 9:30 min mark, Trey and Page really catch a hold of something and blaze through the back of the jam. At 12:30, it starts to explore spacier realms that eventually lead into "Down with Disease." |
2009-06-21 | Piper | East Troy, WI | 12:50 | Page gets the jam section off to a great start, then Trey zeroes in on a nice blues riff. Taking turns playing off this riff, Trey and Page team up nicely, before the jam eventually dissolves into familiar '09 transition space. |
2009-11-21 | SOAMelt | Cincinnati, OH | 13:01 | While closely following Trey's winding solo, Fish mirrors this patterned play, the musicians providing the others "room" to altogether drop anything by way of melody, setting Trey up for a patient and tense syncopated exploration which smartly culminates in "Melt's" coda. |
2009-11-21 | R&R | Cincinnati, OH | 16:13 | Very good, funky version with some nice Page/Trey interplay. Extended spacey ending. |
2013-07-21 | Energy | Chicago, IL | 14:25 | The third appearance of "Energy" opens a rather (in)famous set and is the longest version so far. A bit of banter about the crowd sticking around in the rain finally gives way to the song. The jam begins and is a ball of frenzied, well, energy. The band locks in, Trey and Page have some great interplay. The frenzy eventually gives way to a spacey ending, replete with some of Mike's famous "bass bombs" and eventually > into "Ghost". |
2014-10-21 | CDT | Santa Barbara, CA | 15:49 | A very nice jam which gradually works away from the standard. Fish keeps the rhythm largely grounded in "CDT" while the others explore an interesting, pleasant landscape. |
2015-07-21 | Blaze On | Bend, OR | 7:56 | Debut. It's clear the band couldn't wait to play "Blaze On", hinting at its improvisational prowess from the get-go during the first set of tour. |
2015-07-21 | NMINML | Bend, OR | 10:08 | Debut. The song sounds fully formed from the start. Nice > into "Weekapaug Groove." |
2015-08-21 | Simple | Watkins Glen, NY | 11:08 | The Magnaball-opening "Simple" wastes no time in getting the festivities underway. After some standard jamming in the typical chord progression, the band opts not to resolve to F and instead stays in B-flat, churning out a fuzzy, pulsating groove led by the rhythm section. |
2015-08-21 | Gin | Watkins Glen, NY | 22:50 | Exceptional version including diverse jam segments. Hard-edged rocking, murky funk, and melodic "hose" all feature in this top-shelf "Gin". |
2015-08-21 | CDT | Watkins Glen, NY | 18:15 | Yet another "CDT" boasting a post-refrain jam, and yet again does Phish deliver the goods. The jam starts off sparsely and rebuilds to a low-key, part melodic, part hard-edged passage with a "WTU?" tease before > Ghost. |
2015-08-21 | NMINML | Watkins Glen, NY | 11:45 | Doubles down on the Mann version with two separate rock-oriented jams, occasionally hinting at the climax of "CYHMK." Returns to the "NMINML" ending twice, then dissolves into an ambient fog and -> neatly into "Slave." |
2016-10-21 | BOTT | Alpharetta, GA | 7:32 | > from "AC/DC Bag," the band is quick to capitalize upon the vibe, and creates a soupy, "southern" groove. Page keeps everyone on point; Mike and Fish provide great break back beats; and Trey shows considerable patience and restraint, bending notes and shaping his tone, his soloing adding extra swagger to the strong, straightforward play which drives this version to a close. |
2016-10-21 | DwD | Alpharetta, GA | 21:08 | Trey dominates early, powering the band through familiar ground and creating an "old school" vibe. From here, several distinct improvisational sections emerge, with strong contributions by everyone, including a masterful Marimba Lumina section a la Trey. |
2016-10-21 | Winterqueen | Alpharetta, GA | 8:35 | Airy and introspective, Mike and Fish create a space which Trey and Page fill with truly dynamic interplay. Great guitar drives this version to a strong conclusion. |
2017-07-21 | Timber Ho | New York, NY | 8:29 | Unusual take. Unlike 11/16/97, which also features play that begins in traditional "Timber" style - before shifting to major mode play - here (just after the 4:00 mark) the move is neither delicate nor serene but, rather, is driven and forceful, so providing the foundation for the version's spirited conclusion. |
2017-07-21 | Seven Below | New York, NY | 13:02 | Drops into a darker zone right out of the composed section, with Trey's fine guitar work and Page's synths leading the charge. Mike helps keep the jam at a low boil, before Trey makes the call for major key and they move to a blissful jam space, if a bit more restrained than previous jams from this tour. They build to a nice peak as Trey sustains one note before heading to Allman Brothers land, then they wind to a close on a bed of synths and > into "Billy Breathes". |
2018-10-21 | Skin It Back | Hampton, VA | 8:49 | The entire band is locked in from the start on this version. While it may never stretch outside the confines of the song proper, the jam features tight playing all around. |
2018-10-21 | Simple | Hampton, VA | 19:54 | A creeping late-night stroll accented by a descending progression and mysterious Trey soloing then smoothly transitions to bliss and ignites at minute 17 for a joyous, trill-filled peak before slamming back into "Simple" to end. |
2018-10-21 | Camel Walk | Hampton, VA | 9:18 | Mike and Page lead a funky, exploratory back-end jam. The energy builds when Trey jumps in, adding to the mix. Nice to hear this camel have a walk about. |
2018-10-21 | Waves | Hampton, VA | 14:08 | The substantial post-lyrics jam visits places both light and dark and eventually settles into a jazzy minor zone with a vibe similar to "Timber Ho" and, in the last minute, "David Bowie", as it gathers steam and seems poised to explode but makes a good -> to "Rise/Come Together" instead. |
2018-10-21 | Light | Hampton, VA | 16:18 | The jam peels away from typical playing at around 5:45, shifting to some soft, warm grooving. Picking up energy, the familiar "bliss" jam feels imminent, but instead, the playing shifts to some darker, spacey, Mike-led punchy rock. The intensity builds to a peak, before grinding down. |
2018-10-21 | Possum | Hampton, VA | 12:57 | Following a quality piano solo, Trey grabs the marsupial by the scruff of the neck, and proceeds to give it a serious workout. Like many versions from the early '90s, Trey explores a number of musical ideas and variation, all within the context of "Possum." Strong, straightforward jamming here. |
2019-02-21 | I Always Wanted It This Way | Riviera Maya, Quintana Roo, Mexico | 20:22 | Around 8:30, the music begins to peel away from the typical play, settling into pulsing, low-key groove. Page and Trey add color, giving the playing a warmer, upbeat sentiment, which gradually builds to a blissful peak. The playing settles back down to a funky, crunchy groove after 16:45, before further settling into transition space. |
2019-02-21 | 2001 | Riviera Maya, Quintana Roo, Mexico | 13:04 | Gets the party going with some "Death Don't Hurt Very Long" teases, then as the jam continues the bottom drops out and Trey and Page whip up a dark ambient space. Fish comes back in and they go into the "chorus", only with the dark ambient space mixed in. A very unique experience. This ain't your average 3.0 "Also Sprach Zarathustra". |
2019-06-21 | Runaway Jim | Charlotte, NC | 18:39 | A number of recent versions (see: 7/25/18 and 10/20/18) demonstrate the band's renewed interest in one of their finest compositions. Given your preference (the spirited first "half" of early-90's "Runaway Foams," or the crazed, free-form improvisation found within something like Shoreline 1997's II-opening jam), the band delivers an exciting amount of content, befitting triumphant "Funiculi Funicula" teasing. The entire ride is worthy of attention, but, true to 2019's style, Phish squeezes out an incredible amount of interesting improvisation, so remain tuned in to the outro, which doesn't so much fade as hint at a "DDLJ" before > "SaSS." |
2019-06-21 | ASIHTOS | Charlotte, NC | 10:06 | Wastes no time moving to a warm major key jam (with charming "If I Only Had A Brain" teases) that picks up speed and gets almost tropical at Page's urging, before shifting to some tasty rocking out and letting Mike really shine. A lot of meat packed into a smaller frame. |
2019-06-21 | Possum | Charlotte, NC | 12:20 | > from "20 Years Later." After a normal start to the song, at 5:50 the band shifts to a quiet, minimalist jam for about a minute. At this point, Trey starts singing the words to "Have Mercy" over the jam and the rest of the band follows suit. "Have Mercy" is sung over the jam for a moment, and then more typical "Possum" play until the song is brought to a rousing conclusion. |
2020-02-21 | Gin | Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico | 16:16 | An early key change signals this won't be a typical rendition, and the jam takes on a relaxed pace providing lots of room for an easy-going groove to unfold. After 10:30 the momentum picks up with some rapidly repeating delays from Trey and gets heavier from there until -> "Shafty". |
2020-02-21 | Shafty | Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico | 1:52 | Trey works "Shafty" into the height of "Gin's" jam for a quick run-through before -> back to "Gin". |
2020-02-21 | Gin | Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico | 0:55 | -> from "Shafty" to wrap up with "Gin's" closing riff. |
2020-02-21 | Blaze On | Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico | 12:35 | Trey pivots the band into a major key jam as warm as the Mexico waters, layering on the effects to really add ambiance. Page's synths take center stage and help bring some weirdness into the proceedings, with Mike going to the envelope filter and Fish neatly holding down the form. The jam gets darker and nastier as Mike takes center stage, then gently winds down before Page starts up "Sea and Sand". A very strong first set version. |
2020-02-21 | 2001 | Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico | 12:15 | > from "Sigma Oasis." Another year in Mexico features another huge "2001." Mercifully, only one round of "Woos" are heard before the band breaks into a funky-as-hell "Another One Bites The Dust" jam. > to "Drift While You're Sleeping." |
2020-02-21 | Weekapaug | Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico | 10:59 | After some nice "NMINML" vocal quoting, the jam takes on a relaxed, more groovy vibe than the typical high energy "Weekapaug." At 7:00, the jam breaks just beyond the norm, exploring some percussive, rocking terrain before veering, unfinished, into "Shafty." |
2022-04-21 | Wolfman's | New York, NY | 13:45 | Straightforward in structure, this version builds momentum by way of clever full band interplay. Trey makes his intentions known right away by shifting through multiple effects, toggling between lead playing and funk-oriented rhythm comping. The rest of the band follows suit, as the jam develops into a laid back, conversational groove session. This then patiently builds to the classic, spirited "Wolfman's" ending. |
2022-04-21 | Ghost | New York, NY | 16:29 | The jam begins with an upbeat tempo anchored by cool playing from Trey. Later, the tempo slows as Mike takes the lead with deft work on the bass. Just when you think the chunky notes of the song from Trey are leading to the end of the jam, the rest of the band isn't quite ready to let things go, which leads to a maelstrom of a peak, before finally returning to end the song. |
2022-04-21 | CDT | New York, NY | 17:38 | Heads into low-key psychedelia-tinged jamming out of the song proper thanks to Trey's thick and goopy effects, then Page suggests major key and a pleasant groove emerges with Mike steadily holding down the fort. The jam gets more delicate and dreamy, even as Fish keeps his usual rock-solid tempo, then builds to a marvelous rock-out climax and a big-time peak thanks once again to Mike's efforts. -> into a great "Tweezer". |
2022-04-21 | Tweezer | New York, NY | 14:03 | Although "average-lengthed" among all versions e'er performed, this gem-of-a-version shines, with the first few minutes of the jam featuring steady, intermittent, "Your Pet Cat"-esque chording and comping by Trey, and a melodically charming/glittering section during which Trey sustains a note for many measures (a modest peak) over excellent accompaniment (that's never dark), before the version concludes atypically with a single chord from Trey that is sustained into the first note > of "2001." |
2022-04-21 | Character Zero | New York, NY | 4:42 | Trey loves MSG, a fact made clear here, when, in lieu of capping the set with a typical "Hood," he elects to floor the Garden, moving from zero to sixty in split seconds, bouncing around the room with typically rocking play (featuring a "Heartbreaker" tease) which, surprisingly, breaks for "Tweezer." |
2022-04-21 | Tweezer | New York, NY | 1:56 | Your Pet "Tweezer" returns, buzzing, if not quite purring, for a few more minutes. |
2022-04-21 | Character Zero | New York, NY | 2:42 | -> from "Tweezer" to cap a fun, inspired close to a set rearranged and redefined. |
2023-04-21 | DwD | Hollywood, CA | 21:50 | In lieu of lead-pointed playing, Trey sets the initial tone by tossing out spacious chords and arpeggiations. Page synths and hazy Trey delay paint the scene before a slightly dissonant transition space develops. The band then dials up the grime to deliver a sludge-y, stomping minor key rock-out. Ample time is spent in the murk before fading out > "Mercury." |
2023-07-21 | Stash | Burgettstown, PA | 14:45 | Gets a tweak and changes keys shortly before 7:00 but retains "Stash's" light-on-its-feet jazzy swing. Later, a lovely underwater passage leads into major bliss, where the jam stays for the remainder. |
2023-07-21 | Sigma Oasis | Burgettstown, PA | 16:17 | All four members are right up front contributing creatively without hesitation, actively listening, remaining locked in and punchy with direction. An upbeat set 2 opener that segues neatly into "The Final Hurrah". |
2023-07-21 | The Final Hurrah | Burgettstown, PA | 9:00 | -> from "Sigma Oasis." This fun tune has an upbeat jam for a while before giving way to a slowdown with Trey soloing over the rest of the band creating a cool texture for him. Fish really shines here. The jam dissolves and eventually > into the debut of "Pillow Jets." |
2023-07-21 | Pillow Jets | Burgettstown, PA | 11:12 | Phish debut version downshifts after 6:00, becoming more moody and atmospheric before mounting another round of heavier rock which washes into > "David Bowie". |
2024-04-21 | Plasma | Las Vegas, NV | 15:08 | A supreme version of the song, proper. Early, while chill, everything is ultra crisp, with singular notes, from all, landing like uppercuts. Around 6:40 there is a somewhat familiar shift, patterned play offset by acoustic Page and terrific Fish. A cool sonic surge arrives around 9:50, music just dripping with Mike beneath a series of echoes which, via extended Trey soloing, gels to inform "Plasma's" righteous riff. |
2024-04-21 | Ghost | Las Vegas, NV | 17:01 | The band neatly avoids some familiar tropes to deliver a version that exists in a sonic space somewhere between exploration and contemplation. On the back of Trey's growling tone, they quickly hit on a fresh progression that colors the jam to come and inspires some swirling group play that looks towards the light briefly before shifting to a more aggressive, rhythmic pulsing approach. Capped off with stiff frothy peaks, this is a tasty version that delivers the goods and a clean return. |
2024-04-21 | DwD | Las Vegas, NV | 34:08 | Very exploratory, wide-ranging jam that is rhythmically oriented but, unlike other Sphere (and recent) jams, seems a bit more spacious. The jam easily could've ended (and been a classic) before 25:15, but, from that point on, the band enters some of the run's best improv. Maybe so. Incredible version. |
2024-04-21 | Light | Las Vegas, NV | 22:09 | Jam starts off in typical but inspired fashion, with the band taking a melodic, jazzy/conversational approach highlighted by Fishman and Mike's dynamic, syncopated play. A brief spell of "woos" signals a pivot, as emerging ambience coalesces into a spacey minor key groove. A major key shift then leads to peak-filled anthemic territory, followed by a brief, rhythmic groovy conclusion. > "Ether Edge". |
2024-07-21 | Scents and Subtle Sounds | Mansfield, MA | 16:52 | > from "Tweezer". The full "Scents" treatment with intro. The play is patient and slowly builds towards a celebratory jam. The jam takes a turn and is highlighted by some fantastic play from Fish. The tempo slows considerably and eventually > into "Twist". |
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