Cool Amber and Mercury

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History

One of the most intriguing elements of Phish is their ability to keep the phans on their toes, and the hallowed tradition of a musical costume for the Halloween show has been one of their most consistent ways to surprise a community that is quite used to being surprised. On 10/31/2018 Phish turned themselves into a Scandinavian rock band of their own invention, Kasvot Växt, playing the album í rokk, written entirely for this musical costume. “Cool Amber and Mercury” comes in as the ninth song on í rokk and is the second to last song of the album/set. A quick perusal of the song histories for the other songs from this set will provide a myriad of interpretations and insights into this fictional band and the origins of the gag. 

It can be hard to tell how much meaning was intended with the song titles and lyrics that the band wrote for Kasvot Växt, as many of the songs seem somewhat surreal and with free-association. The same could be said for the ordering of the songs. However, being preceded by “Death Don't Hurt Very Long” and followed by “Passing Through,” where the listener is told to “Let go forever,” there are a myriad of interpretations that could be assigned to the lyricism in “Cool Amber and Mercury.” 

The subject of the song certainly feels like a fool, past present, and future. The listener is asked to pay no attention to the person in the song, and that we, the listener, say the most hurtful things. Are we leading them to let go forever after a death that didn’t hurt very long? Or is it all nonsense? 

Phish ”Cool Amber and Mercury”. Video by Phish

In the initial performance of “Cool Amber and Mercury”there was a reprise of the “Faceplant into rock” sample/lyric from “The Final Hurrah” earlier in the set, once again leading us to wonder if we are faceplanting into a rock, or faceplanting into rock as in rock-and-roll?

If we are facepanting into rock (and roll), then “Cool Amber and Mercury” does indeed provide some rock for us to faceplant into, especially the 10/10/2023 show from Dayton, OH, where its first appearance in around 100 shows contained an outstanding jam and conclusion.

Phish ”Cool Amber and Mercury” – 10/10/2023, Dayton, OH. Video by Kaiju Basement Tony C

Last significant update: 3/10/26

 

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