Glide II

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History

For decades after its debut at the Voters for Choice benefit concert in Lowell, Massachusetts, on 5/16/95, a small cadre of devoted fans had mourned the disuse of "Glide II" and demanded its return, preferably as the palate-cleansing sorbet between courses of a smoking “Mike’s Groove.” After all, "Glide II" had (seemingly) been lost among the avalanche of promising new songs premiered at the 5/16/95 benefit concert, as several of the other songs debuted that night – most notably “Free” and “Theme from the Bottom” – were immortalized on Billy Breathes and regularly included in Phish sets since then.

Phish – "Glide II" – 5/16/95, Lowell, MA. Video by dgmaffi
Formally, the song consists of a gentle, wispy guitar figure, over top of which Trey and Page sing: “Gllllliiiiiide/Flip flip flip flip flip.” A variation on the guitar theme heralds the song’s ostensible chorus: “It’s time.” And even if you’ve never heard the song, chances are you’ve heard its bridge: after the second chorus, Phish drops in a few bars lifted directly from the middle of “Guyute.” Back in 1995, some fans suggested the band had decided to pull the plug on the ugly pig – particularly since "Guyute" made no appearances between 12/29/94 and Halloween 1995. Perhaps feeling the song would get lost in large venues, or maybe because it decided to recommit to the difficult but rewarding "Guyute" after all, Phish shelved “Glide II” after Lowell for several decades.

Phish - ”Glide II” – 12/30/18, New York, NY. Video by LazyLightning55a
Whatever the reasons for its hiatus, the song's fans got their wish fulfilled on 12/30/18, when "Glide II" was performed for the first time by Phish since its debut, not only after more than twenty-three years but also in the middle of a "Mike's Groove." Trey had just busted it out a few weeks earlier at his solo acoustic show in Boulder, Colorado, on 12/14/18. It's since disappeared again, but perhaps it will return randomly to the band's sets once more sooner than later. After all, "it's time."

Trey Anastasio – "Glide II" – 12/14/18, Boulder, CO. Video by MEsquandolas

Last Significant Update: 10/23/23

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