NYS Music 2023

Tag: Phish

  • Phish Keep Garden Residency Rolling on Nights 4 and 5

    After their first weekend at Madison Square Garden, Phish took a day off and returned with even more energy, making the Tuesday, August 1 show stand head and shoulders above the three previous shows.

    phish madison square garden

    Opening up with a monstrous “Ghost” laid the groundwork for deep, exploratory jams, including an ethereal, outstanding version “Reba” that followed. You’d be remiss to find a version of Son Seals’ “Funky Bitch” that did not pair up as well with the energy that flowed from “Reba”‘s finale. “Timber (Jerry the Mule)” had a much longer presence in the first set than typically found, flowing into the debut of “Broken Into Pieces.” A rip-roaring 17-minute “Wolfman’s Brother” was quickly discussed at setbreak as one of the best versions ever seen, and the Beatles’ “I Am the Walrus” closed, easily the best first set of the run.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_mwN-I-OJU

    Throwing it back to the Baker’s Dozen, Set 2 opened with the rarely jam-friendly “Sample in a Jar,” and tonight would end up being the longest version of the Hoist track, at more than 17 minutes in total. The jam would spill over to “Kill Devil Falls” which included quotes from a new song not played this evening “The Well” from Fishman, and made for two sets of the first two songs combining for more than 28 minutes of music to get things started. “Golden Age” was another substantial jam to follow this pairing, with “Shade” giving the crowd a breather before dipping into the warm waters of “Sneakin’ Sally Through the Alley,” funk filling in the round room. A short “Twist” and set closing “You Enjoy Myself” would be the cap to the second set, fully

    phish garden

    For an encore, “Wilson” made an appearance where you might find “Cavern” or “Golgi Apparatus” following, but the ever rare “Sanity” making its first appearance in two years, giving fans a chance to cross this tune off their “Most Common Phish Songs Not Heard” list. Just when you thought it was over, the hi-hat intro of “David Bowie” gave way to an unexpected (now) three song encore, with a dialed in jam that seemed to be cut short after Trey and Fishman had a chat, only to close out “Bowie” and bring in “Character Zero” for the grand finale of the evening.

    Setlists via Phish.net

    Phish – Madison Square Garden, NYC – Tuesday, August 2

    Set 1: Ghost, Reba, Funky Bitch, Timber (Jerry the Mule), Broken Into Pieces[1], Wolfman’s Brother, I Am the Walrus

    Set 2: Sample in a Jar > Kill Devil Falls[2] > Golden Age, Shade > Sneakin’ Sally Through the Alley > Twist, You Enjoy Myself

    Encore: Wilson > Sanity, David Bowie > Character Zero

    [1] Phish debut.
    [2] Unfinished.

    If there is a theme emerging from this run of Phish shows, it would simply be that each show is better than the last. Wednesday, August 3rd put that theory to the test, opening up with a pair of animal tunes, “Possum” and “Guyute,” both of which might be a vanilla way to start the show, but tonight the energy was high. So high that the Apples in Stereo song “Energy” reemerged in the rotation for the first time since last summer, providing a wonderful jam that found its way into the “Meatstick.” The fan interaction tune was met with a jam that followed and one of the smoothest segues you’ll find this summer as it moved into “It’s Ice.”

    Set two opened with a slow, funky jam, reminiscent of the Island Tour’s “Cavern” opener, and that was exactly the song that would emerge, a slow and funky version of the normally late-set tune. A fiery “Carini” followed, which brought back a jam on “Angels We Have Heard on High,” riffed by Trey quite a bit and also found in the “Kill Devil Falls” of Syracuse a few weeks prior. Following “Piper” was the new track, “The Well,” which at first sounds like “Wolfman’s Brother Part 2” but that’s just the first half. The second half of the song was one of the deepest jams the band could provide in a new song, one that fans will be clamoring for at SPAC and Dick’s later this summer.

    Closing the set were the “2001” jam-adjacent “The Howling”, “Taste” and “About the Run,” with a “Chalkdust Torture” tacked on at the end for good measure. For an encore, keyboardist Page McConnell appeared on stage with his keytar, signaling “Frankenstein,” which hadn’t been heard live since before Covid. But that wasn’t all – Anastasio would end up playing the opening notes to “Slave to the Traffic Light” for the final song of the night, eliciting immense cheers from the audience when Trey sang “Seen the Greatest City.”

    Phish – Madison Square Garden, NYC – Wednesday, August 3

    Set 1: Possum, Guyute, Axilla (Part II) > Energy -> Meatstick -> It’s Ice > Blaze On

    Set 2: Cavern[1] > Carini > Piper > The Well > The Howling > Taste > About to Run, Chalk Dust Torture

    Encore: Frankenstein[2], Slave to the Traffic Light[3]

    [1] Slow, funky version.
    [2] Page on keytar.
    [3] Lyrics changed to “see the best city.”

    Photos by Derek Java

  • Phish Kick off 7 Nights at MSG with Plenty of Jams

    Phish began their seven-night run at Madison Square Garden (MSG) on Friday, July 28, a well-anticipated run in the middle of their Summer Tour, which was recently extended to include two benefit shows at SPAC in late August.

    Phish MSG
    photo by Cory Schwartz

    Kicking off Night 1 with the re-emergence of “Evening Song,” which hadn’t been played live in more than a year, Phish shifted into an extended and spaced out “Wave Of Hope,” two common themes through each set of music so far. Friday’s first set also featured a funked out “Cities,” an all-too-fitting “Old Home Place” for the band’s 73rd performance at Madison Square Garden, and an explosive “My Soul” to cap things off.

    Phish MSG
    photo by Cory Schwartz

    Friday’s second set began with “More” and the band took this to heart and applied it to the massive “Ruby Waves” that followed, one of the new truer jam vehicles of this era. Seamless segues into a riveting “Plasma” and “Simple” also highlighted the set before a super dark, scary and all around amazing “Split Open and Melt” served as a momentous set closer.

    Phish MSG
    photo by Cory Schwartz

    Phish – Friday, July 28th, 2023 – Madison Square Garden (MSG), New York, NY

    Set 1: Evening Song > A Wave of Hope, Cities, The Old Home Place > Free, Brian and Robert, Stash, My Soul

    Set 2: More > Ruby Waves-> Plasma > Simple > Mountains in the Mist, Split Open and Melt

    Encore: Good Times, Bad Times

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6E3fslzpJiU

    Saturday evening’s show picked up right where Friday’s left off in terms of energy and musical cohesiveness beginning with the show-starting “Get Back On The Train.” Phish again delivered a massive blow in the two-spot with an early but effective “Down With Disease.” More familiar first set tunes like ”Sugar Shack” and “Horn” also made appearances. And the band continues to mix in newer material in their sets with songs like Anastasio’s quarantine tune “Evolve,” a song quickly growing in popularity. A classic take on “Foam” followed by a rousing cover of David Bowie’s “Moonage Daydream” ended the first set in fine fashion.

    Phish MSG
    photo by Cory Schwartz

    Phish continued to kick out the jams in the second set, courtesy of a super extended and exploratory “Fuego” that clocked in at close to thirty minutes in all. This was followed by another one of the new songs that is quickly making a name for itself, “Oblivion.” The set was punctuated by an absolutely raucous “2001” that had all of Madison Square Garden in a collective uproar. Things lightened up a bit afterwards with the first “Cracklin’ Rosie” cover in eleven years. There was still room for one more rocker though and “First Tube” in its typical encore slot more than served that purpose, with the Garden loudly showing its collective appreciation once more.

    Phish – Saturday, July 29th, 2023 – Madison Square Garden (MSG), New York, NY

    Set 1: Back On The Train > Down With Disease, The Dogs, Bug, Sugar Shack, Evolve, Horn > Foam, Moonage Daydream

    Set 2: The Wedge, Fuego > Oblivion > Wingsuit > Also Sprach Zarathustra,->Hold Your Head Up > Cracklin’ Rosie > Hold Your Head Up, Say It To Me S.A.N.T.O.S

    Encore: Farmhouse, First Tube

    The “can’t miss” Sunday show featured a first set of all old school songs played in the new school fashion, beginning with a show-opening “AC/DC Bag” that took a stroll for a bit before melding into “My Friend, My Friend.” The opening stanza also featured a truly interesting and slightly funked out “Theme From The Bottom,” the “newest” song played in the set. Things amped up even further with the rollicking “Llama” that followed which featured some mesmerizing lighting effects.

    Phish then reintroduced some newer material in the second set with a “Sigma Oasis” opener that set the table for the first ever performance of “Life Saving Gun.” The “No Men In No Man’s Land” that followed featured one of the heavier and more experimental jams of the evening and the band even dusted off “Frankie Says” for a rare second set appearance. The second set concluded with “Light” and its typical powerhouse accompanying jam. An encore of “Suzy Greenberg” and a fiery take on Jimi Hendrix’s “Izabella” served as a fitting conclusion for the first weekend of Phish’s summer residency at MSG.

    Phish – Sunday, July 30th, 2023 – Madison Square Garden (MSG), New York, NY

    Set 1: AC/DC Bag->My Friend, My Friend->Bathtub Gin, Theme From The Bottom>Llama, Tube>Golgi Apparatus

    Set 2: Sigma Oasis, Life Saving Gun>No Men In No Man’s Land>Lonely Trip>Frankie Says>Gotta Jibboo>Light

    Encore: Suzy Greenberg, Izabella

    Photos by Cory Schwartz

  • At The Bottom of the Mann: Two Scorching Nights with Phish in Philadelphia

    Phish stopped at the Mann Center in Philadelphia 7/25-7/26 as part of their summer tour. The tour is quickly gaining momentum with a seven-night run at MSG up next. Locals and fans descended to the lots in masses despite the intense heat and powerful rain storm during the first day.

    Night one started off with an impressive first set starting with “Strawberry Letter 23” and featured highlights like “Back on The Train”and “Axilla Part 2”. The set concluded with a thoroughly jammed out “46 Days.”

    The second set began with “Down with Disease,” followed by one of the new Phish song’s to make its debut this summer, “The Well.” This went “well” into a Type 2 Jams, getting dark and rocking hard. At the Osiris Podcast pre-party the next day ,everyone agreed that “The Well” is an amazing song and collectively as now our favorite.

    The show concluded with a powerful “Piper,” “Crosseyed & Painless,” and a beautiful segue into “Chalkdust Torture”. The band played a two-song encore: “Wading in the Velvet Sea” followed by a mind blowing cover of Jimi Hendrix’s “Fire.”

    Spirits were high and the weather was hot on day two. The night opened up with “Mike’s Song” followed by “Boogie on Reggae Woman” > “Mike’s Reprise”. The first set was filled with crowd favorites like “Moma Dance” and “Mound.” The set concluded in rocking fashion with a raging “Fluffhead.” 

    The second set opened up with “Set Your Soul Free” followed by a dark “Carini.” Highlights included “Golden Age” & “Golgi Apparatus” with a well jammed “Harry Hood” to close out the second set. The band encored with “Life Beyond A Dream” and “Run Like an Antelope,” and boy did they run.

    Next up 7 nights at Madison Square Garden, happy summer tour!

  • Encased in Orange Rinds: Phish Returns to the ‘Cuse

    Phish returned to Syracuse for the first time in over seven years last Sunday night. Not just a return to Syracuse, also their first show in the entire Central/Western New York region since that show at the same venue, St. Joseph’s Healthcare Amphitheater at Lakeview in 2016 and their first time in the area since Curveball, a planned three-day festival in Watkins Glen, was cancelled. So to say Cuse area fans were hungry for some Phish would be an understatement. Fortunately the band delivered a smorgasbord on which the crowd could feast.

    The band culled selections spanning their entire catalog from the earliest compositions to their latest, from their silliest to their most serious, touching on the expansive multitudes of genres and influences that give Phish the sound that is unmistakably Phish.

    But first, there had to be acknowledgement of their return to Syracuse, the hometown of their namesake drummer Jon Fishman. “Welcome Syracuse fans of Jon Fishman!” declared guitarist Trey Anastatio. Fish walked onstage in a new dress in the city-defining Syracuse University orange and blue, which was made for him by local Lisa Simpson, who also just happened to be celebrating her birthday. After a quick run through “Happy Birthday” to celebrate, the show was ready to get rolling.

    The following set sated the fans from a song perspective, with highlights from nearly every stage in the band’s history. Mid-90’s staples like “Free” and “Theme from the Bottom,” a foray into the early years with Gamehenge masterpiece “McGrupp and the Watchful Hosemasters,” 3.0 mainstays “Steam,” and “Stealing Time From the Faulty Plan,” to the new-ish but rare “Evolve” from Anastatio’s pandemic release Lonely Trip. The song selection was excellent, the playing was solid, but it felt somewhat unsteady in it’s variety, quickly flitting from place to place.

    Bluesy rocker “Kill Devil Falls,” finally set down an anchor, launching immediately into the depths. But like what had preceded, it flitted from theme to theme so quickly that it struggled to find traction. The lights skittered and spun, flipping colors and cadences along with the music, overwhelming the senses. Then it happened. Anastatio grabbed onto a repeating theme, Page McConnell jumped in on piano, pushing the sound up and up until it jumped the tracks. Mike Gordon hit a resounding note that registered on the Richter Scale, thundering the shores of Onondaga Lake. With Fish holding it together, the whole band was locked in for a delicious final few minutes before they closed out the set, allowing the hungry crowd and delivering band to take a much-needed break.

    The first set provided the wanting crowd with a tasters menu of what they’d been living without for all these years. But they were still licking their lips for some the type of memorable jams that only Phish could deliver. As the first notes of “Tweezer” rung out early into the set, the crowd salivated in anticipation. The band wasted no time gelling from the get-go, picking up where they left off with “Kill Devil Falls.” McConnell once again emerged as a power player, pushing the band with the Rhodes and piano. After a good long high-energy rocket launch, they entered the cosmos, drifting and ominous. The foursome floated around in the ether, letting natural gravity pull the sound from place to place effortlessly.

    The creativity was bountiful, ideas emerging from nowhere and everywhere, endlessly engaging. Themes were at once familiar and brand new. Genesis’ “That’s All” seemed to take hold, but it wasn’t quite what it seemed. A deep cosmic groove contained an essence of The Who’s “Eminence Front” yet it was entirely original. In fact, other ther than a run through of Joe Walsh’s “Walk Away,” the entire night was pure Phish. Cover songs are always fun, and of course Phish centered a much-copied Halloween tradition around other people’s material. But after 40 years, has the band rendered covers unnecessary? The catalog runs deep, as displayed perfectly at this show. And beyond that, the uncomposed brilliance conjured in the moment is as original and interesting as ever.

    And they’re still writing, adding ever still to that catalog. After 27 minutes of exploration, the “Tweezer” was blasted into oblivion. No wait, that should be capital-O “Oblivion,” another brand-new Anastatio title debuted with his new trio in June and with Phish just a little over a week prior. And a great entry into the catalog it is, lauching right back into more exploration that felt like it advanced right along the same lines the preceding jam was headed. Deep drones tightened around Fishman’s forward-marching beat that McConnell once again pushed to new heights behind bold and brilliant hammering on the ivories. From there it was all peaks and no valleys. All told, when the band finally landed, the crowd was taken on a near 50 minute journey. Syracuse’s patience was finally paying off.

    A poignant “Miss You” grounded the amphitheater, while a fun and always funky “Wolfman’s Brother” and a nostalgia-fueled “Possum” brought the set to an end.

    The encore played like a microcosm of the whole show. Anastatio opened with some more Fish Syracuse references, recounting his high school days at Jamesville-DeWitt. They headed back to some of their earliest years with the silly jazzy barbershop-inflected “I Didn’t Know,” featuring a rare go on the vacuum from Fishman himself, before which Anastatio quipped, “Jon Fishman is about to suck, as predicted by all his teachers.” Then they genre-jumped into the soaring and weightless instrumental “What’s the Use,” before tying a fist-pumping earth-shaking bow on the whole affair with the predictable but always welcome “Tweezer Reprise” closer.

    A one-off Sunday night show amongst a tour of multi-night runs felt like a bit like a consolation prize, but the “never miss a Sunday show” aphorism delivered once again, and Syracuse was treated to a stellar evening of music. But after feasting on that, they might not be so patient in waiting for another taste.

    Phish – St. Joseph’s Lakeview Amphitheatre, Syracuse, NY – Sunday, July 23, 2023

    Set 1: Happy Birthday, Free, Steam, McGrupp and the Watchful Hosemasters, Evolve, Stealing Time From the Faulty Plan, Meat, Walk Away, Theme From the Bottom, Kill Devil Falls

    Set 2: Suzy Greenberg, Tweezer > Oblivion, Miss You, Wolfman’s Brother, Possum

    Encore: I Didn’t Know, What’s the Use?, Tweezer Reprise

  • Phish Announce Benefit Shows at SPAC for Flood Recovery

    A late entry to their 2023 Summer Tour, Phish has announced two nights at the Broadview Stage at Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) on August 25 and 26, with both shows supporting flood recovery in Vermont and Upstate New York.

    phish spac

    Catastrophic flooding has led to thousands of Vermonters and Upstate New Yorkers losing their homes and property, with flood waters wiping out bridges, train tressels, businesses, cars and disrupting lives. A ‘100-year storm’ follows a similarly malevolent storm that blew through the Northeast in 2011, Hurricane Irene, destroying 500 miles of road and 200 bridges.

    100% of net proceeds from all concert and merchandise sales will be directed to The WaterWheel Foundation’s 2023 Flood Recovery Fund, which will support the many victims and their families, area businesses, and non-profits. The Recovery Fund will support both shorter-term needs and long-term recovery and resiliency projects. 

    On September 14, 2011, Phish would hold a benefit concert at Champlain Valley Exposition in Essex Junction, VT, raising money for Vermonters most in need. Phish formed at UVM in 1983 and has deep ties to Vermont, with Trey Anastasio’s The Barn recording studio located near Burlington, and Mike Gordon and Page McConnell calling the Burlington area home for many years.

    A limited number of Foundation tickets will also be available that include a ticket to the show, a private pre-show performance with Phish’s Trey Anastasio and Page McConnell, access to the Foundation Lounge before and throughout the show, and special Foundation poster and merch, in addition to other amenities. 

    Created by Phish in 1997 to oversee the band’s various charitable activities, The Waterwheel Foundation has been harnessing the kindness of the Phish fan community to create positive change for over 25 years.

    The Flood Benefit Recovery shows will be the 23rd and 24th overall performances for Phish at SPAC, who first played the summer shed in Saratoga Springs on July 27, 1992, opening up for Santana.

    Tickets for Phish at SPAC can be requested here.

  • In Focus: Phish Shine at The Pavilion at Star Lake

    Making their way into to the Northeast, Phish made a two-night stop at The Pavilion at Star Lake, located in Burgettstown, PA, just outside of Pittsburgh. Two nights of exploratory jamming and a few debuts had fans eagerly anticipating tonight’s show in Syracuse at St. Joseph’s Amphitheater at Lakeview.

    Friday night began with a pair of first set openers, “Party Time” and “AC/DC Bag” followed by a fiery “46 Days.” A few songs later, “Stash” was the jumping off point for the first major jam of the night, dark and introspective. Likewise, “Leaves” jammed out nicely, setting the stage for a “Maze” that had Page McConnell furiously hammering the organ, standing up so others could get down. “Scents and Subtle Sounds” would close the set, although tonight the crowd got the full version, unlike Wilmington, NC on Wednesday night where the band was forced to cut the song off due to torrential rain.

    The second set featured some of the biggest jams of the run, with “Sigma Oasis” clocking in at more than 16 minutes, “The Final Hurrah” providing a segue to the wonderful debut of “Pillow Jets” – a light and fluffy song with a jam to match. “David Bowie” was the highlight of the set though, the band making the most of each space created following the composed portion. During “Bowie,” Page teased “Eleanor Rigby”, as well as in “Ruby Waves” that closed the show. And while “Fuego” did provide the awesome visual of the lighting rig descending to just above the band’s heads, although “Cities” could have had a chance to breathe ahead of the segue to “Fuego.” The encore of “Character Zero” and “Slave to the Traffic Light” would wrap things up and send the crowd out to the lots for a Cosmic burrito and slow crawl out of the venue parking lot.

    Friday, July 21 setlist via Phish.net

    Set 1: Party Time, AC/DC Bag > 46 Days, Birds of a Feather, Bouncing Around the Room, Stash, Leaves, Maze, Scents and Subtle Sounds

    Set 2: Sigma Oasis -> The Final Hurrah > Pillow Jets > David Bowie, Cities -> Fuego > Ruby Waves

    Encore: Character Zero > Slave to the Traffic Light

    On first glance, Night 2 of Phish at Star Lake felt a little more pedestrian compared to Friday, but a cleansing Set 1, with three energetic numbers – “I Never Needed You Like This Before,” “Turtle in the Clouds,” and “Llama” – beginning the night. With the sunset glaring down on the band, a half dozen ‘take em or leave em” numbers were peppered in, with the valley rising to a peak with “Ass Handed” and “Sand” closing out the set on a high note. No complaints, no notes, this was an enjoyable Saturday evening first set.

    What awaited in the second set were jams tucked inside jams – “Everything’s Right” had a distinct “Slave to the Traffic Light” jam within, so if you went to your car Friday night as “Slave” encored, you got a second chance to enjoy this one. “Soul Planet” and “Twist” each had their own solid jams, with McConnell’s Vida Blue composition “Most Events Aren’t Planned” appearing at the right moment, giving the second set from Friday a run for the money. Tonight’s second set debut tune “Monsters,” joining “Pillow Jets” and the previously played “Oblivion” as having strong potential for future Type II exploration. “2001” appeared out of thin air, held its own and gave way to Lou Reed and Velvet Underground’s “Rock and Roll,” a rarer treat these days.

    A triple encore of “Grind,” and short but sweet versions of “Tube” and “Ghost” (first ever in an encore slot) would close the night and send the crowd off to hotels, with visions of Oranges dancing in their heads.

    Phish plays tonight in Syracuse – never miss a Sunday show.

    Saturday, July 22 setlist via Phish.net

    Set 1: I Never Needed You Like This Before, Turtle in the Clouds, Llama, Clear Your Mind > Sample in a Jar, Taste, Ocelot, Julius, Saw It Again > Sparkle, Ass Handed, Sand

    Set 2: Everything’s Right > Soul Planet -> Twist > Most Events Aren’t Planned, Monsters, Also Sprach Zarathustra > Rock and Roll

    Encore: Grind, Tube > Ghost

  • Flashback: Phish pitches Camp Oswego, July 17-18, 1999

    In the summer of 1999, amid an extensive tour, Phish held a two-day festival in the small town of Volney, NY at the Oswego County airport. While reliable numbers are not available, somewhere between 15 and 20,000 attended the two day show, arriving a full day early in some cases to enjoy the scene that set up on the tarmac for a mere 60 hours, before the band moved towards the Midwest and the end of the tour a week later.

    Phish had played three prior festivals at the end of large tours, but never a festival during a tour. The result were two memorable nights amid the most unbearable heat and humidity, leaving fans with a lasting memory of guests sitting in with Phish and an “Icculus” for the ages. Editors Pete Mason and Tim O’Shea attended Camp Oswego, albeit separately. Below is their look back at Camp Oswego.

    Phish Oswego poster by Pete Tschudy

    The Ride in and Arrival

    Pete Mason: I happened to have no issues with arrival, and managed to avoid nearly all traffic. I was living in Syracuse, taking summer classes at SU, and proceeded to leave the day before the festival starts, on July 16th, a Friday. We left around 4pm and were at the gates by 5pm. Syracuse to Oswego is about 45 minutes, so getting to the festival, without much traffic, was a pretty nice start to the weekend. We camped about one car length in from the tarmac, about a five minute walk to The Green, where there was a wall of payphones and place to leave messages for friends. Ah, the days before cellphones.

    This was also the last time I encountered little to no traffic arriving at a Phish show. 13 hours for Big Cypress was a comeuppance in a way, for dealing with no traffic getting to the Oswego and Lemonwheel festivals

    Tim O’Shea: The two hour drive started off just fine with all parties wildly throwing out predictions and wishes for the weekend.  Beeps and head nods from other like-minded cars on the road were aplenty and increased in frequency the closer we got.  Towards the end of the two hour drive, as festival traffic began to pile up and the sun was at its peak, the bus’ engine temperature began to skyrocket.  In an effort to prevent it from overheating and making sure we had a ride back on Monday, we actually wound up pushing the bus for the last half hour of our journey through the stop and go traffic with the engine off.  What better way to get stretched out for long weekend of music than with some cardio and light weights?  It would certainly not be the last time all weekend that heat played a factor.

    The Heat

    TO: For anyone who attended Camp Oswego, the first words out of their mouth generally have something to do with the ridiculous temperatures that weekend.  To say it was a dry and steady heat would be doing it a disservice.  Roasting and oven-like are two of the words that initially come to my mind.  Shade was at an ultra premium and there were constantly long lines for the few communal water spigots.  If you weren’t staying hydrated, you had no chance. In addition to the blazing temperatures, discovering this communal atmosphere and something that was way bigger(and more fun) than just myself really resonated with me since this was all so new at the time.

    PM: The heat was unbearable, oppressive and constant. It was humid and well into the 90s. There was no relief either. We had 3 tents among myself, Madison and Dave. No tarp, no EZ-Up, nothing. Not that that would have helped either, but we did find solace in the air conditioned car, only to walk out into the heat moments later. Hydration was key, and led to little drinking of alcohol that weekend. It was just too damn hot to do much of anything but see Phish, just as the sun was getting lower in the sky and started to cool down.

    A week later, I attended Woodstock 99. The weather was almost as bad, but the result of patrons who had to deal with the heat was far different. At Oswego, people were misting you as you walked by, offered water to strangers, my friend Madison used a Supersoaker to hose down random passersby, with a reaction of ‘Whoa WTF?!’ followed immediately by ‘Ah, that feels great! Thanks!’ At Woodstock, it was pure hell. Little running water, expensive bottled water ($4 even then was highway robbery) and patrons were not as kind as you would find at Phish. More than a few late 90s bros found their way to the front of the drinking line without waiting, didn’t take care of their neighbors and more or less let the festival community and vibe go to shit. Phish fans took care of one another – that was my big take away from the two weekends, and one that drew me into the Phish community.

    Phish Oswego
    Phish Oswego inspired art by Alfred Sohn

    Day 1 Music

    PM: I honestly recall little of the show on the 17th. Two sets, and all I can definitively remember was Son Seals sit-in, which made me wonder if the other guests at The Green stage were going to sit-in the next night. “Down with Disease” was solid, but I was still somewhat new to Phish and hadn’t yet enjoyed the long jams. Beyond that, I became a fan of “Squirming Coil” in the encore. I blame the heat and adult beverages.

    TO: While my memory certainly isn’t pristine as it pertains to all the music that weekend, there are certain moments and images that still resonate strong.  I remember baking in the sun (literally) as the first night’s sunset was accompanied by a scintillating Tweezer jam and hearing the first of many, many Character Zeros to end the first set.  I remember legendary bluesman Son Seals gracing the stage in the second set for ‘Funky Bitch’ and being amazed at how well he was able to manage that Phish song.

    Phish Oswego
    Phish Oswego sticker

    Day 2 Music

    TO: I remember being delighted at the Del McCoury sit-in the following day and feeling a real strange sense of pride as I danced along to ‘The Meatstick’ in the Guinness Book of World Records attempt that was in vain.  And above all else, I remember a mind bending ‘Piper’ in the third and final Sunday set that I still consider one of the best ever played which seemed to seal the proverbial deal for me.  Throw in a hilarious ‘Smoke on the Water’ jam/banter and the ever whimsical ‘Icculus’, and you’ve got a set for the ages.

    PM: I could write a book on the music from Sunday, but I’ll keep it short. Set 1 was pretty solid, with the sun setting and a ‘Punch’ opener. I was still a noob back then, so “Farmhouse, Water in the Sky, Bathtub Gin” were all familiar and made me happy. I was far more focused and rested than the night before, and recall a great deal of the show to this day. When Del McCoury and sons came on stage, I smiled because I sort of predicted that, heard a bunch of bluegrass songs, which I credit to my initial interest in bluegrass music, and a sweet ‘Reba’ that was a highlight of the set for me.

    Second set was fun because “Runaway Jim > Free” meant more music I knew, then finally, this ‘Meatstick” song that I had heard about, which had a dance. Complicated music interests me, and dancing to such music was just feeding the addiction. I danced around with what I thought was the Meatstick dance and loved every second. The rest of the set I was just smiling like I never had before.

    Third set, which I had no idea was happening – I thought second set was it – started out with more music I knew, “My Soul > Piper”, the latter of which went on for a while, and had the slow start. “Prince Caspian” was kinda cool to me back then, and then shit got weird. “Wilson > Catapult > Smoke on the Water > Icculus” and “Quinn the Eskimo” were pretty mindblowing, for the banter alone. Whatever was going on onstage, I wanted more of. Fluffhead finale and Hood encore as we walked back to the car, beating all traffic, I was in my apartment by 2am, learning of David Cone’s perfect game earlier that day.

    Takeaways from the Festival

    PM: Oswego was simply the best Phish festival experience I have had, after Big Cypress of course. It was the right time and place for me, right mindset, friends, and music, all in one place. I go back there every so often and find that same giant smile, every time.

    TO: 111 shows later, I guess you can say I took a shining to this band and all they can deliver.  But for me, Oswego will always hold a special place in my heart not only because it was my first Phish festival in my first string of shows, but because it was my first large scale festival of any kind which opened my eyes to a whole new way of experiencing music.  After Camp Oswego, I knew what I wanted to do every summer for the rest of my life.  And how to do it in frying pan-like conditions.

    Download both nights of Oswego here (July 17/July 18) – recording by Lenny Stubbe

    Watch the fan documentary ‘A Trip to Oswego’

  • Phish Studies Conference Announced for 2024

    Get your school of fish/phish together – Oregon State University will host the second ever Phish Studies Conference on May 17-19, 2024, in Corvallis, Oregon.

    artwork by Ryan Kerrigan

    First held in 2019, the #PhishStudies Conference is an in-depth look at the band, fans, culture, community, publications, and of course music, of Phish. The event was a huge success, with 100s attending daily to take part in panels, discussions, observe gallery displays and presentations of Ph.D dissertations and theses.

    Jnan A. Blau said of the 2019 conference: “I’ve just come back from one of the coolest, most stimulating and invigorating, and definitely one of the most “far out” (to quote Mr. Bill Kreutzman, via Mr. Benjy Eisen) experiences of my life. Late last Monday night, I got back home to San Luis Obispo, California from Corvallis, Oregon. I had to rise and shine the next day, no time at all to transition from Phishiness to so-called real life—a direct, rather abrupt segue (a rip cord if there ever was one!) into a full day of teaching in university classrooms. I was, and still am, kind of exhausted. But, I’ve had a secret smile the size of Mt. Icculus plastered across my face and tattooed on my heart ever since. This because I am back from Phish Studies, the first-ever academic conference dedicated to our favorite topic/subject/phenomenon.”

    phish studies conference

    Also featured at the conference was an exhibit from the Phishsonian Institute, “Beyond The Moss Forgotten exhibit at the Phish Studies conference” which celebrated the art and history of Phish’s performances in the Pacific Northwest since the 1990s.

    phish studies conference

    Check out more photos from the 2019 Phish Studies Conference by Derek Finholt and visit Phish.net for an in depth recap of the conference by Jnan A. Blau.

    The #PhishStudies Conference is also looking for sponsors to support the mission and event. For more information, contact Professor Stephanie Jenkins.

    The only rule is it begins! More info, including sponsorship opportunities, at phishstudies.net.

  • Baked Shrimp Summer Tour 2023 Stretches to the Midwest and South, July dates across NYS

    The prog/jam sounds of Baked Shrimp will be found across the Midwest, South and Northeast this summer, with six July shows lined up across New York State. The Long Island power trio will perform in Alexandria Bay, Rochester, Cortland, Patchogue, Manhattan and Schtagatoke, including festival appearances and a Phish pre-show.

    Baked Shrimp’s Summer Tour runs for 40+ shows and pushes the workhorse trio to west of the Mississippi for the first time in their six-year career. The band will perform at major festivals including Peach Music Festival, Summer Camp Music Festival, Strange Creek Camp Out, Northlands Live, and more. An additional round of dates will be announced in June.

    Tickets and more are available here.

    Baked Shrimp Summer Tour 2023

    05/19 – Big Rail Brewing – Grove City, PA

    05/20 – Sunny Days – Garrettsville, OH

    05/21 – Cadieux Cafe – Detroit, MI

    05/23 – Stanley’s Pub – Cincinnati, OH

    05/24 – Summit Music Hall – Columbus, OH

    05/26 – Summer Camp Music Festival – Chillicothe, IL

    05/28 – Strange Creek Camp Out – Greenfield, MA

    06/02 – Kaycee Rays – Vineland, NJ

    06/03 – FUNKyFest – Gibbon Glade, PA

    06/04 – Live at The Shop – Dunbar, WV

    06/06 – Smiths Olde Bar – Atlanta, GA

    06/07 – Charleston Pour House – Charleston, SC

    06/08 – One World Brewing – Asheville, NC

    06/09 – Stock & Grain – High Point, NC

    06/10 – North Street Press Club – Farmville, VA

    06/17 – Northlands – Swanzey, NH

    06/29-07/04 – Peach Music Festival – Scranton, PA

    07/07 – Wonder Bar – Asbury Park, NJ

    07/08 – Big Cult Brewing – Stevensville, MD

    07/09 – Elevation 27 – Virginia Beach, VA

    07/14 – Red Square – Burlington, VT

    07/15 – Riverboat Bar – Alexandria Bay, NY

    07/20 – Flour City Station – Rochester, NY

    07/21 – Cortland Main Street Music Series – Cortland, NY

    07/22 – Great South Bay Music Festival – Patchogue, NY

    07/28 – Stitch Bar & Blues – New York, NY (Phish Pre-Party)

    07/29 – Ryebread Music & Arts Festival – Schaghticoke, NY

    08/01 – The Cameron House – Toronto, ON

    08/04 – Miles of Music Festival – Appleton, WI

    08/05 – Miles of Music Festival – Appleton, WI

    08/06 – The BackRoom at Colectivo – Milwaukee, WI

    08/08 – Day Block Brewing – Minneapolis, MN

    08/12 – Paducah Beer Werks – Paducah, KY

    08/13 – Mellwood Tavern – Louisville, KY

    08/14 – Preservation Pub – Knoxville, TN

    08/15 – Preservation Pub – Knoxville, TN

    08/17 – Shaka Beer Garden – Hampstead, NC

    08/18 – Jimmy’s – Wrightsville Beach, NC

    08/19 – Bowstring Brewyard – Raleigh, NC

  • Bushwick’s Dead to Premiere on May 7 at Brooklyn Made

    Bushwick’s Dead, a new series launching in May at Brooklyn Made in Bushwick, features a rotating roster of local jam bands on the first Sunday of the month. The first three shows have been announced and include bands covering The Grateful Dead, Phish, The Beatles and Steely Dan. 

    Bushwick’s Dead is produced by Brooklyn-based production company Loop Troupe, which has a history of producing series and residencies. Loop Troupe launched Walrus with a six-month long weekly residency at The Delancey before Walrus started playing larger venues like Brooklyn Bowl and Brooklyn Made.  

    The first show of the series, on Sunday, May 7th, features Walrus and Near Dead Experience. Walrus is a Brooklyn based jam band playing the music of the Beatles and Near Dead Experience brings a fresh and dynamic energy to the Grateful Dead catalog. The two groups have previously performed shows together at Brooklyn Bowl. 

    Walrus is Chris Mackin (Guitar/Vocals), Josh Santiago (Guitar/Vocals), Dan Shein (Drums), Satoko Mori (Keyboard/Vocals), Jason Figueredo (Vocals), & Will Corona (Bass/Vocals). The members of Walrus have previously performed together in Loop Troupe Family Band, an original funk band.

    On Sunday, June 4th, Dead Meat, an electrifying tribute to The Grateful Dead, is supported by Steely Jams, a one time only experiment to jam on songs from the Steely Dan catalog. Dead Meat has become a fan favorite known for their moving harmonies, high-energy blocks of music and routinely pushing the limits of Dead’s vast catalog. The band’s unique renditions of timeless classics make them a must see, whether you’re a lifelong Dead head or a casual listener. 

    On Sunday, July 2nd, Uncle Ebenezer and Strangers Stopping Stopping play the music of the worlds two most iconic jam bands, Phish and The Grateful Dead. Uncle Ebenezer are four musicians and Phish fans who are dedicated to spreading the joy and excitement of the live Phish experience. Strangers Stopping Strangers bring a youthful energy to the music of the Grateful Dead. The band approaches the songs with a folk and bluegrass influence, much like the original members of the Dead.

    Brooklyn Made is located at 428 Troutman St. Doors open at 6pm, with 7pm showtime. Tickets are $15 advance / $15 day of show and available here

    Stay tuned for future show announcements and never miss a sunday show!