What A Difference A Chord Makes: Phish Delivers Inventive “Harry Hood” At Deer Creek 1997

1997 was one of the greatest years in Phish history and one chock full of so many memorable moments that some standout performances often get overlooked. Take for instance the show that took place at Deer Creek in Noblesville, Indiana 20 years ago today. Nearly every discussion of that magical night surrounds the wild second set that features just four actual songs over the course of 70 minutes including an all-time version of “Cities.” However, don’t sleep on the wonderful “Harry Hood” that ends the first set.

Right from the get go “Harry Hood” was a second set song for Phish. Over 90 percent of “Harry Hoods” the quartet has played took place in the second set. On August 10, 1997 at Deer Creek Phish ended the first set with “Hood,” which is just one of three times the band ended the first set of a two-set show with the classic. But it’s not just the placement which makes the Deer Creek ’97 “Hood” special.

At the 9:42 mark bassist Mike Gordon leads his mates on a turn that had never happened before and hasn’t happened again since. Gordon added a “B” to the normal chord progression of the jam that usually goes “D-A-G,” so instead of the usual progression Phish jams for a while on “B-A-G.” The progression doesn’t last too long and the foursome goes back to the standard “Hood” format. Then, as Phish builds towards a peak they return to the unusual “B-A-G” progression at the 12:30 mark, once again at Mike’s urging. It makes for an emotional climax to the song. Listen to the whole “Harry Hood” Phish laid down 20 years ago today:

Now, let’s talk about that four-song second set. The show was famously reviewed by a critic that said, “Phish could urinate in its fans ears and tell them it’s music, the fans in turn would be there with tape recorders to capture the moment.” Trey reads the “bad review” as part of the concert film Bittersweet Motel, watch:

Phish opened the second set with “Cities” and while the song is now a staple of the rotation, keep in mind this was the first time the quartet played the Talking Heads’ cover east of the Mississippi in the United States since 1989. And what a “Cities” it was! The band explores plenty of terrain over 23+ minutes including the “cow funk” which was a hallmark of the group’s sound that year. Around the 10-minute mark Phish takes a turn towards a more evil jam space and works it over for seven memorable minutes. Then, the foursome explore a more blissful jam space as the “hose” comes out. The chord progression almost sounds like what would become “Push On Til The Day.”

[Cities | Captured by Transmissions From Gamehendge]

The Vermonters end “Cities” with a kickass segue into Led Zeppelin’s “Good Times Bad Times.” Following one of the more well-jammed “GTBT” in Phish history the band begins a lengthy rotation jam. Here’s how Phish.net describes what happened next, “The long, involved Rotation Jam to set up ‘Rock A William’ started when Page went to the theremin for a solo. Soon after, Trey took up the keys and Mike went to play guitar. Page eventually picked up Mike’s bass. After they jammed a bit longer, Mike went to join Trey on the keys. Trey then joined Fish on the drums. The two of them played on the same drum set and Mike took a piano solo. Trey eventually kicked Fish off the drum stool, and Fish picked up Trey’s guitar.” Eventually Phish starts the first and only “Rock A William” played on U.S. soil and what still stands as the last version of the tune.

As if that wasn’t enough, the quartet closes the set with a “David Bowie” that features one of the longest intros in the song’s history. Over eight minutes after Fish first played the hi-hat tap that signals the start of “Bowie,” the band finally begins the tune. Anastasio gives a clinic in tone over the course of “David Bowie” and pretty much throughout the whole night. Here’s audio of the entire show Phish played on this date in 1997 thanks to From The Aquarium and the taper:

[Originally Published: August 10, 2016]