Happy Birthday Page McConnell: Covering Pink Floyd’s ‘Sheep’ & More With Vida Blue In 2003

Born on this date in 1963, Phish keyboardist Page McConnell marks his 54th birthday today. First performing with the band on May 3, 1985, “Leo” firmly integrated himself as one-fourth of the powerhouse jam quartet who will once again soon set out on a Summer Tour that for the first time includes a 13-date “Baker’s Dozen” residency at Madison Square Garden in New York City. While Phish has been McConnell’s main gig for the past three decades, he has also dabbled in solo and side projects, including his short-lived electro-funk trio Vida Blue.

To celebrate the birthday of “The Chairman Of The Boards,” here’s a look back at Page performing with Vida Blue at their April 9, 2003 concert at The Vic Theatre in Chicago. The band also featuring The Allman Brothers Band/Aquarium Rescue Unit/Dead & Company bassist Oteil Burbridge and funky Meters drummer Russell Batiste released studio albums in 2002 and 2003. The trio often accompanied by The Spam Allstars also issued a live LP in 2004 the same year they last performed together.

Below is footage from The Vic featuring the show and tour opening 10-minute cover performance of Pink Floyd’s epic Animals track “Sheep.” Along with Vida Blue originals, McConnell, Burbridge and Batiste can also be seen covering John Lennon’s “Jealous Guy,” Led Zeppelin’s “No Quarter” and Gary Numan’s “Cars.” Page went solo on upright piano for a portion of the set to cover The Beatles’ “Mother Nature’s Son” as well as offer takes on “Army Of One” and “Strange Design.” Tenacious D guitarist Kyle Gass emerged at the start of the encore to duet with Page on “Lawn Boy” ahead of the aforementioned Zeppelin and Numan covers.

The full performance beginning with “Sheep” was posted by Frank Musillami, watch it here (note: the audio and video come out of sync around the 32:00 mark):

Setlist (via Phish.net)

Set: Sheep, CJ3 , Russell’s Tune > Most Events Aren’t Planned, Jealous Guy, Get Ready, Who’s Laughing Now?, Mother Nature’s Son [1], Army of One [1], Strange Design [1], You Never Can Tell, Electra Glide, Day or Night, Manic Depression

Encore: Lawn Boy [2], No Quarter > Cars

[1] Page solo on upright acoustic piano.

[2] Duet with Page on upright piano and vocals and Kyle Gass on acoustic guitar and vocals.