Phish Selects Stellar Fall 1996 Concert For Next LivePhish Release
Peter Apfelbaum (saxophone) and John McEuen (banjo/lap steel guitar) each made guest appearances at Arco Arena on November 30, 1996.
By Scott Bernstein Jan 9, 2024 • 11:51 am PST
Phish will soon dig into the vault to release audio of their lone show at the Arco Arena in Sacramento. An official recording of the band’s November 30, 1996 concert arrives on LivePhish.com this Friday, January 12.
The Sacramento ’96 show was recorded to digital multitrack by former Phish soundman Paul Languedoc. Jon Altschiller mixed the audio for release. MP3, FLAC and HD downloads are available for pre-order now. The upcoming release can be streamed by LivePhish+ subscribers starting on Friday.
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Phish debut and only appearance at the Arco Arena came towards the end of the band’s 35-show 1996 Fall Tour. The quartet was on the road in support of Billy Breathes, their sixth studio album, which was released on October 15, 1996. Tenor saxophonist Peter Apfelbaum and multi-instrumentalist John McEuen both made guest appearances.
McEuen added banjo to the bluegrass staple “The Old Home Place” in the first set, while Apfelbaum contributed to an outstanding “Timber (Jerry The Mule),” an unusual “Taste” and fine version of “Funky Bitch” in the second set. Both guests — with McEuen on lap slide guitar — were featured on the “Amazing Grace Jam” that closed the second set and the evening’s “Possum” encore. Apfelbaum had a short run as a member of the Trey Anastasio Band in the ’00s.
Other highlights include particularly funky takes on “Punch You In The Eye” and “2001” featuring James Brown teases and “JB testimony” from drummer Jon Fishman as well as rare renditions of “Brother” and “La Grange.” The versions of “Fluffhead,” “It’s Ice,” “2001,” “Funky Bitch” and “Possum” were each deemed Jam Chart-worthy by the Phish.net team.
Stream a “Taste” unlike any other from Phish’s November 30, 1996 concert below:
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Setlist (via Phish.net)
Set 1: Runaway Jim > Punch You in the Eye [1], All Things Reconsidered, Bouncing Around the Room, Stash, Fluffhead, The Old Home Place [2], Uncle Pen [3], Prince Caspian > Chalk Dust Torture [4]
Set 2: La Grange, It's Ice > Glide, Brother [5], Contact > Also Sprach Zarathustra [6] > Timber (Jerry the Mule) [7] > Taste [8], Funky Bitch [9], Amazing Grace, Amazing Grace [10]
Encore: Possum [11]
The Old Home Place and Uncle Pen featured John McEuen on banjo. Timber through Funky Bitch featured Peter Apfelbaum on tenor saxophone. Taste included an intro jam that was basically a slowed-down version of the song. The Amazing Grace Jam and Possum featured Apfelbaum on tenor saxophone and McEuen on lap slide guitar. Punch You in the Eye, Chalk Dust Torture, and 2001 featured Get Up Offa That Thing quotes and James Brown antics from Fish. 2001 also contained Super Bad teases from Trey. The lyrics to Brother included a reference to Steve McConnell. This show is available as an archival release on LivePhish.com.
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