Phish Plays Wild ‘BBFCFM’ In Jon Fishman’s Hometown Of Syracuse On Fall Tour 2009

This year marks 25 years since Phish’s historic Fall Tour 1995. In recognition of that noteworthy tour and to make up for the lack of shows this fall, JamBase presents a daily retrospective highlighting a noteworthy moment from a Phish fall tour concert that took place on that date over the past 25 years (read a note on Fall 1997 here). The 25 Years Of Phish Fall Tour series runs each day between the start of Phish Fall Tour 1995 on September 27 through that tour’s finale on December 17.

Phish’s Fall Tour 1995 show on November 22 in Landover, Maryland was highlighted by a +30-minute “Free.” One year later, their Fall Tour 1996 brought them to Spokane, Washington. Fall Tour 1997 featured a brilliant performance on November 22 in Hampton, Virginia.

The band’s most recent concert on November 22 took place on Fall Tour 2009 when they returned to the War Memorial at Oncenter arena in Syracuse, New York where they played once before back on Fall Tour 1994. The show was a hometown performance for drummer and Syracuse-native Jon Fishman whose personal history at the venue was revealed during the wild second set “Big Black Furry Creature From Mars” that contained several shoutouts to the local area and one of Fish’s parents in attendance.

The pseudo-punk Phish classic “BBFCFM” is often an avenue for onstage antics, usually involving guitarist Trey Anastasio and the song’s writer and lead singer, bassist Mike Gordon, running around the stage or inciting other forms of mayhem. The November 22, 2009 “BBFCFM” was the first time it was played that year. The one-time setlist staple from the late-1980s and early-1990s, fell into rarity status by the time it was played just once in 2000 and appeared at just one show in 2003 and not at all in 2004.

In Syracuse, Trey lowered his microphone and played from his knees while Mike raised his microphone to above his head. Fish started shouting “Are you ready?,” eliciting Trey’s shouts of “He’s running!” in response. Toward the end of the chaotic song, Trey started bantering with the audience, saying:

Jon Fishman, Syracuse-native on the snare drum!

James Dewitt High School, Jon Fishman!

Playing tonight in a venue where he saw five of his first concerts: Jon Fishman, let’s hear it!

Jon Fishman’s dad is here tonight, let’s hear it for Jon Fishman’s dad!

Wait, one more thing, we need absolute silence for this next thing. This is so important. Silence.

Anyone who actually went — Jon Fishman’s dad is an orthodontist — so anyone in this room who ever went to Dr. Fishman, yell really loud.

Let’s hear it for Jon Fishman’s dad’s patients!

Dr. Fishman!

After finishing “BBFCFM,” Trey corrected himself, telling the crowd, “That’s Jamesville-DeWitt High School, not James.” He then said, “As long as we’re in the Jon Fishman moment of the show, let’s do — lyrics by Jon Fishman — this is ‘Tube.’”

The 2009 Syracuse show was not the first time a Phish parent attended one of their shows in the city. Back in May 1989, Fish received more hometown shoutouts from Trey who also mentioned the guitarist’s mother was in the audience. A show in Syracuse in May 1992 featured Fish’s mom Mimi Fishman joining her son on vacuum for “I Didn’t Know.”

Watch the wild “Big Black Furry Creature From Mars” Phish played on November 22, 2009 below: