Phish Drops Triumphant 22-Minute ‘Tube’ & ‘Slave To The Traffic Light’ From ‘Gorge ‘98’ Box Set

The next Phish live archival release features shows held on July 16 and 17, 1998.

By Scott Bernstein Oct 21, 2022 • 10:12 am PDT

Gorge Amp

Photo by Daniel from Calgary, Canada via Wikipedia CC 2.0

Phish will release The Gorge ’98 documenting their Summer Tour 1998 two-night run at the idyllic Washington state venue this December. The quartet unveiled the first taste of the 5-CD box set by sharing the monster pairing of classics “Tube” and “Slave To The Traffic Light” laid down at The Gorge Amphitheatre on July 16, 1998.

  • Phish Delivers 4-Song Set At The Gorge On This Date In 1998

    Phish Delivers 4-Song Set At The Gorge On This Date In 1998

    Phish offered up monster four-song second set, which included the longest “2001” ever, at The Gorge on this date in 1998.

Fresh off a nine-concert run through Europe, Phish kicked off a 23-show U.S. tour with a performance at Portland Meadows in Portland, Oregon on July 15, 1998 released as Live Phish Volume 17 in 2003. The four-piece then returned to The Gorge for concerts on July 16 and 17, 1998 that took place less than a year after Phish made their debut at the scenic amphitheater on August 2 and 3, 1997.

“Tube” features music by guitarist Trey Anastasio and lyrics by drummer Jon Fishman. Phish first performed the song live on September 13, 1990. “Slave To The Traffic Light” dates back to December 1, 1984 as one of the group’s oldest tunes. Anastasio penned “Slave” with pals Steve “The Dude Of Life” Pollak and Dave Abrahams.

The majestic “Tube”/”Slave To The Traffic Light” sequence spanning over 22 minutes ended Phish’s second set at The Gorge on July 16, 1998. Listen to how it went below:

Full details of the box set, including pre-order information, is expected next week.

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Set 1: The Squirming Coil, NICU, Stash, Reba [1] > Fast Enough for You > When the Circus Comes, Run Like an Antelope

Set 2: Julius, The Moma Dance > Piper, Axilla [2] > David Bowie, Tube > Slave to the Traffic Light

Encore: Sample in a Jar

[1] No whistling.
[2] Contained Axilla II ending.

Trey teased Lazy in Julius. Reba did not have the whistling ending. Axilla featured the Axilla II ending. Trey teased Oye Como Va in the soundcheck’s jam. This show was released as part of The Gorge ’98 box set.

Set 1: Makisupa Policeman > Ya Mar, Gumbo, Divided Sky, Waste > My Mind's Got a Mind of its Own, My Soul

Set 2: Also Sprach Zarathustra > Mike's Song > Weekapaug Groove [1] > Character Zero

Encore: Punch You in the Eye > Rocky Top

[1] Unfinished.

Trey teased Close to the Edge and Makisupa Policeman in Ya Mar. Gumbo included Fire (Ohio Players) teases. This unfinished Weekapaug included syncopated jamming and a tease of the theme that signals the closing of the jam segment of Taste by Trey. This show was released as part of The Gorge ’98 box set.

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