Phish Bassist Mike Gordon Had ‘Peak Pot Experience’ At 1994 Spartanburg Concert Featured On New Live Archival Release
Read Mike’s journal entry about the band’s majestic show in Spartanburg, South Carolina on October 29, 1994.
By Scott Bernstein May 26, 2023 • 10:01 am PDT
Out today from Phish is an official recording of their October 29, 1994 show in Spartanburg, South Carolina. The live archival release on the band’s LivePhish platform and app came with bassist Mike Gordon‘s journal entry about the show in which he reveals his experience towards the end of the night was enhanced by consuming a cannabis edible at setbreak.
Phish’s lone show in Spartanburg was held two nights before they started their “Musical Costume” Halloween tradition in Glens Falls, New York by performing The Beatles’ White Album in its entirety. The quartet loaded the Spartanburg concert with highlights as a whopping 13 of the evening’s 24 tracks were deemed jam chart-worthy by the Phish.net team. A pair of bust outs were fit into the setlist with a cover of The Who’s “Sparks” dusted off after 65 shows and “Buffalo Bill” returning for the first time since its debut on November 21, 1992.
Advertisement
Outrageous segues played a huge role in making the show special with “Split Open & Melt” leading into “Buffalo Bill,” which bled into “Makisupa Policemen” and a transition into “Rift.” Additionally, “Sleeping Monkey” was encapsulated within “Run Like An Antelope.” It was that segment when Gordon began his “peak pot experience.” Read Mike Gordon’s journal entry regarding Phish’s only visit to Spartanburg below:
“Hashcake during break. Peak pot experience. During Sleeping Monkey it hit me hard. Harry Hood encore. It was 3d. A dream. Not remembering when I had walked on stage. All worries gone. Like heaven. My dream come true. Monkey seemed quite funny. Antelope fast and funny, ultra- different. Also set one – I liked Jim jam, felt in control. Simple had a great jam at the end. Buffalo Bill and Makisupa were cool.”
It’s Mike Gordon who came up with the bassline that led Phish to break form during “Antelope” and eventually wander into “Sleeping Monkey.” The transition is among the most unusual in the band’s history.
A soundboard recording of the show, purportedly given to a fan by keyboardist Page McConnell, has circulated for years. However, today’s release was freshly mixed and mastered by Jon Altschiller from the multi-track recordings captured for the band’s first live album, 1995’s A Live One. Hear the majestic show in full high-fidelity glory via LivePhish.com and the LivePhish app.
Loading tour dates
Advertisement
Setlist (via Phish.net)
Set 1: My Friend, My Friend, Sparkle > Simple -> Runaway Jim, Foam, Lawn Boy, Split Open and Melt [1] -> Buffalo Bill -> Makisupa Policeman -> Rift
Set 2: Down with Disease -> The Man Who Stepped Into Yesterday > Avenu Malkenu > The Man Who Stepped Into Yesterday -> Sparks > Uncle Pen, You Enjoy Myself, Hold Your Head Up > Bike > Hold Your Head Up, Run Like an Antelope -> Sleeping Monkey > Run Like an Antelope
Encore: Harry Hood
Trey teased Simple in Runaway Jim. Melt was unfinished. Buffalo Bill was played for the first time since November 21, 1992 (226 shows). Makisupa ended with a BBFCFM tease from Trey and Fish. During Bike, Fish made reference to the new dress he was given that afternoon and wore to the show. Antelope contained a May the Force Be With You tease from Trey. This show is available as an archival release on LivePhish.com.
Phish News
-
Phish Selects Stellar Spartanburg 1994 Concert For Next Live Archival Release
-
Mexican Concerts Again: Phish Announces Riviera Maya 2024 Destination Event
-
Watch Phish’s Trey Anastasio & Mike Gordon’s Unedited 1992 MTV News Interview
-
Step Into Phish Keyboardist Page McConnell's Contributions To 43-Minute 'Tweezer' At The Greek
