Phish Releases Eagles Ballroom 1994 Recording AKA ‘The O.J. Show’

For the second time in a two month span Phish has dipped up their vault to issue a recording of a show that took place a little over 23 years ago, and is affectionately known to the band and its fans at ‘The O.J. Show.’ The latest installment of the band’s LivePhish live archival series features a complete recording of Phish’s June 17, 1994 performance at the Eagles Ballroom in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Shortly before Phish took the stage in Milwaukee that night halfway across the country in Southern California former football star O.J. Simpson was in the back of a white Ford Bronco as police pursued it down I-405 outside Los Angeles as the nation watched the slow-speed chase unfold on TV. It was evident that band had their eyes glued to what was happening as they kicked things appropriately with a wild “Runaway Jim” that was dedicated to former Heisman Trophy winner, which was likely a head scratcher to most in the audience. In an age before the advent of smartphones news of what was happening was slow to spread, but by the second set all bets were off the band was locked-in offering up repeated references to Orenthal James Simpson and the car case he was in the midst of.

“2001” began the second set with guitarist Trey Anastasio and drummer Jon Fishman imploring the suspect to “Run O.J.” More O.J. references popped up from Fish during Mike Gordon’s “Poor Heart” and the bassist’s subsequent “Mike’s Song” included elements of the “Theme From Mission Impossible” and more shout outs from Fish to the fleeing football legend. “Mike’s” segued into just the second live performance of the at-the-time recently debuted original “Simple” and the band went full-on with incorporating O.J. into the song, dedicating an entire verse to Simpson singing “We’ve got O.J., because we’ve got a band, and we’ve got O.J. in the band.” Later in the set, O.J. again was noted during the wild Jimi Hendrix-infused “Harpua.”

‘The O.J. Show’ is currently available for purchase via LivePhish.com and for streaming through the LivePhish+ App.

Here’s the description of the show from LivePhish:

On June 17, 1994 Phish played the Eagles Ballroom in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the largest and most ornate room in The Rave/Eagles Club complex. The show is available now for download and streaming via LivePhish+ and the LivePhish App: bit.ly/ph940617 The landmark “Million Dollar Ballroom” was opened in 1927 with an oval wooden dance floor and domed ceiling ringed by balconies, with a capacity of about 1,500. It was Phish’s only show in the haunted ballroom but their second performance in the building, having played The Rave in spring 1992. This was the “O.J. Show” performed during O.J. Simpson’s slow-speed Bronco chase. Highlights from 6/17/94 set I included the “Runaway Jim” opener dedicated to O.J., a dynamic “Foam”, “Split Open And Melt”, and “Punch You In The Eye” > “Bathtub Gin”. The band thrice showcased their latest song, “Simple”, during set II: in its usual slot out of “Mike’s Song”, a unique mashup with “I Am Hydrogen”, and within the “Harpua narration. 6/17/94 Milwaukee was recorded by Paul Languedoc to 2-track soundboard DAT and mastered by Fred Kevorkian.

6/17/1994 Setlist (via Phish.net)

SET 1: Runaway Jim, Foam, Glide, Split Open and Melt, If I Could, Punch You In the Eye > Bathtub Gin, Scent of a Mule, Cavern

SET 2: Also Sprach Zarathustra[1] > Sample in a Jar, Poor Heart[1] > Mike’s Song[1] -> Simple[1] -> Mike’s Song > I Am Hydrogen > Weekapaug Groove, Harpua -> Kung -> Harpua[1], Sparkle > Big Ball Jam > Julius > Frankenstein

ENCORE: Sleeping Monkey > Rocky Top

[1] O.J. reference.

This is the infamous “O.J. Show,” played on the night of O.J. Simpson’s Bronco chase. 2001, Mike’s, Simple, Poor Heart, and Harpua all included references to O.J. Mike’s Song also included a Mission: Impossible theme tease and Hydrogen included Simple quotes. Weekapaug contained a Nellie Kane tease from Mike. Harpua included a Simple quote and Voodoo Child tease.