Phish Returns To ‘The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon’ On This Date In 2016

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.

While Phish didn’t officially kick off their fall tour until October 14, 2016, the band did assemble at 30 Rock for an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on this date in 2016. Phish served as Fallon’s musical guest and performed a web exclusive in support of Big Boat, a studio album released just three days prior to the broadcast.

Phish teamed up with saxophonist Ian Hendrickson-Smith and trumpeter David Guy for a performance of “Breath & Burning” that aired on the NBC late-night talk show. Hendrickson-Smith and Guy both play with The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon house band The Roots. Each had a history with Phish as they contributed to the quartet’s musical costume of Little Feat’s Waiting For Columbus on October 31, 2010. Additionally, David Guy was part of the horn section for Phish’s complete performance of Exile On Main St. that took place at Festival 8 in Indio, California on Halloween 2009.

“Breath & Burning” was the lead single from Big Boat. Phish debuted the song live on June 26, 2016 and played “Breath & Burning” regularly through the following summer. Only three versions have been performed by Phish since September 1, 2017.

Phish filmed a rendition of “Blaze On” at the show’s studios at 30 Rock in New York City on this date in 2016 that was released as a web exclusive via Fallon’s YouTube channel and social feeds. “Blaze On” was first played in-concert by Phish on July 21, 2015 in Bend, Oregon. The song has been a staple ever since with its next performance to be Phish’s 50th of “Blaze On.”

Though video of Phish’s performances for The Tonight Show from four years ago have been pulled, stream audio of both “Breath & Burning” and “Blaze On” below: