[UPDATED] New To YouTube: Phish Unleashes Wild 50 Minute ‘Tweezer’ At Mud Island 1995
By Scott Bernstein Sep 18, 2016 • 3:45 pm PDT
Update
Sep 18, 2016 • 3:45 pm PDT
Fan-shot video of “Mud Island Tweezer” surfaced on YouTube today, more than 21 years after Phish laid down the majestic “Tweezer” at Mud Island Amphitheater in Memphis on June 14, 1995.
On June 14, 1995 Phish made their first and to date only appearance at Mud Island Amphitheater in Memphis. The show was highlighted by what Phish.com notes is the longest “Tweezer” ever as it clocks in at just under 50 minutes. Quickly dubbed by fans the “Mud Island Tweezer,” the exploratory version should be found on any lists of the best “Tweezers” worth its salt and in a far different way than the “New Haven Tweezer” we recently profiled that came about six months later. On September 18, 2016 – More than 21 years after it was played – fan-shot video of the “Mud Island Tweezer” surfaced via MrMarmar 420:
Phish quickly worked through the composed section of “Tweezer” before building the jam to a powerful peak complete with bits of “Gypsy Queen” (popularized by Santana) thrown in. However, once they reached the first peak the quartet dove back into outer space for explorations featuring wild psychedelia. Around the 20-minute mark the foursome reengaged the “Tweezer” theme, yet instead of ending the song they embark on another round of out-of-the-box jamming. Eventually the music faded to near silence and lost all structure. Guitarist Trey Anastasio started a delay loop that served as the base for a noise-rock excursion that would make Sonic Youth proud. The band then explored a beautiful, major-key chord structure not too far off from “Billy Breathes” for a few magical minutes. From there, they dove back into the rock and funk for one final time before finally ending the exceptional “Tweezer.”
Stream an audience recording of Phish’s “Mud Island Tweezer” from June 14, 1995:
In case you missed it above, here’s the first fan-shot video of the “Mud Island Twezer” (Hat Tip – @bl002e):
Set 1: Don't You Want To Go?, Gumbo > NICU, Mound, Cavern > Possum, All Things Reconsidered, Amazing Grace [1], The Horse > Silent in the Morning, Spock's Brain > Split Open and Melt
Set 2: Also Sprach Zarathustra > Poor Heart > Tweezer [2], Acoustic Army, While My Guitar Gently Weeps
Encore: Simple [3], Rocky Top > Tweezer Reprise
Donât You Wanna Go was preceded by a Stairway to Heaven tease. Trey teased Jean Pierre in Possum. This 50+ minute Tweezer included a brief Gypsy Queen jam, a Digital Delay Loop Jam with whistling, and an Also Sprach Zarathustra tease from Trey. Simple contained a Jump Monk tease from Trey and was performed with an a cappella ending instead of a jam, akin to the A Live One version from December 8, 1994. Amazing Grace was performed without microphones. In the soundcheck, Funky Bitch was peformed as a slow version and Rift was played as an instrumental. This show is available as an archival release on LivePhish.com.
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