Back in 2009 and continuing each year through 2012, Phish carried out an annual Father’s Day tradition by bringing their children out on stage during the playing of their song “Brother.” The first occurrence came as the band opened their show at Alpine Valley in East Troy, Wisconsin on Sunday, June 21, 2009. With a large metal tub placed at the front of the stage, Phish began “Brother” and one-by-one their children filled the tub. “Brother” would be played on Father’s Day each of the next three years, with an ever expanding lineup of kids piling in the tub.
Trey Anastasio’s two daughters Eliza and Izabella, Page McConnell’s three daughters Maxine, Delia and Wynn, Mike Gordon’s daughter Tessa and Jon Fishman’s daughters Ella, Rosie and Lily as well as the lone brother, Jon Fishman’s son Jack joined in the tradition. In 2010, lighting director Chris Kuroda’s daughter Alexandra also got in on the action. The 2011, Father’s Day show on Sunday, June 19 at nTelos Pavilion, Portsmouth, Virginia was the only one of the four in which “Brother” didn’t open the show. Instead Phish began with “Harpua” and brought their own fathers – Bob Gordon, Jack McConnell, Ernie Anastasio and Leonard Fishman – on stage to help sing the song’s verses. “Harpua” as well as all four versions of “Brother” are featured below.
“Brother” June 21, 2009 Alpine Valley Music Theatre, East Troy, Wisconsin captured by hartmanhooks:
“Brother” June 20, 2010 Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Springs, New York captured by axanodus:
“Harpua” June 19, 2011 nTelos Pavilion, Portsmouth, Virginia captured by HerseyWasatch:
“Brother” June 19, 2011 nTelos Pavilion, Portsmouth, Virginia captured by HerseyWasatch:
“Brother” June 17, 2012 Bader Field, Atlantic City, New Jersey captured by HarpuaFSB:
As a Father’s Day bonus, here’s Page’s dad Jack singing “Bill Bailey, Won’t You Please Come Home?” (as he did a number of times over the years) from Phish’s October 15, 2010 concert at North Charleston Coliseum, North Charleston, South Carolina captured by BigScrump11:
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[Originally published June 21, 2015]
