The JB List | Amazing Phish Moments At Fall 2013 Venues
By Team JamBase Oct 8, 2013 • 1:15 pm PDT
1. Hampton Coliseum -11/22/1997: “Halley’s Comet”
This year’s three shows will mark the quartet’s 16th -18th at the venue. While the “Fluffhead” opener that ended a five-year breakup in 2009 might be the emotional favorite Hampton Phish moment, musically we give the nod to the 20+ minute “Halley’s Comet” from November 22, 1997.
2. Blue Cross Arena -12/11/1997: “Roses Are Free”
One of our favorite moments of the Bittersweet Motel documentary is when we see Phish rehearsing their cover of Ween’s “Roses Are Free” that drops into live footage of the debut from later that evening at the Rochester venue on December 11, 1997.
3. Glens Falls Civic Center -10/31/1994: “Reba”
Not only was Phish’s lone previous appearance at the Glens Falls Civic Center famed for the band offering their first musical costume by covering The Beatles’ White Album in its entirety, but the other two sets were amazing as well. The “Reba” from that night is among the best the quartet has ever played.
4. DCU Center -12/31/1993: “Harry Hood”
Where do you start in recalling all the memorable moments that have taken place during Phish’s 14 previous appearances at the venue once known as The Centrum? How about at the beginning. There are many Phish fans who consider the “Harry Hood” Phish laid down on New Year’s Eve ’93 the best version of the song in Phish history. We wouldn’t go that far, but it’s certainly near the top.
5. XL Center -11/26/1997: “Character Zero”
Just about a year after Phish debuted the arena rocker “Character Zero” they delivered a stunning, exploratory take on the tune at what was then known as the Hartford Civic Center. Sixteen years later it still stands as the most inventive version of the song in Phish history.
6. Atlantic City Convention Hall -10/30/2010: “Tweezer” -> “Heartbreaker” -> “Tweezer” -> “Ramble On” -> “Thank You” -> “Tweezer” -> “Stairway to Heaven”
Heading into Halloween 2010 Atlantic City icon Pinky Kravitz spread a rumor that Phish would cover Led Zeppelin as their musical costume. While they wound up tackling Little Feat instead, they addressed the Zeppelin rumors by working multiple LZ classics into their own “Tweezer” on the night before Halloween. Musically, it doesn’t come off that well on “tape,” but if you were there that night you know how crazy the audience went making for one of those magical moments.
