Throwback Thursday | Phish Unplugs For Bridge School

We’re anxiously awaiting the lineup announcement for this year’s Bridge School Benefit Concerts, which take place at Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, CA on October 25 and 26. If you’re unfamiliar, nearly every year since 1986 Neil and Pegi Young have called upon their musical friends to perform at an annual benefit concert to raise funds for the Bridge School, an innovative organization educating children with severe speech and physical impairments. The Youngs ask their invited guests to cut the cords and perform on acoustics for the Bridge School Benefit Concerts. Over the years, Neil and Pegi have recruited a who’s who of acts to play the concerts including Bruce Springsteen, Pearl Jam, Jerry Garcia & Bob Weir, Beck, Bonnie Raitt, Metallica, Foo Fighters and R.E.M.

JamBase favorites Phish have only performed at the event on October 17 & 18, 1998; but the Vermonters certainly made their two Bridge School sets count. They opened each night by turning towards the Bridge School students and family at the back of the stage to sing an a capella number. On the first night they debuted three new songs -“Sleep,” “Never” and “Driver.” In fact, the quartet’s performance of “Never” still stands as its lone live appearance. Each night Phish were joined by guests with host Neil Young emerging for the end of “Harry Hood” as well as his own “Helpless” on Night One and Young, Sarah McLachlan and Kevin Hearn (Barenaked Ladies) helping out on Night Two.

In addition to the debuts and guest spots, Phish also delivered interesting unplugged versions of a number of classics which had never been performed acoustic in the past such as “Piper,” “Guyute,” “Roggae” and “Possum.” Last year pro-shot footage of both sets surfaced. Check ’em out:

10/17/98:

Set One: Carolina, Sleep[1], Never[1], Possum[2], I’m Blue, I’m Lonesome[3], Free Bird, Driver[1], Wading in the Velvet Sea[2], Harry Hood[4] > Helpless[5]

[1] Debut; acoustic.
[2] Acoustic.
[3] Acoustic; Mike on banjo, Page on acoustic bass.
[4] Acoustic; unfinished; Neil Young on guitar.
[5] Phish debut; acoustic; Neil Young on guitar and vocals.

Notes: This single-set performance was part of the 12th annual Bridge School benefit that also included R.E.M., Neil Young, and Barenaked Ladies. This was an acoustic performance, with a unique stage setup that had Fishman stage right, with Page on the far left. Carolina was performed with the band facing toward the Bridge School children, who were on a raised platform at the back of the stage. Sleep, Never, and Driver also debuted at this show. I’m Blue I’m Lonesome (first since December 12, 1995, or 195 shows) was performed in the bluegrass setup of 1994, with Mike on banjo and Page on acoustic bass. Free Bird was played for the first time since June 19, 1994 (338 shows). Hood was unfinished; Neil Young joined in during the Hood jam, and then sang lead on the Phish debut of his own composition, Helpless.

10/18/98:

Set One: Hello My Baby, Billy Breathes[1], Piper[1], Roggae[1], Loving Cup[1], Albuquerque[1], The Old Home Place[2], Guyute[1], Brian and Robert[1], Sad Lisa[3], Four Strong Winds[4], I Shall Be Released[4]

[1] Acoustic.
[2] Acoustic; Mike on banjo, Page on acoustic bass.
[3] Phish debut; acoustic; Sarah McLachlan on guitar and vocals.
[4] Phish debut; acoustic; Sarah McLachlan and Neil Young on guitar and vocals and Kevin Hearn on accordion.

Notes: This single-set performance was part of the 12th annual Bridge School benefit that also included R.E.M., Neil Young, and Barenaked Ladies. This was an acoustic performance, with a unique stage setup that had Fishman stage right, with Page on the far left. Hello My Baby was performed with the band facing toward the Bridge School children, who were on a raised platform at the back of the stage. The Old Home Place was performed in the bluegrass setup of 1994, with Mike on banjo and Page on acoustic bass. Sad Lisa featured Sarah McLachlan on guitar and vocals, while Four Strong Winds and I Shall Be Released featured McLachlan and Neil Young on guitar and vocals, as well as Barenaked Ladies’ Kevin Hearn on accordion; all three songs were Phish debuts.

[Setlists via Phish.net]