Trey Anastasio Shares ‘First Tube’ Video From ‘The Beacon Jams’ In Honor Of Tony Markellis
By Scott Bernstein May 6, 2021 • 12:42 pm PDT
Phish guitarist Trey Anastasio unveiled official video featuring “First Tube” from his last “The Beacon Jams” livestream concert which came on November 27, 2020 at The Beacon Theatre in New York City. Anastasio released in the clip in honor of Trey Anastasio Band bassist Tony Markellis who tragically died last week at the age of 68.
“Tony’s final song with TAB, and the first song we ever wrote and performed together,” Anastasio wrote in a note accompanying the video. “We love you, Tony.”
“The Beacon Jams” was a series of eight livestream concerts originating from The Beacon Theatre each Friday between October 9 – November 27, 2020. Over $1.2 million in donations was raised during the run for Anastasio’s The Divided Sky Foundation which helped support the purchase of a substance use disorder (SUD) treatment center in Ludlow, Vermont.
Markellis was part of the core band for all eight “The Beacon Jams” concerts. Tony was a co-founding Trey Anastasio Band member and as Trey noted co-wrote “First Tube,” one of a number of songs he penned with Anastasio.
Trey used an opportunity before the “First Tube” closer — which was followed by a “March Party” into the venue’s lobby — to introduce and thank the musicians and others who helped him pull off the run. Anastasio forgot to introduce and thank Markellis. The video starts with Tony asking Trey, “Who was that playing bass for the past eight weeks?” Trey joked, “I don’t know” before leading the assembled musicians in screaming “TONY MARKELLIS.”
“First Tube” on November 27, 2020 featured the entire Trey Anastasio Band as well as the Rescue Squad Strings. See how it went down below:
Ryley Walker contributed a cover of “First Tube” to JamBase's Cluster Flies compilation. Stream an episode of The JamBase Podcast featuring a “First Tube” deep dive:
