Twenty Years Later: Phish & MMW Swap Sit-Ins In Austin

Over the early part of their career Phish shared bills with many different bands from a wide range of genres. The band famously thanked each of those acts within the liner notes of their 1995 live album, A Live One. However, as the quartet achieved success they went with “An Evening With” format and stopped using opening acts. In 1994 they made exceptions for a handful of gigs with the Dave Matthews Band and did the same a year later with Medeski, Martin & Wood.

Phish guitarist Trey Anastasio brought MMW to his fans attention within a 1995 Doniac Schvice newsletter, where he described the trio’s sound as “music that makes me drive too fast.” MMW and Phish linked up for a pair of October ’95 shows in Austin and New Orleans. Members of the trio sat-in with the quartet at each show. On October 14, 1995 in Austin not only did MMW guest with Phish at the Austin Music Hall, but Anastasio also sat-in with Medeski, Martin and Wood at nearby Emo’s.

Towards the middle of Phish’s second set in Austin twenty years ago tonight, keyboardist John Medeski, drummer Billy Martin and bassist Chris Wood emerged to lend a hand on “You Enjoy Myself” for what fans refer to as “YEMMW.” Medeski sat with Page McConnell at his rig, Martin took over Jon Fishman’s drum set leaving Fish to play vacuum and trombone, while Wood plucked a one-string upright bass with a bow. The wild jam also featured Phish’s bus driver, Dominic Placco, on trumpet.

Listen to an audience recording of the entire Phish show thanks to From The Aquarium. “YEMMW” starts around the 1:42:00 mark:

Later in the night Anastasio took the trip to Emo’s to guest with Medeski, Martin and Wood. The guitarist added to a “Jelly Belly” > “Is There Anybody Here That Loves My Jesus” segment towards the middle of the set as well as the “Chubb Subb” set closer. Listen to a crispy soundboard recording of the whole MMW show via The Shack Project: