Welcome back to Shecky's Jam Band, the podcast where we dive deep into the legends of rising stars of the jam scene. Today we're talking about the band that sits on the throne of the jam band kingdom. The group that took what Grateful Dead pioneered and brought it into a new generation. That's right, we're talking about Phish. Phish formed in Burlington, Vermont back in 1983. when Trey Anastasio, Mike Gordon, John Fishman, and Jeff Holdsworth started jamming together at the
University of Vermont. Soon after, Page McConnell joined on keyboards, and the core four that we know today, Mike, Trey, Page, and Fish, were solidified. The name Fish actually comes from the drummer, John Fishman's nickname, Fish. and they stylized it with a pH to make it stand out.
Pretty simple, but iconic. And over time, they've become the defining jam band of the modern era, selling out arenas, headlining festivals, and even hosting their own massive festivals like Big Cypress in 1999, which went all night into the new millennium. Here are some cool fish facts you may or may not know. They never play the same set list twice. Pretty unique. Every show is different, and fans trade tapes like gold. Their fan base is so dedicated, there's a traveling
economy around them. Think Shakedown Street -style marketplaces. They've covered full albums live, from the Beatles' White Album to Talking Heads, Remain in Light. They have their own Ben & Jerry's ice cream flavor, Fish Food. Enough said. And let's not forget the Halloween musical costumes, where they surprise fans by playing a full album by another artist from start to finish. Now, if you're new to Fish, where do you begin? Here
are a few must -listen's. The song, You Enjoy Myself, arguably their signature piece, It's complex, improvisational, and usually features vocal jams. Another one, Bathtub Gin, playful, funky, and it often stretches into long, joyous jams. Another one you should check out is Down with Disease, one of their most accessible and radio -friendly tracks, but also a launch pad for Monster Jams. Another one is Harry Hood, a fan favorite with soaring emotional peaks.
and last but not least is Tweezer, maybe the ultimate jam vehicle, different every single time they play it. Alright, let's get to the real meat. The jams that define fish. You gotta check out the Tahoe Tweezer in 2013, a 30 -minute journey that fans call one of the greatest jams of modern era. It moves from funky grooves to blissful peaks to deep psychedelic soundscapes. Pure fish magic. Another jam you should check out is the Island Tour roses are free in 1998.
Fish took a wean cover and turned it into a transcendent jam, proving they can elevate any song into a masterpiece. Another jam you should check out is called the Big Cypress Midnight. transitioning to sunrise set in 1999 and 2000. When the clock struck midnight on Y2K, Fish played for seven and a half hours straight. No breaks, just pure improvisation until the Florida sun came up. That's jam band history. Another great jam you
should check out is Dick's Simple in 2012. At Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Colorado, Fish dropped a 25 -minute simple that flows through multiple distinct movements, airy, funky, blissful, and exploratory. And the last jam you should check out is called The Baker's Dozen Run in 2017. 13 nights at Madison Square Garden with no repeated songs. That's over 250 different
tunes which is totally unprecedented. What makes Phish unforgettable isn't just the music, it's the community, the vibe, the idea that every night is a unique journey. No two shows are ever the same and that keeps the fans coming back for decades. So whether you're a newbie checking out YEM, for the first time or a seasoned vet who is still chasing that perfect tweezer. Fish is a band that redefines what it means to jam. That's it for this episode of Shecky's Jam Bands.
Next time we'll dig into another band carrying the torch. But until then, keep the jams rolling.