Looking Back on ’09
In just two days we’ll be hearing the first dose of Phish 2010. To be honest, I haven’t focused on the new material as much as I would have liked. Last year I spent countless hours attending, listening, and re-listening to the new shows, but never really shared what I found. Throughout the fall we discussed each show as it came and went but never turned back to reanalyze some of the hidden gems that often come to light after a second listen. Surely the defining moments of 2009 have been posted, but like others, I’ve ignored many of the unsung heroes. There are plenty of great moments from 2009 that have yet to receive any notable recognition, but then again there’s plenty of moments from the past that have are commonly overlooked – that’s just the nature of Phish.
I feel its appropriate we start focusing on the newer material in preparation for Friday’s tour opener in Chicago. For today, I’ve put together a playlist of jams from 2009. Some are recognizable, others are seldom discussed or even forgotten. Along with Scotty B.’s uncirculated SBDs, this playlist should help pass the time until summer tour begins. Enjoy, and safe travels to everyone heading out on the road in the coming days!
“2009 Jams“
DOWNLOAD: 2009 Jams (rick click, choose save as to download)
Setlist: Chalkdust Torture (10.30.09) > DWD (8.5.09) > Piper (10.30.09) > Joy (10.30.09) > BDTNL (8.16.09) > Crosseyed and Painless (6.21.09) > Tweezer (11.20.09) > Light (12.2.09) > Harry Hood (6.2.09)
Classic Jams Series Pt. II: Primal Psychedelia
Furthur
Our last “Classic Jams” playlist received some very kind praise, which made us eager to get the next one ready for your listening pleasure. Last time we focused on some of the jams that every Phish fan should be aware of when navigating the vast ocean of Phish shows. Today, we venture deep into the psychedelic world of Phish, journeying through some of the most mesmerizing musical moments. These are times when the entire band is aflame with a collective creative energy, able to propel their music toward moments of pure musical enlightenment. So sit back, and prepare yourself for this journey. This is not one for the lighthearted.
“Classic Jams Series Pt. II“
Sometimes its nice to dive into a playlist without any setlist to guide you. And so, we’ll wait until later this afternoon to post today’s picks.
DOWNLOAD: Classic Jams Series Pt. II (Right-click and choose “Save As” to download)
Today’s playlist:
IT Soundcheck (excerpt) > David Bowie (11.26.94) > Down With Disease (12.12.95) > Split Open and Melt (6.16.95) > Stash (7.2.97) > Tweezer (5.6.93)
Classic Dead Jams Pt. I
Grateful Dead 1973
Our last post featured a two hour “podcast” that took listeners through some of the most memorable Phish jams. We received such a warm response, and had such a great time doing it, we decided to put together a bonus “podcast” for today. As we become more familiar with the technical side, you will be able to access these podcasts through your itunes. For now, just enjoy the music, and download the mp3 files we have available for the moment.
Today, we shift our focus over to some memorable Grateful Dead jams. While it may be hard to navigate through Phish’s various “best jams”, the Dead make it nearly impossible. The playlist today highlights a few well-known moments along with some personal favorites. So, sit back and enjoy these spectacular jams.
Here’s the playlist for today:
“Intro”, “Nobody’s Jam” > “Phil’s Jam” > “Jam” > “The Other One” (1973.6.22), “Drums” > “The Wheel” (1976.10.3), “Jam” > “Ship of Fools” (1974.6.23), “Help on the Way” > “Slipknot” > “Franklins Tower” (1976.6.14), “Dark Star” > “Attics of My Life” > “Dark Star” (1970.6.24), “Comes a Time” (1977.5.9)
“Classic Dead Jams Pt. I“
Ambient Alarm Clock: Classic Jams Series Pt. I
6.11.00 (E. Sakai)
Very often, people will ask me “what are the best Phish jams?” or “where can I find a list of the best jams”? Approximately 30 people find their way to this site every day, simply by googling “the best phish jams”. The truth is, there are so many great jams -subject to varying tastes – that it’s hard to list all of the “best jams”. There’s just too many. The closest attempt in compiling a list of “the best jams” has been the incredible work done by the writers of The Phish Companion. The depth of their analysis is remarkable. However, that depth also leads to confusion amongst many newcomers, and even those who have been listening for years.
However, there are certain jams that everyone agrees are AMONG the best. These are classics that have stood the test of time, and are considered to be some of the finest moments in Phish history. Those who have never heard them will be in awe of the greatness they are about to witness. And those that have heard these a thousand times, well, I don’t think we mind hearing them again.
Today, we’re starting with some very well-known jams that are by all accounts, among the most memorable Phish jams ever. The idea is to eventually create a podcast series where you can subscribe via itunes, creating a collection of what we believe to be the “best phish jams” (thanks to Eric Wyman for the suggestion!). This will be the perfect way to introduce those who are less-familiar, or not familiar at all, with Phish’s music. You can either download the file or stream it through the site. Be patient while the file is loading, it is somewhat large.
The setlist for today is:
Bathtub Gin (11.23.97) > “Ghost” (12.31.98) > “Chalkdust Torture” (7.10.99) > “AC/DC Bag” (12.30.97) > “Funky Bitch” > “Jam” (11.22.94)
Classic Jams Series Pt. I
DOWNLOAD: Dog Gone Blog Classic Jams Series Pt. I
[The ambient clips you will hear before/after each song are to make things interesting for those who have heard these jams before, and to add a sense of fluidity. Whoever can come closest to guessing the "ambient" interludes will receive a little gift from DGB. I promise, it will be worth your while. Send your picks to dogoneblog@gmail.com and we'll determine a winner by the end of the week.]
