I'm Blue I'm Lonesome Again and Again

I hope you're feeling really blue and really lonesome tonight because I've got a doubleshot of I'm Blue, I'm Lonesome. The song was written by some guy name Bill Monroe (maybe you've heard of him?!). The first Phish cover is from 12/30/94 at Madison Square Garden, in the renowned mecca of bluegrass- New York City. Note Fishman on mandolin and Page on standup bass.

The second version is from 6/22/00 from a little country town called Nashville, TN. This one is special because it features just a few bluegrass legends as special guests: Ronnie McCoury on mandolin, Rob McCoury on banjo, and Sam Bush on fiddle, Del McCoury on guitar, Ricky Skaggs on mandolin, Mike Bub on bass, and Jason Carter on fiddle. This was the last appearance of the song and one of the few post-95 shows at which it was played (less than 5).

Reba Kansas City 6-13-94

Today we've got a 2 part Reba from 6/13/94 in Kansas City. A great jam- 1994 was a peak year for Reba's and this one is no exception. Enjoy:

12/30/94 Purple Rain!!!!

Never meant to cause you any sorrow, never meant to cause you any pain. I only want to one time see you laughing, only want to see you laughing in the purple rain. Purple Rain might be my all time favorite Fishman song and unfortunately one that I never was able to see live. This classic Prince cover, complete with vacuum solo is from 12/30/94 at Madison Square Garden. And of course, there's some HYHU and minor Fish bowing at the end.

First Wilson Chant 12/30/94

Since it looks like my last few posts have all been from Madison Square Garden, I might as well continue the trend. Here's Wilson from 12/30/94, which is the version included on "A Live One". This was Phish's first appearance at MSG and from the looks of it, both the band and the crowd were pumped up. The Wilson chant had appeared weakly throughout 1994 but it was at this show, with Trey egging on the crowd, that it really took off into it's own. And with it, was the demise of Jon Fishman's little woodblock solo thing. But I think we're all better off with 20,000 fans chanting the name of the evil ruler of Gamehenge. A Live One came out before the next tour began, and sealed the Wilson chant as a permanent fixture in Phishtory.

While My Guitar Gently Weeps 10/31/94 RIP John Lennon

Today is the anniversary of John Lennon's death in 1980. In tribute here is Phish's cover of While My Guitar Gently Weeps from the 10/31/94 Glens Falls show in which they covered the Beatles White Album. This was the first time they played WMGGW and it turned out to be the only song from the show that would remain in constant rotation in future live shows (note that Why Don't We Do It in the Road, I'm So Tired, Everybody's Got Something To Hide, & Cry Baby Cry were each played once or twice after this show). While My Guitar would frequently make a decent encore song '98-00.