LIVE IN MADISON SQUARE GARDEN-NEW YEAR'S EVE 1995

I have heard a lot about this legendary band but never really 'heard' them until now. Some folks may be appalled at the very thought of that, particularly ardent fans. I did not grow up in the 80's or 90's so they are not one of the bands I latched onto, although I wish that I had now.

Live In Madison Square Garden-New Year's Eve 1995, cited by critics, the band, and fans as their premiere live event, is finally available on 3-disc set from Rhino Records. Based on what I have gleaned from various articles over the years and listening to this amazing set, a live show from Phish was definitely an event like no other.

They took the Grateful Dead improvisation route another step further by giving the nod to all of their influences like The Who for instance, by covering songs and dedicating entire live shows to their music. The Phish original material stood on its own as unique and incomparable to anything anyone else was doing and it still does. This band comes as a revelatory experience to me just as the live Dead and Garcia music I have had the pleasure to enjoy this year. I knew the music was always there but it always seemed like something else I wanted to hear was more important, like albums I had on vinyl so long ago. There are no excuses now; the door is wide open to further my explorations into musical nirvana, much more waits just around the corner.

Three CDs hold a lot of music and even so, I can honestly say that there was not a moment of monotony for me and I enjoyed all of this immensely. It left me wanting for more even after hours of listening pleasure. The rock-fusion-jazz jam band compositions I heard were simply phenomenal. I am really kicking myself now for not checking them out live before they broke up. They not only reminded me of the Dead but I heard some Frank Zappa influences, particularly with their lyrics and phrasing. This awe-inspiring set gives unequivocal proof of the genius of Phish and the awesome musicianship at their command in their prime. It's a cryin' shame we cannot enjoy any new material from them, and then again, there is their catalog of studio albums and amazing live shows like this that will never get old. There is always something new to discover in one of their songs. Those are the things that separate the men from the boys and the legends from the fly-by-night bands. Phish was a great band with few equals. Their following was on the same level as Garcia and friends with good reason, one listen to this and its obvious why.

© Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck-http://www.muzikreviews.com

December 12, 2005

For all the doubters, I give you this album.

Touted as maybe Phish's best concert by fans, media and the band itself, expectations are of course very high. But Phish certainly delivers the goods in what may be the most awe-inspiring set of music I've ever heard. Live In Madison Square Garden-New Year's Eve 1995 contains everything that makes a Phish show special, all stuffed into one show. First, there is the near perfect setlist; every song is special in its own individual right, yet flows so cohesively with every other song around it. Second, there is the an interaction with the audience on a level that is rarely, if ever, found with any other band. And last, and most certainly not least, is the near flawless performance of all the members.

The first disc contains the excellent opening combination of Punch You in the Eye into The Sloth. This definitely sets the mood well for the rest of the set. The songs on this disc are, however, played relatively straightforward with the exception of Reba and Maze. The reason for this is that most of the songs on this opening set are composed pieces within themselves not allowing for a section of open jamming. They are nevertheless worthy pieces, with everyone really getting a chance to shine. Especially listen for Page through this set, hes got some nice touches.

The second set is, i think, the best of the three. While there is more poppy fare such as Strange Design and Axilla Pt. 2, the jamming on this disc is simply incredible. This is where Phish earns its reputation as one of the greatest jam bands of all time. They take a song, and they can expand it and warp it and bring you back by jamming so tightly, you could swear it was composed. Take Runaway Jim for example. That starts out in a very rock-grass style and ends up being a hard rock epic performance before coming back to the main chorus. And how many arms does Jon Fishman have, anyway? Yet, for how big they can be one moment, they can still make the audience feel in intimate surroundings the next, by becoming a barbershop quartet and singing Hello My Baby.

The third set is probably the hardest to describe. While not being so straightforward as the first set, yet not as mind-blowing as the second, this final set contains some intense moments of its own. The eery Gamehendge Time Phactory sets the mood just as the seconds tick down to zero of the new year. Then jubilation of Auld Lang Syne straight into Weekapaug Groove, a good ol' fashioned rock jam that leaves ya dancing and feeling surprisingly upbeat. Another highlight of this set is the vocal jam in You Enjoy Myself. Mirroring the creepy motif of the opening Gamehendge Time Phactory, the vocal jam really is a testament to the way Phish can foster a mood. They come up for air with the comedic song Sanity, and as an encore do Frankenstein and a truly worthy cover of Johnny B. Goode.

And thats not to speak of the style of the music at all. For me, and for most people, Phish's music is very difficult to describe because it sounds like everything and yet unique all at once. The jazz influences are obvious. The bluegrass unfluences are obvious. The rock influences are obvious. The funk influences are obvious. And yes, the progressive influences are obvious too. But now ignore those ingredients indivudally and mix them all into one amazing color, and thats the Phish sound.

But more than that to me, the music is about emotion. Phish takes you on a journey to places only good music can. But when they bring you back, its the best kind of emotion, because you return happy and energized to be alive.

This is the only Phish music I've ever heard, although after listening to this huge 3-disc set I don't doubt the people who say it is their best work. It's hard to believe they could be any better.

By all accounts, a Phish concert was a highly interactive event, and this album amply demonstrates this side of the band; several songs are part of some strange concept about the band getting the recipe for time so that the New Year can happen, and the indecipherable story of Colonel Forbin, famous mockingbirds, and the Time Phactory is highly entertaining. I include this because the tongue-in-cheek humour and whimsical nature of Phish are an important part of the experience, elevating them beyond being simply great instrumentalists (which they all are) to being almost a sort of mindset or way of life. Listening to Phish will impart warm feelings of joviality and goodwill towards the world.

Musically, of course, this album is stellar. It is an eclectic mix, in approximate order of prominence, of jazz, rock, funk, folk, and barbershop quartet. The band is at the top of their game, and the playing is extremely tight

I consider this an essential progressive record because it demonstrates the prog ideals of extended, complex compositions, stellar musicianship, and fusion of multiple genres extremely well. I recommend this to anybody who likes jazz-rock, jam bands, or who has a sense of humour.

If you were to have one album by Phish, this would be it. For a casual fan, this album provides all the entertainment and excitement one could expect from these Green Mountain Boys: high energy, excellent playing, a terrific set list and a perfect illustration of a live Phish show. This is the Phish show that I can honestly come back to with regularity and enjoy on the level of an actual studio album despite the fact that it is 3 CDs (with other shows, I can usually only listen to a set or one CD). So for anyone new to Phish, I highly recommend this album as a springboard. It contains some remarkable jams (Reba, Mike's Song, Weekapaug Groove and You Enjoy Myself), great covers (Frankenstein, Drowned, Sea and Sand and Johnny B Goode) and all the New Year's festivities (Auld Lang Syne, Hello My Baby). Give it a try! If you like it, their early studio albums (beginning with Junta and Lawn Boy) might be for you. These guys are certainly an acquired taste but I can think of no other recording that captures there live performances better than this one!

A historical document to treasure

It´s no news that live performances of Anastasio and his comrades in the nineties have been legendary, and NYE 1995 is an excellent example, perhaps along with Hampton - Winston / Salem 1997, Hampton Comes Alive, A Live One, between others. While it´s true that there are a lot of live events and is difficult to hear and thresh them all. It is also true that the songs performed here are part of the best stage of the band.

I'm usually somewhat skeptical about improvisation, except for King Crimson, Phish, and some more. Here is a group of excellent musicians in very good shape, fully inspired, with great coordination, good production and clear sound. Of course McConnel´s keyboards and Anastasio´s guitars, excels, and Squirming Coil, Runaway Jim, Mike's Song, You Enjoy Myself, Weekapaug Grove prove.

Not much more to add, 216 minutes almost no waste. Maybe at times it becomes a bit monotonous the progressive ear, like in Maze or Weekapaug Grove, so 4 stars seems appropriate. Without losing sight that there are very good perfomances more recently, as Atlantic City 2013, to give an example. Sorry for my poor English