Phish in Albany Through The Years: 1989-1995

This is Part 1 of a series looking at the history of Phish in Albany. Read Part 2 and Part 3 here.

On October 16 and 17, Phish will perform their 16th and 17th shows in Albany, a town that has played host to the band for nearly 30 years. Their long and storied history in New York’s capital dates back to when they were a mere bar band hungry to be heard, and their upward trend of success in their early career can be clearly tracked based on venues they played in the city as the years went on. There are very few cities that Phish still plays where you can track their progression as a band, and get a full snapshot of who they are/were by only listening to shows played in that city.

From the goofy bar band to the machine gun, rockstar days of Trey to cowfunk grooves, you can find almost any kind of Phish by listening to shows they played in Albany, and thankfully for us, that story is far from finished. As we patiently await their 2018 Fall tour opener at the Times Union Center, it’s always fun to take a step back and remember the life-changing shows that took place in the city years before to (somehow) get even more excited for what’s to come.

Pauly’s Hotel, 5/11/1989

The first time Phish came to Albany, they performed to a crowd of 30-40 at Pauly’s Hotel, Albany’s oldest bar, dating back to the Civil War, and served as a home for Union soldiers returning from the conflict. While there is no known setlist for this show, Mike’s notes revealed that his bass was stolen out of the band’s truck (JEMP) at the loadout and never seen again.

Phish fans were few at the time, since this was their first trip to the Capital District from their roots in Burlington, so many in attendance were experiencing Phish simply because they were the band on the bill that night. Pauly’s has a history of music nearly every single night of the week, so you can stop in for a beer and catch a wide variety of musical acts for a small cover charge.

Two fans who experienced Phish for the first time this night did so by design, and by accident. John Boeheim of Pawling, NY, was a SUNY Albany student at the time and heard of Phish from a Deadhead friend who went to Union College. Pauly’s was a short walk from his Ontario St. apartment and cover was only $5. John recalls the band playing “You Enjoy Myself” due to the trampolines that were used (likely with minimal effort by Trey and Mike with such a low ceiling above the stage), as well as “La Grange” and “Fee,” because a megaphone was used that night by Trey. There was a lot of banter from the band but no level of anticipation in the building – few, if any, had seen Phish before.

John recently went to Pinks NYC on the Lower East Side of Manhattan for a stream of the shows at Dick’s Sporting Goods park over Labor Day weekend. The experience left an impression on him – “These guys can still draw me to a tiny bar, with people new and unfamiliar, and this is happening at numerous bars around the country. What they are today compared to what they are then, the stream was just a step above couch tour where being 2,000 miles away didn’t damper the enjoyment.”

For John, it was like seeing a bar band, and that first night he may not have written down the setlist but they did have Junta tapes for sale, which he purchased, along with his friend Linda Lawrence, who was also seeing Phish for the first time, but unintentionally.

“I didn’t go to Pauly’s to see them, I went to the bar for beers with a friend who worked at WROW with me in promotions. I was about to drive across the country and live music wasn’t the plan tonight. We sat at the bar and maybe 25-30 people were there, There was crappy weather that night and the rumor was that Mike’s bass was stolen after the show.

“I picked up the Junta cassette from the merch table and I remember them playing “Divided Sky” because they were talking about the Rhombus and I had no idea what that meant. When I listened to Junta, I remembered that part of the show.”

“My first thought influence-wise was that Zappa was an influence of theirs. When Trey talked I thought his voice sounded like Zappa’s and that stuck out in my mind. I got a Zappa feeling about the compositional feel of how they played, and they were weird and goofy. The lyrics were obscure like Mothers of Invention but they were more zany lyrics than Mothers. I liked the jamming parts a lot.”

Palace Theatre, 11/20/1992

After a two year break from New York’s capital, the next time Phish returned their following had grown considerably, affording them to move out of the bars and into theaters. The Palace Theatre opened in 1931 as a “talkie” movie theater which presented vaudeville acts in between pictures. The modern incarnation of the theater opened up in 1989, just a few years before Phish’s first visit, with a capacity of 2,900.

Late into one of their heaviest touring years as a band, Phish came out firing on all cylinders with a high speed “Axilla”, and kept the pace up the entire show with a classic setlist that could have only been played in 1992. The first set highlights include a soaring “Reba,” a then rare extended “Stash” with Linus and Lucy teases, and a playful, unfinished “David Bowie” with a cover of Johnny Cash’s “I Walk the Line” breaking it up and multiple “Ring of Fire” teases tossed in for good measure.

The band showcased their compositional abilities in the second set with strong renditions of “Fluffhead,” “You Enjoy Myself,” and “Harry Hood” sprinkled throughout. Following “Hood”, in true early Phish fashion, the band made sure to embarrass Fishman by bringing him front and center with a cover of “Hold Your Head Up” which led to a playful rendition of Syd Barrett’s “Love You.” The band ended the second set with a little help from The Dude of Life who sang “Self,” a song he would record with the band a couple years later. Toss in an acapella “Amazing Grace” and a rocking cover of Led Zeppelin’s “Good Times, Bad Times” and you’ve got yourself a stew.

Mark Durham can recall what the scene was like that night:

“The scene was typical for a Phish show; not too busy outside. There was a parking lot or two that had some folks hanging by the back of their cars, but no “shakedown” yet. It was tiny compared to anything they did later at the Pepsi Arena, but a little busier than the smaller shows. I was still able to walk in the back door showing no ID by saying that I was looking for a friend.”

“The crowd seemed a bit more organic and less frat like. They were still growing, and it seemed that if you didn’t like their music you just didn’t go. That being said, there were still plenty of chompers- just fewer and more spread out.”

“It was just amazing seeing them at the Palace. You know why it’s called that as soon as you walk in. I always felt that Phish played to the venue as well. With their more intricate performances being at places like the theater, and their edgier, harder playing was at the bars. When they got to the palace, they didn’t disappoint.”

Phish, 11/20/1992

Palace Theatre, 5/5/1993

Less than six months after their debut show at the Palace Theatre, Phish returned to the capital district to play two sold out shows that are still highly regarded today. The first of which shares similarities with their 1992 Palace debut in the sense that the first set featured an extended “Stash,” The Dude of Life made a guest appearance, and “Amazing Grace” was performed acapella as an encore, but other than that they sound like a different band.

Mike Jenkins recalled what it was like being a Phish fan at this time, and how it changed:

“The early 90’s shows the relationship between the band and the fan base seemed more intimate. If you look at the ’93 setlist posted all of them have at least 1 song, usually in the 1st encore slot, where they performed acapella without miss. I don’t know if they could pull that off today. Not what they are doing now is better or worse, it’s all about perspective (ie. secret language vs. the woo).”

“Most fans held dear the “best kept secret”, “you don’t know what you’re missing”, and “you get it, or you don’t” vibe. As the band became more polarizing and popularity gained, as expected, the proportion of fans really into the music vs. attendees who wanted to be able to say they went to a show grew. The band and the legitimate fan base grew > grew apart > back together again > It’s all over > Holy Sh!t is this really happening > Growing pains > They’re Baaaaack!!! Personally, I am grateful for the 25+ year relationship I’ve had with this band and it’s fan base. It’s been the primary soundtrack of my life.”

Other than an explosive “Stash” the first set of 5/5/93 is relatively standard, though many of the songs performed were off their new album Rift, and thus never heard by many in attendance. Although the set was not out of the ordinary for 1993 standards each song was well-played with extra energy, and featured some interesting setlist calls, such as the “It’s Ice > Glide > Maze” before ending the set on a fiery “Golgi Apparatus.”

The second set is where things begin to get real interesting, real fast. It opens with an incredible segue fest of “Runaway Jim -> My Friend, My Friend -> Manteca -> My Friend, My Friend” which showcases the band’s ability to weave in and out of songs at will. They took no time to slow down with joyful renditions of “Poor Heart” and “Weigh” before giving the audience a chance to join in with “Big Ball Jam.”

If there was anything people would vividly remember from this run however, it’s the “You Enjoy Myself -> Jam” that closes the set. The stage was lined with musicians as The Dude of Life and the Aquarium Rescue Unit (at least Apt. Q-258 aka Jeff Sipe on drums, Oteil Burbridge on bass and vocals, and Jimmy Herring on guitar) took the stage for a bombardment of sound that just keeps giving and giving. After an acapella “Amazing Grace” in the first slot of the encore the band wasn’t finished messing around as they tossed the jazz classic “Take the A Train” square in the middle of a raging “Cavern.”

Tom Gazda recalled his experience at the show:

“5/5/93 was my second Phish show. During this time frame the band was playing a lot of Rift at shows and that was great for someone new to the band. With this being only my second Phish show, the whole “Big Ball Jam” had me like, “What the hell is this?” in the most positive sense. This seemed so far out the realm of what a rock band typically did. The YEM had a whole mess of additional people join them on stage (who I later learned was ARU and the Dude of Life). I got the sense I was supposed to know who they were, though I didn’t. I remember this going on forever and I actually found it to be slightly boring after a while.”

Phish, 5/5/1993

Palace Theatre, 5/6/1993

After wowing the crowd night one, Phish returned to the Palace for a second night where they did just as much damage to the historic building. They came out swinging with a hot “Chalkdust Torture” featuring “Lazy” by Deep Purple teases, a building “Mound” and dissonant “Split Open and Melt” to get the crowd amped. They continued the set with a handful of 1993 standards then broke away from the norm with a secret language filled “Possum” before welcoming up violinist Dick Solberg for an anything but standard “Lawn Boy.” The fun continued as they invited Jeff Walton to sing and play guitar with them as they closed the set as a sextet in true bluegrass fashion with “Why You Been Gone So Long,” “Tennessee Waltz,” and “I Been to Georgia on a Fast Train.”

The second set opened with an energetic “Suzy Greenburg” followed by a must-hear version of “Tweezer.” The melodic hose jamming in “Tweezer” is what dreams are made from as they jammed on Aerosmith’s “Sweet Emotion” and The Dude of Life’s “Crimes of the Mind” before settling down to a relatively “Tela.” If the “Tweezer” didn’t do it for you, then the “Mikes Song” that follows should do the trick as the band morphs into a jam out of The Beatle’s “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da” with Dick Solberg reentering the stage before a clean segue back down south with “Rocky Top.”

Thomas King recalled what it was like being in attendance for the jam:

“One of my most memorable concert experiences is the -> from Mike’s to Ob-La-Di.I was fourth row in front of Mike, locked in on Trey…until Trey started vanishing. Then the people in front of me started vanishing. The smoke machines were billowing like Mt St Helens, but the sound was so clear. I could barely see my friends next to me- and then, the strobe lights!! During that -> I felt an ecstatic combination of utter freedom with a healthy dose of disorientation. I felt like anything could happen, and the band could do everything they wanted.”

It wouldn’t be right to go an entire run without Fishman taking the spotlight following a classic “Hold Your Head Up” moment. He dedicated “Crackling Rosie” to Neil, who was on tour, before the band concluded the set with Jeff Walton joining them for a unique version of “That’s Alright Mama.” They concluded the run with an acapella “Sweet Adeline” followed by “Contact>Tweezer Reprise” to remind everyone that despite all the fun, they could still rock.

Tom Gazda vividly remembered his experience from the night:

“5/6/93 was an amazing experience for me. The secret language in Possum was very intriguing. I really liked when Dick Solberg and Jeff Walton came out, and the songs they sang. It was as if the show I was seeing was briefly interrupted by a very different, yet also very cool bluegrass/old time country concert. The Big Ball jam, again, was very cool to be a part of as we were on the floor. I remember Page’s ending solo in Squirming Coil really floored me; I couldn’t believe how good it was.”

“But the highlight of the night was the “Ob-La-Di,-Ob-La-Da” during Mike’s. I remember it to this day. They were jamming hard in Mike’s and they were bouncing on the trampolines. Then the smoke machines kicked out the thickest roomful of smoke I’ve ever experienced and then the strobe lights turned on. We were dancing hard in the aisle, about 25 rows back on Mike’s side, jumping up and down along with the band and freaking out to effect the strobe lights created in the smoke that had engulfed us by this point. Then Trey started playing “Ob-La-Di,-Ob-La-Da” and it was nothing sort of magical, one of those moments when time sort of slows down and you get that weird sense of your body being half-numb. 25 years and 70-something shows later, and it remains one of my top Phish experiences, and really, one of my top life experiences. I love thinking about it.”

“Then Fishman came out and playing the hand crash cymbals, lead the crowd on a sing-along of Crackin Rosie, another thing that was so far from what I’ve ever experienced a rock band do. “Why the hell doesn’t every band do shit like this, it’s fun as hell!!!” As an encore they played an unamplified barbershop version of Sweet Adeline, yet another part of this show that was so unique (and cool). I walked out of the show in a state of a punch-drunk euphoria only to end up on the sidewalk next to the theater, between the building and band bus. I saw Page walking out and got to shake his hand and awkwardly told him “Loved the end of Squirming Coil” as only a stoned-out college kid could. We spoke with Jeff Walton for a while who was drinking a beer on the sidewalk and who seemed a bit punch drunk from the experience as well. Then we hung out with Mike a bit, shook his hand and got to hear him explain to a bass-playing girl some of the tricks on how to play the bassline to Split Open and Melt (he admitted it was Trey who wrote the bassline). As walked back to the car I remember me and my buddy Al seriously kicking around the possibility of us driving to New Hampshire for the show that Saturday night (the legendary 5/8/93 show). Listening to this show when it was released as part of the LivePhish series, I strongly regret not going to this show.”

“One the things that really struck me about this band Phish that I couldn’t get over was how different their shows were from the shows I’ve grown used to seeing. Growing up in Queens and having pretty permissive parents, I got to see a lot of arena shows, mostly at MSG and Nassau Coliseum (Shit, the second show I ever saw was the mind-bending 1987 Pink Floyd show at MSG as a wide-eyed 16 year old.) Walking into Phish I was accustomed to what a typical large scale rock concert was like. So, I was quite taken by all the stuff Phish did that was different than that – the trampolines, never-the-same-setlist, next-level lighting that worked so amazing with the music being played, the big ball jams, the non-amplified acapella songs, 2 sets, the secret language, meeting the band outside the gig, the idea that any song can go anywhere on any given night, etc. And while the music was such high energy and reached out and grabbed me like nothing else had before, I also really loved that they punctuated it with elements that was designed to be straight-up FUN.”

Phish, 5/6/1993

Knickerbocker Arena, 12/9/1995

Following a year away from New York’s capital, Phish returned in the winter of 1995 to deliver one of the most memorable jams of their career. Far too big to play the Palace again, they relocated to the Knickerbocker Arena (now the Times Union Center) where they played a sold out show to more than 17,000 fans (quite the leap from the 2,900 person venue across town.) The show took place during a full-blown blizzard, causing many fans to either not make it or have issues getting in and out, but stories to last a lifetime.

The first set began with a thrilling “Maze” followed by the new favorite “Theme From the Bottom.” Overall the set does not stand out much in the grand scheme of December 1995, but the entire set was played with restlessness and vigor. Filled with fresh songs from 1995 such as “Free” and “Billy Breathes,” the band used the set as an opportunity to show their growth in songwriting from their last Albany visit and fire up the crowd.

Like all shows during the 1995 Fall Tour, the second set began with an audience chess move (chosen by Antelope Greg Phelps) which continued the tour long game of chess between the band and the audience. “Timber (Jerry The Mule)” opened the set with a sick, demented jam that is often largely forgotten in the grand scheme of things, but absolutely worth checking out. “Wilson” follows next and Trey has fun with the Gamehendge standard by incorporating the soundbites of a Beavis and Butthead doll during the intro. A short, funky “Gumbo” follows before the band embarks on arguably the jam of the year in “You Enjoy Myself.” Anyone who is at all interested in Phish and hasn’t heard this jam needs to check it out immediately as this soaring, 34 minute masterpiece epitomizes the machine-gun sound Trey has perfected in 1995 before transitioning to a delicate and hilarious “silent jam” with Shaft quotes and a vocal jam featuring the Beavis and Butthead dolls once again.

After playing one of the most insane jams of their career, why wouldn’t the band take a break with the Page-led lounge classic “Lawn Boy?” “Slave to the Traffic Light > Crossroads, Sweet Adeline” ends the set with a defiant force that only 1995 Phish can produce. They victory lap with a then uncommon “Loving Cup” and send the crowd back into the blizzard with their minds lost somewhere in the storm clouds above.

12/9/95 was Vincent Alfonsi’s second show, and recalls it well. When asked about his experience he had this to say:

“12-9-95 was my 2nd show; epic YEM with Silent Jam. I already had a long history of great times at the Knick with the Dead. At the time I lived in Malta (just south of SPAC) during the week and West Hartford, CT on the weekend. Work was in Albany, but my friends were all still in CT so that’s where I went to party. As a result, the day of the show I was driving back up to Albany with 2 of my friends from West Hartford; one being my oldest friend of all. It should have been a 1:45 minute ride, but it took almost 5 hours to get there on account of the blizzard and all.”

“We Got there just in time for a slice of pizza before entering the show, and sat in the 200’s behind Fishman. The section was half empty, and very chill. Because of the blizzard we had rows to ourselves. I was enough of a noob to not recognize many songs that were standards, but the jams certainly weren’t lost on me. I was just making the transition from Jerry to Trey at the time. I’ve always felt if the entire crowd has to make extra effort, like standing in the rain or driving through snow, the band puts a little extra into it themselves, and they did. They played great. The Silent Jam was one of the funniest spur of the moment things I’ve ever seen at a show, and I left knowing that I was indeed a Phish fan. That show locked it in, and essentially cost me thousands of dollars in future ticket, webcast, CD, gear and download purchases.”

Adam E. was also in attendance and had this to say about his hazy experience:

“I am from Clifton Park, NY and had been going to the Knick for various shows since 1991. 12/9/95 was my 14th Phish show overall but first time in my “hometown” venue. Since then I’ve seen Phish at the Knick/Pepsi 8 times and it’s still one of my favorite places to see them. Having only seen Phish 4 times in Summer 95 I was excited for the three fall tour shows I had tickets for (Albany, Lake Placid x2). I was an undergrad in Plattsburgh at the time and my buddies and I drove down to Albany the day of the show. The pre-show scene in Albany is always pretty raucous and that day was no exception. It was cold/snowy and I recall the McDonalds on the corner of Madison and S. Pearl was overrun with the Phish crowd. It was a festive, friendly scene all around. The show itself was fantastic, lots of energy. Interestingly, the only vivid memories I have from inside the venue are the Beavis and Butthead doll quotes during Wilson, and the YEM silent jam. Otherwise I recall walking out of there on a cloud, knowing it was a good show.”

Phish, 12/9/1995