The B List: 10 Artists Phish Forgot

2. Bob Marley

Both Fish and Trey have expressed fondness for the reggae legend. Any number of his albums could have made for a pleasantly ire Halloween. Having already covered Trenchtown Rock, Soul Shakedown Party and Mellow Mood – the band is no stranger to his repertoire – is perhaps that why he wasn’t in contention?

3. James Brown

The Godfather of Soul’s records were a source of inspiration and used as a practice tool during the cow funk era. Covering one of his funky records would finally give the band a chance to be funkier than James Brown’s band on its worst night.

4. Stevie Wonder

They may have violated a law somewhere by not at least teasing us with a little Stevie. It’s a travesty having no shot at Songs in the Key of Life, no Innervisions – nothing. Hopefully we get a Boogie On sometime over the weekend, though a Golden Lady is what’s really needed to make up for this omission.

5. Paul McCartney/George Harrison

Sure they’ve already covered The White Album, and Rubber Soul was included, but so was Plastic Ono Band. John’s there, but no Paul or George? (I won’t lobby for Ringo) All Things Must Pass or Ram are both at least worthy of consideration.

6. My Bloody Valentine

Trey’s been quoted several times over the years saying how much he loves Loveless and Kevin Shields. Considering his fondness, I thought it was a shoe-in, if not a probable choice even. The noisy, ambient guitar-driven sound would also fit in nicely on Halloween but unfortunately that won’t be happening this year.

7. Sun Ra

Again, a highly influential artist conspicuously not included. Members of his Arkestra performed with Trey and Fish on the Ra influenced Surrender to the Air. And Sun Ra seems perfect for the Halloween set: I mean dude said he traveled to Saturn and back.

8. Red Hot Chili Peppers

Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Jane’s Addiction, U2…check, check, check, check, but no Chili Peppers – the missing piece to properly round out the roster of late ’80s early ’90s rock bands. Blood Sugar Sex Magik would surely stir feelings of nostalgia for many attendees and Mike would rip Flea’s bass lines.

9. Smashing Pumpkins

Much like the Chili Peppers, the lack of Pumpkin choices is surprising. The double album Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness is a ’90s classic chock full of songs that seems like the perfect fit for a cover set.

10. Beck

Beck is another one of the modern artists that failed to be in contention. No Odelay or Midnight Vultures – maybe it would have involved too much of Mike singing falsetto? Too bad, Phish could do some justice to either of those albums.

Honorable Mentions: Dire Straits, Funkadelic, Traffic, The Flaming Lips, Elvis Presley, Herbie Hancock, Cream

Obviously, this list could go on forever. Tell us about another artist Phish missed by posting in the comments section below.