The terse “very special Halloween concert” that was part of the Phish Fall Tour announcement left room for speculation as to whether the quartet would continue their tradition of covering another artist’s album on October 31st in Atlantic City. Today, that speculation has been put to rest by a revealing interview with Trey Anastasio by Randy Lewis of the LA Times.
Anastasio not only confirms the group will cover an album at Boardwalk Hall but discusses past Halloween performances and gives a hint as to what to expect…
“This year,” he said, “this one’s for me. The one we picked, I’m going to get more out of this as a musician than I ever have before. Three songs into it, I called everybody and told them, ‘None of the other ones — I wouldn’t think, hopefully — will have nearly the effect on my playing this one’s going to.’ ”
While Big Red may have gotten some of the facts wrong in the interview, his rare talk with the press gives plenty of insight into past performances…
As for “Quadrophenia,” the Who’s 1973 rock opera suggested by keyboardist Page McConnell, “I had never really listened to it that much,” Anastasio said. “That was in ’96, and we had just started playing arenas. When we played it in the big room, I got it. All their songs just resonate in these big arenas. They kind of invented that: that huge rolling wall of sound, played through huge arena sound systems. And once you’ve played something like that live, it starts to affect how you write songs.”
Phish returns to the stage on Friday in N. Charleston, SC.
18 Responses
so what’s the guess everyone? prog-rock or something classic?
has to be Hendrix
I had all the confidence in the world when Phish got back that they’d cover Exile. This year, I have no freaking clue – hell, I was busy wondering if the group would even cover an album.
I feel like Trey’s hint may be a red herring.
My only sense is that this album may be more obscure than past musical costumes.
Pavement, Brighten The Corners.
Scotty, without gauging the response on ‘the boards’, i get the feeling most phanners would be disappointed with a Genesis or obscure prog album cover.
Personally, My wishlist would be for Phish to cover Radiohead or Stevie Wonder. I just don’t see it happening.
Pavement?
I vote for Joe’s Garage
The way they absolutely killed “The Rover” in Camden this past June, I instantly thought it might be Physical Graffiti, but it’s so difficult to pull off the vocals. (and, I’d say the same about David Bowie.) I mean, among the set of covers they do from the “big guns”, the only one they haven’t Halloweened yet is Zeppelin. I would say a Zappa album would be at the top of Trey’s list, but I’ve heard that the Zappa people won’t allow the rights (which doesn’t make sense b/c Peaches appears on some official releases.)
Oh my lord, a Radiohead cover would be horrible. Love them, but people would sit down for the first time at a Phish show. Of course, maybe if they jammed out some of those tunes it would be different, but I doubt it. I forgot about the Genesis they did at the R&R HoF. That was pretty awesome, too.
in the words of the greatest guitar player ever, Jimi Hendrix… you guys can leave if you want to we’re just jamming
thats what i thot and am hoping for or even Doors>> LA Woman
Transport Is Arranged = Track 3
Good call Cryptical!
Genesis, Crimson, Zappa? fingers crossed.
Quiet Riot’s epic Condition Critical?
Lamb Lies Down on Broadway. Book it.
I’m with Jim. I smell Lamb with mint jelly.
They DID induct Genesis into the HoF, did they not???
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bv411vwJ4K8
Start listening to darkness on the edge of town pholks!
As usual, I am probably wrong or just guilty of over thinking the whole thing, but if Trey is saying this record will provide growth as a guitarist, I would think that means a style with fewer notes since he’s already pretty steeped in the prog-rock bag (Zappa, Crimson, Genesis, etc…). Maybe this suggests something with sound layering or textures as its main idea?