The latest iteration of Phish’s weekly web-streaming series Dinner And A Movie reaches all the way back to May 1, 1989 for the second set of the group’s performance from the basement of the Pearl Street Ballroom in Northhampton, MA.
The closing stanza’s setlist, which clocks in at just over an hour, is chock-full of Phish classics including a raucous “Mike’s Groove” opener as well as several Gamehendge-related numbers – Possum, Icculus, Colonel Forbin’s Ascent & Fly Famous Mockingbird – and even features a funky take on Allen Toussaint’s “On Your Way Down”, which has all but disappeared from Phish’s catalog, with it’s last appearance occurring in 2011.
According to Phish keyboardist Page McConnel, this previously unreleased show was filmed by a French “avant-garde” obsessed aspiring filmmaker who apparently had an over-zealous penchant for certain effects, so be prepared for a whole lot of “fisheye lens” and “negative image” shots throughout.
You can check out McConnell’s full comments on the show below and here for his Classic Burger recipe.
The latest episode of Dinner And A Movie airs this upcoming Tuesday, July 7th at 8:30 p.m. EST on Live Phish or Phish’s official YouTube channel.
Phish – 5/1/89 – Pearl Street Ballroom – Northampton, MA
Set1:
Dinner and a Movie, You Enjoy Myself, Esther, AC/DC Bag, Alumni Blues > Letter to Jimmy Page > Alumni Blues, Take the ‘A’ Train, Split Open and Melt, The Lizards, Golgi Apparatus, Good Times Bad Times
Set II:
Mike’s Song–>I Am Hydrogen–>Weekapaug Groove, On You Way Down, Possum, Icculus, Colonel Forbin’s Ascent–>Fly Famous Mockingbird, David Bowie
E: Contact
Needless to say, he got the gig. And we got the video.
The audio was recorded by our friend and former manager, John Paluska. The audio and visual sat in our vault since 1989, but had never been properly synched up (the videotape lacked audio). Jared Slomoff did a great job matching them up, so you all could enjoy it this week. According to Kevin Shapiro, we have used all the existing audio, but there are still a few audio pauses and hiccups along the way. Our apologies.
Rene’s use of the fisheye lens, the “negative image” effect, the odd angles and abrupt movements…I’m not sure it all adds up to “avant-garde.” And, at times I wish he would settle down. But, he went for it, and there is no denying that Rene’s camera work brought a certain excitement to the overall shoot.
After watching some of the video, I looked to see what sort of shows we were playing back then. It was a really fun time for us. We were starting to get gigs every month around the Northeast at clubs and colleges, and still playing regular gigs in Burlington at The Front and Nectar’s.
This video captures some of that youthful energy that is nurtured and developed in small clubs like this one all across the country. Some of the places we played are still around, but many clubs are just barely hanging on now, which is why this week we are proud to be supporting the National Independent Venue Association. #saveourstages
This week, one of my favorite sandwiches, the burger. Though I’ve never really been much of a cook, over the last few years I’ve really learned to enjoy grilling. I do it all year round.
We enjoy this meal with a pasta salad, but any sides can work. Heather also included a recipe for millet cakes, as a vegan option.
Enjoy,
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