PFPSide: Magical Square Garden
This week, in the midst of Phish’s NYE Run, featured columnist Brian Bavosa looks at the Phishtory of Madison Square Garden in NYC…
The Mecca. As long as the epicenter of the universe, New York City, has been bustling, there has seemingly been “The Garden.” Originally established in 1879 at 26th and Madison (MSG I), the original venue hosted events much like its predecessors, including boxing and track cycling – very popular during that period. The second incarnation of The Garden (MSG II) was built and held such events as the Democratic National Convention. However, MSG II did not become profitable until around 1920, when the esteemed promoter, Tex Rickard took the reigns and focused on prizefights, bike races as well as the circus – which still take place in the current MSG today.
This led to MSG III on 8th Avenue between 49th St. and 50th St., which was dubbed ‘The House That Tex Built,” after Rickard, who continued to promote like no other. Unfortunately, after World War II and throughout the Fifties, economic and social situations caused a decline in certain events, eventually leading to the building of the current Garden (MSG IV) in 1968, which is the one that stands today atop Penn Station between 7th and 8th Avenues, smack dab in the heart of NYC.
As much as the current MSG is home to Patrick Ewing, Mark Messier’s Stanley Cup Miracle in ’94, Ali/Frazier’s legendary prizefight in ’71 and Larry Johnson’s 4-point play, it has also become quite the home for Phish, since first playing there in 1994. (Much like this venue was for The Grateful Dead). I figured that on today’s off-day of their five-night, New Year’s Run, including their first-ever show on New Year’s Day, that this would be a great opportunity to not only glance at MSG’s history as a whole, but specifically focus on the Phishtory The Garden has witnessed throughout the years.
1994
The band’s first-ever venture was a 12.30 show in ’94. It saw a pretty straightforward, rocking first set, with a blown-open second frame that boasted a half-hour Tweezer and acoustic Blue and Lonesome. A solid show stuck between the madness of 12.29 and the flying Hot Dog of 12.31 in Boston, this show simply taught the band what it was like to grace the stage at “The World’s Most Famous Arena.”
READ ON for more on Phish @ Madison Square Garden…
