MP3 of The Day: Phish Kicks Off 1988 Tour Twenty Four Years Ago Today

Posted by jaybird | Filed under MP3 of The Day

While we all await for the current Phish rumors to become somewhat reality, I’ve been digging back into the older tapes. Mainly wanted to get another feel from Phish in the early day and alternate years I’m normally listening too (94-00, 09-11).

It’s a good change of pace and it allows us to hear how songs, music equipment, and vocals have grown in performances of today. Plus you gotta love the bluesy cover selections back then including The Allman Brothers Band, Mack Rice, Duke Ellington (Billy Strayhorn actually), and more.

So for today’s MP3 of The Day check out Phish kicking off a big year for the band which started at Gallagher’s in Waitsfield, VT twenty four years ago today (January 27th, 1988). This would set the wheels in motion for the band to reach new audiences in new states including PA, CT, New Hampshire, the pinnacle NYC, and what would become an official live release from the band, a tour stop in Colorado.

Trey Anastasio, Page McConnell, Mike Gordon, and Jon Fishman were determined to make Phish there way of living and this would be the year (one of many really) they really focused on building a following with hooks and setlist structure. A year which also saw the recording of the first official studio album Junta.

Every fan has their favorite year, whether it’s personal experience or just admiration for a particular style the band was creating at that time. 1988 might not be the most creative year for Phish, but it’s definitely historical in its own right.

Download the entire show at Gallagher’s on January 27th, 1988 via the Phish Spreadsheet here. (source: soundboard > cassette)

setlist via Phish.net

Wednesday, 01/27/1988
Gallagher’s, Waitsfield, VT

Set 1: Funky Bitch, Mustang Sally, AC/DC Bag -> Possum, Jesus Just Left Chicago,Sneakin’ Sally Through the Alley, Alumni Blues > Letter to Jimmy Page > Alumni Blues, Take the ‘A’ Train, Good Times Bad Times

Set 2: Wilson, Slave to the Traffic Light, Corinna, Fire, Fluffhead, Divided Sky, The Ballad of Curtis Loew, You Enjoy Myself, The Sloth > Whipping Post

Set 3: Fee, The Lizards^[1], Suzy Greenberg, Golgi Apparatus, Bike, Big Black Furry Creature from Mars, Camel Walk, Harry Hood