by Brian Weidy
(The band in their "Tropical Hot Dog" from their 1999 New Years Eve show)
In what at this point has become an annual tradition, Phish, one of the remaining titans of the "Jamband" scene, is coming back to Madison Square Garden for a 4-night New Years Eve run. The band has played The Garden 19 times throughout their storied career, including a 4-night New Years run in 1998 and New Years Eve 4 times at the venue.
The band was formed by Trey Anastasio (Guitar), Mike Gordon (Bass), and Jon Fishman (Drums) in 1983 at the University of Vermont, and added Page McConnell (Keys) in 1985 to complete the lineup, one which has not changed since then. Phish is known for their lengthy jams and compositions, notably "You Enjoy Myself" as their magnum opus.
While the music itself can be very serious, what seperates Phish from the Grateful Dead is their more lighthearted nature, with songs like "Contact" and "Fee" which showcase their more playful songwriting. New Years Eve is no exception to their shenanigans. In years past, the band has traveled through the crowd in a mechanized hot-dog and performed elaborate dance numbers to the song "Meatstick" (which can be seen here from last year's show).
Tickets for the four shows sold out near instantly, but keep an eye on the band's twitter feed for potential re-releases as about two weeks ago, the band announced a limited number of tickets were going on sale. I'll be there all four nights to cover every note!