When I think about Phish, one of the very first things that comes to mind is New York. I know they’re not a “New York” band and have their roots in Vermont and New England, but it’s impossible to discuss even a cursory history of the band without intertwining the band’s glorious history there. Phish has unquestionably put their stamp on the Empire State playing every nook and cranny of the state from college quads and campuses in the early years to tiny clubs and rooms like Aiko’s in Saratoga, The Chance in Poughkeepsie, The Haunt in Ithaca, The Wetlands in the City and Clement’s Brew Pub in Syracuse. Seemingly in the blink of an eye, Phish was performing to 70,000 fans at one of the most awe-inspiring festivals ever seen at the Clifford Ball in Plattsburgh, to some of the world’s grandest stages in Madison Square Garden and Radio City Music Hall (and everything in between in New York City). Having played nearly 100 different venues in New York, Phish has performed there more often than any other state with Vermont being a not-that-close second. (California & Massachusetts round out the other top four).

Nothing says New York and New Year’s Eve more than Madison Square Garden for a quintessentially Phishy celebration. Likewise, for Summer fun in New York, many also think of Jones Beach Amphitheater (Nikon at Jones Beach Theater). Along with Holmdel, NJ’s PNC Bank Arts Center, this 15,000 seat capacity venue is one of two major outdoor venues that serve the tens of millions of people in the New York City greater metropolitan area.

This July 13th will mark Phish’s 14th performance at this outdoor amphitheater perched gracefully amid the sandy beaches of Wantagh, NY on Long Island- making it among the Top 10 most played venues by the band. Toss in a couple TAB performances and a GRAB performance and Jones Beach has quite the storied history.

Beautiful views of the bay, even with a massive double-rainbow before 2010’s Summer Tour-closing show, can be breathtaking with the stage practically wrapped in water. Yet nature’s beauty can be a double-edged sword with the venue feeling the full brunt of Super Storm Sandy’s wrath. Initially, some of the most virally shared photos of the storm were pictures showing the venue completely flooded and many smaller structures destroyed. It was tough to feel optimistic about 2013’s concert season, but the massive budgets of these venues don’t let anything get in the way of the revenue stream. A $25 Million reconstruction project should have the venue in tip-top shape come August. Time will tell if sound system upgrades will improve the notoriously mediocre sound that has been a never-ending complaint with the venue particularly since it increased capacity and expanded in the late 90's. And if we are pointing out complaints- one can’t but help but mention the lack of beer sales (and like any venue without alcohol: the resultantly absurd prices for bottled water) and the often times brusk attitude of security there.

Here’s a brief look at the Phishstory of Jones Beach

Twice in Twelve Days

What a wild month July of 1992 was for Phish. The month kicked off with the waning days of their European tour with dates in Brussels and London. A few days of rest back stateside and then it was back on the road with four HORDE dates with ARU, Spin Doctors, Blues Traveller and Widespread Panic. Jones Beach HORDE show on 7/12 featured Phish headlining at their first performance there. Keep in mind that the HORDE really was the beginning of the emergence of the jam band scene that flourished over the next several years. Many bands fan bases were just beginning to cross for the first time and there were tons of fans in attendance that knew “of” Phish but had never heard them. Imagine their surprise when Phish walks out donning paper maiche masks and belts out an a capella tune ("Sweet Adeline"). Many people were puzzled but that didn’t last long as the band quickly followed by ripping into a smoking "Chalkdust Torture".

Now imagine after playing for 10,000+ fans at Jones Beach, jumping in the tour bus, driving a few hundred miles South and playing several small club shows with a crowd of just a couple hundred? (Boathouse, TRAX and Floodzone). July continued with a couple Santana-opening shows in sheds on the East Coast, a taping at MTV, and a quick return back to Jones Beach. This time of course it wasn’t a headliner like the HORDE show but another opening-slot for Santana on 7-24. It is tough to really open up and jam out a short opening slot, but Phish did their best to impress with nice takes on "Tweezer" and "You Enjoy Myself" among others.

First Solo Headline Show

Almost exactly a year to the day of their last appearance at Jones Beach opening for Santana, Phish returned the following summer on 1993-07-23. This show was high energy from start to finish bookended by a "Buried Alive" opener and "Highway to Hell" second set closer. I’m not sure what I enjoyed more: the opening Buried -> Rift -> Caravan sequence or the closing You Enjoy -> Creature, Chalkdust Torture, Highway to Hell. Interestingly, the Dude of Life soundchecked “Crimes of the Mind” with the band so many were expecting a guest appearance. While that didn’t come to pass, his presence was still felt, as the band deftly slipped in a “Crimes of the Mind” jam into the "Chalkdust". Speaking of teases, check out the cool Flinstones tease in the Creature. A mellow encore of "Amazing Grace" and the recently debuted, "Daniel Saw the Stone" closed the book on Phish’s first headline show here which would turn out to be the first of many more to come.

Solar!

Phish returned to Jones Beach for the third straight July in 1994. Interestingly, the show was powered by solar energy (likely the only one ever). Often mentioned, along with last year’s 1993 show, as one of the best Jones Beach shows- this one featured a handful of interesting songs. Most peculiar, and enjoyable, was second set opener “Letter to Jimmy Page”. While typically sandwiched between “Alumi Blues”, this is one of the only appearances all by itself, and the only appearance as a set opener. Outstanding versions of "David Bowie" (must listen), "Reba", and "It’s Ice" are among many highlights. Check-out the second set closing “Runaway Jim” and the odd-ditty “Setting Sail” as well. (The song truly did set sail that night as it has never been heard again.) Fishman introduced the song: ""I've just been notified that the vacuum cleaner this evening is also solar... a solar-powered vacuum, the first time ever... the first time ever in the history of humanity, you might say... It will certainly be the first solar-powered vacuum cleaner solo, ever... I have a question: would you like to do a sing-along? This is a short little sing-along... to get us all together, here... It's one written by our friend, Tom Marshall... I think it's one of the great lyrical masterpieces of all time... You can repeat after me, one line at a time."

First Two-Night Run

1995 brings the fourth straight year that Jones Beach has been on summer docket for Phish and the first time they were there for a two-night run. The second set of the second show, on 1995-06-29, is the band at the very best of their 1995 pinnacle. An absolutely incendiary "You Enjoy Myself" rightfully earns a spot on Phish.net’s jamming chart and is among the top versions of any song performed at Jones Beach's many shows. Likewise, "David Bowie" earns the same praises: In a spectacularly Type-II version, this Bowie is psychedelic, spacy and completely off the reservation. The near half-hour masterpiece was followed nicely by "Strange Design" in a pairing that worked extremely well. Definitely take a listen to this set if you've never heard it: a gem!

Sideshows!

2001 and 2005 saw Jones Beach hosting TAB and 2006 had GRAB opening for Phil Lesh & Friends. And also worth noting of course, is Trey’s sit-in with Phil and Friends for the entirety of the second set: Scarlet -> Fire -> Darkstar -> Other One, Stella Blue, Not Fade Away. I’ve personally been surprised lately at how much better much of the GRAB sets sound to my ears than they did back in 2006 when there was likely a bit of bitterness subconsciously coloring my enjoyment. Check out the "Mr. Completely" -> "Host Across the Potomac", "Mud City" in particular from the GRAB set for 40 minutes of great music.

3.0

A three night run in 2009 and a pair of two-night stands in 2010 and 2012 have rounded out Phish’s history at Jones Beach thus far. Included among them were the debuts of "Kill Devil Falls", "Stealing Time From The Faulty Plan" and "Twenty Years Later" in 2009. If you are fan of bust-outs, last year's Fourth of July is right up your alley with a first set loaded with recent rarities including "Head Held High", "The Man Who Stepped Into Yesterday", "Avenu Malkenu", "Bittersweet Motel" and "Purple Rain".

Let's see what Phish has up their sleeve this year- whatever it is, bound to add to the rich history of this venue.

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