
Episode 010: Chicago Simple
In Episode 010, we discuss the most interesting and exploratory jam of Summer 2017, thus far: the 07/15/2017 Simple from Chicago, Illinois. Midway through one of the strongest opening weekend’s of a tour in the band’s history, Phish let loose on a multifaceted, 27 minute long jam, the likes of which you typically don’t hear until late in a tour.
In the first week of their Summer 2017 Tour, Phish has displayed a keen interest in bucking the playbook, and a strong urge to experiment in a number of ways. From a song selection standpoint, they’ve played virtually without a rotation, only repeating a handful of songs, and leaving standards like Mike’s Song, You Enjoy Myself, and Sample In A Jar on the shelf deep into the tour. What’s more is, they’ve consistently challenged themselves from a jamming standpoint, extending jams where, as recently as 10 months ago, would have abandoned for a new song. Nowhere is this clearer than in the jam off of Simple from Chicago. Seemingly winding down at 12min, Trey takes a gutteral bass line from Mike, and turns it into a heavy, progressive riff, that led the band down 6min worth of guitar-led improve. Capping it off with a building, euphoric hose section, this formula paved the way for excellent jams in Carini on 7/16, Down With Disease and Ghost on 7/18, Prince Caspian and Mr. Completely on 7/19, as well as the Tweezer, Seven Below, and Down With Disease from the first weekend at The Baker’s Dozen.
In addition, the band has introduced a number of original debuts — Corona, Everything’s Right, Crazy Sometimes, Rise/Come Together — that have fit right in with the rest of their rotation, as the band continues one of their most prolific writing periods of their 34-year-career. If the first five shows of the tour have been any indication, the formula the band is currently following — heavy on surprises with regards to song selection and improv — is quickly having many fans insert this tour in with not only the best of 3.0 — Fall 2013, Summer 2015 — but even going so far as to suggest it may be in line with the best of their initial 1.0 period.
Regardless where it lies, the Chicago Simple is a clear example of the continued creative engine that drives Phish. The sheer fact that this band, now deep in their fourth decade, is still working this hard to craft original improvisational music, and complete, must-hear shows, is reason-enough for Phish fans to celebrate.
Songs featured in this episode are:
Rush: “Headlong Flight”
Citay: “Careful With That Hat”
Yes: “The Fish”
Brian Eno: “Sky Saw”
Jimmy Smith: “Sagg Shootin’ His Arrow”
In addition, we discuss two new 2017 records we highly recommend: Fleet Foxes: “Crack-Up,” and Haim: “Something To Tell You.”
Check us out on Spotify: Beyond The Pond Podcast Songs
You can find us on Twitter: @_beyondthepond, Medium: https://medium.com/beyond-the-pond, and/or send us an email: beyondthepondpodcast@gmail.com. Please leave us a review on iTunes!
We’ll be back on Tuesday, August 8 with Episode 011!
Until then, we’ll see you beyond the pond…

