Episode 111: The Went Gin
In Episode 111 we discuss the near perfect take on Bathtub Gin from Limestone, ME on August 17, 1997. A melodic and emotive hose jam, it’s a brilliant example of pure playing, musical connection, and Trey-led jamming that, while it doesn’t break new ground for the band, neither has to. The Went Gin is here to serve as a peak moment of connectivity and communal joy over where Phish was, some 10 months into their reinvention period.
Following their peak show of 12/31/1995, and musical reinvention on 10/31/1996, the band attacked 1997 with renewed energy. From their two European Tours in the Winter and Spring, where they experimented with deep-seeded funk and groove, the band pushed themselves out of their comfort zones before arriving back in the US for a complete tour of the US. There, rather than refining their sound, they dug in and embraced the weird and the unknown all the more. Peak shows leapt out the gates in the form of 7/21, 7/22 and 7/25. Elsewhere, 7/31, 8/2, 8/9, 8/10, and 8/14 all showcased the energy the band was feeling from their newfound jamming techniques.
When they arrived at the Great Went they were ready to celebrate the successes of the year gone so far in front of 80,000 fans. While the band felt they got off to a shaky start in Set I, the Wolfmans -> Simple -> Odd Couple Jam -> My Soul, Slave in Set II and Halley’s -> Cities -> Llama in Set III showcased a band fully confident in their abilities to transform the music in their heads into a party for their fanbase. On the final night of the festival, they highlighted Tweezer -> Taste in Set I before playing a perfect Set in the middle frame. Down With Disease> Bathtub Gin> Uncle Pen> 2001 -> Art Jam -> Harry Hood. One of the strongest sets of their career, and an opportunity for the band to directly communicate to their fanbase exactly how much they revered the connection they’d established over the previous decade.
This entire sentiment is celebrated in the Bathtub Gin. A jam that couldn’t have less in common with the new style they’d been experimenting with as well as that which they’d embody in their heavily-celebrated Fall Tour, it’s a marking point in 1997 of the joy involved in risk.
Songs featured in this episode are:
The Kinks: “This Time Tomorrow”
Faith No More: “Midlife Crisis”
Bob Dylan: “Not Dark Yet”
The Verve: “Space & Time”
— — —
In addition, we discuss two new 2020 records we highly recommend: Winston CW: “Good Guess” and David Nance: “Staunch Honey”
— — —
As we announced today, we are thrilled to team up with our friends at the Helping Friendly Podcast & Under The Scales to create UNDERMINE!
— — —
We’re Proud To Be Sponsored By Synlawn!
Visit: https://www.synlawn.com/beyond/ to learn more.
— — —
Grady’s Cold Brew is independently owned and operated in New York City since 2011. Ready to give it a Swirl? Get 20% of your first order at gradyscoldbrew.com with promo code: BTP20.
— — —
Check us out on Spotify: Beyond The Pond Podcast Songs
You can find us on Twitter: @_beyondthepond
Medium: https://medium.com/beyond-the-pond
Email: beyondthepondpodcast@gmail.com
Please check out the Osiris Podcast Network at: OsirisPod.com and JamBase.com
Please leave us a review on iTunes!
We’ll be back on Tuesday, December 15 w/ Episode 112!
Until then, we’ll see you beyond the pond…
