The best cover band

The Musical Box

^ hands down, the best cover band out there

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHTV6KXYRLs

>>>Bold As Love

This.

>>>The Rover

No shit?  I didn't know Phish covered that, but man did they butcher a slew of Zeppelin songs on October 30, 2010.   There are only a handful of acts that can really do those songs justice.

Hate to admit it but didn't get into the Talking Heads until about seven years ago and always thought that Cities and Cross-Eyed and Painless were Phish tunes.

Jesus Left Chicago.

boogie on reggae woman

my man says his is         

crosseyed and painless

because he is fucking HAWT

My favorite musical costume was 10/31/95 Quadrophenia, also because I was there. 

The best cover band ?  I'm going with these guys  >>

Obviously, being in the room makes such a dramatic difference, and I was in the room for the Velvet Underground "costume" in '98, but for me Remain In Light is easily the best Halloween costume Phish has done.

The music IMO is more complex to learn & play than most of the others, they had added musicians who were incorporated perfectly, and they simply KILLED the entire thing. And if I'm not mistaken, there was also an added visual component.

I also was impressed with the Stones year in Palm Springs, and the one where they covered that Walt Disney Halloween album that I loved and listened to all the time as a kid. I thought that was really inspired & creative.

Overall, my favorite regular Phish cover songs are Rock and Roll,  Crosseyed and Painless, Also Sprach Zarathustra, Funky Bitch, Peaches en Regalia, Loving Cup.

I also love Cities, but in classic dead head "open-minded" fashion I always wish they'd play it at the "proper" tempo.

I'm not a fan of that Los Lobos song about the circus.

>>>Dark side of the moon in Utah, was anyone  in attendance<<<

The story I heard about that is they decided to do it specifically because the Utah show had sold so poorly and they wanted to reward those few who came out for that show, which happened two days after the massive turnout for the Vegas Velvet Underground Halloween shows.

I also heard the decision to do it was made on the bus traveling there and that they worked out the entire album on the bus, which knowing that band is possible, but I wouldn't be surprised if they had already been working on it, as the heavy rumors in Vegas that year had them covering DSOTM.

How fun it must have been to be at a regular Phish show, and halfway through the 2nd set they play Breathe, then On The Run, then Time, and it begins to dawn on you that they're going to play the whole damn album.

And they didn't just play it, they KILLED it. What a thing to do.

https://relisten.net/phish/1998/11/02/tube-tube?source=162823

In similar lore, I've heard that they decided the day of the show on 8/9/98 to play Terrapin Station as a tribute to Jerry, and that they sent someone out during the 1st set to buy the album so they could work out the song backstage during intermission.

https://relisten.net/phish/1998/08/09/hello-my-baby?source=163665

But still, IMO the Talking Heads year of '96 is the best they've done, as those songs are not easy to learn or play, and they did it so damn well.

Which isn't surprising, since they did just about everything so damn well in that era.

It's crazy how great Phish is at playing covers. Just plain crazy! Pulled out LA Woman the other night, first time since 2003. This band is so far beyond most. It's pretty rare a band plays a cover that can be considered better than the original by LOTS of people but Phish plays countless covers (certainly not all, but...) that are considered by LOTS of people that are better than the original. I agree with Graceful -- Crosseyed & Painless!!  Torn & Frayed, Cities and the list goes on and on and on..... And remember, the band truly goes on stage without a setlist!

am i the only person on earth that still does not get the phish?

No, Turtle, you are not the only one. I am the second.

I third that Judit and Turts 

Phish stinks! 

And Sam Cutler is smart!

And Lance you should write a book.about your backstage stories. I'd read it if you sent me a signed free copy!

Never seen phish, but I got a friend who goes all over to see em and he sends me a lot of their s/b's, don't ask me how he gets em,, and by God I must admit they lay down some mind melding jams that'll really knock yer dick in the dirt. Covers done righteously. If they ever had a lyricist they'd be dangerous. 

I don't think they stink, they just don't move me or bring me joy.

>>> that'll really knock yer dick in the dirt. <<< 

And that applies to me how? (No, you don't have to get anatomically specific for me)

Totally agree Judit. Don't move me or bring me joy is the perfect answer. Great musicians but no soul to my soul. 

Its not always about you judit, even if you happen to lead the list in bands you don't get. Sometimes its about no one in particular.

But since you asked, knock yer dick in the dirt is an old expression usually relating to blues guitarists. 1st time I heard it was 40 years ago or so in Chicago at the old Checkerboard Lounge at a Magic Slim show. Black dude next to me hollered it out, I practically hit the floor laughing so hard. Loosen up them panties girl.

>>>The Rover - 6/24/10 

Thanks for the link.  It was actually pretty rocking.  Page McConnell is no Robert Plant and Trey is not Jimmy Page, but the vocals were in tune and it was a fun cover for sure.  Funny how it ended with a big Phishy jam  Wish I was there.

Boomer bends

My first Phish show in 92 was great, loved it, saw them 4 times after that, wasn't the same...  never pulled the heart strings, but they're very nice / talented gentlemen

As for my fave Phish Cover i've seen, it'd have to be Freebird...  some zeke yelled Freebird from the audience before the encore (someone always does), so they came out and did an A Cappella version, that was pretty badass (and funny)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RUpwYcLb4s

>>>>^that reminds me, phish also played Dark side of the moon in Utah, was anyone  in attendance?

I was. 11-2-98. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=so72eM1J_so   DSOTM starts about 2:12. 

Funny story I've told her before. Local club called the Dead Goat Saloon (Carolyn Wonderland loved it and wrote a song about it) had a open-mic Sunday night. Located just south of the big mormon temple in town. I attended fairly regularly. But I didn't go the night before the concert. But Trey and Mike from Phish did. And with so few people at the open-mic, Trey pulled everyone up on the stage and sang a song to absolutely no one in the audience. 

Trey talks about The Goat at the 41:40 mark. Man, when I heard that while in the audience, did I kick myself in the ass for not going the night before. 

The bar's not there any more. They had a great bumper sticker that's on my old guitar case - "The Dead Goat Saloon Just a hop, skip, and a prayer south of temple square."

Love Phish.  LA Forum show on Sunday rocked! Agree with all the cover favorites above (especially the Crosseyed). 
 

IMO, the biggest cover EVER played by Phish was in the encore slot on 8/9/98. YMMV. 
 

https://youtu.be/fhd7MXwpLec

this is a phish thread<<<

then why did you title it the way you did?

>>>If they ever had a lyricist they'd be dangerous. 

That's exactly what I thought when I started seeing them in the early 90s.  Their jams were so freeking sick, that they needed all the goofy lyrics to keep it grounded.   The Grateful Dead were always epic, even in their later years, and in large part to the Hunter lyrics.  Night after night, the Dead would spin songs that would take you out to the edge of losing your shit, but know exactly when to reel it in and bring it down. But Phish and their jams would go to that point and beyond and it was only the silly lyrics that kept it manageable.  

And some of their lyrics imparted practical wisdom for spun freeks at shows like "whatever you do, take care of your shoes" .

Most bands have crappy lyrics, it's interesting that so many dead heads fixate on Phish lyrics.

I wonder why that is?

(I really don't wonder, I pretty much know why)

And not all Phish lyrics are bad. But that doesn't really matter, does it?

>>>Phish stinks<<<

derp

As I've said so many times, just because you don't get it/don't like it doesn't mean it's not good.

Also, just because you don't get it doesn't mean there's something wrong with you or wrong with those who do get it, so don't worry, it doesn't have to be some inferiority or superiority deal.

Although really, when you get right down to it both of those are pretty much the same, and ultimately, how rarely are any of us NOT dealing with one of those?

Heavy Things, on a Tuesday night.

Anyway, the rest of you have your DNB and Q threads.

Enjoy those.

1.0 Phish did great covers.

2.0 forward not so much. Retreads and not much else to really get excited about.

a) it is a statement, not a question. Nowhere in the OP did i ask for peoples opinions regarding their favorite cover bands. My post, and the questions asked therein were regarding phish. It really was quite clear, if you bothered to read the OP.

b) because i wanted to<<<<

It's hard to argue with "b", but since when is an assertion such as "a" around these parts ever left unquestioned?

I've never seen The Musical Box live, but just picked them off the top of my head since my cousin is a huge Genesis freak and he knows them well. 

Personally, while I give Phish solid marks for their covers, I believe they lack the depth and dimension that one might expect they'd inject into the arrangements; given how they approach their original tunes.  I've loved a lot of their selections; in particular, some Who tunes that otherwise get overlooked (i.e. Sparks):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiSnOp081aU

Nonetheless, the vast majority of cover renditions are straightforward without any big deviation from the originals.  Why not make them "Phish covers" and create a funky jam segment that goes off script?   So yeah, while Loving Cup might be a powerful rendition at a face value, does it feel like a "Phish tune" when it's all said and done?  I realize my "complaint" is akin to fighting city hall ... since that's the way they've been doing things for years, but I still believe it's fair to criticize them with such an "internal yardstick".

On the other hand, you can look at a simple traditional song such as Peggy O and how GD / remnant permutations have shuffled the deck on the "standard arrangment" - if even if just a little bit here or a little bit there, it goes a long way in so far as injecting a fresh look into the tune.

Having said all of that, I've recently realized that not getting to see Phish in two years has pulled the rug out from underneath me ... in so far as not getting to get ramped up to 11 in crazy dancing mode as a cathartic outlet of sorts.   So, it's not that I'm not a fan of the band or appreciate what they do with their covers, but I just think there's so much more potential that goes unrealized.  It is on this higher internal standard that I believe they ought not be assigned the title "best cover band".

I am seeing the Rolling Clones this weekend. 

>the vast majority of cover renditions are straightforward without any big deviation from the originals.  Why not make them "Phish covers" and create a funky jam segment that goes off script.<

Is this a serious statement, or just innocent ingorance? Endless mind-blowing jams in some of their covers (Rock N' Roll most certainly)  I always have been and always will be a DeadHead at heart but have been fortunate to have been shown the Phish Light. I was naysayer for many, many years but was taken to a weekend of Phish by good friends (DeadHeads and PhishHeads) and shown the light in every way!  I wish this for everyone. Of course, no band, including Phish, is for everyone, but if you like improvisational jamming, deep psychedelic jams, amazing synergistic vibes, gigging down as hard as possible, an incredible sense of humor, absolute unpredictability, a band that is wildly creative and virtuosically talented, then Phish might have light that you have just not yet seen!!

As for covers, on top of all those stated above, the entire Waiting For Columbus album was pretty sick...as was the entire Exile on Main St. album! Then there's Walk Away and Sneaking Sally through the Alley, which riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiip!!  And of course the one-offs like Big Balls, Monkey Man and so many more. Good Luck!! 

I caught the Dark Side/Phish SLC show also. Here's a partial on the classic Dead Goat sticker. I had to re-sticker as it was peeling off.

my co-worker went to h.s. with the drummer.

I totally understand why people don't get/like Phish, it's akin to not getting/liking Rush or even Yes... non-traditional/strange sounding vocalists/front men; not easily definable/changing genres; sometimes "too" progressive/choppy/discordant/out there; weird/stupid lyrics.  Any one of these can be enough to turn some people off, and I get that, people are wired differently and that's OK, though I don't get the need to always have to state their opinion about it and then go one step further and declare that it sucks, but whatever, in the end, I'm just happy there are enough people who REALLY like this kind of music to sustain such bands so that I can go to the show once in a while and get my rocks off to a some shredding electric music on a big 'ole sound system.

Roses are Free is another cover Phish does well.   Apparently, it pissed off a lot of Ween fans who claim it attracted Phish fans to the Ween scene.

>>> people are wired differently <<<  Yes. I read it as > people are weird differently < , equally true.

The best thing about Phish is that they make so many people happy.

haha ken

came in and scanned thread to say roses :)

Klondike, now ya did it. Couldn't resist having two pics of a Dead Goat sticker in a Zone thread, and since yours was covered...... John Paul would love it. Merl loved that room too, I believe. 

10/31/95 was my 1st

10/31/98 took my cousin to his 1st 

:) im partial to those sets 

....nice pics slick and klondke

My peak Phish fandom was seeing them at Denison U in 1992 and they did a great Good Times, Bad Times cover. Another good memory was seeing them in Knoxville with on of the first dates with my wife in Feb 1993, the building was a warehouse and had a metal roof, and the condensation from dancing perspiration caused water to drip from the ceiling, which shorted out the sound board so they sang an A Capella set, including Amazing Grace and Sweet Adeline. Sadly, I haven't seen them since the late 1990's... just cuz they don't grab me enough to overcome personal apathy and inconvenient show times, (they  don't seem to play Portland proper, always a long drive).

The colors of that Dead Goat sticker gives off a bad vibe.

Is Ginseng Sullivan considered a bluegrass tune?

It was nothing but good vibes here in town. Especially with the "in your face" slogan. A beloved venue. Blues every Monday which was broadcast live once a month on the community radio station. 

And I've heard Ginseng Sullivan done by the Sam Bush Band many times, Tony Rice recorded it and it was written by flatpicker extraordinaire Norman Blake. If you need a category, I'd say yeah. But what do I know? 

Crappy audio but here's Norman talking about it.  https://umgf.com/ginseng-sullivan-the-story-the-song-t107002.html

Phish - they're good at what they do, but what they do just doesn't quite scratch my musical itch.

Slick - my geetar case is a little more road worn than yours - which is excellent. I don't remember Merl (Saunders) playing the Goat -just Melvin.

The Kim Simmonds Savoy Brown show from the 1999 broadcast on KRCL is a mindblower.

good call OCLT 

Remember that Time when Phish encored with Terrapin Station?!

*That was awesome.

i want the boogie nights soundtrack

but that wont happen

guesses..not worth trying anymore :)

prediction > arguements abt what shouldve happened, didnt happen.oh and also ~>.WHAT AN AMAZING TIME IT WAS  :) all the fun after show stuff

almost forgot that this was a covers thread.  LZ was my favorite band in my youth and early adulthood, so the time I saw them play Good Times Bad Times (Shoreline, mid 90s) was way cool.  The only Halloween I saw was Phi8h, and I dug that as well (just listened to Exile last week) and love the whole musical costume thing, but I generally prefer them to just stick to their old stuff, which weirdly sometimes feel like covers considering all the newer stuff they tend to play these days.

I would like to see them play some really intense obscure prog album.

>>>>>Anybody in attendance for the lot set 11.19.94?
OCLT, I was there for the show and the lot show outside the tour bus.

I recorded both to cassette using temple piece mounted microphones. Unfortunately I missed a couple songs from the bluegrass set, but my chuckle is evident on the circulating recording. Lol.

Also, Ice Blue Rose and I were in attendance for the 10/31/95 Rosemont show with the Quadrophenia musical costume set.

We saw our first Cities in PHX last Friday.

I still love their pre-1995 tunes best, but Phish continues to bring the goods all these years later. GTTS!

parking lot jam wouldve been amazing to catch !

^ Yes, it was!

Just happened to circle around the back of IU Auditorium after the show and saw a crowd gathering. Went to check it out and the band was tearing it up with Rev. Jeffrey Moser leading the jam.

Saw Mike as they were boarding the bus and he signed my cassette insert card. Fishman blew me off. "I gotta get on the bus."

How long does it take to sign an autograph? Lol

A+ !!!

i started  seeing them more 96ish-99

wish id have caught on a little earlier , 12.7 is my bday (i def wouldve went to niagra falls 95) ...10/31/95 was my first and it took a couple to really catch on

.................

did attend 12.6.96 & 12.7.97 , so that helps :)  wouldve been nice to hit the 5~6~7 

Learning to Love Phish | Pitchfork
https://pitchfork.com/thepitch/learning-to-love-phish/

am i the only person on earth that still does not get the phish? <<

Not at all T - Phish Has Always Bugged Me ! NOT My Cuppa

1999 (Prince tune) tonight in Vegas.

If Six was Nine (Hendrix cover)!

Playing the #numbers in Sin City

There you go Turtle.

You're in good company.

Plf9905 doesn't like Phish.

So that says it all. 

Clearly, Phish sucks!

What have I been thinking all these years?

Silly me.

Number-Theme show!!  Just another example of how unpredictable and fun this amazing band is!

>>>>>Is Ginseng Sullivan considered a bluegrass tune?

Fauxgrass when drums are included. 

Cover bands- been really interested to see this band:  saw then do some virtual shows over Covid and enjoyed. 

https://www.startmakingsenseband.com/

Rapper's Delight?

Billy Jean jam?  

Think they could pull off Thriller?  Wanna be Starting Something would be off the hook as would Mike and Trey doing the banter back and forth in the Girl is Mine.

Walk Away second set closer last night!!

I remember rumors of them playing Thriller for years, it would be epic.

I fully expected this thread to be about JRAD

After Jerry's covers, Phish is the best cover band ever.