This past year has been a busy one, full of new approaches to creating art inspired by Phish. As I shifted towards designing and creating ticket stubs, I eased up on creating setlist art for every show, and I began accepting more commissions to create setlist art for older shows. This was actually my busiest year, having created over 10 older setlists! I really enjoy doing these, since it gives me an opportunity to discover older shows that I may not have heard before. And of course, there’s the satisfaction of creating something to commemorate a special show to someone, be it their first, hundredth, or the show where they met that special someone!
Old habits die hard! Creating ticket stubs has taken up most of my time this year, forcing me to set aside the setlist art this year. While I still create them via commissions, I couldn’t help but create the MSG NYE Run setlists! These will be a smaller edition (only 25!) but are also available as digital downloads.
Fluffhead was unfinished. Trey teased Dave’s Energy Guide in Bathtub Gin. This show featured the Phish debut of hey stranger. Trey teased Heartbreaker in Ruby Waves.
Trey teased Super Bad in Weekapaug. The second setbreak music was comprised of songs referencing past Phish New Year’s Eve gags. Before the third set began, a barbershop quartet appeared with a singing telegram for Phish. The telegram said that at the stroke of midnight, it would be 40 years for Phish and to make a wish. Trey wished he had a time machine so they could do it all again. A cube descended from overhead and a time machine was revealed near Mike. The quartet activated the time machine and the cube played audio and video from past years of Phish. Dancers from various past new year’s gags appeared on stage as well as a wombat (from October 31, 2013). The wombat broke the time machine and Ghost began with dancers and characters (like Father Time from December 31, 1999, and the Famous Mockingbird from December 31, 1992) continuing to appear from the band’s past performances. Ghost featured Meatstick lyrics sung by the band as well as by dancers in different languages in a nod to December 31, 2010. The first Bohemian Rhapsody since December 31, 1996 (850 shows) featured the Late Show Gospel Choir singing on risers behind the band and Ghost quotes from Page and the choir with subsequent lyrics changed to reference Ghost. The first Jungle Boogie since December 31, 2003 (544 shows) featured the BD Entertainment Marching Band along with the choir. The marching band and choir were also featured in Wilson where a platform above Trey that had appeared for the entire New Year’s run descended and the clone that had been lying on the platform rose and was revealed to be a Tom Hanks actor from Castaway. Inflated Wilson volleyballs were then tossed into the crowd. During Auld Lang Syne, Phish briefly stopped playing and ate cake in front of the stage while the marching band and choir continued to perform. Carini featured several dancers in “naked dude” costumes emerging from a birthday cake in front of the stage and dancing and running around with security trying to catch them. The Theme from New York, New York was performed for the first time since December 31, 1997 (772 shows) and featured the naked dude dancers performing a kickline in front of the stage while adding vocals and Trey changing the lyrics to “if I could be naked there.” Piper contained Crosseyed quotes. During Tweezer Reprise, the wombat ran and danced across the stage. The post-show music was Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, which was a nod to Phish playing their 72nd show at Madison Square Garden, tying Elton John.
Not just reading the book, 