Gap — the number of shows the band played between one
performance of this song and the one before it.
← → the songs either
side, played as separate songs. > and
–> are phish.net’s own marks, and mean the
band ran them together rather than stopping between them.
2015-08-22SatWatkins Glen InternationalWatkins Glen, NYJam chartSet somewhat conspicuously at the large drive-in movie theater near the back of the festival grounds, underneath the large “MAGNABALL” sign. The aptly named “Drive-In Jam” is arguably the most emblematic example of 2015’s stellar musical achievements. The music creeps in subtly and surely, as hushed ambience begins to intensify with traditional keyboard and guitar effects, along with more abrasive and somewhat atonal auxiliary samples and loops not typically heard in a “normal” jam. As the jam progresses, the large projector screen begins to show cosmic imagery that obfuscates and fractilizes the image of the band performing, eventually revealing them to be behind the projector screen. Around 10 minutes in, the previously arrhythmic jamming forms up into a gorgeously melodic zone, lead by Fishman’s delicate and masterful cymbal-focused playing. Here, the weight of the world seems to melt away under Trey’s outsized, haunting melodic declamations, and we’re off to the races. Space is the place, and we’re living in it here, with Mike’s synth bass smoldering and soaking deep into the ground, before a quick ride-cymbal inflected groove picks up the momentum significantly. A smoking Krautrock attack shapes up, with gargantuan slabs of wah and delay-colored guitar and melodic clavinet playing heaped on top. Ideas flow like water from here, as the band music/band seems to always know just when to rock, abstract, and cool (with various subtle vocal interjections interspersed throughout). The sonic assault eventually cools towards a coda with haunting melodic interplay from Trey and Mike, putting the finishing touches on a true benchmark musical moment for latter-day Phish.GapDebutSET 4