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Welcome to the fourth mini-episode of Attendance Bias! Mini-episodes feature a breakdown of a single song or jam from a show that I’ve attended. I’ll pick a song or jam for any given reason—it was the highlight of the show, it meant something special to me, it's widely renown--who knows? 

Mini-episodes are posted on a bi-weekly basis in between full episodes of Attendance Bias, when a guest and I will go over a full Phish show.

Today's episode focuses on "Twist," played on 11/1/13 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey. This show was the second of three nights of the band's 2013 Halloween run. The vibe going into the venue was strange. The previous night's Wingsuit set really knocked us off our rocker, as this was the first time that Phish did not play a full album by another band for Halloween. Rather, they played an entire set--80 minutes long--of new material. Even though the third set of 10/31 was excellent, things didn't quite feel the same afterwards.

"Twist" from the next night changed all that for me. It felt as though Phish, and the audience, had a lot of steam to blow off after the tension of the Halloween set, and "Twist" blew that steam right off. It has everything: exploration, triumphant bliss-rock, "Under Pressure" quotes, and abstract dissonance. It's since become one of my favorite jams.

AUD recording for this episode: Twist

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Happy New Year and send in the clones! Today's guest on Attendance Bias is author Elizabeth Beck! Elizabeth wrote the recently published novel, "Summer Tour." "Summer Tour" is a young-adult coming-of-age novel that features a young man named Sam who is forced to move in with his aunt for the summer. Over the course of this fateful summer, Sam meets a group of friends who introduce him to the world of creative life, writing, and of course, Phish!

Elizabeth chose 12/31/19 because not only is this a great show on its own merits, but while drafting her novel, she was stuck on the ending! At MSG, she had a chance encounter that inspired the ending of the novel. It's quite a story!

Over the course of our conversation, Elizabeth and I discuss her background as a teacher and poet, her involvement with the Holler Poets of Lexington, KY, and how sometimes you have to stake your claim on the floor at MSG. This conversation got deep at times and I was IN FOR IT! THANK YOU to Elizabeth for joining Attendance Bias and sharing her story.

Please don't forget to share, rate, and review Attendance Bias wherever you get your podcasts. Enjoy!

You can find "Summer Tour" on Amazon.com

Audio provided for this episode: 12/31/19 at Madison Square Garden

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Welcome to the third mini-episode of Attendance Bias! Mini-episodes feature a breakdown of a single song or jam from a show that I’ve attended. I’ll pick a song or jam for any given reason—it was the highlight of the show, it meant something special to me, it's widely renown--who knows? 

Mini-episodes are posted on a bi-weekly basis in between full episodes of Attendance Bias, when a guest and I will go over a full Phish show.

Today's episode focuses on "Tweezer" played on 7/31/09 at the Red Rocks Amphitheater in Morrison, Colorado. This show was the second of four nights of the band's triumphant return to one of the best outdoor venues in the country after last playing there in 1996. I had already seen five shows in the summer of 2009 before Red Rocks, and I was entirely thrilled that Phish was back. Everything was there--old music, new music, the best community in music, a new and better sound system--except for one thing: the jams. Throughout the early summer of 2009, there were hints of great jams (like the Camden "Sand"), but nothing at any of the shows I attended. This "Tweezer" changed all that.

"Tweezer" is only 12 minutes long--not a monster. But in that short span, Phish creates two interchanging melodies, structures them in order, and creates what could otherwise be a perfectly written instrumental. The best part is that this is an improvised jam-they did it all in real-time. And this version convinced me that Phish, and truly everything we love about them, was BACK!

AUD recording for this episode: Tweezer

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It didn't take long for us to get around to the Fall '97 tour! And what a show! Chris Casey, teacher and creator of the Montroller art series, joins me to talk about 11/28/97 at the Worcester Centrum in Worcester, MA.

Chris chose this show because it was his first---and what a first! Not only is this an excellent show that is representative of the all-time Fall '97 tour, but Phish.in provides a crisp, clean soundboard recording! Opening with a 1-2 punch of "The Curtain" and "YEM," the show only gets crazier from there! A landmark "Timber Ho!" and a vintage 1997 "Ghost" are only two of the many highlights that brought Chris into the Phish fold forever!

In this episode, Chris and I talk about how pre-show in a parking garage is sometimes necessary, whether or not "The Moma Dance" was an improvement over "Black Eyed Katy," and if "My Soul" really was overplayed in 1997.

Montroller art is available through Chris' Instagram feed. If you're looking for some birdies to brighten up your house, give it a look!

Audio used for this episode: 11/28/97 at the Worcester Centrum (SBD)

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Welcome to the second mini-episode of Attendance Bias! These mini-episodes will feature a breakdown of a single song or jam from a show that I’ve attended. I’ll pick a song or jam for any given reason—it was the highlight of the show, it meant something special to me, it's widely renown, who knows? 

These mini-episodes will be posted on a bi-weekly basis in between full episodes of Attendance Bias, when a guest and I go over a full Phish show.

Today's episode focuses on Phish's rendition of The Who's "We're Not Gonna Take It," played on 10/8/99 at the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, NY. This show, and the one the night prior, acted as a sort of "passing the torch" for me. The Who had always been my utmost obsession. The Who was the greatest, and every other band was second-best. When I discovered Phish in the mid-90s, they were the upstart; the neophytes; the undiscovered country. I was deeply into them but they were still relatively new to me.

Then, when Phish played the Nassau Coliseum, my home venue, in 1999, my friends and I rode the rail for both nights. At the end of night two, 10/8, they did the unthinkable: they brought on Tom Marshall for a wholly unexpected, one-time, cover of "We're Not Gonna Take It;" a relatively lesser-known Who song. I absolutely freaked out and the rest of history.

I break it down piece by piece in today's episode. Enjoy!

AUD recording for this episode: "We're Not Gonna Take It"

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Dawn Jenkins, better known as Dawneebee--host of the Phemale-Centrics podcast--discusses Phish's show on October 26, 2010 at the Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester, NH. Dawneebee chose this show because not only was it when she took her significant other to his first show, but also because it was filled with rarities and unexpected setlist treats!

In this episode, Dawneebee and I talk about growing up in New England, her introduction to Phish via the early-90s Grateful Dead scene, how she started the Phemale-Centrics podcast through the Osiris Podcast Network, and how Phish may use certain songs to send a message about the importance of any given show.

The Phemale-Centrics podcast is available wherever you find your podcasts and is part of the Osiris Podcast Network.

Audio used for this episode: Phish 10/26/10 @ Verizon Wireless Arena, Manchester, NH

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Welcome to the first mini-episode of Attendance Bias! These mini-episodes will feature a breakdown of a single song or jam from a show that I’ve attended. I’ll pick a song or jam for any given reason—it was the highlight of the show, it meant something special to me, it's widely renown, who knows? 

These mini-episodes will be posted on a bi-weekly basis in between full episodes of Attendance Bias, when a guest and I will go over a full Phish show.

Today's episode focuses on "Weekapaug Groove," played on 8/4/15 at the Ascend Amphitheater in Nashville, Tennessee. This concert came at a time when my life was in total disarray. I needed something special to help me make peace with a chapter that had recently closed. Heading to see Phish in Nashville, by myself, for the first time, did it.

The jam in "Weekapaug Groove" that closed the show was slow, new, dark, heavy, and entirely unexpected. I break it down piece by piece and explain what it meant to me. Enjoy!

AUD recording for this episode: https://phish.in/2015-08-04/weekapaug-groove

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Voiceover actress and SiriusXM's PhishRadio host Elisa Allechant joins me to discuss Phish's show on November 2, 2018 at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Elisa chose this show primarily because it was the first time she caught "Sneakin' Sally Through the Alley" in 20+ years of seeing the band.

But there's much more to it!

Throughout the episode, Elisa and I talk about her upbringing in New York State's Hudson Valley, the best venues on the West coast, how this show hearkens back to 1999, Curveball, and how some Phish songs are "activation" songs; imploring the listeners to not just dance, but also to take action. 

Please note that this episode does not detail Elisa's responsibilities as a PhishRadio host, nor question her journey toward getting the job. 

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In this mini-episode, I introduce myself, explain what Attendance Bias is, and why I chose to start this podcast. 

Thank you for listening!