This week’s song, “Weekapaug Groove,” has been around since the late 80s and there are a ton of great versions. I am sending out 3.5 different versions (technically 4 versions but one youtube video only has the first half of the song). Over the years, Phish’s style of playing has changed and in comparing different versions of the same song, it’s interesting to hear how the band has evolved. For example, Phish jams in the early-mid 90s were largely driven by Trey on guitar. Some people refer to Trey’s playing in those years as “Machine Gun Trey” because Trey would shred, or play a lot of notes rapidly. As I mentioned last week, Phish experimented with funk-grooves in the late 90s. Since they’ve come back from their hiatus, the jams feature all members of the band equally (Trey doesn’t dominate anymore like he did in the early 90s).
Weekapaug Groove isn’t much of a proper song. It’s just some chords with throwaway lyrics that the band uses to launch into a prolonged jam. The 1992 version is a good example of the “Machine Gun Trey” era. There’s also plenty of comparable versions from 1992 and 1993. The 1996 version is a good example of mid-90s Phish (see also 12/1/1995 and 12/31/1995). The 1998 version only has the first half of the song (couldn’t find the second half), but it gets pretty funky from minute 6 on. The 2015 version goes into a different song, “What’s the Use,” in the middle of the jam (around minute 5).
This week’s song is a cover of the song “Roses are Free” by the band Ween. Phish has covered songs from a lot of different bands over the years, including Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, and Talking Heads. They’ve even covered Will Smith. For a full list, see this wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Phish_cover_versions
Phish began covering “Roses are Free” in the late ‘90s (the original song was released on Ween’s 1994 album, Chocolate and Cheese). Ween actually didn’t appreciate the fact that a bunch of dirty hippies liked their music, and stopped playing this song for two years once they learned Phish was covering it.
Phish usually doesn’t use this song as a starting point for a long, exploratory jam. This version from 1998, however, pushes through the usually ending and launches into a ~22 min jam. This version is also a good example of the late ‘90s style of jamming that centered around funky, groove based playing, something close to the style of James Brown. Theres a clip of Trey excitedly talking to the band after a set exclaiming, “Wow, what a great set! We almost sounded as good as James Brown on a bad night!” However, being 4 white guys from Vermont, they couldn’t really call their music “funk” and typically refer to it as “cow funk” instead.
There’s also a youtube video on the analysis of this version of the song (the video is about 35 min). If you have a music background, you might find it interesting. Even if you don’t, there are still some interesting bits and the analysis is done at a level attainable for someone without a strong background in music theory.
This week I have two versions of one of the oldest songs in the Phish repertoire, “Run Like an Antelope.” Rumor is that Trey got the idea for the opening riff while at a Grateful Dead show in the early ‘80s. While rhythm guitarist Bob Weir was checking his tuning, he strummed some riff which Trey’s LSD-soaked brain latched onto.
Antelope is a great example of a simple song structure that is used as a vehicle for extensive jamming. There are too many great versions to choose from, so today I’ll provide two examples that I like. The first version I’ve provided is from 1988, and features Trey telling a humorous story about a hiking trip gone awry at the end of the song. The other version is from 2010 and is a great example of one of the more improvisational versions of the 3.0 era. It also contains several teases of “Guyute,” another Phish song.
This week we will be listening to a phan favorite: Harpua. Harpua is a fun song because like Colonel Forbin’s Ascent (see newsletter from March 5), Trey tells a story in the middle of the song. The story of Harpua is simple: a boy named Jimmy lives in a suburban neighborhood with his pet cat, Poster Nutbag. One day, Poster Nutbag is out wandering around and encounters a mean old dog named Harpua. Poster Nutbag and Harpua get in a scuffle, and Poster dies. Jimmy’s father tries to console his son, suggesting he gets a goldfish for a new pet, but Jimmy tells him he wants a dog.
Early versions of the song (late ‘80s – early ‘90s) feature that basic story. In the mid-90s, the story began to evolve. Here are two such versions, one from ’94 and one from ’96. This 1994 version contains narration of a comet crashing into Jupiter, which causes the band to start playing Also Sprach Zarathustra. It is later revealed that Poster Nutbag is hit by a comet and dies. This version contains much of the backstory so I would suggest listening to this version before the 1996 version if you have not listened to a Harpua before.
In the 1996 version, Trey tells the story of Jimmy and Poster’s journey to Las Vegas (where the band was currently playing). This version features Les Claypool and Larry LaLonde of Primus with a debut of “Wildwood Weed” with Les Claypool on vocals. Later, during Trey’s narration, Jimmy and Poster sing “I Want to be a Cowboy’s Sweetheart” at their campfire, which features the Yodeling Cowgirls on vocals. As Jimmy and Poster approach Vegas, they are met by four Elvis impersonators who demand that Jimmy battle them in an Elvis impersonation competition before entering Las Vegas (featuring Jon Fishman in the role of Jimmy and four Elvis impersonators). This version is ~27 minutes, but the full song is contained in one youtube video and is entertaining to watch. Also, if the beginning sounds weird, it’s because they are playing Harpua in 4/4 time (it is usually in 7/4 time).
We left off last week with the near-conclusion of our journey through Gamehendge. If you lost the story line over the weeks, here is a recap:
The story concerns the aging Colonel Forbin, in a suburban town in Long Island, who one day finds a door to another land while walking his faithful dog McGrupp. Stepping through this door, he finds himself in Gamehendge, a land of vast green forests and a huge mountain. Gamhendge is inhabited by the Lizards, who were a simple people who lived in harmony with nature and each other, as taught by the Helping Friendly Book, the book containing all knowledge and “the ancient secrets of eternal joy and never-ending splendor.” A man named Wilson arrived in Gamehendge and lived among the Lizards, learning all about them. Since they were trusting people, they welcomed him as one of themselves. He took advantage of this, however, and eventually took the Helping Friendly Book, used it to enslave the Lizards, and hid the book away in a tower. At the time that Colonel Forbin enters Gamehendge (when the story as told begins) the lizards are living in bondage to the evil Wilson, and are plotting a revolution. We learn about various figures in the revolution (Tela, Rutherford the Brave, Errand Wolfe, Roger; Mr. Palmer, the accountant, who is killed by the AC/DC Bag, a robot). Eventually, after hanging out with the revolutionaries (particularly Rutherford and Tela) and learning their good and bad points, Forbin decides to get the Helping Friendly Book back and free the Lizards from Wilson’s tyranny. He climbs the mountain to meet the great and knowledgeable Icculus, the prophet who wrote the Book (or at least whom the Lizards prophesize wrote the book, since no one has/had actually seen him). At the top of the mountain, Forbin speaks to Icculus, who sends his friend the Famous Mockingbird to retrieve the Helping Friendly Book from the tower where Wilson has locked it away. He then presents the book to Errand Wolfe, who immediately uses it to take over Gamehendge, captures the Famous Mockingbird, and has the Sloth kill Wilson. As Icculus had warned Forbin, with the help of the Book “a tree of knowledge in your soul will grow/And the Helping Friendly Book will plant the seed/ But I warn you that all knowledge seeming innocent and pure/Becomes a deadly weapon in the hands of avarice and greed.” The revolution is thus destined to fail by its own successes.
The last song in the thesis is Possum, which are Icculus’ thoughts on the events that transpired, offering the moral “ain’t no truth in action, unless you believe it anyway.” Possum is a typical 12-bar blues and as such serves as good vehicle for some intense jamming. There are a lot of good versions of this song, so it’s hard to pick one, but this version from 1992 is pretty cool:
There are teases of several songs: “Rocky Mountain Way,” “L.A. Woman,” “China Grove,” “It’s Ice,” and “Divided Sky.” Those of you who have been following the newsletter for the past couple of months will remember The Divided Sky from the week of November 26.
Unfortunately, it sounds like part of the 1992 recording got chopped halfway through the jam. As a consolation, I offer this other version from 1994: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rILsLTxqw5U
Before we complete our discussion of Gamehendge, I would like to make note of other Phish songs that have some relation to Gamehendge (but were not a part of the thesis): The Divided Sky, Llama, McGrupp and the Watchful Hosemasters, Punch You in the Eye, Icculus, Harpua, Axilla, Axilla Part 2, and Kung. The lyrics of those songs contain references to Gamehendge.
In the continuing saga of Colonel Forbin’s journey in Gamehendge, we last left off with our hero ascending up the mountain to ask the Great and Knowledgeable Icculus for help in retrieving the Helping Friendly Book from the Evil King Wilson. Icculus then sent the Famous Mockingbird to go retrieve the Book from Wilson’s castle.
The narration continues:
“The next morning at the camp Errand Wolfe and Rutherford stood frozen in awe as the famous mockingbird flew out of the sky and laid the Helping Friendly Book at their feet. The quest for the book had dragged on for so many years that it’s sudden appearance left the men staring in disbelief, unsure of what their next move should be. The shock wore off quickly though, and Errand Wolfe shot into high gear. He snatched up the book with one hand and the famous mockingbird with the other, and began to inform Rutherford of his plan. He would first kill Wilson, and then put the Helping Friendly Book to work for him.
With Rutherford’s aid he fastened the famous mockingbird to a pole, with glue and rubber bands, to insure the secrecy of his mission, and then set out to find the only man in Gamehendge who could handle the job of eliminating a King.”
This leads into the next song, “The Sloth.” The Sloth is an assassin who is hired by Errand Wolfe to kill Wilson.
Lyrics:
They call me the sloth Way down in the ghetto Italian Spaghetti Singing falsetto Sleeping all day Rip Van Winklin’ Spend my nights in bars Glasses tinklin’
I’m so bad He’s so nasty Ain’t got no friends Real outcasty Stay out of my way Or you’ll end up a cripple I’ll take this piece of paper And slice your nipple
They call me the sloth Way down in the ghetto Italian Spaghetti Singing falsetto Sleeping all day Rip Van Winklin’ Spend my nights in bars Glasses tinklin’
Narration: “Colonel Forbin stared at the fourteen bars that stood at the end of the cell. He ran his hand across the cold, damp dungeon wall and thought again about the door. He had traveled through the door out of necessity. Once he knew it existed, he simply couldn’t leave it alone. Just like Wilson. Just like Tela. Just like Errand Wolfe. And he sat in the dungeon, and he realized that he was back again through the door. And through the tiny window in the corner of his cell, he heard the distant strains.
Errand Errand Errand Errand
And from atop the mountain Icculus looked down on all that went on below him. And he smiled.”
And so with the death of Wilson, Errand Wolfe, who was once the leader of the revolutionaries, claimed the throne and title as King of the Lizards.
This is basically the end of the Gamehendge story. In the original thesis, the song “Possum” follows “The Sloth,” but it doesn’t contribute any further plot development (that will still be the subject of next week’s newsletter).
Fun fact: Phish has performed the full Gamehendge story, complete with narration, during 4 live shows (1988-03-12, 1993-03-22, 1994-06-26, and 1994-07-08).
We last left off with the execution of Mr. Palmer in the town square by the ACDC Bag, a robotic hangman. Mr. Palmer was the evil King Wilson’s accountant but also a revolutionary, and had been extorting Wilson’s money to fund the revolution. But as sad as it was to learn the death of a character we had just been introduced to, that 12/30/97 ACDC Bag had a pretty wicked jam on it.
Here we continue the narration:
By that night, news of Palmer’s death had traveled back to the camp. Spirits were low and Colonel Forbin felt devastated. Even though he had only been in Gamehendge for one day, he had already developed a deep hatred for Wilson. He wanted desperately to help the revolutionaries, but without Palmer, it seemed hopeless. He wandered slowly through the camp and passed Errand Wolfe, sitting by the fire with Rutherford, who had returned that afternoon. He walked on and soon found himself outside of Tela’s hut. Forbin knocked and walked in. Tela sat behind a makeshift desk in the center of a room that was littered with small cages containing spotted stripers, a tiny three-legged breed of animal. The unit monster sat in the corner. The colonel took a step toward Tela and spoke. “I needed to come here tonight” he said, “to tell you that I’ve fallen in love with you.” He looked to her eyes for approval but her face remained frozen in an expressionless stare. An awkward blanket of silence fell over the room and hung for a long moment before being shattered by the sound of the door swinging violently open. It was Rutherford the Brave. The ironclad knight rushed across the room and gripped the throats of Tela and the unit monster in each of his mighty hands. They struggled to break free but even the unit monster was no match for Rutherford’s power and soon it was over. The bodies fell to the floor in a lifeless heap. Colonel Forbin stepped forward from where he stood in the corner unable to contain his confusion and rage and screamed “WHY?” His question was answered by Errand Wolfe who had quietly slipped through the doorway during the confusion. “She was a spy,” he said, and explained to Forbin that she had been sending information to Wilson using the spotted stripers as carriers. Roger’s death had aroused his suspicion, and Palmer’s had confirmed it. The colonel stood in silence in a world that had turned up-side-down so many times that he no longer knew which way was up. It had all seemed so simple when he first arrived. Good versus evil, and of course he had sided with good as he had done all his life. And now, he stood and stared into the eyes of Errand Wolfe and he saw evil. The entire picture began to seem like an enormous puzzle with one piece missing, and the colonel knew what that piece was. “Within twenty-four hours,” he said to Errand Wolfe, “You will have the Helping Friendly Book.” And even as the words were leaving his lips, he found himself running out the door and into the forest, not towards Prussia, but toward the great mountain looming in the distance.
This brings us to the next songs, “Colonel Forbin’s Ascent” and “Fly Famous Mockingbird”
This youtube video from a show in ’92 has both (since they are usually played together) with a little bit of “Icculus” in the middle. If you liked “Icculus,” check out this version from ’88: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywt90N29Koc
COLONEL FORBIN’S ASCENT
Colonel Forbin stared up at the mountain And wiped away the beads of sweat That glistened on his brow His tired feet were buried in the quagmire And his bloodshot eyes saw all that lay between him And fulfillment of his vow
And he felt his fingers wrap around a knotted root And pulled his body upwards To a sea green mossy boulder And he dragged his weary carcass [or “shit-ass”] up the mountain
And he climbed so slowly He climbed so slowly Ahead Ahead
Suddenly he heard the crack of thunder And the rocks began to crumble overhead And tumble down the mountain to the Dismal swamp that lay beneath the jagged cliffs through which his path had led And the earth began to quake beneath his feet And the mighty mountain changed before his eyes And he stood amidst a sea of dust and rocks and stones Cascading down the mountain And a thousand birds were headed for the sky. Oh…
The sacred creed will be yours And if you wait until tomorrow The sacred creed will be yours To devour Yours To seize And to obey Obey
When the dust had cleared, the colonel lifted up his head And was driven to his knees by a blazing beam of light And he saw the silhouette that stood before him And he bowed in reverence Trembling in the shadow of the mighty legend’s form Icculus the prophet stood before his eyes Looking down on Colonel Forbin Where he shuddered in the puddles and the muck And he quietly addressed him
And he spoke so slowly He spoke so slowly Ahead He said
Colonel Forbin I know why you’ve come here And I’ll help you with your quest to gain the knowledge that you lack I call upon my faithful friend the mockingbird To fly and seize the helping book and bring it to your shack And a tree of knowledge in your soul will grow And the Helping Friendly Book will plant the seed But I warn you that all knowledge seeming innocent and pure Becomes a deadly weapon in the hands of avarice And greed
The sacred greed will be yours And if you wait until tomorrow The sacred creed will be yours To devour Yours To seize And to obey And to obey
Narration: And the famous mockingbird swooped down out of the sky and landed on Icculus’s shoulder, and Icculus whispered into the bird’s ear, and it flew off toward Wilson’s castle in the valley below.
FAMOUS MOCKINGBIRD
Fly famous mockingbird Fly… Fly famous mockingbird Fly…
Fly famous mockingbird Fly… Fly famous mockingbird Fly… Fly… Fly… Fly famous mockingbird Fly…
Narration: The next morning at the camp Errand Wolfe and Rutherford stood frozen in awe as the famous mockingbird flew out of the sky and laid the Helping Friendly Book at their feet. The quest for the book had dragged on for so many years that it’s sudden appearance left the men staring in disbelief, unsure of what their next move should be. The shock wore off quickly though, and Errand Wolfe shot into high gear. He snatched up the book with one hand and the famous mockingbird with the other, and began to inform Rutherford of his plan. He would first kill Wilson, and then put the Helping Friendly Book to work for him.
How many of you watched the livestream this past weekend from Phish’s three night run in Riviera Maya, Mexico? It was a pretty good weekend with some good setlists! A few songs from the weekend have been uploaded to the Phish youtube page. Here are a few (good jams!):
Now, let us resume our journey with Colonel Forbin through the mystical land of Gamehendge. We last left off with Colonel Forbin and Tela arriving at the rebel base in the forest of Gamehendge. Remember, the evil King Wilson has usurped power from the Lizards by betraying them and stealing the Helping Friendly Book, which contains all the information the Lizards need to live a prosperous and fruitful life. The revolutionaries have organized to steal the book back from Wilson. Last week’s song was “Wilson,” a diatribe against the evil King sung from the perspective of the rebel leader, Errand Wolfe. The story continues by transporting us from the rebel base in the forest to the main square of Prussia, where the extent of Wilson’s brutality are on display.
Narration: “Meanwhile, in the main square in Prussia, the state of the revolution was taking another turn for the worst. A crowd of townspeople had gathered to witness the hanging of Wilson’s accountant, Mr. Palmer. It seemed that Palmer had been a revolutionary himself and had been extorting Wilson’s money to fund the revolution. Palmer stood on the scaffold with Wilson and the AC/DC Bag, an electrified robot-hangman with a black bag over his head. Wilson seemed pleased as he began to speak.” This leads into this week’s song, “ACDC Bag.” This version actually has a wicked jam on it and would be good to listen to if you have the time. I actually recognized the jam without realizing it was from a version of ACDC Bag. It contains elements of funk, rock and delicate space, with teases of “Third Stone From The Sun” and “Psycho Killer.” It’s dynamite. Also, fun fact about ACDC Bag — the chord progression for the chorus is, A-C-D-C-F-A-G, which…almost spells out ACDC BAG.
Mr. Palmer is concerned with the thousand dollar question Just like Roger he’s a crazy little kid I’ve got the time if you’ve got the inclination So cheer up Palmer, you’ll soon be dead
The noose is hanging, at least you won’t die wondering Sit up and take notice Tell it like it is If I were near you I wouldn’t be far from you I’ve got a feeling you know what you did
chorus:
AC/DC Bag AC/DC Bag AC/DC Bag DC Bag (2x)
Time to put your money where your mouth is Put ’em in a field and let ’em fight it out I’m running so fast my feet don’t touch the ground I’m a stranger here I’m going down
Let’s get down to the nitty gritty Let’s get this show on the road I’ll show you mine if you show me yours I’m breathing hard – open the door
[chorus]
Brain dead, and made of money No future at all Pull down the blinds and run for cover No future at all
Who would’ve thought it, that’s where I am No future at all Don’t sweat it, that’s where I am Whoa, carry me down, down, down, down
The narration continues: “By that night, news of Palmer’s death had traveled back to the camp. Spirits were low and Colonel Forbin felt devastated. Even though he had only been in Gamehendge for one day, he had already developed a deep hatred for Wilson. He wanted desperately to help the revolutionaries, but without Palmer, it seemed hopeless.”
Last time we were relieved to find out that Rutherford the Brave did not succumb to his follies and perish while attempting to wade across the raging river. As you may recall, he was rescued by a unit monster accompanied by Tela riding on a multibeast (who was the subject of that week’s song).This week we will continue Colonel Forbin’s journey: Narration: “Tela reached out her hand and helped Forbin on to the back of the multi-beast, and together they rode off into the forest.
As they rode, Tela explained to him about Wilson and the Helping Friendly Book. She told the colonel that she was part of a revolution to overthrow the evil king. The leader of the revolution was a Lizard named Errand Wolfe who was out to avenge the death of his son Roger. Roger, she said, had been executed by Wilson at the age of fourteen on suspicion of treason. He had been abducted from his home and hung in the public square.
The two rode on in silence, deeper and deeper into the heart of the forest until they came to the outskirts of a small community. Tela explained to Forbin that they had reached the base of the revolutionaries. The colonel looked up and there in the center of the clearing stood Errand Wolfe. He was a small man but his presence was overpowering. He seemed to emit a kind of violent energy that sent chills down the colonel’s spine. And as the multi-beast moved towards him, he raised his fist in anger, and his voice filled the forest.”This leads into the next song: “Wilson”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eaaus0LI1ro
Oh out near Stonehenge, I lived alone Oh out near Gamehendge, I chafed a bone Wilson, King of Prussia, I lay this hate on you Wilson, Duke of Lizards I beg it all trune for you
Talk my duke a mountain, Helping Friendly Book Inasfar as fiefdom, I think you bad crook Wilson, King of Prussia, I lay this hate on you Wilson, Duke of Lizards I beg it all trune for you
I talked to my son Roger, Rutherford the same [or “I talked to Mike Christian, Rog and Pete the same”] When we had that meeting, over down near Game(henge) Wilson, King of Prussia, I lay this hate on you Wilson, Duke of Lizards I beg it all trune for you
You got me back thinkin’ that you’re the worst one I must inquire, Wilson Can you still have fun? Wilson Can you still have fun? Wilson Can you still have fun? Wilson
Last week we stepped through the door with Colonel Forbin into Gamehendge where we met Rutherford the Brave. We ended with Rutherford being saved from drowning in the river by some unknown creature:
“But Rutherford and Forbin weren’t alone. And suddenly an unexpected movement caught his eye. On the far side of the river he saw a shaggy creature standing in the weeds who stared across at Forbin with an unrelenting gaze. A gigantic mass of muscles and claws. The hideous beast reared back and hurled himself in the water and swam toward the region where Rutherford lay. And in a flash, the beast was gone, underneath the surface to the frosty depths below while Forbin, bewildered, waited alone. The seconds dragged by in what seemed like hours till finally the colonel felt it all had been a dream. Defeated, he bowed his head then turned to go. Suddenly with a roar, the creature emerged before him and held the brave knight’s body to the sky. And the creature laid the knight upon the shore. And the colonel fell beside his friend in prayer that he’d survive. And Rutherford, brave Rutherford was alive.” This was the narration at the end of the last newsletter. The narration continues:
“Forbin and the unit monster were crouched over the soggy knight carefully removing his bulky helmet when the colonel heard a sound behind him. He turned around and came face to face with an enormous shaggy horse-like creature covered from head to tail with alternating blotches of brown and white. It was a two-toned multi-beast, and atop the multi-beast sat the most beautiful woman the colonel had ever seen. After fifty-two years of undaunted bachelorhood, the colonel felt a feeling rush over him as he had never felt before.”
That woman is Tela, the subject of the next song which is about Colonel Forbin’s first impressions upon meeting her.
Lyrics:
The sky is burning in this lonely man And I kneel by the river and I feel the sand and the wind The wind from beyond the mountain The wind from beyond the mountain
And she comes to me in this lonely land And looks down from the multi-beast on which she rides like the wind The wind from beyond the mountain The wind from beyond the mountain
Tela was born in a vulgar crooked hut
In the shadow of Wilson’s castle Venomous scorn from a life of bitter toil In the shadow of Wilson’s castle Glory esteem fueled by her hatred it grew Swelling to the point where it would Burst at the seems there was nothing she could do
Tela Tela jewel of Wilson’s foul domain Tela Tela jewel of Wilson’s foul domain A lullaby the breezes whisper
And I look into her eyes and my frozen heart begins to thaw And burns, ’til layer after layer melts away into a pool A sky blue mirror of her eyes
And my soul is made of marble but in her gaze I crumble into dust And drift away on the wind The wind from beyond the mountain The wind from beyond the mountain
Tela grew strong from her struggle to endure In the shadow of Wilson’s castle Time touched her wounds and shelter proved the cure In the shadow of Wilson’s castle Each passing day seemed to feed the brazen serpent locked inside And liberate the spirit she’d concealed for so long There was no place left to hide
Tela Tela jewel of Wilson’s foul domain Tela Tela jewel of Wilson’s foul domain A lullaby the breezes whisper
The narration continues: “Tela reached out her hand and helped Forbin on to the back of the multi- beast, and together they rode off into the forest.”
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