Phish’s Halloween Costume… What Will It Be?

So MTV (remember them?) recently posted on their website a list of what they thought would be some likely contenders for Phish’s Halloween Costume. As you know, Phish has announced a 3-day Festival that will take place somewhere in the US on 10/30, 10/31 and 11/01/09. In past years, Phish has donned a “costume” every Halloween by performing an album by another band in it’s entirety such as “The White Album” by the Beatles, “Remain In Light” by the Talking Heads and “Loaded” by the Velvet Underground. My personal favorite of all of them was the Talking Heads album but then again, maybe I’m partial because I actually got to see them do that one on Halloween ‘96 in Atlanta. I felt like it was an amazing match for the band and to be totally honest, after hearing them perform that particular album, a good bit of Phish suddenly made sense to me.

So since MTV has their list, I’ve decided to compile my own list of albums that I’d love to see them do (watch out as I’m sure many other Phish bloggers will be doing the same). So here we go:

Aerosmith – Toys In The Attic
I ALWAYS thought this would be such a great album for Phish to cover. Songs like the title track, “Big Ten Inch Record” and “Uncle Salty” just seem to have all the qualities of a great Phish jam along with killer songs. I think this could really be an amazing delivery and top it all off by closing with Page singing “You See Me Crying” could very well bring the house down with what could possibly be their greatest costume yet.

Neil Young – After The Gold Rush
One of my favorite things about Phish as a whole was the fact that while they have always been their own band, they have never been ashamed to show the fact that they were influenced by the classics. They’ve proven that by covering some classic songs over the years but it’s always surprised me that they never really tackled Neil Young. Much like “Toys In The Attic”, “After The Gold Rush” has some gorgeous material and many elements that make me think of Phish right off the bat. The heights these guys could go to with songs like “Southern Man”, “When You Can Dance I Can Really Love” and even “Cripple Creek Ferry” has Page McConnell written all over it. I think this could be a serious contender.

Jimi Hendrix Experience – Axis: Bold As Love
“Bold As Love” has been a fan favorite for many years and the band has always taken this song to stratospheric heights. I’d love to hear them take on “Spanish Castle Magic” as that is something I’m sure Trey could just tear the crap out of. Throw in “Little Wing” and “If 6 Was 9″, and I think this could be their most challenging effort. I doubt they would touch this one to be honest. It’s not that I don’t think they could do it but I just feel this one like I feel the others.

Nirvana – Nevermind
Phish performed “Smells Like Teen Spirit” and it made my teeth sweat. You can’t polish a turd. I fucking hate Nirvana and I hate everything they did. Ok, that’s a lie, their “Unplugged” version of “The Man Who Sold The World” was pretty fucking bad ass but aside from that, I hate this album and I hate the idea that they would do this one but knowing Phish, they’ll do it. Matter of fact, they’ll do it and every Mr. Miner following Phanboy will lap it up and proclaim Nirvana as this amazing band and then all of the sudden buy everything they ever made. Much like how most Phish fans couldn’t give a rats ass about Velvet Underground or Talking Heads, they’ll latch onto Nirvana like they were gods. Don’t get me started on how every Phanboy just adores Pavement because Trey praises them. What a crappy fucking band. Oh sorry.

Beastie Boys – Paul’s Boutique
I highly doubt this one would EVER happen but just the thought of hearing Trey sing “Shake Your Rump” makes me fucking giddy. I’d fly to that show.

Aquarium Rescue Unit – Aquarium Rescue Unit
While I know these guys are peers of Phish, musically and lyrically I couldn’t think of a more suiting album for them to cover. Matter of fact, I say they do this one, bring out John Bell from Widespread Panic to do the “Intro” and just slam into “Fixin’ To Die”. Songs like “Workin’ On A Building”, “Jazz Bank” and “Yield Not To Temptation” just SCREAM Phish. Probably not one of the most original choices for an album to cover but damn would I love to hear this one. Matter of fact, do it and bring out all the original ARU members for a jam and it would be pure bliss.

The Doors – The Soft Parade
This could very well be Phish’s most ambitious choice for an album to cover but much like the other “classics” I listed earlier, I think it would be an amazing choice. Opening with “Tell All The People” would set such a great mood and what a monstrous, monumental jam would the title track be? This is yet another one that I feel that Phish could take to monumental heights, picking up the audience and taking them off into the stratosphere with them. I would honestly have to say that THIS would be my top pick of costumes I’d love to see Phish wear on Halloween night.

~ by chapelhillbilly on July 3, 2009.