L4LM’s Official Guide To Phish Baker’s Dozen Late Nights
As the shenanigans approach, we’ll be discussing Phish with a number of artists who will be in town performing some of these late-night shows. So far, we interviewed Matisyahu, Craig Brodhead from Turkuaz, Ryan Jalbert from The Motet, Brock Butler and Matt McDonald of Perpetual Groove, Ryan Dempsey from Twiddle, Jake Goldberg and Chris Houser from The Werks, and Adam Chase from The James Brown Dance Party. In the sixth installment of our “Phishin’ With” series, drummer Neal “Fro” Evans and guitarist Rob Compa describe their relationship with the band Phish ahead of Dopapod’s shows at Gramercy Theatre on 7/28 (tix) and 7/29 (tix).
Dopapod has been on a tear this year after band members Eli Winderman, Rob Compa, and Chuck Jones reunited with their original drummer Neal “Fro” Evans to bring their exciting live show to increasingly rabid crowds of fans at venues up and down the northeast. With two nights of post-Phish throw downs lined up in NYC, fans can expect the adventurous quartet’s patented mix of funky originals, impressive jams, and precise musicianship as they descend on the Gramercy Theater during the second weekend of Phish’s run.
Read below to find about two totally different perspectives on Phish from Rob Compa and Neal “Fro” Evans.
Live For Live Music: Tell us about your first Phish concert experience.
Rob Compa: My first Phish show was at SPAC in 2004. I actually skipped my high school graduation to go to the show with my friend. My Dad was super cool about it and even drove us there from Rochester, which is about 3 hours away. Everyone knocks that 2004 summer tour, but to this day that first show still stands as the best show I’ve ever seen them play. They opened with Reba, and it was super cool to have that be my first Phish song to have seen live. They also played a mammoth, legendary Piper that spanned about 35 minutes and did a really cool segue into Gotta Jiboo.
Neal “Fro” Evans: The first time I saw phish was at Fenway in Boston in like 2009 or something. I wasn’t really interested in going but I ended up riding my bike down to the area to scope the scene. I was expecting a mad lot scene but it turned out that everyone got tickets and were inside the show! I rode around the field a few times and this one guy came up to me and said, “Hey, you’re Brian on the bike with the tickets, right?” I said, “Na man, my name is Neal.” He said “Suuuuuuuuuuure man, I gotcha. So anyways, can I get a ticket?” He finally seemed to accept that I was not in fact Brian and then we moved on. I saw him on the other side of the park and he waved at me and yelled, “Yo Brian!” All this time riding around the field I was thinking, “Hey this band sounds pretty good, maybe I’ll go in.” I was half expecting to find the proverbial Brian anyway and maybe he’d give me some ten dollar ticket or something… Nope, just bought one at the box office. So when I got inside, it was set break. I ended up walking around and found a bunch of friends and hung out with them for the rest of the night. The show was pretty cool, honestly the sound was a little better and more epic outside the park than inside. They had a cool light show and everyone seemed to have a really good time. Go Phish!
L4LM: How would you describe the music of Phish?
RC: Oh jeez…. It’s so hard. You can’t just say “They’re a rock band.” Throughout the decades they’ve proved that they’re whatever kind of band they feel like being, even on a minute to minute basis. Maybe I’ll just pick a few words that describe them really well. Adventurous. Versatile. Fun. Progressive. Unique. Improvisational. Spontaneous.
NFE: Phish plays great american rock and roll combined with gentle compositional parts similar to classical music. The vibe is what really gets people in there, in my opinion. Its very pleasant most of the time and is a good roller coaster of high energy, smooth chill groove, and audience participation.
L4LM: How many Phish shows have you seen?
RC: I’m not sure…. maybe like 15-18? I don’t keep count.
NFE: 2
L4LM: Do you have a favorite show, or most memorable experience?
RC: My first show is definitely my favorite. I’ve never seen a band and its crowd be so connected as that night. Especially set 2. Everyone was so unbelievably excited to be there given that we all knew it would be their “last” tour. And they kept us in the palms of their hands for every last second. It was absolute magic.
A close second is their reunion show in 2009. To be in the room when they came out and opened with Fluffhead still gives me goosebumps when I think about it. It was really special and deeply emotional for everyone there. This video is the closest thing I’ve found to capturing that the excitement of that moment.
NFE: The first one, at Fenway. It was my first show and it was my first time at Fenway. I’ll never forget that.
L4LM: What are two of your favorite Phish songs?
RC: Just two?!?! Hmmmm… Chalkdust Torture (particulary the 7.10.99 LivePhish 08 version). The greatest however many minutes of group improvisation I’ve ever heard. Punch You in the Eye was definitely my first favorite Phish song. I used to jam along to the Bittersweet Motel version thats in the bonus scenes. That show is even from my hometown, Rochester NY. And I finally got to see it live at Deer Creek last summer. Only took 12 years!!!
NFE: I know Possum, and I’ve heard that Divided Sky is a really good one.
L4LM: What’s the wildest thing you’ve ever seen at a Phish show?
RC: I haven’t seen too many crazy antics, crowd wise. Although, one time at one of Trey’s shows in Boston, a security guard saw me putting on chap stick and thought I was taking a hit of weed. He kicked me out of the show. I was stone sober. I hadn’t even had a beer. The show had only been going on for about 20 minutes. It was at the Orpheum. So, yeah… I don’t go there anymore.
NFE: One time they all stopped playing their instruments and did this like twenty minute long vocal jam. It was totally rad.
If you’re heading to New York for Phish’s 13-night Baker’s Dozen run at Madison Square Garden, don’t miss all the incredible late night shows going on in the City during the run! Check out Our Official Guide To Baker’s Dozen Late-Nights for all the info.
Live For Live Music Phish Baker’s Dozen Run Late-Night Shows
July 21 – The Werks @ American Beauty (tix)
July 21 – The Motet @ BB King Blues Club (tix)
July 20, 21, & 22 – Twiddle @ Irving Plaza (tix) *
July 22 – The Werks @ American Beauty (tix)
July 22 – Circles Around The Sun @ Gramercy Theatre (SOLD OUT)
July 23 – Circles Around The Sun (early brunch show) @ Brooklyn Bowl (tix) #
July 25 – Turkuaz at Irving Plaza (tix) *
July 28 – Dopapod @ Gramercy Theater (tix) *
July 28 – James Brown Dance Party – 2 Shows @ Highline Ballroom (early tix/late tix) *
July 29 – Dopapod @ Gramercy Theater (tix) *
July 29 – Perpetual Groove @ BB King Blues Club (tix)
Aug 2 – Matisyahu @ The Cutting Room (tix) *
Aug 3 – Greensky Bluegrass w/ Marco Benevento @ Ford Amphitheatre At Coney Island Boardwalk (tix) **
Aug 4 – “Kraz & Taz” – Eric Krasno Band w/ Brandon “Taz” Niederauer Band @ The Cutting Room (tix)
Aug 5 – Spafford @ BB King Blues Club (tix)
* (L4LM & CEG Presents)
**(L4LM & Live Nation Presents)
# (L4LM & Brooklyn Bowl Presents)
Enter To Win A Pair Of Tickets To Dopapod At Gramercy Theatre 7/28 or 7/29!