On this day in 2000, Phish kicked off a weeklong run of shows in Japan. Having previously performed there in 1999, Phish returned for a more extensive run that featured some seriously playful concerts. Night one saw the group settle into Tokyo with a show at the On Air East, forever changing one of their classic tunes.
Many casual Phish fans are familiar with their song “Meatstick”, a two-chord, synth-heavy number that has soundtracked some of the band’s most outrageous stunts. The song has its own dance, its own giant frankfurter (which currently hangs in the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame), and even bookended a seven-plus hour set to usher in the new millennium.
After its performance on January 1st, the song was all but shelved during the year 2000. That is, until Phish’s Tokyo trip, where the song re-emerged with a brand new verse. Its lyrics are: “Meetostikku jikan, Meetostikku kakushite, Meetostikku toridashite jikan, Tou tou atama ga shock, Tou tou atama ga shock.”
The translated “Meatstick” chorus was provided by The Boredoms, a Japanese band who covered “Free” on the Sharin’ In The Groove Phish tribute compilation. Tou tou atama ga shock indeed.
You can tune in to the debut of the “Meatosticku” from Tokyo, Japan, below:
Phish – In Air East – Tokyo, Japan – 6/9/00
[Audio: fromtheaquarium]
Setlist: Phish | On Air East | Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Japan | 6/9/2000
Set 1: Axilla > Taste, Billy Breathes, Poor Heart > Golgi Apparatus > Funky Bitch, The Moma Dance > First Tube > Chalk Dust Torture
Set 2: Tweezer, Bouncing Around the Room[1], The Mango Song, The Squirming Coil > Gotta Jibboo > Meatstick[2] > Tweezer Reprise
Encore: You Enjoy Myself
[1] Brief outro solo from Trey, which replaced the usual closing guitar lick.
[2] First Meatstick to feature Japanese lyrics.
Teases:
· Funky Bitch tease in The Moma Dance
· Funk #49 tease in Tweezer
Notes: The Moma Dance included Funky Bitch teases and Tweezer included Funk #49 teases. This was the first ever Meatstick to feature Japanese lyrics and Trey flubbed the words while attempting to sing them. Bouncing included a brief outro solo from Trey, which replaced the usual closing guitar lick. This show was re-broadcast on Japanese television.