It’s almost that time of year: As another Phish New Year’s run at Madison Square Garden approaches, CEG Presents has laid out its slate of 2025 pre- and after-parties in New York City. This year’s roster includes Medeski Martin Metzger & Cline, viral sensation Just Tat Em, Pink Talking Fish performing Animals, and more. As is tradition, $1 from every ticket sold will go to Phish’s WaterWheel Foundation non-profit.
This year’s series is anchored by the return of all-star team-up Medeski Martin Metzger & Cline, the combo of Medeski Martin & Wood collaborators John Medeski (keys) and Billy Martin (drums) with guitarists Scott Metzger of Joe Russo’s Almost Dead and and Nels Cline of Wilco that has conducted annual late-night, post-Phish summits in NYC since 2019. This year, these four masters will use Le Poisson Rouge as the vessel for their cosmic improvisations, with late-night shows scheduled at the Greenwich Village club on December 29th and 30th.
The 2025 CEG Phish MSG After-Parties series will start before Phish even plays its first note at MSG with a Sunday, December 28th Steely Dead pre-party at The Cutting Room. The hybrid Steely Dan and Grateful Dead cover band will hit the stage at 4:00 p.m., four blocks away from the World’s Most Famous Arena.
Later that same night, another hybrid jam tribute will take over The Cutting Room as Pink Talking Fish performs Pink Floyd‘s 1977 album Animals in its entirety. PTF will put its own unique twist on the classic LP, intertwining covers of Talking Heads and Phish between the album tracks. Fans are encouraged to dress up like animals.
If you spend a reasonable amount of time in the Phish-memoverse (get a job), you’ve probably come across Just Tat Em. The viral personality born Justin Barona has built a considerable following for his Instagram covers, celebrated more for their unabashed individualism than adherence to the source material. Just Tat Em takes requests and has gained the Phish community’s attention for covers of “Backwards Down the Number Line”, “Manteca“, “The Line“, and others.
Well, now you can see Just Tat Em live in concert. Also on Sunday, December 28th, Just Tat’Em will perform at Hill Country Live, taking the stage at midnight for a “jam set.”
View this post on Instagram
In addition to Medeski Martin Metzger & Cline’s afters at Le Poisson Rouge on December 29th and 30th, CEG will present additional late-night shows in Manhattan on both nights, giving late-night crowds leaving The Garden a choose-your-own-adventure scenario.
On Monday, December 29th, the series continues with TalkPeck SoundSystem at The Cutting Room. Featuring Luke Bemand (lespecial), Ben Atkind (Houseplant, formerly Goose), Adrian Tramontano (Twiddle), Matt McNulty (Host of Ghosts), and Kiran Edwards (Residual Groove), the triptych tribute to Talking Heads, Vulfpeck, and LCD Soundsystem will unite for a rare performance with special guests to be revealed.
Finally, on Tuesday, December 30th, the Tad Cautious x Femme House Dance Party at Hill Country Live will offer one last chance to dance ahead of New Year’s Eve. Just a few minutes’ walk from MSG, the all-night dance party will feature SiriusXM Phish Radio and The Bunny host Tad Cautious alongside female opportunity and empowerment non-profit Femme House. With additional funky remixes and deep grooves from Emily Bass and Cheetatah, the party is set to rage until 3:00 a.m.
Check out the full rundown of the 2025 CEG Presents Phish MSG New Year’s pre- and after-parties below, complete with ticketing links. We’ll see you out there!
A Phish Pre-Party: Steely Dead – A Sonic Fusion of The Grateful Dead and Steely Dan
Venue: The Cutting Room
Date & Time: December 28, 2025 – 4 PM Show / 3 PM Doors
Tickets: $25 Adv / $30 Week Of Show
Purchase Tickets
Pink Talking Fish presents: ANIMALS
Venue: The Cutting Room
Date & Time: December 28, 2025 – 11:59 PM
Tickets: $32.50 Adv
Purchase Tickets
Just Tat Em
Venue: Hill Country Live
Date & Time: December 28, 2025 – 11:59 PM
Tickets: $20 Adv
Purchase Tickets
TalkPeck SoundSystem
Venue: The Cutting Room
Date & Time: December 29, 2025 – 11:30 PM Doors / 11:59 PM Show
Tickets: $20 Adv / $25 Week Of Show
Purchase Tickets
Medeski Martin Metzger & Cline
Venue: Le Poisson Rouge
Dates: December 29 & 30, 2025 – 11:59 PM
Tickets: $45 GA Advance
Purchase Tickets – Dec 29
Purchase Tickets – Dec 30
Tad Cautious x Femme House Dance Party
Venue: Hill Country Live
Date & Time: December 30, 2025 – 11 PM Doors / 11:59 PM Show
Tickets: $20 Early Bird
Purchase Tickets
