The Jam Charts · phish.net's good stuff
The phish.net curators flag the versions that go somewhere - the ones worth pulling the tapes for. This is all of it, counted our way. Tap a song for its history, a date for the night.
Chartings by year
When the good stuff happened, by the curators' count. Tap a bar (or a year below) to read that year's charts.
The 1987 charts
46 entries · 15 nightsDebut. The Dude of Life on vocals. The Dude sounds kind of frustrated and angry in this version.
Debut. Mike's bass playing is noticeably strong and funky even in this first version.
Debut.
Cool segue into "Dave's Energy Guide" out of the vocal jam ("VJ").
This version features a short jam with nice interplay between Page on the organ and Trey starting after 2:30; it's lilting and pretty. Then it sort of plods along for a few minutes, but a nice second jam emerges at about 5:30. Good -> "Antelope," too.
Debut. First version includes a four minute jam before the final verse with that familiar dark vibe to it.
Another early version with a jam following the lyrics and composed sections. This one is quite rocking and has a great vibe to it.
Slow, slow tempo. What sounds like a harmonica is played in the early part of the jam, maybe by Page? The jam then gets spacey with echo effects employed; it's kind of a dumb jam but enjoyable nevertheless, and in that sense, captures the spirit of "Makisupa" beautifully.
First known performance. All performances until 9/24/88 were short, about 4 1/2 minutes long, and contained most, but not all of the composed portions of the complete version.
Good dissonance and great shredding by Trey in a spirited early version.
The debut includes both the highly composed section we now think of as The Curtain, as well as the flowing and spriralling instrumental section familiar to us as the With jam. Melodies and musical ideas from this classic would later be incorporated into "Reba" and "Rift," while songs which debuted…
Debut. No recording available.
-> in from "AC/DC Bag." The first 2:10 is the transition jam between songs. Great recording quality and typical of many early versions in which Trey's solo is followed by a Page-led solo. Also one of 8 "Bag" -> "Possum" pairings in '87 - '88.
First recorded version includes the lyrical section and a very brief closing following the final refrain.
Screaming maniacs VJ.
First extended, "Type II" version. The jam veers away from the standard at about 7:50. Has moments similar to sections of "Fluffhead," "DEG"-like jamming, and a bluesy, Allman Brothers-like vibe. A strong early version that any "Bowie" fan ought to check out.
Debut establishes band's structure for covering this ZZ Top song, with a Page solo after the second verse, a Trey solo and building jam after the third, and a final, closing verse. Great organ playing on this one.
Strong early "Hood" includes a long, slow-tempo intro (to 3:50) with dogs barking in the background, and a soaring and unusually long (for this period) Trey-led jam, prompting Fishman to comment "that's why I'm in the band."
Gotta love the dogs, Marley and/or others barking in the background throughout. The Curtain section is very precise, and filled with a sense of energy. Listening along, you can imagine the band had practiced the composed section extensively. The With jam begins with delicate, lofty soloing by Trey,…
First ever "Wilson" chant from the band in a stretched out intro with nice droning organ and funky Trey comping before reaching the chord changes. When the band takes the volume down, some incredibly well-timed dog barking leads the band into a few lysergic, descending, atonal moments. Signature, b…
Very improvisational version, for any period. Has "Fluffhead"-like moments, a Grateful Dead vibe at times, and the jamming covers a huge range of exploratory ground. Must-hear early Phish improv.
Replete with Marley or some other dog's barking, the band launches an exploratory, improvisational take on the Little Feat classic. The driving jam features great Mike and Page, and predictably rapid-fire Trey action. Becoming increasingly abstract after 10:30, the playing begins to settle, and Mik…
-> from an improvisational "Skin it Back," this early nod to the War classic works to cool down the fury from the preceding jam, as Trey humorously sings "La Bamba" lyrics over the "Low Rider" melody. Picking up a blues-tinged theme after 4:30, this great and grooving full-band improv rocks on and…
-> in from a fun "Low Rider Jam," you may initially hear Grateful Dead-like jamming in this blues-based instrumental. Trey leads the band into increasingly frenetic playing, and Mike and Fish heroically manage to keep up with the torrid pace. Settling down into a more groovy bent, Trey cleverly set…
The first version with lyrics sung rather than narrated. The jam follows a similar pattern to others from this period, with Trey strumming quite a bit while Page rocks the keyboard, but this one grows increasingly intense before seeming to veer towards "Possum." Instead, the jam explores more groun…
-> in from a strong "McGrupp." While all members contribute (Page's early playing is varied and inspiried) Trey dominates, slowly working Marley's "Stir It Up" into its more traditional form, the ensuing jam informed by lines warm and melodic, rich in tone. Beautiful, must-hear material.
A supremely odd version. "Makisupa" proper begins more than six minutes in, after the "Stir It Up Jam" comes to a full stop. The first few minutes feature Trey ad libbing, lyrics over a loose, playful jam. It's mostly weird, but the last minute of the jam is a long, magnificent segue -> "David Bowi…
Great, rocking version with an extended vocal jam that includes crazy, animal-like screaming.
Long, playful jam. The highlight is an absolutely gorgeous solo by Trey around 7:20-9:40.
Fish and Mike are noticeably strong in The Curtain section, despite some minor precision issues from Trey and Page. After the anthemic repeat which would evolve into "Rift," this With jam really takes off into some stunning and inspired playing by Trey, strengthened by colorful and delicate Page co…
Nice rocking vibe to the jam, with Page and Trey sort of trading licks at moments. The jam keeps on rocking, with no return to the "McGrupp" closing, and neatly -> to "Possum."
Strong early version. Some serious Trey raging on this one.
The jam has a great swinging, rocking vibe to it at first, and is very unlike the typical modern "Mike's" jam. Fish is noticeably strong as the energy of the jam builds. First time that "Hydrogen" follows "Mike's."
Leaves the standard fare at about 7:20, then meanders back. At 10:00, the jam makes a clean break for good. Some early space jamming, followed by an excellent blues jam at 13:15 that sounds like George Thorogood's "Bad To The Bone." Unfinished with -> to "JJLC."
This version is slower than 8/29/87, with crashing percussion throughout most of the jam; it remains pretty spacey throughout. Around 6:20, an ethereal jam develops, built around a Trey solo and some lovely accompaniment by Page. Much of this version sounds like screwing around, but the best part h…
Fierce playing by Trey on this intense version. Don't be fooled by the early date - this is an awesome version.
Great tension and energy building early in the jam, then there's a funky, rhythmic, 3+ minute section before "Marco."
As is typical in this era, a very pretty jam begins around 5:40 and lasts for a few minutes. Gorgeous version, one of the best.
A free-form jam, apparently played together with the band the Joneses opens the show, with Trey on drums at first. The jam structure improves once Trey jumps to guitar, and includes some "Low Rider" teases. -> to "Whipping Post."
In the first of what would become a frequent pairing in the years 1988-89, Trey uses the "blat" here as a sort of vocal segue into the opening drum fill of the classic Zappa cover "Peaches en Regalia".
Although primal iterations of some of the constituent parts had been performed as early as 1984, this performance marks the first known recording of the full, seven-part modern "Fluffhead." Even from this early date, the joyous, trill-filled Arrival section suggests the band's satisfaction that it…
First "McGrupp" to feature Page on the keyboards following the composed sections, rather than a whole band jam. Page's solo is dark and somewhat ominous, with nice background support from the others. Rather than return to close "McGrupp" formally, the jam continues and -> to…
Exceptionally powerful early version with excellent Trey/Page interplay and a huge peak. A very moving "Hood."
Soaring guitar soloing by Trey. Recording quality is quite good for the period.
Fun little bluesy jam opens Set III and precedes "Suzy." Includes Trey banter referencing the "Mike Gordon Band."
Trey deploys some cool, spacey, Duane-like tecniques (almost like he is playing with a bow) in the more open-ended second jam section.
Most charted songs
The vehicles. No surprises up top, which is exactly the point.
Freshly charted
The latest versions to earn a flag, newest night first.
Unidirectional and cohesive, the jam here is focused and the band is locked in from the start with little deviation to deliver a grin inducing and arm raising ride that accelerates to a very satisfying peak before crashing > into Llama.
Thematic jamming that bounces along at an even pace with little deviation and only slight modulation but stays focused without wasting time searching and delivers a steady stream of memorable moments that accumulate rather than peak.
One last 20-minute jam before the run ends. The jam starts out energetic, as most “RW” jams do, and keeps its pace for a while until it turns into time to try and see if the aliens can be summoned. Fish seems not ready to stop rocking, so he finds a way to get the rest of the band back on that path…
Rocking outro gives way to a fairly propulsive, beguiling groove textured with thick bass and then winds down over the course of several minutes in a decidedly off-kilter manner.
Trey’s relaxed comping immediately sets the tone of the jam from the onset, establishing a hazy low-key vibe. Mike then introduces a tonal pivot towards minor key territory which platforms a harmonically-rich and at times sci-fi textured atmosphere. As Page moves to the piano, more organic/clean pl…
> from a “Seven Below” you’ll want to check out. Clearly comfortable in the venue on the penultimate night of their run, the band drops “Plasma” in the two-hole of a four song suite lasting around an hour. The band toys with effects as the jam flows along effortlessly before > into a massive “C&P”.
Emerging from the song proper into a melodic take on the main Crosseyed riff thus setting the table with an emotional build. HEROIC riff from Trey around 840 channels Eno's St Elmo's Fire. We shift around 12:25 into an overdrive rock jam before fading back into an minimalistic groove. The return to…
This version earns its “noteworthy” status by way of a comical instrument switch-up between Trey and Fishman, as Trey takes on the drum chair to allow Fish to blow sweet music on his vacuum. Trey then introduces Fishman by a few of his famous aliases before ending the tune.
Shifts into minor at 6:30 and becomes darkly atmospheric with extensive Trey soloing as it builds dramatically to a final chorus of "breathe".
2026 picks up where ‘25 left off in regards to the extended intro section of this classic rocker. The band remains committed to ‘punching up’ the play here with synth effects as well as some additional clean leads from Trey to guide the affair into the song proper. The “Landlady” section still sadl…
Swampy murk-rock typical of “ASIHTOS” gives way to a patient, dreamy vibe at the 5:00 mark before quickly pivoting back towards psychedelic minor-key space rock. The band holds tight here as the music blooms inward, highlighting a loose but but directional vibe. The jam then threatens a full-on fun…
A laid-back opening then turns briefly darker for a minute around 11:00, after which the intensity picks up and the jam crests with a powerfully sustained peak, and finally washes away in a disconcerting ambient deconstruction which eventually > "Caspian".
Standard “Jim” play begins to hint at something more as Trey briefly abstracts his tone with effects towards the front of the jam. As the harmonic range opens up a bit, a downshift just before the 9:00 mark takes the jam into a murky zone. Fishman’s skittering rhythms underpin an almost futuristic…
39 years after its debut, "The Sloth" makes history with its first encore appearance and first version to feature a bonus segment of hard rock jamming tucked inside of the composition.
After warning some hot dogs to get out of his face, Trey is primed and ready to take Axilla deep again. The band is comfortable hanging in the murk of the song and doesn’t rush towards any of their “comfort jamming zones.” The jam feels gooey as it oozes along. Those who don’t need their jams to pe…
Cosmopolitan jam that stays fairly close to home rhythmically but departs melodically under Trey’s lead, brightening and decorating the neighborhood with a brisk and buoyant optimism and a gentle uplift before returning to the song to conclude.
Steps out of the box with low-key minor jamming which then becomes more mellow and dreamy as it transitions to major with synths and then > "Blaze On".
A dark, spooky, and contemplative affair that maintains forward momentum thanks to Fish’s pushing before shifting efficiently to an upbeat melodic climb with familiar motifs and a crushing climax that decays into an ambient sample laden froth.
Bliss-rock at the front gives way for more assertive, rocking play before a series of modulations begins a push and pull between major and minor key tonalities. Settling towards a funky rock zone, the band finds stability and turns the jam into am ebullient, funk-rock rave-up with a smidge of space…
The jam vehicle of the mid-2020s drives forward in a thick groove space right out of the gates. At 10:20 Trey moves into a rawk space before sliding into a Page/Trey duel that brings back memories of Fall 2021 Phish. Trey's chordal bursts at 16:15 push the jam into a new direction before building t…
A true slow build Piper, the jam builds like all Pipers do before locking in around a Trey and Fishman duel. A chordal peaking jam, this never strays too far from what Piper does best, but it's worth hearing all the same.
Momentarily bordering on plinko to kick things off, the jam becomes echo laden and accented with a dark groove as Trey briefly plays on the low end and Mike’s effects cast a shadow that serves as contrast to what follows. Trey’s lead becomes more linear and Page responds in lockstep. The whole affa…
Opening with snarling leads from Trey, this shifts at 9:40 into a more open terrain before Fishman takes command of the jam's direction. Wall of sound Mike and Page moves into a late-nite ambient space highlighted by Trey and Page trading delicate riffs around 13min. Moving deeper into the ether, t…
Emerging from a swirl of abstract sound, the world's lone Dark Puddle is vibrant and free of form; high quality abstract jamming. Building to a major-key peak around 1045 we descend into Mike-led Fuego quotes before another build just after 13min. We hear the road not taken at Sphere where the visu…
Moving into a familiar hypnotic groove space we shift at 9:15 to a deeper groove which thus opens the space for the jam to blossom. Mike and Fish dominate here before Trey shifts the band into Fuego.
Jam chart entries and descriptions are curated by phish.net, a project of the non-profit Mockingbird Foundation.