Monday 03/25/2013 by lumpblockclod

THE ULTIMATE PHISH NERDGASM PART 2: FROM 64 TO 16

(Note: Mockingbird Foundation volunteers often participate in Type II Cast Phish podcasts. For this series of episodes, we thought we would cross-post it to the Phish.net audience to allow them to chime in and play along. Special thanks to Steve Olker for producing Type II Cast. As always, if you enjoy the content here, please donate to The Mockingbird Foundation. Plus, don't forget to preorder The Phish Companion, 3rd Edition.)

If this is the first you’re hearing about the Ultimate Phish NerdgasmTM, stop now and go read (and listen to) Part 1 before going any further.

Last week we unveiled the bracket for what we’ve termed the Ultimate Phish Nerdgasm, a March Madness-style tournament where Chris Glushko, Steve Olker and I perform a public service and tell all of you what the best Phish jam of all-time is because, as Chris eloquently put it, “Nobody votes on Type II Cast. We tell you what's better." Of course we say that tongue planted firmly in cheek, but we do hope you appreciate our attempt to rank the unrankable. If you haven’t yet listened to the podcast and would like to do so spoiler-free, I recommend heading over to typeiicast.com and streaming the podcast. If you have already listened, a recap follows after the jump...

The first two rounds of the Ultimate Phish Nerdgasm were a veritable bloodbath as we reduced the field of 64 down to our Sweet 16. Are these the best 16 jams Phish has ever played? In a word, no. Setting aside the fact that our self-imposed rules (and, some would say, our poor judgment) kept some amazing jams out of the final 64, the way the seedings worked out meant some otherworldly jams got caught in the crossfire while others managed to skate through against lesser competition. For more on that, we’ll break it down region by region:

East Regional

Most Exciting Matchup: One of the most exciting matchups in the first round saw the 11/23/97 “Gin” overpower the 6/26/04 “Boogie On” -> “Ghost.” Either of these jams would have been worthy representatives in the Sweet 16, yet only one made it out of the first round. Unfortunately, the celebration was short-lived for the “Gin,” as it ran straight into the jaws of the “Viper” in the second round.

Biggest Upset: On paper there wasn’t one as all eight higher seeds advanced. But the fact that the 8/19/12 “Crosseyed” -> “Light” -> “Sally” -> “Crosseyed” unanimously took down a Fall ‘97 power in the form of the 11/19/97 “Wolfman’s Brother” has to be seen as at least something of an upset.

Midwest Regional

Most Exciting Matchup: When “Tweezer” goes up against “Tweezer,” fans are always in for an exciting matchup. Had this been strictly a battle between “Tweezers,” the 2/28/03 Nassau version might have prevailed. But, the 12/6/97 Auburn Hills masterpiece brought “Izabella” along for the ride and her funk jam was enough to put the “Tweezabella” over the top.

Biggest Upset: The biggest upset of the entire tournament took place in the Midwest Region as the much-maligned 8/15/04 Coventry “Melt” played the part of the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles taking down the second seeded 11/23/94 “Tweezer.” Few saw it coming, but a jam from Coventry, of all places, can claim to be one of the top 32 jams in Phishtory. Or the Ultimate Phish Nerdgasm anyway.

South Regional

Most Exciting Matchup: So many to choose from in the South Regional, but for my money it’s the 7/10 2.0 duel between the 7/29/03 Star Lake “Crosseyed” and the 6/20/04 SPAC “Drowned.” Neither of these jams takes its foot off the gas for even a second, but the “Drowned” emerged a 2-1 winner. Was it because of this video? We can’t rule it out.

Biggest Upset: The Big Cypress representative (12/31/99 “Melt” -> “Catapult”) bowing out in the first round has to be considered a major upset, even if it lost to a jam from another power conference, the Island Tour “Twist.”

West Regional

Most Exciting Matchup: In what was termed a battle between good and evil the sunshine and rainbows of the 8/13/97 “Gumbo” prevailed over the unholy jam of the night, the 4/16/04 “Twist.” While everyone likes to root for good, let’s be honest: it won on a blown call.

Biggest Upset: On paper, it’s the sixth seeded 8/10/97 “Cities” unseating the 12/14/95 “Halley’s” -> “NICU” -> “Slave.” Really, though, the Radio City Ghost not making it into the Sweet 16 has to be considered among the biggest upsets of the tournament, but that’s exactly what happened courtesy of the 12/29/95 “Real Gin.”

Looking Ahead

Toughest Road to the Final Four: At this point there are no easy matchups left, but the East Regional looks particularly brutal, with four jams that would all be worthy representatives in the Final Four. For any of the lower seeds to pull it off, though, they’ll need to survive the 40 Minutes of Hell that is the 12/29/94 “Bowie.”

Smoothest Road to the Final Four: Again, there aren’t any easy matchups left but, if forced to pick one, if nothing else, the Albany “YEM” won’t have to take down a number two seed on its way to the Final Four.

Listen to the Round 1 & Round 2 Podcast at Type II Cast

The updated bracket can be found here. Links to stream all 64 jams on the bracket can be found here.

Finally, don’t forget to tune in next week when we complete the Nerdgasm and declare the Greatest Phish Jam of All-Time.

If you liked this blog post, one way you could "like" it is to make a donation to The Mockingbird Foundation, the sponsor of Phish.net. Support music education for children, and you just might change the world.


Comments

, comment by MiguelSanchez
MiguelSanchez bracket looks good. that's an interesting "gin-off" coming down the pipe. riverport vs real gin...yowser... tough tough call
, comment by i_yam_highdrogin
i_yam_highdrogin "Really, though, the Radio City Ghost not making it into the Sweet 16 has to be considered among the biggest upsets of the tournament, but that’s exactly what happened courtesy of the 12/29/95 “Real Gin.”

Huddled in a cold, lonely bed somewhere in the bowels of western New York, the great and powerful LawnMemo is quietly crying himself to sleep.
, comment by LawnMemo
LawnMemo Tim Donaghy'd. You were paid off, I will wait for the facts to come out. Radio City Ghost is too complex for most mortals to understand. Real Gin is cute for the kids, men build empires to Radio City Ghost.
, comment by FunkyCFunkyDo
FunkyCFunkyDo @LawnMemo said:
Tim Donaghy'd. You were paid off, I will wait for the facts to come out. Radio City Ghost is too complex for most mortals to understand. Real Gin is cute for the kids, men build empires to Radio City Ghost.
Some men just want to watch the world burn. 5.22.00 Ghost is a masterpiece.
, comment by Zappa84
Zappa84 What about the Tweezer and Sand from the 12/16/99 show? The Chalkdust Torture from that show was also one of the best versions I've ever heard, if not the best. 12/16/99 is definitely an underrated show.
, comment by MiguelSanchez
MiguelSanchez @LawnMemo said:
Tim Donaghy'd. You were paid off, I will wait for the facts to come out. Radio City Ghost is too complex for most mortals to understand. Real Gin is cute for the kids, men build empires to Radio City Ghost.
yeah, the greatest segue phish ever pulled off is merely cute for the kids...
, comment by CrateDigger34
CrateDigger34 Tough choices. There were a lot of great potential omits at the beginning (burst bubbles for 12/13/97 Ya Mar and 12/7/99 Halley's to name two notable exclusions), but in the end, I think the championship will (and probably should) be predictable. Riverport Gin vs. Albany YEM, probably the two most "complete" jams of all-time and almost always my first choices for a first-time listener.
, comment by themindpilot
themindpilot Everyone is forgetting about the best phish jam ever

Coventry Soundcheck Jam

, comment by Ravinus
Ravinus It's a travesty that Melt> Catapult didn't make it to the Final Four. That being said, losing to the Island Tour Twist isn't so bad. But, still. It was 80 degrees in the dead of winter with an impending new millenium when that Melt broke out.
, comment by Ravinus
Ravinus @LawnMemo said:
Tim Donaghy'd. You were paid off, I will wait for the facts to come out. Radio City Ghost is too complex for most mortals to understand. Real Gin is cute for the kids, men build empires to Radio City Ghost.
Agreed. Puny mortals just like what they are told to like.
, comment by andrewrose
andrewrose I didn't even see where you could actually vote. And now that the 12/31/99 Melt is out, don't think I'm going to bother, either..
, comment by pauly
pauly wheres, Runaway jim 11-29-97
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSO0H8PtEPY
, comment by antelopehood
antelopehood Who can argue with any of these jams? Job well done. However, the Sand> Quadrophonic Topplings from Big Cypress should have been included in this bracket. That is all.
, comment by dustinthomlinson
dustinthomlinson ALBANY YEM!!! whoohoo I'm happy to see this post!
I hope this isn't too distracting but I have some good friends who are hosting a pretty intense contest for the next few months and I want you all to know about it.

Relaxsonic is hosting the contests for FREE FESTIVAL TICKETS, equipment, and other prize packs!
The relaxSonic entertainment experience is a mixture of performance,demonstration, and interaction, with some RELAAAXING vibrational frequencies to send your body and mind to far off destinations!
Yesterday was the beginning of the Final Four showdown for RelaxSonic’s contest!
Things are getting REEEAAALLLY interesting and we would love for you to join in on the fun of the future contests.
RelaxSonic is giving away festi tickets, prize packs with CD’s of their new album and more!
JOIN THE CONTEST HERE—–> http://bit.ly/Yv1wYi
RELAXSONIC HOME PAGE—-> http://www.relax-sonic.com
LISTEN TO RELAXSONIC—-> http://soundcloud.com/relaxsonic
LIKE EM ON FACEBOOK!!----> https://www.facebook.com/relaXsonic?fref=ts

Good luck to your contestants, and we hope to see you with the SPACE AMBASSADORS SOON!! :D

PEACE AND LOVE !
, comment by nwilkers
nwilkers Love this thing, so nerdy but great...hard to believe the sky 95 halloween didn't make it even as a 65th song play in game
, comment by GenericEric
GenericEric I wish someone would seed all these shows on etree! Except perhaps for the official releases and stuff... haven't heard a few of these jams but would really like to!
, comment by GenericEric
GenericEric And this is a loser!: The Stash Jam here, plus the companion show...

07/02/97
http://bt.etree.org/details.php?id=534806 />
07/01/97
http://bt.etree.org/details.php?id=534766
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