, attached to 1986-06-01

Review by kipmat

kipmat It was at this gig, the band's first ever performance in Boston, that "new guy" Page McConnell finally proved his worth in Phish, and solidified the quartet lineup that has survived the decades. Stuck on a yacht in the Boston Harbor with over 173 graduating prep school students, guitarist Trey Anastasio was apparently feeling the ill effects of the tide, as he led the band into 19 consecutive performances of "Anarchy". The disoriented preppies started issuing violent threats to the band after the fourth version, but just at the moment that weapons were brandished, McConnell determinedly broke into "Ride Captain Ride" on his Fender Rhodes, and the crazed graduates were taken aback by the sound of music that was actually familiar to them. Once Anastasio and shirtless drummer Jon Fishman had extricated themselves from the mob riot, they joined in the performance of this Aquarian Age chestnut, and soon the audience of uniformed males was cheering for more. Like the consummate professional entertainer he was, the keyboardist began the arpeggios to "Foreplay/Long Time", and the threats were overtaken by demands for more "Rock And Roll!!!" For the next hour and 87 minutes, McConnell led this fledgling band through a host of classic and contemporary rock cover tunes, including "Get It On (Bang A Gong)", "Toys In The Attic", "Cuts Like A Knife", "Domo Arigato Mr. Roboto", "Carry On My Wayward Son", "Wake Me Up Before You Gogo", a surprisingly heartfelt "Sharp Dressed Man", and a raging "99 Red Balloons", before bringing the night to a close with a raucous and emotionally draining sing-along of "Piano Man". Although Page McConnell is typically modest and taciturn about this evening, the other three band members acknowledge that this show was a turning point in their career. Bass player Mike Gordon wrote in his memoirs, "It's remarkable that we made it back to shore that night, and even more remarkable that all of our gear still worked afterwards."


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