Trey Anastasio Tells Neil Young & Willie Nelson Stories

Last night (Oct 27), Trey Anastasio told an epic tale of playing with Willie Nelson and Neil Young at Farm Aid's 1998 concert.   (Thanks Jambase!)

Playing at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium, Trey relates -- in rather humorous fashion -- suggesting to Willie Nelson they play "Moonlight In Vermont" and to Neil Young they play “Powderfinger”. Neil warns Trey that he is not much of a planner ends up joining Phish’s set for a 26 minute jam on “Down By The River.” (See below only 1st 19 minutes.)



On October 3, 1998, Phish performed at the Farm Aid Benefit, near Chicago, IL, with Young. Setlist notes from Andy's Phish Page indicate that Young joined Phish onstage for "Runaway Jim". Next came an electric instrumental that is best described as "Arc"-like. This was followed by a monster 26 minute jam on "Down By the River".

Judge for your self, but this version of "Down By the River" is considered to be of the top 10 performances of the song. Certainly the best ever non Ol-Black version. Neil uses a hollow body Gretsch guitar (Trey Anastasio's older Languedoc guitars, hand-made by Phish soundman Paul Languedoc) and delivers some heavy hand blows to the body at various jam points. Massive shredding ensues.

The Trey and Neil duel (@ 12:45 above) is epic. We can't honestly we've ever seen another guitarist ever push Neil so far to the dark side. Unfortunately, the YouTube version is *only* 19 minutes long.

  Phish and Neil Young - Farm Aid 1998   Photo by Barry Brechsian   Back in 2011, here's what Phish's Trey Anastasio has to say about Neil Young:

If I was ever going to teach a master class to young guitarists, the first thing I would play them is the first minute of Neil Young's original "Down by the River" solo. It's one note, but it's so melodic, and it just snarls with attitude and anger.

It's like he desperately wants to connect.

Neil's playing is like an open tube from his heart right to the audience. In the Nineties, we played a festival with Crazy Horse. At the end of "Like a Hurricane," Neil went into this feedback solo that was more like a sonic impressionist painting. He was about six feet back from the microphone, singing so you could just hear him over the colorful waves of hurricane-like sound.

I think about that moment a lot when I'm playing. Traditional concepts of rhythm and keys are great, but music is like a giant ocean. It's a big, furious place, and there are a lot of trenches that haven't been explored.

Neil is still blazing a trail for people who are younger than him, reminding us you can break artistic ground.

More on Phish and Neil Young.

---

---

Phish and Neil Young

Phish and Neil Young - Farm Aid 1998
Photo by Barry Brechsian

Phish and Neil Young have had a few jams together over the years.

Phish have covered a number of Neil Young's songs including "Albuquerque", "Cinnamon Girl", and "Cortez the Killer" according to the Covers Project.

Band leader Trey Anastasio has stated in interviews that Tonight's The Night influenced the production of Phish's Farmhouse release. The song "Thrasher" influenced Phish's Tom Marshall when composing "The Wedge" (Source: The Phish Companion: A Guide to the Band and Their Music, Second Edition).

Phish has performed with Neil Young at the Farm Aid Benefit and the Bridge School Benefit Concert.



On October 3, 1998, Phish performed at the Farm Aid Benefit, near Chicago, IL, with Young. Setlist notes from Andy's Phish Page indicate that Young joined Phish onstage for "Runaway Jim". Next came an electric instrumental that is best described as "Arc"-like. This was followed by a monster 26 minute jam on "Down By the River".

Judge for your self, but this version of "Down By the River" is considered to be of the top 10 performances of the song. Unfortunately, the YouTube version is *only* 19 minutes long.

Later in the month on October 17, 1998, Phish performed at the Bridge School Benefit Concert at the Shoreline Amphitheatre, Mountain View, CA, with Young. They played "Helpless" together.

On the second day of the concert October 18, Phish and Neil Young performed the Ian Tyson song "Four Strong Winds" with Sarah McLaughlin on vocals. They also played Dylan's "I Shall Be Released" together and Young jammed with Phish on "Harry Hood".

Also see more on Neil Young inspirations, influences and collaborations.

---