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.