- The Meatstick
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Meatstick is a song by the improvisational rock band Phish. It was never released on an album. The song has been played only 33 times, last performed 8.5.2011.[1] It debuted on the 1997 tour of Europe, specifically on June 25 at L'Aeronef, Euralille.
The title came about after an incident behind the scenes at one of the shows of that tour. The band and crew were raiding for food in an icebox that only contained sausage-like items, causing problems for the vegetarian bassist. The verses of the song seem to concern the joint experience and attempted communications between at least two individuals who have embarked on a psychedelic journey together.
The Dance
Phish set out to break the Guinness book record for the most number of people dancing exactly the same to a song. Macarena held that record. During the tour Phish introduced the song and the dance to the audience; prepping them for the festival. In Oswego NY the Guinness book officials were there in hopes to capture the record breaking event on video. Sadly, the audience did not complete the dance. The hand movements were correct, but when Phish did the jump to switch sides in effort to come full circle... the audience continued to face front. There were thousands of people there but the record was not broken.
The Meatstick dance was first introduced on July 3, 1999 at Lakewood Amphitheatre, Atlanta, GA by Trey Anastasio, and then reprised on the 4th with thirty crew members doing the dance.
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Meatstick Dance courtesy of phish.net
New Year's Eve 2010
On December 31, 2010, Phish played The Meatstick Dance with a cast of characters representing different ethnic backgrounds singing and dancing to the song. Phish teamed up with David Gallo in New York City to create this event. At one point, the dancers escort the band off stage for the 4-man band to return from the rear of Madison Square Garden on the Hot Dog used in a previous show. Suspended over the crowd, the band members threw out commemorative foam hot dogs and rode to the stage to finish the song alongside the dancers. Meanwhile, red hot dog-shaped balloons fell from the ceiling of Madison Square Garden and filled the floor section. The length of the stunt at nearly 20 minutes. The clock struck 12:00AM on 1/1/11 as the song came to a close and the arena sang Aulde Lang Syne where thousands of balloons and a large amount of streamers were filling the arena. The Meatstick was followed with "After Midnight".[2]
The Hot Dog had reached infamy as a stunt used at a New Year's Eve spectacle years prior and has been donated to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (hanging in the lobby) for quite some time.
Notes
- ^ "Setlists". Phish.net. http://phish.net/setlists/?d=2011-08-05. Retrieved 2011-08-08.
- ^ http://www.jambands.com/news/2011/01/01/phish-revives-hot-dog-stunt-on-new-year-s-eve
Categories:- Phish songs
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