Phish's 2010 Halloween 'mask'? Little Feat's 'Waiting for Columbus'

Well, Phish fans, we were all wrong.

At least the five dozen of us who ventured guesses about which musical “mask” the Vermont jam band would don for Halloween, in response to guitarist Trey Anastasio’s recent comments to Pop & Hiss about what this year’s choice might be.

Turns out, for those who don’t know already, it was Little Feat’s “Waiting for Columbus,” the  L.A.-based, Southern-rooted group’s 1978 double live album.

Pop & Hiss readers who weighed in leaned heavily toward something from Led Zeppelin, Frank Zappa or Jimi Hendrix, after Anastasio told me a few weeks ago, without revealing the title, that “this year, this one’s for me."

“The one we picked, I’m going to get more out of this as a musician than I ever have before,” he said. “Three songs into it, I called everybody and told them, ‘None of the other ones -- I wouldn’t think, hopefully -- will have nearly the effect on my playing this one’s going to.' ”

In the Phishbill program distributed to those attending the band’s performance over the weeknd in Atlantic City, N.J., Anastasio took that comment a step further, telling writer David Fricke, “We may have learned more from Little Feat than any other band.”

I’d had an impression it might be “Layla” by Derek and the Dominos, and with the Southern rock and blues that run through that double album, I like to think I wasn’t way off the mark. For those interested in the full set list, here's a link to the JamBands.com site with more details.

To the reader who signed his name as Captain zoots, a consolation prize is in order for guessing the right band, wrong album with “Little Feat — ‘Time Loves a Hero.’ ”

But to Aaron, who wrote, “I think something recent is in order; who even remembers Little Feet?"[sic]

Um, Phish, evidently.

For all those who pined for albums by Zeppelin, Lady Gaga, Genesis, Bruce Springsteen, MGMT, Pink Floyd, My Bloody Valentine, Kriss Kross, David Bowie, Radiohead, NWA, Roger Waters or the Minutemen? It’s never too early to start campaigning for 2011.

-- Randy Lewis
 

Comments

[mal]

who remembers Little Feat ??? !!!! we do, still enjoy them and still see them live whenever we can !!!

they never went away!

[lifetime Laker]

Little Feat, at their peak, was one of America's greatest bands with the brilliant Bill Payne and the late great and magical Lowell George they simply ripped the joint up every time they played. Phish could learn a lot from LF....it doesn't take 20 minutes to jam cause there's a fatman in the bathtub with the blues.

[Captain Zoots]

Couldn't be happier with the choice, Didn't think they would cover a live album, but I am glad they did. Wish I could of went. Although with this community it's not too hard to enjoy a show from home. With the costume contests and constant updates I feel like I was there.

[Phriend]

It was the best choice for the band. I was at the show and could not stop dancing. Way to go boys. You've outdone yourselves yet again.