Helping Friendly Podcast – "Draft! Top 25 Shows of the Century" (Oct 21, 2025)

Hosts: RJ, Brian, Megan (Osiris Media)
Theme: The hosts draft and debate the 25 most essential Phish shows from 2000–2025, examining which concerts best exemplify the band’s evolution, musical peaks, and the unique fan experience of the 21st century.

Episode Overview

In this dynamic, nearly 2.5-hour episode, the HFPod team embarks on an ambitious, snake-draft style selection of Phish’s top 25 shows since Big Cypress (Jan 1, 2000) through September 2025. Their aim is to create not just a list of the “best” concerts but an archival resource—shows that collectively represent the musical achievements, improvisational highs, lore, and spirit of Phish in the modern era.

Throughout, the hosts debate the tension between “essential” and just “best,” the importance of historical context and flow, and the evolving criteria for what makes a complete Phish show. Along the way, they swap tour stories, address fan expectations, and reflect on their personal and communal relationship with the band’s music.

Major Segments, Picks & Insights

1. Defining the Draft – Rules & Rationale

• (02:25–09:30)

  • The draft is not a ranked list; it’s about “what needs to be in the archive.” Each host works to ensure “the 25 essential shows” spanning 2000 to the present.
  • Any year is eligible, multiple shows from one year possible; not every year represented.
  • Strong emphasis on group process and historical value over individual favorites or attendance bias.

• Notable Quotes:

  • Megan (01:01): “I feel a lot of responsibility for the archive... there are beloved shows that aren’t necessarily perfect musically.”
  • Brian (02:59): “This is not about any of our individual lists... The entire goal is to present to the archive the 25 essential shows.”

2. Draft Kicks Off – First Six Picks and Criteria Tension

• (14:58–23:25):
  • RJ starts with 10/28/21 Vegas (Sci-Fi Soldier "gag show"): Rewards risk, cohesion, jams, and when “the gag works.”
    • RJ (16:17): “When the gag works and the music is absolutely stunningly perfect... it’s so rare and so shocking.”
  • Megan picks 12/30/18 MSG: “Absolutely perfect show from start to finish,” highlights segues and high energy.
    • “The hose was so intense I looked down and was driving 90 [mph]... creating this list is going to be so epic.” (19:00)
  • Brian takes 6/14/00 Fukuoka, Japan: Unique, ambient/millennial “Eno” sound—“the sexiest Phish show ever.”
    • “This is as close as Phish has ever gotten to presenting a set infused with the music of Brian Eno.” (25:20)

3. Historical Stakes & Modern Landmarks

• (29:31–46:28):
  • Brian adds 8/31/12 Dick’s ("Fuck Your Face" Alphabet Gag): Marks a permanent shift in post-reunion unpredictability and creative energy.
    • “Here was the kick in the ass the band needed.”
  • Megan returns to 2/28/03 Nassau ("Destiny Unbound" bustout/Tweezer—legendary), a consensus “must-have” for both setlist and jamming.
    • “Boss move to play [Soul Shakedown] after a monster jam.” (40:12)

4. Thematic Picks and Flow

• (44:27–56:10):
  • RJ goes with 7/27/14 Merriweather (“Tweezerfest”): Applauded for sheer fun, Segue Fest nature, not just type-II jamming.
    • “I had people with me who’d never seen Phish before, and it was just: what is this?” (45:41)
  • RJ & Brian wax rhapsodic about 8/22/15 Magnaball: “Festival Phish” at its peak—weather, music, drive-in jam, camaraderie.
  • Megan brings in 7/27/25 SPAC ("Tweezer Reprise Fest"): Celebrating 4.0 era innovation and a tour closer that exceeded recent norms.

5. Mount Rushmores, Festivals, and “Gag” Shows

• Picks include:
  • 7/25/17 MSG (Jam-Filled Baker’s Dozen Night): An “instant classic” breaking out long jams and new possibilities.
    • Brian (58:46): “The jamming is wild... just so many more options at their disposal now.”
  • 8/3/03 IT Festival: Tower Jam, ambitious third-set architecture, and another six-hour listening experience.

6. Superjams and Historic Recaps

• (77:40–85:03):
  • RJ selects 7/14/19 Alpine Valley (Ruby Waves 38-min jam, tour-closer bustouts): “If it was just for the second set, maybe not; but with all the bustouts... absolutely has to be on the list.” (77:40)
  • 12/31/23 MSG ("Gamehenge New Year's"): For lore and spectacle—Gamehenge returns with a stellar Bag jam.
    • “People were crying on the floor—you gotta have it.” (85:03)

7. Show Representation—Venue, Era, and Jam Landmarking

• Key comments on why shows/years are picked or not:
  • “Do we have too much 2021?” “Is it okay to have no 2009 or 2010?”
  • “Best shows have Tweezers.”

8. Recent & Underrepresented Years

• A wave of 2020s picks:
  • 8/31/21 Shoreline (Soul Planet 47-min jam), 8/6/21 Deer Creek (double 30-min jams), 8/15/24 Mondegreen, 4/22/22 MSG Whale Show, and recent MSG runs.
• 2013/2016/2004/2000–2010 Representation:
  • 2013 Atlantic City (11/1/13), 12/30/16 MSG, 6/19/04 SPAC (32-min Piper), 7/3/11 Superball IX, 7/11/00 Deer Creek (Moby Dick Fest)—balancing deep jams and important transitions.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Historical Context vs. Musical Perfection
  • Brian (02:59): “We are not in competition... if someone makes a pick that we all disagree with, we may do that, but the idea is support and encouragement.”
• On Draft Tension
  • Megan (01:01): “Pressure to build this list – we want to get it right.”
  • Brian (02:24): “A 40-minute jam can drop in a ho-hum show and the rest is kinda like, ‘eh.’”
• On the ‘Fuck Your Face’ Show (8/31/12):
  • Brian (31:50): “There’s before times and after times.”
• On Phish “Gags” That Deliver
  • RJ (16:17): “When the gag works and the music is stunningly perfect... it’s so rare.”
• On Emotional & Community Moments
  • Megan (23:25): “I bought mushrooms from someone in a Care Bear outfit... then flushed them, convinced security was watching me.”
  • Brian (83:39): “I kept my son up until midnight... while watching [Gamehenge]. Easily one of the top 200 moments in my life.”
• On Recency and Legacy
  • Brian (55:52): “A lot of recency bias on those Fish.net ratings, but... instant classic.”
  • Megan (58:33): “Just happened! So exciting.”

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Timestamps | |------------------------------------|--------------| | Draft Rules, Philosophy, Snake | 02:25–09:31 | | Early Draft Picks (2000–2018) | 14:58–46:28 | | Fukuoka, Japan & Show “Flow” | 23:25–29:31 | | Festival, Gag, and Modern Era | 44:27–56:10 | | Discussion: Representation, Years | 65:44–74:55 | | 2013, Recent Shows, 2024/Future | 111:20–139:10| | Recap, Reflection, Community | 134:56–141:48| | Ending & Next Episodes Teaser | 139:23–end |

Final Thoughts & Community Invitation

• The hosts wrap by reading their complete top 25, reflecting on "tough cuts," and inviting listeners to share their thoughts, critiques, and alternative picks.
• Brian (137:51): “Challenging, rewarding, fun exercise... I went through every one of these shows and made a long list—it was like 79 shows. Now I have to cut this into a third.”
• Megan (137:06): “I'm going to organize it chronologically for socials—this is pretty epic.”

Takeaways

• The essential modern Phish canon is both historical and alive—shows stand out for jams, lore, collective experience, and reinvention.
• Many “instant classics” are post-2015, but foundational concerts from early 2000s, 2.0, return-run, and pandemic eras remain crucial.
• Representation of years and venues spurs debate; the value of “gag” and festival shows is affirmed.
• The hosts emphasize communal spirit over competition, with celebration of Phish’s continual surprises and the depth of the archive.
• Listeners are encouraged to engage, debate, and re-listen—this is both a snapshot and an open conversation.

For a full, chronological, and venue-listed Top 25, follow HFPod on socials.
Next Week: Fluffhead Mount Rushmore!