Helping Friendly Podcast

Episode: Mt. Rushmore: A Wave of Hope

Date: November 5, 2025
Host: Osiris Media (RJ, Brian, Megan)
Theme: Deep dive into Phish’s powerhouse jam vehicle “A Wave of Hope”—its origin, evolution, best live performances, and its status in the 4.0 era.

Episode Overview

This episode of HFPod tackles “A Wave of Hope” by Phish, tracing its rapid ascent to a signature jam vehicle in the band’s modern era. The hosts rank their Mt. Rushmore (top four) live versions, share data and personal anecdotes, debate qualities of jamming versus song structure, and reflect on why “Wave of Hope” has become one of Phish’s most reliable and inspirational live platforms.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Context & Evolution of “A Wave of Hope”

• COVID-Era Origins
  • Written by Trey Anastasio during quarantine; debuted via home studio videos and released on his 2020 solo album Lonely Trip.
  • “It was during March to July of 2020... Trey calls this album his message in a bottle for that time. And it’s a really hopeful album. 16 new songs and a punchy, rocking version of Wave of Hope was the second track.” —Megan [06:08]
• Adoption into Phish's Repertoire
  • First live debut at Beacon Jams (10/9/20); Phish debut at Deer Creek (8/7/21).
  • “By Deer Creek 2022, it really found its home in the second set…That was the first time it really went deep. It went for 18 minutes and now it’s really taken off as a second set monster.” —Megan [06:08]

2. Data & Jam Statistics

• 37 performances by Phish since debut (“averaging every 5.6 shows”).
• High “jam chart” rate: 16 of 37 performances qualify for the jam chart (roughly 43%, “one of the highest in the game”).
• “It’s a very reliable jam vehicle, one of the highest.” —Maggie [00:33]
• Comparisons to “Sigma Oasis” as another 4.0-era jam platform.
• “Wave of Hope is kind of our signature jam vehicle of the 4.0 era.” —Brian [11:42]
• Stat note: Only 29 different songs in Phish’s history have produced 30+ minute jams—“A Wave of Hope” is now among them. [35:24]

3. Why Is It Such a Successful Jam Vehicle?

• The lyrical metaphor (“Wave of Hope”) ties to musical structure and inspires improvisation.

• “Often feel propelled by a current, which otherwise is John Fishman. They feel like they’re gliding on water and then crescendo…They kind of remind me of ocean waves. That’s one of the reasons why it’s become such an inspirational jam vehicle.” —Megan [06:08]

• The song both demands and rewards patience and risk-taking from the band.

• “This song is improved by the jamming by a thousand percent . . . If they played five-minute versions of Wave, personally, I would start to rebel.” —Brian [13:29]

4. Mt. Rushmore: Ranking Top Four “A Wave of Hope” Performances

1. 7/24/22 – Hartford, CT

• “This is my second favorite jam of 2022...For me, this jam is all about the three minutes from 14:30 to 17:30ish, where Trey is just channeling Another Green World-era Brian Eno.” —Brian [18:18]
• Memorable for its elegant effects and “science fiction feel,” marking the birth of Wave of Hope as a true jam vehicle.
• Megan: “It’s a perfect example—the beginning has that Fishman completely pushing it so hard...the way they creep out and find that really sick dark space is so cool.” [20:47]

2. 12/28/23 – MSG, NY

• Exercise in patience and perseverance; multiple “exit ramps” but the band continually pushes forward.
• “There’s so much going on here and so many areas where they could have ended…but they kind of kept going for 23 minutes.” —RJ [25:07]
• Megan: “The back half of this jam is so excellent—it finds its direction and they build on it…It’s just, the beginning is a little ‘throw everything in and see what sticks.’” [26:36]
• Brian: “That willingness to have this almost relentless pursuit of the unknown is something that defines Wave of Hope as a jam vehicle.” [28:28]

3. 2/22/24 – Mexico

• “This is a 35-minute version. The longest Wave of Hope to date...Similar in some ways to 12/28/23, but once it figures itself out...you get this wild, no-holds-barred exploration.” —Brian [32:45]
• Features a blissful, ultra-spacious jam space (“quadraphonic dream space”) emerging around 25:45.
• “Of those 60 30-minute jams in Phish history...one being A Wave of Hope, which just that fact alone signifies how much the band cares about this song.” —Brian [35:43]
• Megan: “It has that intensity and that driving feeling...that whole last 20 minutes just flows so perfectly.” [38:14]

4. 7/9/25 – Columbus, OH

• “A really, really clean, perfect Wave of Hope jam...it has that low simmer in the beginning…at 18 minutes Trey and Mike echo each other with these descending riffs.” —Megan [41:44]
• Brian: “Compared to the previous three versions, this one is the most complete throughout...It’s really reflective of where Phish is at right now in 2025.” [41:44]

Additional Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Jam Vehicle Expectations:
  • “Definitely how I feel about Soul Planet. Like, for sure. Like, if you’re not gonna jam that song, just don’t bother…Which is why when they do the, like, 40-minute Soul Planet, it’s just to show us that he’s paying attention.” —RJ [15:10]
• On Jam Narrative:
  • “Paige says...you have to push through music sometimes to get to this place you would never expect to get to. I remember when they shifted into that dream space in the Mexico Wave of Hope, just being like, okay, everything that came before was worth it.” —Brian [39:07]

Honorable Mentions & Rapid-Fire Shoutouts ([46:00 – 51:15])

Megan’s Picks:

• 6/21/25 – New Hampshire: “Sophisticated, warm, perfectly cohesive jam; absolutely gorgeous.”
• 4/20/25 – Portland, ME: “Space funk; great segue into Twist.”
• 7/28/23 – MSG: “Perfect example of momentum horizontal jamming; massively uplifting peak.”

RJ’s Pick:

• 12/28/22 – MSG: “Extra points for the segue into ‘It’s Ice’; big synth build and Mahavishnu vibes.”

Brian’s Picks:

• 4/14/23 – Seattle: “Opening show of spring tour; builds around a very specific Trey riff.”
• 8/25/23 – SPAC: “Flood relief show; comes as a big, 20-minute monster jam.”
• 4/21/23 – Hollywood Bowl: “Another excellent version, but just missing the extra thing that puts it on Mt. Rushmore.”

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [06:08]: Song origins & development into a jam vehicle (Megan)
• [13:29]: Value of jamming for “A Wave of Hope”
• [18:18]: Hartford ‘22 breakdown
• [25:07]: MSG ‘23 breakdown
• [32:45]: Mexico ‘24 breakdown, 30+ min jam discussion
• [41:44]: Columbus ‘25 breakdown
• [46:00-51:15]: Honorable mentions/rapid-fire picks

Notable Segment: Fun Stats & Phish Lore

• Only 29 songs in Phish’s massive repertoire have ever gotten the 30-plus minute jam treatment—with “A Wave of Hope” now among these rarities. [35:24]
• “It’s pretty cool Trey is still going on podcasts talking about jamming David Bowie. And it’s like, when was the last time you jammed David Bowie?” —Brian [38:53]

Closing & Next Episode Tease

• Next week: Interview with Rob Mitchum about his blog and Phish tour tracking. “He knows his music, he knows his Fish, and he knows his way of talking about Fish in a kind of music history type of mindset that really appeals to me.” —Brian [53:39]
• Listener questions for Rob Mitchum invited via social or voicemail.

Summary Conclusion

In tracing the arc of “A Wave of Hope,” the hosts confirm its status as a modern Phish classic—one that has provided remarkable improvisational highs in the still-young 4.0 era. With rich analysis and fan enthusiasm, HFPod offers a guide to the song’s best live outings and what they reveal about Phish’s evolving chemistry, risk-taking, and jam science.

For Full Listening:
Skip to:

• [06:08] Megan’s song history/origins
• [18:18] Hartford ‘22 jam dissection
• [32:45] Mexico ‘24 “mega-jam”
• [41:44] Columbus ‘25—latest, most “complete” jam

Not just for the completists—this episode is for any Phish fan who loves seeing a song transform from a lonely studio message to a vehicle of group catharsis.