Podcast Summary: "Mt. Rushmore: Crosseyed & Painless"

Helping Friendly Podcast – Osiris Media
Date: October 13, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, the HFPod crew—RJ, Brian, and Megan—dive deep into Phish’s long relationship with the Talking Heads classic “Crosseyed and Painless.” This is part of their ongoing “Mount Rushmore” series, where they curate and debate the four greatest versions of specific Phish songs. The conversation explores not just statistics and setlist history, but the song’s musical and contextual significance, the way it shaped Phish’s evolution post-1996, and its ongoing impact on live performances. The hosts bring warmth, humor, and fan-focused insight, balancing nerd-level details with accessible enthusiasm.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Early Vibes: Nature, Books, and Apples (00:48–06:59)

• The show opens with autumnal small talk (weather, trees, invasive species), segueing into a brief plug for their book podcast and recent listener reviews.
• Megan shares an anecdote about harvesting apples, tying it back to themes from the recommended novel "North Woods."
• Shout-outs to fans and mentions of other Osiris podcasts create a sense of community and cross-podcast camaraderie.

2. Introduction to "Crosseyed & Painless" and Its Place in Phish History (07:00–15:09)

• Megan’s Historical Deep Dive:
  • "Crosseyed & Painless" debuted as Phish’s Halloween 1996 "musical costume," covering Talking Heads’ "Remain in Light."
  • The debut featured guests (Carl Perazzo on drums, Dave Grippo and Gary Gazaway on horns), setting a new musical direction for the band.
  • Its legacy: Although the first jams were powerful, Phish initially shelved the song for long stretches but brought it back at pivotal moments (e.g., Big Cypress 2000, Jam Night at the Baker’s Dozen).
  • Statistical standout: 72 performances to date; nearly half feature extended jams—a remarkably high percentage for a Phish song.

Quote
"This song's been played 72 times... it has 34 entries on the jam chart and that's a 47% chance of jamming. And I looked through all our Mount Rushmores and that is the highest we've discussed."
—Megan (09:09)

3. The Song’s Impact & Evolution (15:10–21:38)

• Why was it missing from late '90s setlists?
  • Brian & Megan speculate that Phish internalized the "Crosseyed" groove; it influenced their entire approach to improvisation, even when they weren’t playing the actual song.
  • The groove and feel of "Crosseyed" became a jamming template—so much so that they didn’t need to play it outright.
• Comparison to "Ghost": Both songs serve as vehicles for new directions, but "Ghost" is an original, so they play it more often.

Notable Exchange
"Rather than play the song, they kind of just seem to find themselves in a Crosseyed space… Why would we play it if we're already using the best parts of this song?"
—Brian (17:08)

4. Mount Rushmore Selection Process & Criteria (21:39–24:17)

• The 12 greatest versions were curated from all eras—a unanimous process, with more agreement than debate.
• The central question: Which versions truly shaped or exemplified “Crosseyed & Painless” in Phish’s canon?

Detailed "Rushmore" Breakdown: The Four Greatest Versions

1. 10/31/96 – Debut, Halloween “Remain in Light” (24:18–28:34)

• Why It’s Essential:
  • Contextually transformative—arguably the most impactful Phish debut ever.
  • The only "Crosseyed" with horns; high-energy, jagged, and frenetic.
  • The groove, the call-and-response vocals, and the immediate audience response signaled a new Phish era.
• Musical Analysis:
  • Fast, wild, tight ensemble work.
  • Ends with a raucous Fishman drum breakdown and crowd eruption.
• Historical Stakes:
  • Halloween ‘96 marked a before-and-after for Phish’s sound and setlist logic.

Quote
"This version is the strongest shot of them all. It's so infectious... the set is always changed when there's a Crosseyed and Painless played."
—Megan (24:03)

2. 11/2/96 – Coral Sky, FL, "First True Jam" (29:39–37:33)

• Context:
  • Only a few days after the debut, again with Perazzo on drums.
  • Chosen as the top jam from a year not known for classic shows.
• Musical Highlights:
  • Trey steps into the horn’s old role with a fiery solo.
  • Funky, dense, and exploratory—a prototype for 1997’s style.
  • Never loses propulsion; combines energy, groove, and contrast between structure and space.
• Host Reaction:
  • All agree: This is the pivotal transitional jam, showing the new “hive mind” Phish at work.

Quote
"In this version, you hear 1997 jamming reveal itself. It's layers of textures over a funk groove. Mike super out front... and then at 14 minutes in, it just goes completely off the rails, but it still never loses that propulsive nature."
—Megan (31:43)

3. 7/29/03 – Burgettstown, PA, "2.0 Exploration" (43:26–51:43)

• Why It Stands Out:
  • The defining 2.0 version: dark, gritty, and intensely focused.
  • Near-perfect group improvisation; no wasted notes.
  • Showcases the band’s willingness to let jams decompose and rebuild.
• Musical Journey:
  • Drops from thick funk into minimalism, then iterates through layers of tension, release, and questing.
  • Fishman’s drumming and Trey’s melodic nudges carry the band through shadowy and then luminous territory.

Quote
"I've gotten to the point where like I can't listen to this jam regularly. I just need to like be able to sit with it in the moment. This is my Phish musical version of the movie Goodfellas in that it can do no wrong."
—Brian (43:41)

4. 7/25/17 – Jam Night, Baker’s Dozen (56:44–63:07)

• Highlight:
  • The modern “peak jam” – 33 minutes of exploratory bliss during the most celebrated run of Phish’s 3.0/4.0 era.
• Musical Hallmarks:
  • Patient, melodic ascent ("a long walk up a mountain"); textural layers build suspense.
  • Multiple “peaks” and ambient valleys; the band seems intent on maximizing the jam due to Jam Night’s theme.
  • Emotional, ethereal, with a sense of openness and possibility.
• Legacy:
  • Reconfirmed Phish’s power to surprise—even seasoned fans saw this as a revival of extended jamming for any song, not just “Tweezer.”

Quote
"You can tell that if it wasn't Jam-Filled Night, after that first little peak it probably would have segued into something else. But they knew they were pushing it this night, and I'm glad they did."
—RJ (58:00)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “I'm proud to have this [10/31/96] be our number one... I think it might be [the best debut ever]. I don't know. I'd love for someone to prove me wrong, but I. It's hard to think of a more powerful debut that had bigger impact.”
  —Brian & Megan (28:02)
• “This jam is amazing... You cannot pin this jam really down to an era, which is kind of how fall '96 feels overall.”
  —Brian (34:11)
• “I don't think we— I don't see anything else we could have done here. There's some excellent versions from the last couple of years... but when you think musically, you listen to this and it sounds like modern Phish. As opposed to some of the 20 to 25 minute jams of summer 2017, this has that sort of abstract ‘any ideas possible’ [feeling].”
  —Brian (59:21)
• “Not only do you get... this [Jam Night] which is the first 30-minute jam since the Tahoe ‘Tweezer’ at the time... but you get this sense: any song can have this opportunity to jam.”
  —Brian (60:43)
• “We did it. I'm happy that it's here. I hope everyone out there takes a second to listen to it and recognize its great because it just deserves everyone's ears all over again.”
  —Brian (51:43)

Lightning Round: Honorable Mentions (64:28–67:49)

• 12/31/99 – Big Cypress: Iconic bust-out, but less focused compared to the others.
• 8/3/12 – Bill Graham "Crosseyed sandwich" set (noted for broader set exploration).
• 7/10/13 – Holmdel, NJ: Noted for Trey/Paige’s chordal interplay.
• 10/17/14 – Eugene, OR: Haunting, My Bloody Valentine-esque coda.
• 9/14/16 – Dick’s: Personal favorite for Megan, explosive energy.
• Several others from 2009–2024 praised for exploratory jamming or unique setlist context.

Interactive & Fan Engagement Notes

• Fans in the live chat speculated on “Mount Rushmore” choices and discussed the merits of debut vs. Big Cypress versions; the hosts acknowledged fan voting mirrored their picks closely.
• Listener phone line re-announced: 484-416-0488 for calls and messages.

Upcoming HFPod Plans (67:49–end)

• Announced next episode: A draft of the “Top 25 Phish Shows of the 21st Century,” with a custom format and listener involvement encouraged.
• Playful banter about draft formats and Phish community quirks.
• Renewed appeals for listener feedback and reviews.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Intro/Atmosphere: 00:48–06:59
• Context & History: 07:00–15:09
• Song’s Impact & Evolution: 15:10–21:38
• Selection Process & Criteria: 21:39–24:17
• Debut (10/31/96): 24:18–28:34
• Coral Sky (11/02/96): 29:39–37:33
• Burgettstown (07/29/03): 43:26–51:43
• Jam Night (07/25/17): 56:44–63:07
• Honorable Mentions: 64:28–67:49
• Closing & Next Week Preview: 67:49–end

Conclusion

This episode provides an in-depth, contextually rich, and highly musical examination of how “Crosseyed and Painless” shaped—and continues to shape—Phish’s improvisational language and meaning for both band and fans. The Mount Rushmore selections reflect not only musical peaks but also the story of Phish’s ongoing evolution. The lively, collaborative tone means even newer fans will find both entry points and plenty of wisdom into why this Talking Heads cover means so much to the community today.