I’m listening to 8.3.97 set 1 right now, and this little “Samson Variation” jazz ditty has got to be the weirdest, most unexpected song they ever played. not that it’s bad, but who could’ve expected that?
can you think of any more? not even necessarily bustouts, as I’m not even sure if Phish played that Samson Variation much in their early years, but songs that no one could have guessed would pop up.
I guess Smells Like Teen Spirit on 11.2.98 is coming to mind too, as I type this.
Back in the nineties, me and my friend were front row yelling BEASTIES and smoking a phat blunt. A few months later they played Sabotage!!!
see 11-2-98
Roses Are Free, 12/11/1997. Incredible moment, a personally beloved moment.
“Rhinoceros” at Deer Creek '98
Obviously, any time the band plays a song (especially a cover) for the first time, it is unexpected. And 1998 had lots of weird cover songs, but “Trenchtown Rock” at Star Lake later that tour seemed much more fit for a Phish go-round than an early Smashing Pumpkins single.
Which, by the way, I felt like one of very few people in the area who knew what song they were playing… and a very nice version taboot… not one of my top favorite Pumpkins songs, but it was great to hear.
I guess my lesson reaffirmed was to expect the unexpected. 
“Curtain (With)” at DC 2000? Especially the “(With)” part.
That one time they played that Bouncin’>Rocky Top encore
^
When was this? That doesn’t make sense, and sounds like something they would never do.
I need visual and audio proof.
There was this show once where they played Possum!
Fer really though, the most recent surprise I enjoyed was the ‘Sneakin Sally’ from I think Camden '04. I just wasn’t expecting it when it came on, and I remember feeling like it was the most preposterous song choice.
Light Up at Cypress.
^wow that is trippy. I’m listening to that RIGHT NOW
SECK!!
pokes head in thread
Did someone reference the Big Cypress “Light Up or Leave me Alone?”
packs crystal
enjoys cypress’ Light Up
12-07-97, Psycho Killer
11-02-98, Dark Side of The Moon
11-27-98, Mirror In the Bathroom
02-28-03, Destiny Unbound
I was gonna post this in that other thread, but it applies more here. I’m listening to this:
09-17-99 Shoreline Amphitheatre, Mountain View, CA
1: Free Thought, Guyute, Ghost, Lawn Boy, Peaches en Regalia, The Moma Dance, Water in the Sky, When the Circus Comes, Get Back on the Train, David Bowie, The Squirming Coil
2: Runaway Jim, Sand, Piper, Roggae, You Enjoy Myself*# > Bass Duet*, Wolfman’s Brother*^ > Cold Rain and Snow*^
E: Viola Lee Blues*$
Probably not as unexpected as Virgina Beach a year or so earlier, and I guess the whole Phil appearance may not have been that unexpected even, but that Viola Lee is kind of out of left field.
*With Phil Lesh on bass. #With Lesh on trampolines. ^With Lesh on vocals. $With Warren Haynes on guitar.
12/31/2002 Mound
12/31/1995 Sea & Sand
03/18/1997 Cinnamon Girl
08/13/1997 Amoreena
11/21/1997 Emotional Rescue
12/07/1997 Psycho Killer
07/15/1998 California Love
07/21/1998 She Caught the Katy
07/28/1998 Lengthwise
08/01/1998 Ramble On, Magilla, Been Caught Stealin
08/02/1998 Too Much of Everything, I Get a Kick Out of You
08/03/1998 Rhinoceros
08/06/1998 Talk, Running With the Devil
08/08/1998 Sweet Jane, Sabotage
08/09/1998 Terrapin Station
08/11/1998 Time Loves a Hero
08/12/1998 Burning Down the House
08/16/1998 Baby Elephant Walk
10/29/1998 Something
10/30/1998 Manteca, Guelah
11/02/1998 Harpua, Dark Side of the Moon, SLTS
11/14/1998 So Lonely
11/20/1998 Rock & Roll Part II, Quinn, Gettin Jiggy Wit It
11/21/1998 Cry Baby Cry, Nellie Kane, Tubthumping
11/29/1998
12/07/1997 Boogie
12/30/1997 Sneakin Sally
06/30/2000 ha Ha ha
09/27/2000 Brother
02/26/2003 Final Flight, Clone, Blue Skies, Drifting
07/15/2003 Mr. Completely, Ha Ha Ha
07/29/2003 Cool It Down, Camel Walk, McGrupp, Crosseyed, Harpua
07/30/2003 Lonesome Cowboy Bill
08/02/2003 Meatstick, Brother
Is a song “unexpected” even if they’ve performed it before (albeit, perhaps, a long time ago)?
Is “Meatstick” from IT really unexpected? Or “Crosseyed” from Burgettstown?
Not sure if this is the particular time that was thought of, but these two were indeed played back to back.
12/04/1995
Mullins Center
University of Massachusetts
Amherst,MA
1: Julius, Gumbo, The Divided Sky, Punch You in the Eye, Stash, My Mind’s Got a Mind of Its Own, Axilla [Part II], The Horse-> Silent in the Morning, Hello My Baby, While My Guitar Gently Weeps
2: Timber (Jerry), Sparkle, Ya Mar, Run Like an Antelope, Billy Breathes, Cars Trucks Buses, You Enjoy Myself, Sample in a Jar, Frankenstein
E: Bouncing Around the Room, Rocky Top
I think that post was covered in a heavy goo of sarcasm.