Phish and Sports
4/14/1994: Duke vs. Arkansas
One of the earliest sporting references in Phish’s history came during their 1994 tour opener when the band took the stage during the NCAA Tournament Final which matched up Duke against Arkansas. This show was in Burlington, VT, so the crowd wasn’t as partisan as some of these other examples, but nonetheless the band took the time to update the crowd on the score throughout the show. Nolan Richardson’s Razorbacks defeated Duke 76-72 to claim their first (and only) NCAA Title.
Trey and the Flyers
Trey Anastasio’s boyhood team has (rightfully so) stuck with him throughout the years. Above you can hear him talking about the Philadelphia Spectrum prior to its closing in 2009. The band had recently wrapped up playing two nights at the Wachovia Center in November of 2009. Anastasio talks about growing up as a Flyers fan, and references a couple of specific memories including the “Broad Street Bullies,” a name given to the 1972 team that ended up winning the Stanley Cup in 1974.
In addition to the Spectrum memories, Trey’s blood truly runs orange and black as along with rocking Flyers gear on stage, he also has two seats from the Spectrum in his barn currently. Unfortunately, the Flyers haven’t been able to put together another Stanley Cup season in quite some time, despite making the playoffs four out of the last five years. In 2010, after the Chicago Blackhawks beat Trey’s Flyers to win the Stanley Cup, as luck would have it Phish began their summer tour in Illinois. Being a graceful host and gracious loser, Trey congratulated the largely partisan crowd and promised his Flyers would be back next year. They were, until the Bruins swept them in the Conference Semifinals.
Phish Plays Fenway
Aside from the reunion shows in Hampton, one of the highest anticipated
