Phish has finally confirmed what fans (and Jim James) knew for a long time – that the quartet will end the year with a four-night stand at Madison Square Garden in New York City on December 28 – 31. The band first performed at “The World’s Greatest Arena” on December 30, 1994 and will make their 24th – 27th appearances at the venue this December.

Madison Square Garden is in the midst of a renovation that will be completed in three phases. The first phase was completed last summer, as Phish fans attending last year’s NYE run saw a new lower bowl seating area, west balcony and 6th floor concourse. The soon-to-be-completed (in plenty of time for this year’s NYE run) second phase will see a new 8th floor concourse and upper bowl seating area (300 and 400 levels) with improved sightlines.

A pre-sale lottery for tickets to all four shows is currently underway at the Phish Ticketing Site and will end on Monday, October 15h.  The public onsale will take place on October 20th at noon via Ticketmaster. The floor will be general admission and split into a front and back section.

We’ve put together lists of past Phish New Year’s Runs, MSG performances on NYE since ’95, the Phish NYE gags and what song the quartet played after Auld Lang Syne each year…

Phish New Year’s Run History:

  • 1989: 12/29 @ 23 East Caberet, Philadelphia; 12/30 @ Wetlands Preserve, NYC; 12/31 @ World Trade Center Exposition Hall, Boston
  • 1990: 12/28 @ Marquee, NYC; 12/29 @ Campus Club, Providence; 12/31 @ World Trade Center Exposition Hall, Boston
  • 1991: 12/31 @ Worcester Memorial Auditorium, Worcester
  • 1992: 12/28 & 29 @ Palace Theatre, New Haven; 12/30 @ Symphony Hall, Springfield; 12/31 @ Matthews Arena, Boston
  • 1993: 12/28 @ Bender Arena, Washington D.C.; 12/29 @ New Haven Veterans Memorial Coliseum, New Haven; 12/30 @ Cumberland County Civic Center, Portland ME; 12/31 @ Worcester Centrum, Worcester
  • 1994: 12/28 @ Philadelphia Civic Center @ Philadelphia; 12/29 @ Providence Civic Center, Providence; 12/30 @ Madison Square Garden, New York; 12/31 @ Boston Garden, Boston
  • 1995: 12/28 & 29 @ Worcester Centrum, Worcester; 12/30 & 31 @ MSG, NYC
  • 1996: 12/28 & 29 @ Spectrum, Philadelphia; 12/30 & 31 @ Fleet Center, Boston
  • 1997: 12/28 @ USAir Arena, Landover MD; 12/29 & 30 & 31 @ MSG, NYC
  • 1998: 12/28 – 31 @ Madison Square Garden, New York City
  • 1999: 12/30 – 31 @ Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation, Big Cypress FL
  • 2002/2003: 12/31 @ MSG, NYC; 1/2 & 3 & 4 – Hampton Coliseum, Hampton VA
  • 2003: 12/28 – 31 @ American Airlines Arena, Miami
  • 2009: 12/28 – 31 @ American Airlines Arena, Miami
  • 2010/2011: 12/27 & 28 @ Worcester Centrum, Worcester; 12/30 & 31 & 1/1 @ MSG, NYC
  • 2011: 12/28 – 12/31 @ Madison Square Garden, New York City

Phish at Madison Square Garden History:

New Year’s Eve at MSG History Since 1995:

  • 1995: Phish
  • 1996: Blues Traveler
  • 1997: Phish
  • 1998: Phish
  • 1999: Billy Joel
  • 2000: Marc Anthony
  • 2001: N/A
  • 2002: Phish
  • 2003: N/A (Jane’s Addiction/Marilyn Manson Cancelled)
  • 2004: Wilco / Flaming Lips / Sleater-Kinney
  • 2005: Black Crowes / North Mississippi All-Stars / Trey Anastasio
  • 2006: N/A
  • 2007: Chris Rock
  • 2008: My Morning Jacket
  • 2009: Mariah Carey
  • 2010: Phish
  • 2011: Phish

Phish New Year’s Eve “Gags”:

  • 1989: Trey, Mike and Page Dressed In Tuxedos, Fish Appeared In Top Hat and G-String w/ Tuxedo Tails for I Didn’t Know

  • 1990: N/A
  • 1991: N/A
  • 1992: Brad Sands Dressed As Famous Mockingbird And Hoisted Above Crowd / Band Gives Out Flyers w/ New Signals to Trick Radio Audience
  • 1993: Band Jams Outro of Never-Before-Played Down With Disease After Auld Lang Syne / Emerges From Aquarium

[Some Footage From "Gag" Used In Video]

  • 1994: Band Tours Rafters of Boston Garden In A Hot Dog

[At 13:10 Mark]

  • 1995: Phish Unveils Time Factory Machine at Start of Set III

  • 1996: Phish Drops Thousands of Balloons + Performs w/ Choir
  • 1997: The Udder Ball

  • 1998: Dancers, Pyrotechnics and Balloon Drop

  • 1999: Father Time Collapses, Band Takes Hot Dog Ride To Stage

  • 2002: Artificial Snow Falls During Seven Below + Dancers

  • 2003: Cheerleaders and Marching Band Emerge From Mini Cooper

  • 2009: Fishman Cannonball and Sarah Antics

  • 2010: The Meatstick Musical

  • 2011: Levitating Steam

What Came After Auld Lang Syne?

  • 1989: Run Like An Antelope
  • 1990: Buried Alive
  • 1991: Runaway Jim
  • 1992: Weekapaug Groove
  • 1993: Down With Disease Jam
  • 1994: Chalk Dust Torture
  • 1995: Weekapaug Groove
  • 1996: Down With Disease
  • 1997: Tweezer
  • 1998: Simple
  • 1999: Down With Disease
  • 2002: Runaway Jim
  • 2003: Iron Man
  • 2009: Down With Disease
  • 2010: After Midnight
  • 2011:  Down With Disease

Scott Bernstein

Scott Bernstein co-founded Hidden Track in October 2006 and was managing editor until taking over as EiC in January 2008. Scotty also writes for Relix Magazine and curates YEMblog.com.

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