Story of the Ghosts: Lovin’ the Happy Endings

Fluffhead, Phish, 12/8/1995, Cleveland, OH
There’s really no sense beating around the bush, so we may as well kick things off with the quintessence of the happy ending. Clearly, this falls into that “costs an extra twenty bucks”category we mentioned before, as Trey pretty much lets it all go in two minutes of ecstasy. You all know the song, but it essentially meanders through a variety of distinct sections, ultimately building up chalkboard-scratching tension before the absolute pinnacle, until the song releases into the gigantic climax at the end of Fluff’s Travels.

Two things influenced the selection of this particular Fluff. The first is that Trey adds a really cool palm mute vamp in his playing through the end jam that adds a cool structure and particularly big build-up to his solo. The second reason is to highlight the fact that Phish has no idea where the Midwestern states belong on the map. This comes from one of their more curious tour schedules: New Haven, CT > Niagara Falls, NY > Cleveland, OH > Albany, NY > Portland, ME, etc. Interesting choice. In fact, we’re a bit surprised they didn’t head to Alpine right after that Portland show…

Nughuffer, The Disco Biscuits, 4/7/2001, The Majestic, Detroit, MI
We know what you are about to say: “Nelson Muntz enjoys picking on runtz, while Rusty Kuntz lays down some buntz.” Still, we like us some Biscuits and can take all the Untz jabs you can dish out. This is a behemoth Nughuffer with a towering happy ending solo to finish out the 23-minute monster. This ending gets the goosebumps up nearly every time. Vaurnets or no Vaurnets, Barber has chops.

Also, we’d be remiss not to mention the awesome Ann Arbor jerk-off in the early part of this song, “Those kids from Michigan, from Ann Arbor, they’re 10 years ahead of the game. This kid basically schooled the whole city of Philadelphia on the scene.” Innovators, those Ann Arbor kids, we tell ya.

Sex in the 70s, Tea Leaf Green, 8/18/2006, Gathering of the Vibes
We must hand it to Tea Leaf Green. Sex in the 70s doubles as one of the finest tunes with a blowout ending, yet also provides the worst visual imagery of any song…ever. Who wants to think about their mom having sex? Tea Leaf Green provides a nice juxtaposition of a great jam with the puke on our shirts from these totally haunting images. When you think about it, though, the real happy ending of the sex your mom had in the 70s is you and me.

Poison Oak, Hot Buttered Rum String Band, 8/25/2004, Lion’s Den, NYC
This one is a little change of pace. It’s definitely worthy of being included in the happy ending conversation, but for different reasons. Poison Oak concludes with a really well-executed, four-part vocal harmony, closing the song with a joyous little sing-a-long. We prefer the studio version of this one, as the crisp vocals really sound bright, but the live recording here is nothing to scoff at. While the studio cut is probably a little over-polished, we’ll go on a limb and say that these guys harmonize right up there with Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. Great song, witty lyrics, and a beautiful energetic finale.

Far East Medley, Bela Fleck, 8/25/1995, Green Acres Park, NC
We love Bela Lagosi and everything he does, but often times his virtuoso instincts can be a little taxing. Sometimes we find ourselves wishing he would dumb it down a little and stick around longer in his grooves as opposed to packing in so many changes, off timings, and crazy melodies. In other words, it’s a nice change of pace when he settles into a jam for a little bit. This song speaks to exactly that.

The Far East Medley is comprised of a few Middle East gypsy-esque segments, weaving in and out of the more complex sections, but ultimately, heads home to the happy place. In case you’re at work and want to get fired; this song sounds great really loud.

Shine, String Cheese Incident, 11/19/2000
Rarely will you catch us at an Incident, but on those special “happy” occasions…why not? Besides, it’d just be too hard to keep the Cheese off this list. If there is one thing you can say about SCI, they are unmistakably happy.

This is another one of those redeeming, uplifting, refreshing or however you want to word it jams from the Cheese. It’s a happy little ditty that bounces from a catchy opening chorus into a soft core porn jam (or as hardcore of a jam as you can hammer out with a mandolin). And it eventually bursts into this exciting emotionally charged (and lyrically retarded) ending: “Shine, you’re a LION, Shine, you’re a LION.” This is probably Cheese’s best attempt to imitate Harry Hood.

How we doin’, we got time for one more?

Bohemian Rhapsody, Queen, 1986, Wembley
Alright, Queen might just don the title of the forefathers of the happy ending with this one? From the obvious department and from the department of uberly gay (happy), but what are lists for if you aren’t accurate? Anybody who denies feeling an ounce of emotion behind this classic, check your pulse and then buy back your soul. Anyhow, it’s a manic up and down frenzy of emotions that is capped by an epic jam – and we mean epic. This is followed by the riveting and emotional ending that is both bittersweet and happy.

Shit, it even caused Wayne to shed a tear, so it’s worthy of our encore.