PHISH VS. DAVE MATTHEWS BAND
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (18 June 2009)
Scott Mervis
CORE MEMBERS
* DMB: Dave Matthews (42); Carter Beauford (51); Stefan Lessard (35); Boyd Tinsley (45).
* Phish: Trey Anastasio (44); Mike Gordon (44); Jon Fishman (44); Page McConnell (46).
FORMED
* DMB: 1991 in Charlottesville, Va.
* Phish: 1983 at the University of Vermont.
SOUND
* DMB: Jazzy jam-rock with sensitive singer-songwriter.
* Phish: Grateful Dead meets goof rock.
FIRST GIG
* DMB: May 11, 1991, at a party on the roof of an apartment building in Charlottesville for about 40 people.
* Phish: Nov. 3, 1983, in the basement of Slade Hall at UVM.
FIRST EFFORT
* DMB: The part-live, part-studio "Remember Two Things," originally released in 1993 on Bama Rags label.
* Phish: "The White Tape," a cassette released in 1986, later heavily bootlegged and finally re-released in 1998.
BREAKTHROUGH DISC
* DMB: 1994's "Under the Table and Dreaming" spawned the singles "What Would You Say" and "Satellite."
* Phish: 1996's "Billy Breathes" had a modern-rock hit with "Free."
WITH THE H.O.R.D.E.
* DMB: Buzz band on '94 lineup with Allman Brothers, Rusted Root.
* Phish: First year of traveling festival, 1992, with Blues Traveler, The Spin Doctors, Widespread Panic.
BIGGEST CONCERTS
* DMB: Woodstock '99; free show at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco with Carlos Santana (9-12-04); "A Concert for Virginia Tech," in memory of the shootings (4-16-07); Live Earth Concert (7- 7-08).
* Phish: Millennium Celebration in the Florida Everglades; The Clifford Ball at a decommissioned Air Force base in Plattsburgh, N.Y., for nearly 80,000; 2004 farewell at Coventry.
AT FARM AID
* DMB: 1995, 1997, 1999, 2005, 2008. Matthews is also a regular solo artist and board member.
* Phish: 1998 at Tinley Park, Ill., with Wilco, Hootie, etc.
LILLYWHITE LINK
* DMB: Legendary British producer Steve Lillywhite worked on the first several DMB albums before hitting much-publicized bumpy patch with the band.
* Phish: Produced 1996's "Billy Breathes," as well as the new untitled album.
TROPHY CASE
* DMB: Grammys for "So Much to Say" (1997) and Matthews' "Gravedigger" (2004).
* Phish: Jammys Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008.
NOVELTY ITEM
* DMB: DMB/Dale Earnhardt Jr. NASCAR diecast collectible car.
* Phish: Ben and Jerry's "Phish Food."
ODDEST GUEST
* DMB: Johnny Cash in 2002.
* Phish: Jay-Z in 2004.
SOLO SPINOFFS:
* DMB: Dave Matthews won a Grammy for "Some Devil" (2003) and Boyd Tinsley went solo with "True Reflections" the same year.
* Phish: Anastasio has recorded a number of solo records and also plays in the band Oysterhead. Gordon has played with Leo Kottke and the Rhythm Devils. Page McConnell released a self-titled debut in April 17, 2007. Fishman has performed with the Yonder Mountain String Band, among others.
TOP 40 HITS
* DMB: 14 ("Crash Into Me" highest at No. 7).
* Phish: Not yet.
ON 'SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE'
* DMB: 2001 and 2003.
* Phish: 2002.
COVER OF ROLLING STONE
* DMB: March 2001, Aug. 2002, June 2005.
* Phish: 2003.
DEAD CONNECTION
* DMB: Has performed "Eyes of the World."
* Phish: Anastasio joined Phil Lesh and Friends, which included McConnell, in 1999 for three nights at the Warfield, San Francisco.
ROAD HAZARDS
* DMB: Tour bus dumps sewage through bridge grate onto sightseeing boat passengers in Chicago in 2004.
* Phish: Anastasio busted for drugs during traffic stop in 2006.
FIRST SONG PLAYED ON CURRENT TOUR
* DMB: "Don't Drink the Water" at Madison Square Garden.
* Phish: "Sample in a Jar" (after National Anthem) at Fenway Park.
'PHISH'
* Where: Post-Gazette Pavilion.
* When: 7:30 tonight.
* Tickets: Sold out.
'DAVE MATTHEWS BAND'
* With: The Hold Steady.
* Where: Post-Gazette Pavilion.
* When: 7 p.m. Friday-Saturday.
* Tickets: $40-$70; 1-877-598-8703.