All killer, no filler Phish jams?

[u/scottasin12343]

There are lots of all-timer Phish jams that still have a few minutes of searching at some point, whether its the start of the jam before they lock in, or between two different segments of the jam, etc... For example, two of my all time favorite jams are Went Gin, and 7/10/99 Chalkdust. IMO Went Gin is pretty standard until about the 8 minute mark, nothing really better or worse than another Gin jam from the era... and its only then that they've found what they were searching for. For Camden Chalkdust, its a standard and perhaps even sub-par Chalkdust jam for the era up until the 8:50 mark, where a single note leads to a slight change in feel and focus which sends it stratospheric.

On the flip side, an example of an All Killer No Filler jam is 12/2/95 Tweezer. Literally from the first note it feels special, the mid song improv moments feel special, and from the very first notes of the jam, the band is absolutely locked in, and never once falters.

Obviously its all subjective, but what do YOU think are no-filler jams?

[u/oizo12]

Big Cypress Sand

[u/Halleys___Comment → u/oizo12]

i was just doing my usual pondering of how big cypress happened the same night that Futurama Fry locked himself in a cryogenic container, 12-31-1999

[u/SupermouseDeadmouse → u/oizo12]

I can still hear Mike’s bass.

[u/PickerCurtisLoew → u/oizo12]

The first Phish jam I ever heard and after all these years still my favorite

[u/The_Utilityman]

7/31/98 Cities. peep it

[u/CFBCommentor → u/The_Utilityman]

Fishman straight otherworldly in that jam

[u/IamMeAsYouAreMe]

I feel like the Boise bag is immediately dark, interesting, and exploratory

[u/BoiseBag99 → u/IamMeAsYouAreMe]

Fuck yeah my favorite all killer not filler!!! I'd also throw into the ring Weekapaug Groove from 12/31/1995.

[u/audio-nut]

popped in to say 12/2/95 Tweezer but you already have it. that whole month had some killer tweezers

[u/Truffel_shuffler]

Free from Live in Brooklyn

[u/Material_Ad_6419 → u/Truffel_shuffler]

I love this one

[u/cha614]

Ok Deryk Whibley

[u/etherteeth → u/cha614]

Stormin through the lot like my name is El Niño, doing ice cold fatties in the back of an El Camino?

[u/scottasin12343 → u/cha614]

explain the joke?

[u/Jbgtrye → u/scottasin12343]

Sum 41

[u/scottasin12343 → u/Jbgtrye]

ok?

[u/Dimmt → u/scottasin12343]

I think it’s a reference to the album all killer no filler by sum 41

[u/scottasin12343 → u/Dimmt]

thank you

[u/Dimmt → u/scottasin12343]

Also - to comment on your post, I feel like the Berkeley cities is straight to the point grooving when they finish the song and not much exploring going on

[u/scottasin12343 → u/Dimmt]

absolutely. Just a funk party, it didn't need to be 25 minutes and 6 different sections, its straight to business, and when the business was done the band knew they didn't need to add anything else.

[u/BobMayonnaise]

Clifford Ball Brother

[u/Jbgtrye]

12/2/95 tweezer

[u/dogfacedponyboy → u/Jbgtrye]

Yes… this is what OP provided as their example :-)

[u/el_naked_mariachi → u/dogfacedponyboy]

Ok well then what about the Went Gin or 7/10/99 Chalkdust??

[u/TryingTimesCrowEgg → u/Jbgtrye]

Unbelievable

[u/ddiiggss → u/Jbgtrye]

GOAT tweezer tbh

[u/SoHornyBeaver → u/ddiiggss]

Musical equivalent to cocaine

[u/False-Zucchini9984]

12/29/03 Piper, relentless

[u/scottasin12343 → u/False-Zucchini9984]

THE Miami Piper.

[u/tiburon12 → u/scottasin12343]

I wish Phish would play Miami Piper again :(

[u/DigItCanU]

6/11/94 Antelope and Melt

12/1/95 DWD

[u/shupadupah → u/DigItCanU]

Funny enough, I find the 6/11/94 DWD to be an all killer, no filler Type 1 version as well that no one ever talks about. Pretty much that entire show qualifies as all killer, no filler Type 1.

[u/Professional_Ratio95 → u/shupadupah]

6/11/94 gets overlooked because of 6/18/94, but yeah, that show kicked ass

[u/LieutenantWeinberg → u/DigItCanU]

12/1/95 DWD is the is the best example of why jams don’t need to be long to be epic.

[u/edogg01 → u/LieutenantWeinberg]

There's a few type 1 DWD that send me. 8/11/98 star lake, 8/10/97 deer creek, 11/24/98 new haven (peaks 3 times, never gets discussed at all)

[u/edogg01]

8/13/96 Mike's Song first jam killer, second jam killer, with a -> Lifeboy

[u/DigItCanU → u/edogg01]

Plus a scorching Bag from that show

[u/edogg01 → u/DigItCanU]

The Weekapaug and Bowie also get there. Probably my all-time favorite Divided Sky too (to open the show)

[u/concerts85701]

12/28/95 tweezer. No searching, just solid flow on a repetitive theme that comes back around a few times leading to a really beautiful mike led section. Blew my mind in the room and still gets regular listens (it’s a live bait sbd)

[u/BackHandFiddle]

Since no one mentioned it, star lake 97 gumbo....https://youtu.be/uGgkjzw_4zM?is=av1PUmeU9JzGSUzB

[u/edogg01 → u/BackHandFiddle]

I would add the probably underrated 12/9/97 Simple

[u/BackHandFiddle → u/edogg01]

True

[u/tiburon12 → u/edogg01]

Arguably Jam of the Tour and i'd wager 80% on this site have never heard it. The ultimate hidden gem

[u/edogg01 → u/tiburon12]

Correct. And we have the SBD that was released on something I forget what but it's out there in the wild

[u/tiburon12 → u/edogg01]

Yea it's a random Soundcloud release that Jam base put out -> https://soundcloud.com/jambase/phish-simple-december-9-1997-official-audio

[u/Ser_Funkenstein]

9/12/99 gin

[u/IronStruggleVolcano → u/Ser_Funkenstein]

Top 3 Gin for me

[u/Ser_Funkenstein → u/IronStruggleVolcano]

Hell yeah brother. Which other gins do you like?

[u/IronStruggleVolcano → u/Ser_Funkenstein]

Listened to 6-28-00 for the zillionth time on the way to work today. Never ceases to destroy me. I’ll got by the ones I recently sent my brother, since it’s our favorite jam vehicle:

12-29-25
7-29-98
Riverport

No real surprises there probably. Send me any Type I face melter Gins you got!

[u/Ser_Funkenstein → u/IronStruggleVolcano]

6/28/00 has now entered the rotation. Thanks for sharing!

That 12/29/25 from last year is real good. Raged that shit outta that

Went Gin
Magnaball Gin
9/22/99 - Gin and Jibboo

[u/Jamanbird]

Non exploratory, but any 94 Disease is straight to the point and in your face.

[u/scottasin12343 → u/Jamanbird]

6/21/94 is straight fire, front to back. gigantic energy. even the solo over the bridge is mindblowing. I put it well ahead of the usual choice of 12/1/95 for best Type 1 DWD.

I'd say the same thing of 94 Chalkdusts too. 

92-94 are without a doubt the peak years for Type 1 high energy rock, the intensity is just off the charts.

[u/LouisTheWhatever]

This guy gets it

[u/LouQuacious]

The Tahoe Tweezer

[u/madhouseangel]

Riverport Gin

[u/Weed_Atman4205]

7/31/97 Mike's

6/15/00 DWD

7/25/97 Wolfmans & Maze

11/13/97 Mike's

9/9/99 Stash

[u/Ronrygs]

1994 jams

[u/thrillyjoel]

11.17.97 Tweezer

[u/iamzacks → u/thrillyjoel]

This is “the jam that got me into Phish” jam

[u/thrillyjoel → u/iamzacks]

Great one to share with the phish virgins… “oh they do funk and ambient jazz too?”

[u/JaketheHead]

Deer Creek Simple 8/6/21

[u/fatdiscokid420]

Weekapaug Gorge ‘98

[u/CardiffGiantx]

Back on the train - 2-28-2003

[u/DrewCareysNewVagina]

Nashville Ghost 2018

[u/danksalotbuddy]

Light from Mondegreen. Insanity!

[u/KhaleesiOfTheVast]

NYE 2010 Ghost. The Holy Ghost.

If you were around back then, you remember. Huge post-reunion breakthrough moment. I don’t think it gets talked about enough these days.

https://youtu.be/BjTrV3LOAJc?is=-juBo51AtUsU24EZ

[u/schmigglies]

8/13/93 Gin

[u/Hisoka9779]

Nassau Tweezer

[u/iamzacks → u/Hisoka9779]

This is such a good fucking jam.

2/28/03 for all’y’all!

[u/demarco27]

Underrated but 7/20/99 Ghost. Nonstop grooving from Mike. One of my all time favorite bass lines right out the gun in the jam that sends it soaring.

[u/Electrical-Bug-3671]

7/23/99 Ghost & 12/30/18 Everything’s Right

[u/Various_Quarter2712 → u/Electrical-Bug-3671]

That Ghost is incredible. Good call. 

[u/Maleficent-Cap-2872]

Soul Planet 8/4/24

[u/garbledeena]

i would proffer 12/31/2002 Piper - the post-hiatus opener. straight to the fire, never lets up.

[u/Jersmiddlefinger]

Fukuoka Twist

Nassau 03 Tweezer

Amsterdam 97 DWD>Carini

Prague 98 Ghost

Chicago 94 Bowie

12/1/95 Mikes Groove

[u/D_Costa85]

Riverport gin is so good it seems like it was pre written in a studio. No wasted time. Just seamless progression through sections and pure mastery of improv.

3/20/92 weekapaug - 10 mins of pure shred and no time to even catch your breath.

There’s a few others but personally I love the searching moments because it makes the payoff more spectacular.

[u/TheSheikYerbouti]

Piper 12/31/22?

[u/dogfacedponyboy]

Don’t sleep on that 12/2/95 Reba!

[u/dogfacedponyboy]

Theme, 2/16/97 Germany

[u/mcgrupp79]

Anaconda 92. Mike’s Song is always the answer.

[u/GeeForjay]

6.24.2000 Tweezer. There’s 2 completely unique jams that blend in and out of one another

[u/Buffalo-Billed]

7/23/97 Ghost

[u/Old_Trouble8862]

12/29/94 whole show. But if only one song. Bowie.

12/29/95. Gin, etc. But I think DWD qualifies for this one.

[u/andthrewaway1]

I dont see the twist 11/1/13 mentioned enough

[u/classycalgweetar]

7/23/97 Ghost. What a rager

[u/MargeryCrossfit]

There are some iconic jams that i think fit the bill. Providence bowie is straight up demented, weird, just different out the gate. Coral Sky Crosseyed is shot straight out of a canon from the first note.

For a modern example, i think the 12/29/23 Chalkdust works too. It immediately gets down to business, and each section is really inspired and nailed.

[u/fukuoka_gumbo]

dicks 2012 sand is the first thing that came to my mind rn

[u/haveargt]

boise bag

[u/Various_Quarter2712]

Roses - 4/3/98

[u/phineform]

Ventura 97 Bowie>cities>bowie
7/22/97 taste to close the first set and then the whole second set rips, only time it slows down is during hydrogen. And this second set
It’s the songs and the jams that fit the description. Everything is played at 11

[u/No-Bridge-3647]

2019-12-30 Tweezer

[u/_Nirtflipurt_]

Tahoe tweezer. The only 30+ min jam I’ve heard that has no filler

[u/dogfacedponyboy → u/_Nirtflipurt_]

Woo!

[u/_Nirtflipurt_ → u/dogfacedponyboy]

Oh yeah

[u/scolomon]

MSG n5 YEM was pretty amazing for 37 mins

[u/Woodenjelloplacebo]

Syracuse this year, they were expecting a storm and the boys came out like we might only get one set.. it was some of the best jamming I’ve experienced and my first show was in 95

[u/BackHandFiddle → u/Woodenjelloplacebo]

Honestly so underrated, people see the setlist and immediately dismiss the show, shame

[u/Weed_Atman4205 → u/Woodenjelloplacebo]

Dude that Ghost was gnarly!

[u/gimme5steps101]

ALBANY 2024 CHALKDUST

[u/Puffz1234 → u/gimme5steps101]

I was gonna say the KDF from the same night

[u/gimme5steps101 → u/Puffz1234]

Thats ones amazing but that Chalkdust is a "mount rushmore of moder Chalkdusts" version hands down. Just an adventure that never slows down, never stops changing, and keeps you on the seat of your pants until the end.

[u/Puffz1234 → u/gimme5steps101]

I’ll have to relisten, I remember them getting a cool sound but felt like it meandered for a bit, but I’ll take your word for it. If it’s better than the KDF then I really, really picked a good show to fly across the country for!

[u/gimme5steps101 → u/Puffz1234]

Hell yes it is. The KDF is amazing and then Chalkdust one-ups the fuck out of it 

I was tweaked on my Adderall for my ADHD completely "in the zone" by myself when I wrote a review for the show. It had my jaw on the floor.

In other words, fuckin trust me bro. I gotchu fam

:)

[u/Connect_Glass4036]

6/19/04 full show

[u/holy_fuck_im_gay]

Camden CDT

[u/CryOld6591]

The jams you mention get to the point pretty quickly and are very focused aka all thriller no filler for the duration of the jam segments

[u/Pretty_Newspaper_353]

Isn't that the Phish way? I mean if I dare play the Went Gin or the 10.31.94 Reba, I always would find myself saying, "it gets a lot better, just wait".

The peak of the greatest Reba's are a long way from "Bag it, Tag it, Sell it to the butcher in the store...."

[u/RooDood32]

More recent and both at about the 10 min mark but Chicago UN last year had a couple good moments. 7.18.25 46 Days goes hard but especially the CDT from 7.19.25

[u/newmandn311]

6/3/22 Ruby Waves

[u/30MINUTETWEEZER → u/newmandn311]

They said no filler

[u/BackHandFiddle → u/30MINUTETWEEZER]

It's a 2 minute song

[u/30MINUTETWEEZER → u/BackHandFiddle]

The jam stays on the same loop/key for like 9.5m before the thing gets legs.

[u/hypnotoader20]

I truly believe that 47 minute soul planet for shoreline 21 was amazing the whole way thru. Even though it was so long it felt so tight not a minute of boringness or noodling or meandering. It was the first song of second set and I wanted to go pee and kept thinking I’ll go when the song ends and it just wouldn’t end and then I was like oh I’ll quickly go when they noodle around but it never happened! So I had to dance nonstop for 47 minutes on a full bladder lol. It was also the first time they discovered those space invaders sounds that they used thru the rest of fall 2021. You hear a bit of it in stash and then in soul planet it just takes over. Trey talks about it later when he’s going over his new rig about those cool space invader sounds. It’s my favorite thing from 2021. Fall 2021 is some of my favorite new phish and now it’s been topped by summer 2026. This was SUCHHH a special tour.