Spock's Brain

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Originally Performed By	Phish
Appears On
Music/Lyrics	Anastasio/Fishman/Gordon/McConnell
Vocals	All
Historian	Benjy Eisen, Phillip Zerbo
Last Update	2019-03-01

History

Phish’s single-set show at Lowell Memorial Auditorium on 5/16/95 was the main attraction for a Voters for Choice benefit. It was an unusual gig, the first of 1995 but preceding their summer tour by almost a month. Renowned feminist Gloria Steinem delivered an extended speech immediately preceding the set, adding to the odd-for-a-Phish-show feel. Phish then unleashed a ground-breaking set featuring a whopping ten debuts, compared to only four familiar tunes. 

Midway through the set when Fishman came out front for the debut of “Lonesome Cowboy Bill,” he answered fans’ requests to name the new songs that had just been played. He named some of them – “Theme From the Bottom,” “Don’t You Wanna Go,” and “Ha Ha Ha,” – but seemed curiously ambivalent about the third. 

It turned out that the song didn’t yet have a title. Since it was a Voters for Choice benefit, the band decided to let the audience choose their favorite from four possible titles. Trey listed the potential titles: “The Plane,” “The First Single,” “Israel” and “Spock’s Brain.” The crowd went wild for the last option. Fishman assessed: “well, I guess we know the title to that song!” 

Phish, “Spock’s Brain” – 9/29/00, Las Vegas, NV

Originally broadcast on September 20, 1968, the Star Trek episode “Spock’s Brain” is famed as one of the worst Trek episodes of all time – that’s including Deep Space Nine and Voyager! The episode concerns a race of Amazonian women who decide that they don’t want to think for themselves. In order to accomplish this, they steal Spock’s brain, leaving the inimitable Vulcan a mindless zombie. Eventually, of course, the brain is retrieved and Dr. McCoy replaces it in Spock’s skull. 

“Spock’s Brain” was an instant winner, showing off many strengths of Phish’s songwriting within the boundaries of one song – great vocal interplay, time changes, and a nice groove. “Spock’s Brain” was performed four more times in the summer of 1995, then seemingly dropped from the rotation after the Mann gig in Philadelphia on 6/24/95. 

Star Trek, “Spock’s Brain” (condensed)

By 2000, fans had all but forgotten about or were either completely unfamiliar with “Spock’s Brain.” Then on 9/29/00 in the debauched and discombobulated city of Vegas, Phish let the seemingly innocent post-”Wilson” noises slam into the first “Spock’s Brain” in over five years. Fans were treated to a nice but unsteady welcome-back version of the beloved tune, the band letting its closing refrain serve as scenic backdrop of the ensuing “Bathtub Gin.” An even stronger performance of this rarity occurred a week later at Shoreline (10/6/00), providing a surprising segue out of a fiery “Down with Disease.” 

"Spock's Brain" made one appearance in the post-hiatus years of 2.0. This version was at the incredibly strong and diverse 7/30/03 Camden gig that also featured a 30-minute first set "Scents and Subtle Sounds," the one-time Dylan cover "You Ain't Goin' Nowhere" and an epic four-song second set ("Twist," "Bug," "You Enjoy Myself," and "Walls of the Cave"). 

Mike Gordon introduced it into his band’s repertoire on 3/1/14 at New York’s Webster Hall, and it has remained in Mike’s regular rotation. Trey was present for Mike’s offering of “Spock’s” on 4/4/14 in Tarrytown, NY but the song preceded his guest slot, as was the case with both Fish and Page two nights later at Higher Ground. Sadly, Mike’s next performance of the song on 6/5/15 was dedicated to the one and only Spock, Leonard Nimoy, upon his passing in February of that year. 

On 2/21/19, after a two year break, Phish returned to Mexico for a three night stand at Barceló Maya Beach. They opened the show, run and year with the first "Spock's Brain" of Phish's 3.0 era and first performance since 7/30/03 in Camden (429 shows). The night continued with two other notable bust-outs; The Velvet Underground’s “Who Loves the Sun?" (Last played on its debut on 10/31/98 during the Loaded set) and Little Feat’s “Spanish Moon" (Last played on its debut on 10/31/10 during the Waiting for Columbus set). 

Mike Gordon, “Spock’s Brain” – 3/1/14, New York, NY. Video by LazyLightning55a.

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