In this episode, we welcome journalist and drummer Mark Goodwin for a sprawling, joyous dive into Phish’s improvisational magic, Talking Heads worship, and the bizarrely perfect overlap between Phish tour lore and Bitcoin culture. Mark shares his New England origins, jazz-drum roots, and the moment Phish rewired his musical brain—from Lawn Boy on a road trip to Rush, to finally catching the band’s 3.0 rebirth at Hampton. We relive festival highs (Superball IX’s midnight “No Quarter,” the storage unit set, and a field-wide Stop Making Sense dance party), unpack the evolution from ‘93 precision to ‘97 cow-funk fearlessness, and celebrate Mike Gordon’s modern sonic heft and Fishman’s behind-the-beat pocket. We also trade stories about cities, scenes, and synchronicities—from mimes and movie theaters to Prague’s subterranean ghost—while considering how Phish’s ever-growing songbook and improvisational ethos could cement their legacy a century from now. Worlds collide as the Sphere run lines up with Bitcoin 2024, and we reflect on Sigma Oasis’ uncanny timing, the role of statistics and setlist lore, and the communal proof-of-work that makes this band’s history feel both personal and mythic.
From Fishman teaching himself drums over drumless bluegrass to Trey practicing to Remain in Light, it’s a celebration of influence, interplay, and the live-show laboratory—where fear can be fun, funk can be scary, and the numbers always add up to another unforgettable night.
Fundamentals
X: @Fundamentals21m
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READ THE BOOK: https://zeuspay.com/btc-for-institutions
JOIN THE PIONEERS CLUB: https://fountain.fm/episode/F5QFM50ZVtTyQlDd0vOf
Jason
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READ THE FCKING BOOK!!^^
Intro: Back on the Train - Phish 09/13/25 Birmingham, AL
Alternate HD Video 04-18-24 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7cySKvPB62k
Backing Track - Phish 11/22/97 Hampton, VA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9BIl_HiqOY
Outro: Once In a Lifetime - Phish 10/31/96 Atlanta, GA - Set 2 Remain in Light musical costume https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=negQCMxYlz8