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Walk the narrow streets of Amsterdam, and it is hard to travel very far before seeing some tribute to Bob Marley. Given the obvious admiration members of Phish have demonstrated toward Bob Marley it was no great surprise for them to debut a Marley cover during their second ever visit to Amsterdam. “Soul Shakedown Party” opened Phish’s appearance at Amsterdam’s historic Paradiso on 2/17/97. After one more appearance on 2/20/97 in Milan, Italy, the song then went back into mothballs, gone and seemingly forgotten before even one performance on American soil.

Watch Soul Shakedown Party on YouTube Bob Marley, The Legend Live, 11/25/79, Santa Barbara, CA

All that changed on 2/28/03 at Nassau Coliseum. Emerging out of a monumental second set opening “Tweezer,” “Soul Shakedown Party” shocked the already delirious crowd with its return after a 270-show absence. This mid-set reggae interlude is but one part of what many seasoned Phish observers feel is one of their most powerful, well-rounded, front-to-back shows ever performed, given the unsurpassed strength of song selection and brilliant diversity of jamming. In a delightfully ironic twist, the breakout of “Soul Shakedown Party” – an event that would have been the highlight of many other shows – wasn’t nearly the biggest bust out of the evening, as the fan obsession “Destiny Unbound” was performed in the first set for the first time in almost 800 shows. 

Watch Soul Shakedown Party on YouTube Phish, "Soul Shakedown Party" – 12/30/09 Miami, FL

After the two aforementioned appearances out of "Tweezer," "Soul Shakedown" returned to its show-opening roots as the opener for the party-vibe Vegas gig on 4/17/04. Offerings of more recent vintage include the bustout-infused Miami gig on 12/30/09, the third day of SBIX on 7/3/11, as part of the “S” set on 9/2/11 at Dick’s, and 7/1/12 Alpine Valley. When Phish performed at the Santa Barbara Bowl on 10/22/14 – the venue for Bob Marley’s 11/25/79 show immortalized as The Legend Live – they honored the occasion by opening the show with a crisp rendition of the beloved tune.

Trey Anastasio, Santa Barbara, CA 10/21/14, Photo by Rene Huemer © Phish From the Road

(Marley)
© Fifty Six Hope Road Music Limited (ASCAP)

We gonna have a soul shakedown party tonight
We gonna have a soul shakedown party tonight

The way you love me
It's all right
When you put your lovin' arms around me
And you hold me tight
(hold me tight)

This is my invitation
I've got the special vacation
I need your concentration
Just to feel your vibration

(At that) soul shakedown party tonight
We gonna have a soul shakedown party tonight

Jane is in the backyard
Doing the outside dance
From telling me the other day
She didn't even get a chance

But this is my invitation
I've got the special vacation
I need your concentration
Just to feel your vibration

Baby I need you tonight
We gonna have a soul shakedown party tonight

The way you love me
It's all right
When you put your lovin' arms around me
And you hold me tight
(Hold me tight)
This is my invitation
I've got the special vacation
I need your concentration
Just to feel your vibration

(At that) soul shakedown party tonight
We gonna have a soul shakedown party tonight