Throwback: Neil Young Joins Phish For An Acoustic "Harry Hood" (1998) April 28, 2016 16:29
Nearly every year since 1986, Neil Young and his former wife Pegi have called upon their musical friends to perform at an annual benefit concert to raise funds for the Bridge School, an innovative organization educating children with severe speech and physical impairments. The Youngs ask their invited guests to cut the cords and perform on acoustics for the Bridge School Benefit Concerts.
In October of 1998, jam veterans Phish performed two acoustic sets at the 12th annual Bridge School Benefit Concert, which also featured R.E.M., Neil Young, and Barenaked Ladies. One of many highlights from these sets came during "Harry Hood", when Neil Young joined the band just after the 7-minute mark of the song. Young would return to the stage and take lead vocals on his own "Helpless" to close the set.
Setlist and show notes via Phish.net
Setlist: Saturday, October 17th 1998 - Shoreline Amphitheatre
Set 1: Carolina, Sleep[1], Never[1], Possum[2], I'm Blue, I'm Lonesome[3], Free Bird, Driver[1], Wading in the Velvet Sea[2], Harry Hood[4] > Helpless[5]
[1] Debut; acoustic.
[2] Acoustic.
[3] Acoustic; Mike on banjo, Page on acoustic bass.
[4] Acoustic; unfinished; Neil Young on guitar.
[5] Phish debut; acoustic; Neil Young on guitar and vocals.
This single-set performance was part of the 12th annual Bridge School benefit that also included R.E.M., Neil Young, and Barenaked Ladies. This was an acoustic performance, with a unique stage setup that had Fish stage right, with Page on the far left. Carolina was performed with the band facing toward the Bridge School children, who were on a raised platform at the back of the stage. Sleep, Never, and Driver also debuted at this show. I’m Blue I’m Lonesome (first since December 12, 1995, or 195 shows) was performed in the bluegrass setup of 1994, with Mike on banjo and Page on acoustic bass. Free Bird was played for the first time since June 19, 1994 (338 shows). Hood included a tease of Work Song by Page and was unfinished; Neil Young joined in during the Hood jam, and then sang lead on the Phish debut of his own composition, Helpless.
Setlist: Sunday, October 18th 1998 - Shoreline Amphitheatre
Set 1: Hello My Baby, Billy Breathes[1], Piper[1], Roggae[1], Loving Cup[1], Albuquerque[1], The Old Home Place[2], Guyute[1], Brian and Robert[1], Sad Lisa[3], Four Strong Winds[4], I Shall Be Released[4]
[1] Acoustic.
[2] Acoustic; Mike on banjo, Page on acoustic bass.
[3] Phish debut; acoustic; Sarah McLachlan on guitar and vocals.
[4] Phish debut; acoustic; Sarah McLachlan and Neil Young on guitar and vocals and Kevin Hearn on accordion.
Notes: This single-set performance was part of the 12th annual Bridge School benefit that also included R.E.M., Neil Young, and Barenaked Ladies. This was an acoustic performance, with a unique stage setup that had Fish stage right, with Page on the far left. Hello My Baby was performed with the band facing toward the Bridge School children, who were on a raised platform at the back of the stage. The Old Home Place was performed in the bluegrass setup of 1994, with Mike on banjo and Page on acoustic bass. Sad Lisa featured Sarah McLachlan on guitar and vocals, while Four Strong Winds and I Shall Be Released featured McLachlan and Neil Young on guitar and vocals, as well as Barenaked Ladies’ Kevin Hearn on accordion; all three songs were Phish debuts.