While there was plenty of afterparty action after the Phish shows, Holly Bowling put on a remarkable set of Phish tunes on the grand piano before the MSG show on 12/30. And Holly didn’t play just any set of Phish tunes, but she paid tribute to one of my favorite Phish albums, Billy Breathes by playing the album in it’s entirety.

It’s hard to believe that Billy Breathes is 20 years old. The album has Phish tunes that have withstood the test of time like “Free,” “Theme From the Bottom,” “Taste,” and “Prince Caspian.” Even if you aren’t a Phish fan, you have undoubtedly seen the album cover of Billy Breathes which is an extreme fish-eye close-up of Phish bassist Mike Gordon.

Holly played the album like you’ve never heard it before—on a grand piano. For good measure, Holly through in a little Dead at the end of the set with the bonus “Cryptical Envelopment>Other One>Cryptical Envelopment.”

Watch Holly Bowling Deliver a Chilling “Wharf Rat > Everybody Knows > Slip > Frank” on New Year’s Eve at the Cutting Room in NYC

Setlist
Free
Character Zero > #
Waste
Taste
Cars Trucks Buses #
Talk
Theme from the Bottom
Train Song
Bliss > #
Billy Breathes
Swept Away >
Steep > *
Prince Caspian # **

E: Cryptical Envelopment >
The Other One *** >
Cryptical Envelopment

# first time performed by Holly
* w/ Strange Design & Little Drummer Boy teases
** w/ Free tease
*** w/ Character Zero & Billy Breathes teases

Thanks to taperjeff for the great SBD and AUD matrix recording!

Photo, setlist and SBD courtesy of Holly Bowling!