Vegas 96 is a triple live album from the American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 jam band

Jam band

-Ambiguity:By the late 1990s use of the term jam band also became ambiguous. An editorial at jamband.com suggested that any band of which a primary band such as Phish has done a cover of be included as jam band. The example was including New York post-punk band Talking Heads after Phish performed...

 Phish

Phish

Phish is an American rock band noted for its musical improvisation, extended jams, and exploration of music across genres. Formed at the University of Vermont in 1983 , the band's four members – Trey Anastasio , Mike Gordon , Jon Fishman , and Page McConnell Phish is an American rock band...

, recorded live at the Aladdin Theatre

Theatre for the Performing Arts

The Theatre for the Performing Arts is a 7,000 seat theater located in the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino on the Las Vegas Strip.- History :...

 in Las Vegas, Nevada

Las Vegas, Nevada

Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...

, on December 6, 1996. In addition to the 3-CD set, a limited edition box version also includes a DVD with archival footage from the show and an extensive 40-page bound-book featuring photos and notes.

The show features a large amount of extended improvisation on Phish classics such as "Harry Hood" and "Weekapaug Groove", as well as a cover of Frank Zappa

Frank Zappa

Frank Vincent Zappa was an American composer, singer-songwriter, electric guitarist, record producer and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock, jazz, orchestral and musique concrète works. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed...

's "Peaches en Regalia". The encore features a half-hour version of "Harpua" with guest appearances from Les Claypool

Les Claypool

Leslie Edward "Les" Claypool is an American musician and writer, best known as the lead vocalist and bassist in the band Primus. Claypool's playing style on the electric bass mixes tapping, flamenco-like strumming, whammy bar bends and slapping.Claypool has also self produced and engineered his...

 and Larry LaLonde

Larry LaLonde

Larry "Ler" LaLonde is a guitarist who currently plays in Primus along with Les Claypool and Jay Lane...

 of the band Primus

Primus (band)

Primus is an American rock band based in San Francisco, California, currently composed of bassist/vocalist Les Claypool, guitarist Larry "Ler" LaLonde and drummer Jay Lane. Primus originally formed in 1984 with Claypool and guitarist Todd Huth, later joined by Lane, though the latter two departed...

, John McEuen of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band is an American country-folk-rock band that has existed in various forms since its founding in Long Beach, California in 1966. The group's membership has had at least a dozen changes over the years, including a period from 1976 to 1981 when the band performed and recorded...

, actor Courtney Gains

Courtney Gains

-Life and career:Gains achieved success during the 1980s with a variety of roles in films such as Children of the Corn, Hardbodies, Lust in the Dust, Back to the Future, Can't Buy Me Love, Colors,Wing Commander III, The 'Burbs and Memphis Belle...

 from Children of the Corn, a group of Elvis

Elvis Presley

Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....

 impersonators

Elvis impersonator

An Elvis impersonator is someone who impersonates or copies famed American musician Elvis Presley. Professional Elvis impersonators can work all over the world as entertainers, and such tribute acts are in great demand due to the unique iconic status of Elvis...

, and a pair known as the "Yodeling Cowgirls", who performed "I Want to Be a Cowboy's Sweetheart

I Want to be a Cowboy's Sweetheart

"I Want to be a Cowboy's Sweetheart" is a country and Western song written and first recorded in 1935 by Rubye Blevins, who performed as Patsy Montana. It was the first country and Western song by a female artist to sell more than one million copies....

", accompanied by John McEuen on a pedal-steel guitar.

The Yodeling Cowgirls, from Phoenix, Arizona

Phoenix, Arizona

Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...

, are Heather August and Anamieke Carrozza, who had met Phish at their Phoenix concert days earlier.

In addition to being a CD release, this concert is available as a download in FLAC

FLAC

FLAC is a codec which allows digital audio to be losslessly compressed such that file size is reduced without any information being lost...

 and MP3

MP3

MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 Audio Layer III, more commonly referred to as MP3, is a patented digital audio encoding format using a form of lossy data compression...

 formats at LivePhish.com. Selected songs are available for MPEG-4

MPEG-4

MPEG-4 is a method of defining compression of audio and visual digital data. It was introduced in late 1998 and designated a standard for a group of audio and video coding formats and related technology agreed upon by the ISO/IEC Moving Picture Experts Group under the formal standard ISO/IEC...

 download.

Disc one

1. "Wilson" (Anastasio
   Trey Anastasio
   Trey Anastasio is an American guitarist, composer, and vocalist most noted for his work with the rock band Phish...
   
   , Marshall
   Tom Marshall (singer)
   Tom Marshall is a lyricist, keyboardist and singer/songwriter best known for his association with Trey Anastasio and the rock band Phish...
   
   , Woolf) - 6:22
2. "Peaches en Regalia
   Peaches en Regalia
   "Peaches en Regalia" is an instrumental jazz fusion composition by Frank Zappa. It was released on Zappa's album Hot Rats in 1969 and has been recorded many times since. It was also released as a single in 1970, with "Little Umbrellas" as the B-side...
   
   " (Zappa
   Frank Zappa
   Frank Vincent Zappa was an American composer, singer-songwriter, electric guitarist, record producer and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock, jazz, orchestral and musique concrète works. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed...
   
   ) - 3:10
3. "Poor Heart" (Gordon
   Mike Gordon
   Mike Gordon is a bass guitar player and vocalist most noted for his work with the rock band Phish. Gordon is also an accomplished banjo player, and is proficient at piano, guitar, harmonica and percussion...
   
   ) - 3:18
4. "2001
   Also sprach Zarathustra (Richard Strauss)
   Also sprach Zarathustra, Op. 30 is a tone poem by Richard Strauss, composed in 1896 and inspired by Friedrich Nietzsche's philosophical treatise of the same name. The composer conducted its first performance on 27 November 1896 in Frankfurt...
   
   " (Deodato
   Eumir Deodato
   Eumir Deodato is a Brazilian pianist, composer, record producer and arranger, primarily based in the jazz realm but who historically has been known for eclectic melding of big band and combo jazz with varied elements of rock/pop, R&B/funk, Brazilian/Latin, and symphonic or orchestral music.Mainly,...
   
   ) - 9:27 ->
5. "Llama" (Anastasio) - 5:26 ->
6. "You Enjoy Myself
   You Enjoy Myself
   You Enjoy Myself, commonly abbreviated to "YEM" is a Phish song written by Trey Anastasio. It is the band's most frequently played song, having been featured —as of August 2011— at about 36% of their 1,496 shows. The song is also one of the oldest in Phish's catalog, having been first performed...
   
   " (Anastasio) - 26:00
7. "Cars Trucks Buses" (McConnell
   Page McConnell
   Page Samuel McConnell is an American multi-instrumentalist most noted for his work as a songwriter and keyboardist with the American rock band Phish....
   
   ) - 4:09
8. "Down with Disease
   Down With Disease
   "Down with Disease" is a song by the band Phish that appeared on their 1994 album Hoist. The song was written by Phish lead singer Trey Anastasio and the band's frequent songwriter, Tom Marshall; its lyrics were based on a bout with infectious mononucleosis suffered by Marshall."Down with Disease"...
   
   " (Anastasio, Marshall) - 11:04
9. "Frankenstein
   Frankenstein (song)
   "Frankenstein" is a rock instrumental by The Edgar Winter Group from their album They Only Come Out at Night.In live performances of the song, Edgar Winter further pioneered the advancement of the synthesizer as a lead instrument by becoming the first person ever to strap a keyboard instrument...
   
   " (Winter
   Edgar Winter
   Edgar Holland Winter is an American musician. He is famous for being a multi-instrumentalist. He is a highly skilled keyboardist, saxophonist and percussionist. He often plays an instrument while singing. He was most successful in the 1970s with his band, The Edgar Winter Group, notably with their...
   
   ) - 4:55

Disc two

1. "Julius" (Anastasio, Marshall) - 9:34
2. "Sparkle" (Anastasio, Marshall) - 3:37
3. "Mike's Song
   Mike's Song
   Mike's Song is a song by the jam band Phish. Originally written in 1985, and debuting that year on October 17, bass player Mike Gordon's song has been played a total of 378 times , the second most played song in Phish history ..-"Mike's Groove":Mike's Song is the first song in a series of three...
   
   " (Gordon) - 10:53 ->
4. "Simple" (Gordon) - 18:33 ->
5. "Harry Hood" (Anastasio, Fishman
   Jon Fishman
   Jon Fishman is an American drummer best known for his work with the band Phish. He is credited with co-writing 19 Phish originals, 8 of them as a solo credit....
   
   , Gordon, Long, McConnell) - 15:40 ->
6. "Weekapaug Groove" (Anastasio, Fishman, Gordon, McConnell) - 11:35 ->
7. "Sweet Adeline" (Armstrong
   Henry W. Armstrong
   Henry W. "Harry" Armstrong was a U.S. boxer, booking agent, producer, singer, pianist and Tin Pan Alley composer.His biggest hit was "Sweet Adeline", written in 1903 with Richard H. Gerard...
   
   , Gerard) - 1:54
8. "Good Times Bad Times
   Good Times Bad Times
   "Good Times Bad Times" is a song by the English rock band Led Zeppelin, featured as the opening track on their 1969 debut album Led Zeppelin....
   
   " (Bonham
   John Bonham
   John Henry Bonham was an English musician and songwriter, best known as the drummer of Led Zeppelin. Bonham was esteemed for his speed, power, fast right foot, distinctive sound, and "feel" for the groove...
   
   , Jones
   John Paul Jones (musician)
   John Paul Jones is an English multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, composer, arranger and record producer. Best known as the bassist, mandolinist, and keyboardist for English rock band Led Zeppelin, Jones has since developed a solo career and has gained even more respect as both a musician and a...
   
   , Page
   Jimmy Page
   James Patrick "Jimmy" Page, OBE is an English multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and record producer. He began his career as a studio session guitarist in London and was subsequently a member of The Yardbirds from 1966 to 1968, after which he founded the English rock band Led Zeppelin.Jimmy Page...
   
   , Plant
   Robert Plant
   Robert Anthony Plant, CBE is an English singer and songwriter best known as the vocalist and lyricist of the iconic rock band Led Zeppelin. He has also had a successful solo career...
   
   ) - 7:18

Disc three

1. "Harpua
   Harpua
   "Harpua" is a Phish song that was a staple of their live concerts, but has now become a rarity and has only been performed live. Though it always follows the same basic structure , Trey Anastasio always narrated a different story at every concert in the middle of the...
   
   " (Anastasio, Fishman) - 4:03 ->
2. "Wildwood Weed" (Bowman, Stafford
   Jim Stafford
   James Wayne "Jim" Stafford is an American comedian, musician, and singer-songwriter, prominent in the 1970s. Stafford is self-taught on guitar, fiddle, piano, banjo, organ and harmonica....
   
   ) - 2:43 ->
3. "Harpua" (Anastasio, Fishman) - 4:21 ->
4. "I Want to Be a Cowboy's Sweetheart" (Montana
   Patsy Montana
   Ruby Rose Blevins , known professionally as Patsy Montana, was an American country music singer-songwriter and the first female country performer to have a million-selling single...
   
   ) - 2:17 ->
5. "Harpua" (Anastasio, Fishman) - 1:55 ->
6. "Suspicious Minds
   Suspicious Minds
   "Suspicious Minds" is a song written by American songwriter Mark James that, after the failure of his own recording, was handed to Elvis Presley by producer Chips Moman becoming one of his most notable hits and a number one in 1969, "Suspicious Minds" was widely regarded as the single that returned...
   
   " (James
   Mark James (songwriter)
   Mark James is a songwriter, famous for writing hits for singers B.J. Thomas, Brenda Lee, and Elvis Presley, most notably Elvis' last US number one hit single, "Suspicious Minds."-History:...
   
   ) - 4:28 ->
7. "Harpua" (Anastasio, Fishman) - 8:47 ->
8. "Suzy Greenberg" (Anastasio, Pollak) - 6:52 ->
9. "Susie Q
   Susie Q (song)
   "Susie Q" is a song by Louisiana-born singer and guitarist Dale Hawkins . He wrote the song himself, but when it was released, Stan Lewis, the owner of Jewel/Paula Records, and Eleanor Broadwater, the wife of Nashville DJ Gene Nobles, were also credited as co-writers to give them shares of the...
   
   " (Broadwater, Hawkins
   Dale Hawkins
   Delmar Allen "Dale" Hawkins was a pioneer American rock singer, songwriter, and rhythm guitarist who was often called the architect of swamp rock boogie...
   
   , Lewis
   Stanley Lewis
   Stanley Lewis may refer to:* J.E. Stanley Lewis, mayor of Ottawa, 1936–1948* C. Stanley Lewis, artist, Guggenheim Fellow...
   
   ) - 2:47 ->

Bonus disc - Road to Vegas

1. "Split Open and Melt" (Anastasio) - 11:04
   • recorded November 9, 1996
2. "Tweezer" (Anastasio, Fishman, Gordon, McConnell) - 16:58
   • recorded November 3, 1996
3. "Bathtub Gin" (Anastasio, Goodman) - 26:31
   • recorded November 7, 1996
4. "Simple" (Gordon) - 16:37
   • recorded November 18, 1996
5. "Amazing Grace" (Traditonal) - 6:07
   • recorded November 30, 1996

Personnel

Phish

Phish

Phish is an American rock band noted for its musical improvisation, extended jams, and exploration of music across genres. Formed at the University of Vermont in 1983 , the band's four members – Trey Anastasio , Mike Gordon , Jon Fishman , and Page McConnell Phish is an American rock band...

Trey Anastasio

Trey Anastasio

Trey Anastasio is an American guitarist, composer, and vocalist most noted for his work with the rock band Phish...

 - guitars, vocals

Page McConnell

Page McConnell

Page Samuel McConnell is an American multi-instrumentalist most noted for his work as a songwriter and keyboardist with the American rock band Phish....

 - keyboards, vocals

Mike Gordon

Mike Gordon

Mike Gordon is a bass guitar player and vocalist most noted for his work with the rock band Phish. Gordon is also an accomplished banjo player, and is proficient at piano, guitar, harmonica and percussion...

 - bass guitar, vocals

Jon Fishman

Jon Fishman

Jon Fishman is an American drummer best known for his work with the band Phish. He is credited with co-writing 19 Phish originals, 8 of them as a solo credit....

 - drums, vocals

Guests

Les Claypool

Les Claypool

Leslie Edward "Les" Claypool is an American musician and writer, best known as the lead vocalist and bassist in the band Primus. Claypool's playing style on the electric bass mixes tapping, flamenco-like strumming, whammy bar bends and slapping.Claypool has also self produced and engineered his...

 - bass guitar, vocals

Larry LaLonde

Larry LaLonde

Larry "Ler" LaLonde is a guitarist who currently plays in Primus along with Les Claypool and Jay Lane...

 - guitar

John McEuen

John McEuen

John McEuen , is an American folk musician and entertainer. He was one of the earliest members of The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. He played with the band from 1966 to 1986, and returned in 2001.The group prior to that 'dissolved' a few times briefly, but none as long as in 1968, right after spending 4...

 - slide guitar

Heather August and Anamieke Carrozza - vocals

Guests on Road to Vegas

Karl Perazzo - percussion (Tweezer)

Peter Apfelbaum

Peter Apfelbaum

Peter Apfelbaum is an American avant-garde jazz pianist, tenor saxophonist, drummer and composer born in Berkeley, California. He first emerged on the jazz scene in the late 1970s, performing with Carla Bley from 1978–1982 and touring with Warren Smith and Karl Berger. Around this time Apfelbaum...

- tenor saxophone (Amazing Grace)

John McEuen - slide guitar (Amazing Grace)