Phish Performs 'Chalkdust Torture' | Letterman

Everyone's favorite jam band plays a song from their album "A Picture of Nectar."
(From "Late Show," air date: 12/30/94)

#phish #chalkdusttorture #letterman

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Welcome to the Letterman YouTube Channel, home to all your favorite clips from Late Night and Late Show - as well as conversations with the writers, producers and performers who helped make it all happen. The language may strike you as quaint & flowery, the clothing comically lacey & ornate — but that’s how things were back in this colorful and now bygone era.

[blackbenny]

Shortest Chalkdust ever but still brilliant

[senselessbabble]

As a kid growing up in Vermont in the 80s, we used to go see Phish when they were still playing gymnasiums and people's back yards. Loved it when they exploded in the 90s. I still try and see them once a year or so. Good times!

[davidthomaschwclmt]

This in fact was a pivotal day in the history of phish. First network tv exposure and first sold out show at MSG. Consequently I had 3rd page side rage side at that show. Truly life changing experience. Love phish

[jasonmurdoc]

Phish is the kind of band that needs to sell out Madison square garden to get on network tv. It’s a major accomplishment beats all odds

[rollingstoned]

Paul tearing up the organ and looked like he was loving every minute of it!

[BAGAKOOS]

They were such a force back then. Phish from 1993-99 you could put up against any band. Still enjoying seeing them today too. Always a good time!

[andyinoregon]

I replayed this hundreds of times on my VHS recording. Artists always seemed to sound better on Letterman than anywhere else.

[denvergrantz]

*run time: 4 minutes, 20 seconds*

I see what you did there.

[kstepko]

I’d heard a lot of references to Phish over the years, but this is the first time I‘ve ever heard them play.

[funnyguy]

Chalkdust wasn’t even on Hoist. Phish trolling the record company.

[matthewfrawley]

Watched this live with some friends. It was so cool to see them get some recognition on national TV. Then we headed in to Boston to next night to see the infamous hot dog NYE show at the old Boston Garden. Great memories.

[ble]

Thank you so much for posting this! Phish always had some of their best TV appearances on Letterman, and you could always tell Dave loved having them on. It would be incredible if you could eventually post their other appearances:

7/13/1995 (Julius)
3/5/1997 (Character Zero)
10/27/1998 (Birds of a Feather)
5/16/2000 (Heavy Things)
12/19/2002 (All of These Dreams)
6/21/2004 (Scents and Subtle Sounds + the rest of their unaired show on the Marquee outside)

[scotthosack]

Went skiing in Killington in the mid 90’s. Every bar had Phish covers. Loved it. Thank you Vermont!!!!

[jimmydunn]

My favorite Phish tv appearance. So happy this is back on YouTube

[CO]

Saw 3 shows in 94 Both nights at Red Rocks and Bozeman like a month before this man what memories!

[thephishphinder]

So glad they uploaded this. Always down for the Phish from Vermont.

[johnmartin]

Page on piano and Paul on organ?! Hell yes!!!!

[aclarkedesign]

Always nice when Paul Shaffer jams with the band on the show.

[apaskevi]

I’m not a jaded vet. I love all eras of Phish but for my money 1994-1995 Phish takes the cake. Also, it’s not every day we get an HD video of Phish from this time period (or ever) and I don’t take it for granted!

[RobertCUlon]

One of the best days of my life. Dropped 24 or 26 pts in a hs Christmas tournament game then went and saw my first phish show at their first msg show.