What to expect at Essex

Expect the unexpected at Phish concerts, bassist Mike Gordon told the Burlington Free Press last week. And that is about right. The band continually mixes up its setlist, mixing in new originals with covers, concert standards and old favorites. If past benefit shows Phish has played are any indication, expect a few specials guests, some original debuts and/or a few surprise covers at tonight's show at the Champlain Valley Expo.

5/16/95, Lowell Memorial Auditorium, Lowell Mass.:This was a Voters for Choice benefit hosted by womens' rights activist Gloria Steinem. The band debut 10 songs at this show, including several witch would find their way on to their sixth album "Billy Breathes." The show also included debut covers of Velvet Underground's "Lonesome Cowboy Bill," Brian Eno's "I'll Come Running" and the appropriate "Gloria."

3/18/97 The Flynn Theater, Burlington. This was a benefit for the Waterwheel Foundation and coincided with the release of Ben & Jerry's Phish Food. The show featured Vermont musicians Tammy Fletcher, Dave Grippo and James Harvey. The band debuted three new songs this night, all covers, most notably "Cinnamon Girl" by Neil Young.

103/1998 New World Music Theatre, Tinley Park, Ill. This set was a part of the Farm Aid benefit in a concert which also featured Wilco, Willie Nelson, Neil Young and John Mellencamp. After playing several originals the band was joined by Neil Young for his songs "Arc" and "Down By The River." Willie Nelson and Paul Schaffer joined the band, along with Young, for "Moonlight in Vermont" and several other traditional songs to close the set.

10/17-18/1998 Shoreline Amphitheatre, Mountain View, Calif. Two weeks after Farm Aid, the band performed the Bridge School benefit. The band played one acoustic set each day, debuting new tunes such as "Sleep" and "Driver," and also debuted songs with Young and Sarah McLachlan such as young's "Helpless" and The Band's "I Shall Be Released."

Show information courtesy of phish.net.