On Stage: Phish - The Baker's Dozen provides an in-depth exploration of Phish's monumental 13-night residency at Madison Square Garden in 2017. Phish, a celebrated jam band with a dedicated following, performed 237 unique songs without any repeats across these shows, each night themed around a donut flavour (such as 'Strawberry' or 'Jam-Filled'). The book reflects on the atmosphere, fan community, and musical experimentation that marked the event. By acknowledging the cultural and experiential impact of Phish's concerts-and emphasizing the communal and improvisational nature of their music-the book discusses Phish's commitment to their audience and the spontaneity of their live shows. Each chapter covers specific nights and songs, detailing the setlists, the fan experience, and how these performances exemplified Phish's blend of planned setlists and improvisation. This positions The Baker's Dozen as a culmination of the band's ethos and creative evolution. By contextualizing Phish's influences, such as the Grateful Dead, David Bowie and the Talking Heads, this book provides insight into how these inspirations are reflected in Phish's performances and captures the spontaneity of their music, their loyal fan base, and the transformative nature of live performance. AUTHOR: This is the first book from Brent Waltz, a technical writer whose work has previously appeared in newspapers and magazines. He enjoys listening to Phish while he drives his wife and children to various hiking locations throughout the Midwest (and to whichever coffee shops might be in the vicinity). He lives in Indiana, USA.
