Phish - 1994-05-16 The Wiltern, Los Angeles, CA (2025)

Phish had a busy year in 1994 with the release of their fifth studio album, ‘Hoist’, on March 29th followed by extended U.S. and Canada touring from April through New Year’s Eve. ‘Hoist’ was recorded in Los Angeles County the previous October and November of 1993, when the band was evacuated from ‘Hoist’ sessions at American Recording Company due to the Old Topanga Fire. On May 16th, 1994 during their spring tour, Phish returned to Los Angeles to play The Wiltern Theatre – a landmark Art Deco vaudeville and movie palace built in 1931 with a capacity of about 2,200 and located in Koreatown at the corner of Wilshire Boulevard and Western Avenue. It was a Monday night, tickets cost $17.50, and the band had invited The Simpsons creator Matt Groening to the show, catalyzing a long relationship that eventually found Phish on The Simpsons in 2002. The Wiltern ’94 was a nearly non-stop show with an easy flow and adventurous jamming woven around a creative setlist that elevated all those fortunate enough to bear witness.

Wiltern ‘94 highlights included a concise set I with a powerful four-song opening sequence of Buried Alive > Poor Heart > Sample In A Jar > Divided Sky, a standout Stash, and a cappella Sweet Adeline set closer sung without microphones in the intimate room. 2001 > Antelope > Creature > Antelope kicked off Set II which was since dubbed the “Big Black Furry Creature From Mars” set with the band repeatedly returning to Creature throughout. Run Like An Antelope (a song later performed by Phish in The Simpsons "Weekend at Burnsie's" 2002 episode) included The Simpsons secret language during the intro. It’s Ice > Julius > You Enjoy Myself opened up the middle of set II, with unique Louie Louie teases during YEM. The only Creature > Amazing Grace > Creature to date closed the show, with another electric-to-a cappella-to-electric blend.

5/16/94 Los Angeles was recorded by Paul Languedoc to 2-track DAT and was mastered by Fred Kevorkian. The show was selected to benefit recovery from the January wildfires in Los Angeles and Southern California.