Setlist
Set One
Set Two
Encore
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Setlist
Set One
Set Two
Encore
Show Notes
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.
PRODUCTION CREDITS
* Recorded by Paul Languedoc
* Mastered by Fred Kevorkian at Kevorkian Mastering
* Post-Production by Kevin Shapiro
NOTES
* ’LA Wildfire Recovery’ - a benefit to support wildfire recovery efforts in Los Angeles and the surrounding communities
* Sweet Adeline and Amazing Grace were performed A Cappella without microphones
* Simpsons, All Fall Down and Oom Pa Pa secret language in Run Like An Antelope
Reviews
Leroy — 4/7/2025 2:14:49 AM
"I had sorta written this show off as well. At a glance. But it is much more than bbfcfm four times. The creature between antelopes is like one min of song and then a drop into some really interesting 94 type improv. The second half of antelope is absolutely incredible. The sound is a little iffy but treys playing is God-like. I’ve been into phish so long that I mostly focus on highlights and the antelope->creature->antelope more than qualifies. Do wish we could get a non charity release that is more about the quality of the show than it being from a region they are raising money for. Not knocking the charity obviously but it’s been awhile since we were given a new and outstanding release. Preferably something from 98 or 99 if it was up to me. "
Uncle Esther — 4/6/2025 7:13:40 PM
"Shut your mouth negative Phans. This show rules! "
Crunchygranola — 4/5/2025 5:15:34 PM
"If I may offer a different review of this show - you do not get shows like this nowadays. This is 100%, full throttle, in-yo-face rocking Phish. This show does not slow. There are no slow ballads ala Brian "
Sideshow — 4/2/2025 6:36:36 PM
"not a great show in fact nothing particularly special or engaging unless you really need to hear big black furry creatures from Mars 4 different times. 1.0 can keep this one. I will literally never listen to this again."
B Hand — 3/26/2025 11:04:09 AM
"Great show on my 24th birthday. All the shushing is just as loud as the people cheering. Those were the days. Haha. "