Each year between 2000 and 2008, The Jammy Awards were celebrated with an all-star concert honoring the standouts of the jam scene. Founded by Dean Budnick and Peter Shapiro sponsored by Relix magazine, the events were particularly memorable for the unexpected collaborative performances they produced.
This edition of Sunday Cinema collects video footage from the final edition of The Jammys. Phish’s presence dominated the 2008 Jammys which were held at The Theater at Madison Square Garden and saw the band presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award. On hiatus at the time, the acceptance of the award marked the first time the four members of Phish shared the stage together since their concert in Coventry, Vermont in 2004.
Guitarist Trey Anastasio emerged to join The Fab Faux on a cover of The Beatles’ “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” and stuck around for “Everybody’s Got Something to Hide Except Me and My Monkey.” Keyboardist Page McConnell led an ensemble featuring jazz greats including drummer Roy Haynes, trumpeter Nicholas Payton and bassist Christian McBride Phish’ “Cars Trucks Buses” and more.
A group dubbed the HeadCount All-Stars made up of the Disco Biscuits bassist Marc Brownstein and guitarist Jon Gutwillig, Umphrey’s McGee guitarist Jake Cinninger, Joe Russo’s Almost Dead drummer Joe Russo and The String Cheese Incident keyboardist Kyle Hollingsworth honor Phish with a performance that included “Maze” and “Wilson.” The 2008 Jammys were co-hosted by Warren Haynes and Grace Potter who performed a cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “Gold Dust Woman.” Watch highlights from the 2008 Jammys below:
While My Guitar Gently Weeps
Everybody’s Got Something to Hide Except Me and My Monkey
Cars Trucks Buses
Phish Acceptance Speech
Wilson
Maze
