Jam Chart for Runaway Jim (75 entries)
| Date | City | Timing | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990-03-28 | Granville, OH | 7:10 | Debut. |
| 1990-10-31 | Colorado Springs, CO | 6:22 | > a strong "Jim," this super, early version, showcases the song's potential - not as a jamming heavyweight, but how "Jim" was played for the better part of four years" A versatile, fiery, "turn-it-up" number, which also functions to illustrate the band's considerable, and emerging, full-band musicianship. |
| 1990-11-16 | Providence, RI | 6:14 | Super percussion propels virtually every notable "Jim", and, here, it's fun to follow Fishman. Page, however, provides on-point fills and impressive runs, while Mike, dialed in, compliments Trey's customarily incendiary play. |
| 1990-12-31 | Boston, MA | 6:47 | > from "Coil", "Jim" offers a nice, stark contrast, illustrating the band's versatility. Mike's line (later picked up by Page) is fun and infectious, before the song's sustained and collective calm explodes into incredibly fast play - even for early Trey. |
| 1991-05-03 | Somerville, MA | 6:49 | Another example of what makes the band so special. Tight, full-band play, featuring truly dynamic percussion "within" wonderful phrasing and a wild, vivid, yet wholly controlled array of notes from Trey. Cools > "Tela". |
| 1991-10-18 | San Francisco, CA | 7:24 | The Great American Music Hall provides the stage for one of the greatest examples of an emerging Phish staple, the affectionately labeled: "Runaway Foam". First, Fish is awesome. Second, Trey makes a number of subtle and savvy moves that lay the foundation - or at least functions as illustration - for "Jim's" inevitable groundbreaking potential. |
| 1991-11-23 | Barre, VT | 7:35 | Right around the 3:40 mark Trey alights upon an incredible groove, which he works through any number of nuanced, melodic changes. Incredibly, Page keeps pace, and the version builds not so much to peak as to crest upon the strength of really strong play before, eventually, Trey goes off. |
| 1991-12-31 | Worcester, MA | 7:30 | Eons before there was life upon a "Soul Planet", there was "Runaway Jim". > from "ALS", this New Year's rocker blends some imaginative aspects of the year's strongest versions, before, as was so often the case, bleeding into crazy, frenzied play from Fish and Trey. A fitting finale for one of 1991's finest songs. |
| 1992-04-19 | Santa Cruz, CA | 7:20 | > "Cold as Ice", this hot show-closer features playful and melodic Trey, with a pinch of verve, and a whole lot of swagger. Pushing boundaries, the version lays the foundation for future jamming here, there, or anywhere. |
| 1992-04-22 | Eugene, OR | 7:02 | > "Harpua", a unique version loaded with tension and a particularly beautiful segment when Trey syncs with Mike (around 5:36) before spinning off into orbit. |
| 1992-05-16 | Boston, MA | 8:42 | Running 8:42, this "Jim" is one of the longest versions to date, and the band capitalizes upon every possible moment. Anchored by typically strong percussion, Trey swings through two separate, yet equally strong runs, his inspired play complimented by great bass and on-point Page. |
| 1992-07-09 | Portland, ME | 7:41 | Forget "Jim", Trey runs away on this one, his play informing, arguably, the most blistering version to date - and, quite possibly, ever. |
| 1992-11-30 | Pittsburgh, PA | 9:29 | > from "Buried Alive", this deep, throbbing version sees the band shrugging their youthful exuberance, the musicians coalescing to concentrate upon an excellent, protracted jam which sounds a couple years before its time. |
| 1993-02-03 | Portland, ME | 9:06 | "Jim" opens this historic show's second set, showcasing Page's new found sound (seriously, check it out). That aside, the version is superb, the band locked in as, within "Jim", they begin to truly toy with tension ratcheted not solely for the purpose of release. |
| 1993-02-07 | Washington, DC | 8:18 | Really cool version with Trey (5:27) leading the band through extended "DEG"-like play, before (5:52) entering what sounds like "Rift". This, then, into raw and raucous soloing, which brings the version to a customarily strong close. |
| 1993-02-10 | Geneva, NY | 8:54 | Mike is busy through an extended intro, engaging in a sort of musical banter with Trey, as the two seemingly swap signals. A calm then warms into a cool, really unique jam, featuring notably spacey Trey, who employs sweeping sustain and melodic variation to create a great soundscape before play very, very, slowly builds in intensity. Awesome. |
| 1993-03-17 | Hollywood, CA | 8:02 | Dazzling, swirling play from Trey as the jam becomes subdued and assumes an almost "Weekapaug" vibe. Fish remains relentless, and he rocks and rolls the band through a wild rise which finds Trey zipping through simply incredible runs. |
| 1993-03-19 | Redlands, CA | 9:31 | The first version to stretch beyond standard "Jim." Cool little exploratory departure starting at 7:30. |
| 1993-04-25 | Geneseo, NY | 8:40 | Demented. The jam, like a 95 "Reba", seems like an exercise in speed. Fish's play is remarkable, all technical terms seemingly applicable. Trey works his own sort of wizardry, and the version becomes like a "Stash", rife with tension and release. |
| 1993-05-01 | Upper Darby, PA | 7:40 | Awesome opener. Typically great guitar builds seamlessly to a incredibly thick and textured groove (5:00) which the band, circa late 90s, rides like a wave. Trey breaks to solo atop steady percussion before working the version to a smart conclusion. |
| 1993-07-21 | Middletown, NY | 9:38 | As @SLAVEPHAN notes, the band pushes through an Arabic, minor-key groove, and the version features some distinct hey-jamming, with each musician taking turns changing the musical direction. Play becomes quite tense, and, at times, there seems to be no real resolution on the horizon. One of the finest "short" versions. |
| 1993-08-11 | Grand Rapids, MI | 8:50 | Jam gets well beyond "Jim" into some interesting exploration. It's August '93, what else would you expect? |
| 1993-08-15 | Louisville, KY | 9:46 | Another good August '93 "Jim" that expands into some great improvisational jamming. |
| 1993-08-21 | Salt Lake City, UT | 10:36 | Very improvisational, dissonant and chaotic version. |
| 1993-08-26 | Portland, OR | 10:42 | Jam breaks into a great upbeat groove, settles into a quiet section, and rebuilds with great tension. Excellent. |
| 1994-04-20 | Lexington, VA | 7:39 | Another strong, groove-oriented jam, which, primarily because of tape quality, provides a great look at Pageââ¬â¢s strong play. Trey, however, locks into a great riff, which Mike then echoes, as Fish, as usual, drives the version's frenetic pace. |
| 1994-04-25 | Knoxville, TN | 8:15 | Blistering hot "Type I" version with superb playing by Fish and Trey. |
| 1994-05-02 | Birmingham, AL | 7:51 | Great, growly tone from Trey, the jam building and bettering as Fish propels the intensity. Trey's play becomes truly dynamic, with great rhythmic melodic variation offset by huge, sweeping sustain. And Fish just crushes his cymbals. |
| 1994-05-17 | Santa Barbara, CA | 8:17 | More great tone with Trey quickly breaking to solo, alternating between rapid-fire play and measured blasts of sustain. Fish picks up the pattern, with the musicians swapping ideas. Trey then really, really, leans into his pedal to shape his sound, with the band breaking to peak before the song's closing refrain. Cool version, and a sign of things to come. |
| 1994-10-15 | Pelham, AL | 10:17 | Dissonant version departs from "Jim" around 7:00 into weird chanting, howling, and screaming by Trey and Fish. |
| 1994-10-29 | Spartanburg, SC | 9:11 | -> in from "Simple." Excellent Fish and Trey on this improvisational version. |
| 1994-11-18 | East Lansing, MI | 9:05 | "Reverend" Jeff Mosier on banjo. Great exploratory version that gets well beyond standard fare. |
| 1994-11-22 | Columbia, MO | 6:30 | Short but excellent version quickly exits the typical jam in favor of a rocking, blues-infused jam which -> to a crazed "BBFCFM." |
| 1994-12-29 | Providence, RI | 9:11 | Excellent improvisational "Jim" which includes a "Dueling Banjos" tease from Trey and must-hear -> to "Foam." |
| 1995-06-08 | Salt Lake City, UT | 9:21 | After some "Third Stone From The Sun" (Hendrix) teases from Trey, this one gets out beyond the norm. |
| 1995-06-16 | Raleigh, NC | 30:36 | Intense, psychedelic and incredibly improvisational version. Has similarities in the final 10 minutes to the Providence "Bowie." Oddly, seems unheralded among the canon of all-time, must-hear jams. -> to "Free." |
| 1995-06-23 | Stanhope, NJ | 13:16 | Red hot, strong, compact, and unusual second set opener, Fish, direct from the vocals, drives strong and Impassioned play, the four Creating a controlled cacophony (typical fare for the year), with Mike holding some great notes and igniting great patterned play, page Pounding his keys before Trey alights on a riff which rises to break free to inform incendiary soloing. Play gets really cool as the band drives to a false peak and the jam becomes demented, an extended passage of "not at all what's expected,'" before the traditional spirited release -> into "The Lizards." |
| 1995-07-02 | Fayston, VT | 18:30 | Breaks away from "Jim" at about 8:45 into percussion-driven exploration. The jam gets way out there, with some tension and dissonance, before morphing its way (->) into "Makisupa." Not beautiful music, but highly improvisational. |
| 1995-10-14 | Austin, TX | 9:05 | Quickly gets beyond "Jim" into a driving, percussive and intense jam. |
| 1995-10-27 | Kalamazoo, MI | 9:07 | The recording, while imperfect, does well to capture Trey's signature (95) tone, and Page's strong play. The band creates an excellent passage of sustained "calm", which they deftly rebuild before Trey trills the version to a strong peak. |
| 1995-11-10 | Atlanta, GA | 8:48 | Opening almost as many shows as "CDT", it's impossible to decide upon the best "Jim" opener. Here, however, had song not followed "BATT", we would certainly find a version worthy of consideration. Trey's Leslie-soaked tone drips with color like some fever dream, and Fish's play, as ever, is unparalleled. Amazing play from an amazing show. |
| 1995-12-31 | New York, NY | 15:53 | Fish is phenomenal in this grand, melodic and driving jam that turns '95-style funky before rebuilding to "Jim." |
| 1996-07-23 | Hamburg, Germany | 8:49 | > "2001", check out the fun, "Euro" clapping running through the intro. Surprisingly, the jam assumes a slightly darker sentiment, which runs counter to "Jim's" usual plucky, upbeat tone. Fish is super, as is Trey, and play almost seems to veer into "CHYMK" before brightening, Trey leading the band into the song's customarily strong conclusion. |
| 1996-08-07 | Morrison, CO | 8:21 | "Runaway Jim" -> "Gypsy Queen" (Santana) -> "Runaway Jim." The jam also has some good rhythmic exploration beyond the segue to "Gypsy Queen." |
| 1996-08-07 | Morrison, CO | 1:07 | -> in from "Gypsy Queen" to wrap up this solid "Runaway Jim." |
| 1996-08-14 | Hershey, PA | 15:14 | Jam gets nicely beyond "Jim," returns, then breaks into some percussive jamming with Trey on the mini kit. Unfinished with > to "YEM." |
| 1996-08-17 | Plattsburgh, NY | 12:25 | > "The Curtain", the "Clifford Ball's" special, sweet version is executed with great precision, a case study in tone, tempo, and meter. The band an ethereal conduit for (or from) some other dimension, here is nothing but on-point play, the four as one expertly channeling their supremely crafted vision. |
| 1996-11-16 | Omaha, NE | 14:38 | Breaks into a great groove at 9:15 with some early funk sounds from Page and Trey before -> to "Vibration Of Life." |
| 1997-07-31 | Mountain View, CA | 23:16 | Multi-faceted improvisational version that includes funk, power jamming, quieter space, punchy, rhythmic funky stuff, and more space with a -> to "When The Circus Comes." |
| 1997-08-06 | Maryland Heights, MO | 15:43 | Jam settles around 6:50 into some glorious melodic space, rebuilds around 10:00 with some nice blues licks, settles again, then morphs into a serious blues jam with a -> to "My Soul." |
| 1997-08-13 | Burgettstown, PA | 9:05 | Incredible, straight-forward set-opener. What the jam might lack in terms of inventive improvisation (evinced earlier, and throughout Summer 1997's tour) is more than compensated for by way of tight, full-band play, and absolutely incendiary Trey, who puts on a clinic. |
| 1997-11-29 | Worcester, MA | 58:49 | Longest single Phish jam to date. Contains many different sections, and has been nicknamed the "Jim Symphony." Contains a thrilling "Weekapaug" jam. |
| 1997-12-05 | Cleveland, OH | 14:02 | Fantastic, very improvisational jam that is quite different than most including beautiful quieter parts. -> into "My Friend." |
| 1997-12-28 | Landover, MD | 14:11 | The jam breaks into a nice funky groove around 8:00 and gradually winds down into space with delay effects. |
| 1998-07-02 | Copenhagen, Denmark | 12:05 | Nice version that gets beyond "Jim" into some great ambient jamming. -> "Prince Caspian." |
| 1998-07-24 | The Woodlands, TX | 14:45 | Around 8:00, the jam shifts into a really great upbeat and somewhat funky groove that eventually returns to "Jim." |
| 1998-08-11 | Burgettstown, PA | 34:47 | An epic summertime odyssey of exploration, and among the best "Jims" ever. Loaded with improvisation and near-ambient sound, the opus closes with a "Maria" (West Side Story) tease and a triumphant return to "Jim." |
| 1998-11-04 | Denver, CO | 11:32 | Unusual, somewhat ineffable version, which features more by way of wide-open spaces than compact, in-your-face jamming. Trey's 1998 style and tone is clearly on display, and the band does eventually coalesce to enter a bit more by way of a rocking, extended jam (listen for Page's interesting, and varied, contributions) which, in time, > for "Moma Dance". |
| 1999-07-18 | Volney, NY | 24:12 | Fantastic, groove-based jamming, and this "Jim" has several good ones. Released on Live Bait Vol. 5. |
| 2000-06-16 | Suminoe-ku, Osaka, Japan | 26:04 | Excellent, multi-part "Jim." A serene yet percussive groove emerges first, followed by a transition with delay bombs dropping. Then Trey hits the mini-keyboard for a plunky, unusual jam before space and a -> to a very good "Theme." |
| 2000-07-03 | Camden, NJ | 32:33 | Incredible journey of improvisation. Very far ranging, the last 10 minutes are thrilling and intense. |
| 2003-12-31 | Miami, FL | 22:14 | Serious improvisation here with multiple sections, most fairly intense, but also including some quieter ones. |
| 2004-08-14 | Coventry, VT | 12:23 | Very improvisational, "Type II" version with a -> to a very improvisational, "Type II" "Gotta Jibboo." |
| 2011-08-10 | Stateline, NV | 8:45 | Breaks beyond "Jim" at about 6:30 into a nice, exploratory groove. > to "Ghost." |
| 2012-08-31 | Commerce City, CO | 19:09 | A very improvisational version and the first exploratory "Jim" to open Set II since 7/3/00. Most, but not all of the sections have a mildly dark tone which counter-balance the several very upbeat jams elsewhere in this historic show. |
| 2013-08-04 | San Francisco, CA | 16:25 | Excellent, multi-section "Jim." The jam begins with a dark tone, shifts to some great, percussive rocking midway through, then explores more bleak territory before reaching interplanetary space and > to "Carini." |
| 2018-07-25 | San Francisco, CA | 7:58 | > from "NICU", this fun, cerebral version, evokes early, compact "Jim's". Colored with 2018's melodic textures and graceful pacing, Page's play is impassioned, while Trey bends notes and shapes notable blasts of sustain, before building the jam to a packed, trill-filled conclusion. |
| 2018-10-20 | Hampton, VA | 10:06 | A nice, Page and Trey-led mini jam occurs during the first instrumental bridge. In the main jam segment, soothing, straightforward, and relaxed playing rapidly gives way to an inspired crescendo, with great Page and Fish. |
| 2019-06-21 | Charlotte, NC | 18:39 | A number of recent versions (see: 7/25/18 and 10/20/18) demonstrate the band's renewed interest in one of their finest compositions. Given your preference (the spirited first "half" of early-90's "Runaway Foams," or the crazed, free-form improvisation found within something like Shoreline 1997's II-opening jam), the band delivers an exciting amount of content, befitting triumphant "Funiculi Funicula" teasing. The entire ride is worthy of attention, but, true to 2019's style, Phish squeezes out an incredible amount of interesting improvisation, so remain tuned in to the outro, which doesn't so much fade as hint at a "DDLJ" before > "SaSS." |
| 2019-07-13 | East Troy, WI | 11:01 | > from "A Song I Heard the Ocean Sing." While not quite reaching the heights of the Charlotte version from earlier in the summer, this version certainly has merit. Atypical jamming for the song starts around 5:30 as Page begins playing some truly spooky sounds. Mike jumps in and together they create what sounds like the backing music to a scary movie. Trey and Fish eventually lead the band back to more familiar jamming and then a nifty segue -> "Undermind." |
| 2019-12-04 | Pittsburgh, PA | 13:34 | Patient and smooth, all four musicians contribute to a cerebral and stately version. Mellow, yet highly musical, play features superb improvisation atop Fish's shuffling beat, with ideas swapped and recycled through subdued play (listen for a lot of "lead" Mike) which considerably brightens as Trey fires a number of notes (inducing a great reaction from the audience), before heavy, almost ominous play, morphs to become highly psychedelic in nature. This, slowly then, > into "Ghosts of the Forest" poignant Phish debut. |
| 2021-10-30 | Las Vegas, NV | 10:56 | > from "YPC," the play here, while not extraordinarily out of bounds, is expertly placed, showcasing yet another of 2021's strengths - song placement. As if effortless, the band moves through a spirited, languid "Jim," blissfully light of effects and rife with tonal shifts and pure musicianship. Each musician - riding Fish's bend-but-don't-break wave contributes. That said: Trey fans. Tune in. His tone and his play is remarkable, and listen as he brightens (Page following) to > "Piper." Excellence. |
| 2022-07-20 | Philadelphia, PA | 11:27 | Another Phish classic benefitting from the band's renewed interest in exceptional, seemingly effortless, improvisation. Not quite running away, the jam threatens to break free, riding that effortlessly cool "Jim" vibe, with impossibly sprite Trey working atop bedrock Fish. A super example of what "was" crossed with what "is." |
| 2023-04-19 | Berkeley, CA | 13:56 | The jam initially begins in standard "Jim" territory before a Mike-led tonal shift signals new directions. Fishman's inspired melodic drumming retains a familiar vibe, as the rest of the band shifts through several moods in seamless fashion. This gradually escalates towards a lushly-textured minor key romp before wrapping up with the traditional "Jim" ending. |
| 2023-07-15 | Alpharetta, GA | 11:03 | Strong show-opening jam >'s to "Foam," completing one of the summer's classic throwback moments. Tight, full-band play is marked by no shortage of 23's sound, most notably found when, exploring tonality, Trey's out there striking notes and justly changing shapes. |
Jam chart versions are selected because of improvisational and other characteristics that distinguish these from typical versions of the song.
The jam chart team has highlighted some versions with a yellow background; these are the versions the team believes to be especially improvisational, or otherwise notable.
A purple date indicates that you were in attendance.
The jam chart team has highlighted some versions with a yellow background; these are the versions the team believes to be especially improvisational, or otherwise notable.
A purple date indicates that you were in attendance.
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