Rocktober '90s Song #14: "Sample In a Jar" by Phish (1994)

One of the rock genres that had a bit of renaissance in the '90s was jam bands.  The Grateful Dead successfully toured in the early '90s until Jerry Garcia's death in 1995.  Tie dye shirts were back in vogue.  Bands like Phish, Rusted Root, Dave Matthews Band (who I hate!), Widespread Panic, moe., String Cheese Incident, Grateful Dead cover band Dark Star Orchestra, and Umphrey's McGee carried the torch from the Dead.

I think it's safe to say that Phish is Gen X's version of the Dead, and despite little to no airplay on traditional radio, they developed a huge following and in the mid to late '90s, they had some pretty good success on the album charts.  1996's Hoist went to #34 on the Billboard album chart, 1996's Billy Breathes went to #7, 1998's The Story of the Ghost went to #8, and two live albums that cracked the Top 20.

"Sample in a Jar" is from Hoist, and it seemed to be the Phish song that I remember hearing most in college, so it brings back fond memories (or lack of memories).  The verses are subdued, and then it kicks into a jam in the choruses.  Funnily, lead singer Trey Anastasio said the song is "basically about sitting in a car with the seatbelt on, drunk."