Does Phish Use Pre-recorded Loops Live?

Mmm… I can’t say with certainty that they never do, but not as a rule no. Guitarist Trey Anastasio will sometimes use a loop pedal to create ambient sonic backdrops—generated through effects live onstage, rather than prerecorded—and then play over the top of this. He seems to have been especially fond of doing this in the late ’90s and early ‘00s.

When it comes to pre-recorded loops, the only ones I can think of are from their Halloween pranks or covers. For example, in October 31, 1994, before playing the Beatles White Album in its entirety, they had a recorded voice-over of Ed Sullivan introducing the Beatles from his show back in 1964. A few years later, in November 2, 1998, they used some pre-recorded clock sounds effects from Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon during their performance of that album. Finally, in 2014, they turned Walt Disney's Thrilling Chilling Sounds of Haunted House into a rock album, which consisted of recordings of sound effects and voice-overs. To this day, whenever they play those songs, there are some vocal loopings from the pre-recorded sections of those albums. As far as any other pre-recorded looping or overdubs, Phish absolutely does not use them.

Everything you are hearing when Phish plays live is Trey on rhythm and lead guitar, Mike on bass, Jon on keys, and Page on drums. Occasionally, Trey will use a modulated effect on his delay pedal that creates a continuous loop sound, but it's generally improvised. It's very rare and is typically a spontaneous decision by Trey during the performance. They are known for their incredible live shows, where the songs evolve and change with each performance.

In summary, while Phish has used pre-recorded loops for specific pranks and covers, their live performances are generally lean on such effects. Trey Anastasio’s use of live loops and his exceptional improvisational skills are a highlight of their shows, adding a unique and spontaneous element to their music.