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Jimi Hendrix is revered by all fans of rock-and-roll, and is seen by some as the most talented musician to ever take hold of an electric guitar. Trey has noted his affinity for Jimi on many occasions, going so far as to pay tribute to him almost every time Phish has played on his birthday, November 27. On 11/27/92, Trey referred to Jimi as the greatest electric guitarist ever. And to close that show, Phish played its version of Hendrix’s classic “Bold As Love,” one of five Hendrix covers that Phish has played over the years (see “Fire,” “Izabella,” “The Wind Cries Mary,” and "If 6 Was 9"). Technically the four members of Phish have played a sixth Hendrix song live; "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)", but not at a Phish show. 

Watch Bold As Love on YouTube Phish, "Bold As Love" – 2/18/97, Paris, France

Phish has always chosen to play “Bold as Love” as a straight cover, without altering the song’s feel from the original. The song’s raw energy, especially in the swirling closing jam segment, makes it a fantastic choice as a set-closer or encore – since 1992, it has only been played elsewhere in a show a handful of times. References to various colors in the lyrics give Chris Kuroda a great opportunity to augment live performances with a wonderful visual spectacle, especially when the band reaches the “rainbow” line.

Despite being one of Phish’s oldest and truest covers, the band seems to reserve the song from heavy rotation to avoid spoiling it. After two years of regular play from July 1988 to April 1990, followed by two years on the shelf until its reappearance in November 1992, “Bold as Love” was only played a few times each year before disappearing entirely in 2003 and 2004. However, the song returned to semi-regular rotation in 2009 including performances on 6/9/09 Asheville, 5/27/11 Bethel Woods, 8/4/13 San Francisco and 8/30/14 Dick’s. After not being played in 2015, it returned in 2016 on 07/10/16 Syracuse and 10/28/16 Las Vegas. They played it once in 2017 at "The Baker's Dozen" run on 08/04/17 and was absent in 2018. It returned in 2019 on 02/21/19 Mexico to close the first night of the run and in the encore slot of 9/4/21.

Watch Bold As Love on YouTube "Bold As Love" 6/9/09 Asheville, NC

(Hendrix)
© Experience Hendrix LLC (ASCAP)

Anger he smiles towering shiny metallic purple armour
Queen jealousy, envy waits behind him
Her fiery green gown sneers at the grassy ground
Blue are the life giving waters taking for granted
They quietly understand

Once happy turquoise armies lay opposite ready
But wonder why the fight is on
But they're all, bold as love
Yeah, they're all bold as love
Yeah, they're all bold as love
Just ask the Axis

My red is so confident he flashes trophies of war
And ribbons of euphoria
Orange is young, full of daring but very unsteady for the first go 'round
My yellow in this case is no so mellow
In fact I'm trying to say it's frightened like me
And all of these emotions of mine keep holding me
From giving my life to a rainbow like you
But I'm a yeah, I'm bold as love
Yeah yeah

Well, I'm bold, bold as love
Hear me talkin', girl
I'm bold as love
Just ask the Axis
He knows everything. Yeah, yeah