mike gordon

Mike Gordon is a versatile musician and founding member of the band Phish, known for his instrumental contributions, songwriting, and various collaborative projects. After co-founding the acclaimed rock band Phish in 1983 alongside Trey Anastasio, Jon Fishman, and Jeff Holdsworth, Mike Gordon became a pivotal force. He contributed as the band’s bassist, managing public relations, fan communications, finances, and booking initial performances. His instrumental prowess and eclectic songwriting shaped Phish’s distinctive sound, blending bluegrass, calypso, and traditional Jewish music.

Gordon is credited with writing 19 original Phish songs and co-authoring 27 additional tracks, including the popular ‘Mike’s Song.’ Demonstrating diverse creative endeavors, he authored the ‘Mike’s Corner’ column for Phish’s newsletter throughout the 1990s, later compiled into a book in 1997. Expanding his artistic footprint, Gordon ventured into filmmaking, directing ‘Outside Out’, a documentary that earned the audience award at the South by Southwest festival in 2000. He showcased his collaborative spirit in 2002 with ‘Clone’, an album recorded with acoustic guitarist Leo Kottke. That same year, his directorial work ‘Rising Low’ received the Joe Jarvis Audience Choice Award for Best Documentary at the Newport International Film Festival.

Following a live recording in 2011, the album ‘The Egg’ was released in 2013, capturing a vibrant performance. Gordon delivered his next studio album, ‘Overstep’, in 2014, continuing to evolve his unique musical style. His seventh solo studio album, ‘OGOGO’, was released in 2017, pushing his sonic boundaries. Gordon reignited his successful collaboration with Leo Kottke for their third album, ‘Noon’, which premiered in 2020.

Most recently, Mike Gordon released his critically anticipated solo album, ‘Flying Games’, in 2023, further solidifying his enduring legacy as an innovative musician, songwriter, and creative force across multiple artistic platforms.