Someone Please Explain Phish to me

[Elvis Presto 21]

Summer toor is still a ways off.  I saw Trey solo in Athens, GA about a month ago and it was allsome.  Hopefully get to see a few shows this summer. 

[dbecks 442]

Did anyone go to the show on Tuesday?  Thought it was awesome.  I'll gladly pay $5 for a pic of Trey doing the "hook 'em" sign.  (I was too slow with my phone for some reason.)

[Mileslong 4,747]

I used to listen to Phish back when I was in school...

[Masflo 10]

https://youtu.be/aNHIFM0Y87c

 

[dcbc 14,568]

 

Long live Kasvot Växt!

 

🙂

 

 

 

Edited November 2, 2018 by dcbc

[Zavala 1,384]

drugs

[South Austin 52,688]

Then one morning I woke up and said, "Fuck Phish."

[Chad Fuck 17,843]

Arhythmic dancing and patchouli.

[Axle Hongsnort 208]

Free webcast every Tuesday for your quarantine pleasure

[Deej 77,173]

[Axle Hongsnort 208]

Mushrooms used to be fun...but these Tuesday night archive shows are funner

[ShaggyBevo RIP 3,868]

They really grew as musicians over the last 20-30 years.

Which one of them became a Meters fan in the last 10-15+ years? Every time I hear one of their Meters' style funk songs I keep expecting Aaron Neville to start singing Hey Pocky Way.

 

Edited May 9, 2020 by ShaggyBevo RIP

[Druggist 303]

When I saw them at a jazz fest in 96, they played right before the Meters.  I remember them talking up the Meters prior to the show and encouraging their fans to stay.  Both shows were great.  The Allman’s played the next day.  I think I threw up on a table in Pat O’Brien’s that night.  Good times!  
Spring 97 is when they really started getting into those funk jams.  Love that era.

[Axle Hongsnort 208]

They really grew as musicians over the last 20-30 years.

When Trey got sober it really turned the personality of the band around. IMO the 3.0 stuff is generally more melodic happy jams versus some of the old spastic dark stuff that turns many people off. I love the 96/97 porno-funk, but think these days they are playing for the pure joy and some of the new dad rock’ish songs bring positive energy to the live shows that’s a different vibe from the old stuff.

[WhatTheBuck 28,831]

On May 8, 2020 at 8:00 PM, ShaggyBevo RIP said:

They really grew as musicians over the last 20-30 years.

Which one of them became a Meters fan in the last 10-15+ years? Every time I hear one of their Meters' style funk songs I keep expecting Aaron Neville to start singing Hey Pocky Way.

They peaked in the 90's. The New Orleans sound has never been one of their influences. Trey was big into electric Miles Davis when they got funky in '97. He talked about it during the set he DJ'd on The Bunny prior to The Great Went. 

[Axle Hongsnort 208]

They peaked in the 90's.

“Peaked” implies ongoing declines...where’s your head at with what they bring to the table these days?

[WhatTheBuck 28,831]

16 hours ago, Axle Hongsnort said:

“Peaked” implies ongoing declines...where’s your head at with what they bring to the table these days?

Peaked in the 90's means they were at their best in the 90's. Seems self-explanatory to me.

Speaking of ongoing decline, why did Trey dumb down the Tweezer riff? Why is Chalkdust now played slow enough that I can understand the lyrics? Trey doesn't have the chops he used to have and his jamming often struggles or meanders or is disjointed. And too often he's shirking his lead guitar duties altogether. And the newer songs mostly suck. But honestly I think the decline in songwriting started back during 1.0, I just didn't realize it at the time. 

[Texas St. Armadillos 1,381]

2 minutes ago, WhatTheBuck said:

Peaked in the 90's means they were at their best in the 90's. Seems self-explanatory to me.

Speaking of ongoing decline, why did Trey dumb down the Tweezer riff? Why is Chalkdust now played slow enough that I can understand the lyrics? Trey doesn't have the chops he used to have and his jamming often struggles or meanders or is disjointed. And too often he's shirking his lead guitar duties altogether. And the newer songs mostly suck. But honestly I think the decline in songwriting started back during 1.0, I just didn't realize it at the time. 

Wow. I mean, everyone has a right to their opinion, but wow.  Can't say I agree with you here.

[WhatTheBuck 28,831]

4 minutes ago, Texas St. Armadillos said:

Wow. I mean, everyone has a right to their opinion, but wow.  Can't say I agree with you here.

That's fine. I don't think it's any more controversial to say Phish peaked in the 90's than it is to say the Dead peaked in the 70's. 

I didn't see my first Dead show until '87. I knew old Deadheads who saw them in the 70's who weren't interested in seeing them in the late 80's. I didn't understand it at the time. I get it now. But I'd also argue that the Dead went through a period from Spring '89 through Summer '90 that was better comparatively than anything I've heard from Phish 2.0 or 3.0. 

Seriously, wtf is up with the Tweezer riff? Go back and listen to the "Tweezerfest" show at the Bomb Factory in Dallas on 5/7/94 then try to justify the way they play the song now.

[DonnyKerabatsos 86]

Aug 93 - Dec 95 was the peak. The cow funk in 97 became so repetitive and lame.  I like my Phish on fire.

 

these days, eh i guess im glad they can still find the love and light. 

 

need to go back to Japan or Europe and do a small club tour again. 

Edited May 12, 2020 by DonnyKerabatsos

[Axle Hongsnort 208]

Seriously, wtf is up with the Tweezer riff? Go back and listen to the "Tweezerfest" show at the Bomb Factory in Dallas on 5/7/94 then try to justify the way they play the song now.

Challenge accepted. Was at the tweezerfest show, but it’s been ages since I’ve critically listened. The free webcast tonight has a 17 minute tweezer from 2018.

Don’t get me wrong, in the 90’s they were becoming what they are, full of youth and energy, and looking to make a mark. Today they are on the back 9 of their career and playing for fun. Apple and an orange. I believe what they are doing today is still a fucking blast to watch / listen, just curious if others thought they’d gone to shit.

[Druggist 303]

The precision of the playing on composed songs peaked from 93 to 95.  The group jamming from 97-2000 is so good it justifies the slight decrease in precision.  For me their peak is 1995-2000.  

Up until the last few months, I had not gotten into 3.0 too much.  I just wasn’t into many of the new songs or albums.  For some reason, Ghosts of the Forest and Sigma Oasis both really resonate with me.  The song writing feels more mature and I really like the feel of both from front to back.  I like each of them more than anything they’ve put out in 20 years and have been listening to both a lot (I know Ghosts is a Trey Album, but Phish has been playing a bunch of the songs).  Trey’s quarantine songs and videos  have been really good too.
 

I have been going back and listening to Some highly rated 3.0 shows and they are great, especially now that I “get” more of the more recent songs.  It sounds like they are having fun and playing for the joy of it.  They seem more locked in on newer material and if you aren’t into that, then I can see why you’d be down on 3.0, as I was.  Golden Age is such a great cover I’ve just discovered and the 10/28/16 version is fantastic.
 

And I also agree, when they play some older composed songs, it is nowhere near as tight as it should be and it does bother me (heard a Golgi on Phish Radio from fall tour that made me sad).

[CowboyFred 1,157]

Had never heard them (heard of them yes) but stumbled upon them as a "similar to" on my Spotify to one of the Dave Matthews Band live concerts I had just heard.  Click on 'LivePhish 04/03/98: Uniondale, New York" and first song is Mike's Song and holy shit the just straight jamming was great.  I get a very Grateful Dead vibe from them (probably not the first to say that I know).  I dig it.  kthnxbai

[dbecks 442]

Trey + the Roots.  Good stuff.

 

[Druggist 303]

20 hours ago, dbecks said:

Trey + the Roots.  Good stuff.

 

I read somewhere that this was the first in studio live performance since the lockdown.  Pretty cool and great performance!

[Axle Hongsnort 208]

What up yo? Been a little rusty out of the 4.0 gate, but tons of good shit. I’m hitting AC and Vegas.

[WhatTheBuck 28,831]

4.0? What? Did they have another hiatus that I missed? I don’t think Covid counts because that wasn’t their choice. It’s still 3.0. 

[Texas St. Armadillos 1,381]

Not that anyone is ever going to get you to change your mind, but Trey sort of referred to this new period as 4.0 back in January:

"Trey Anastasio revealed his latest toy this week, unveiling a brand new guitar made by luthier, and former Phish soundman, Paul Languedoc. Along with several photos of the new axe posted to Facebook, Anastasio included a lengthy note in which he calls this new guitar “The 4.0″—eluding to, if only jokingly, a new era of Phish."

https://liveforlivemusic.com/news/trey-anastasio-new-languedoc-guitar/

 

 

[WhatTheBuck 28,831]

“If only jokingly.”

That sort of stands out. And it refers to the guitar, not the era of Phish. And I’m surprised the ocelot didn’t last longer. When Trey debuted it at the Greek Theatre in Berkeley I thought that was one of the better 3.0 Phish shows I saw. (On couch tour. After Coventry I haven’t seen anything that makes me want to actually attend a show anymore. But that got close to old timey Phish.)

No one on phish.net is using “4.0.” Don’t make me check phantasytour.com. Because I’ll bet they’re not either. I still have a login there, not that I’d need it to verify that no one is referring to Phish 4.0.

Jaded vet out. 

[Texas St. Armadillos 1,381]

Like I said, no one is going to convince you of anything.  

I'll take the band's leader's comments, versus a loud-mouth message board poster with a hateful heart.

[WhatTheBuck 28,831]

45 minutes ago, Texas St. Armadillos said:

Like I said, no one is going to convince you of anything.  

I'll take the band's leader's comments, versus a loud-mouth message board poster with a hateful heart.

Lulz. Go ahead and refer to Phish 4.0. Say it to other phans in the lot. See how that works out for you. Don’t be surprised when they just look at you with a puzzled look on their faces. 

[sidis 9,832]

i've never been more confused in my life than i am right now.

[Texas St. Armadillos 1,381]

11 minutes ago, sidis said:

i've never been more confused in my life than i am right now.

[sidis 9,832]

totally admit i couldn't give less of a shit about phish but reading you and whatthebuck (who has been awfully ornery across the board of late) argue over the applicability of whatever the hell 3.0 vs. 4.0 is made me wonder if i was having some sort of weird dream right now.

[Texas St. Armadillos 1,381]

Honestly, it doesn't really matter in the grand scheme of things.  I am just grateful they are still playing at a very high level.  That's what is important.

[WhatTheBuck 28,831]

1 hour ago, sidis said:

totally admit i couldn't give less of a shit about phish but reading you and whatthebuck (who has been awfully ornery across the board of late) argue over the applicability of whatever the hell 3.0 vs. 4.0 is made me wonder if i was having some sort of weird dream right now.

Phish 1.0 went from the band’s first show on Dec. 2, 1993 in the cafeteria of a dorm on the campus of the University of Vermont through their shows at Shoreline Amphitheater in October of 2000. Then they went on their first hiatus. Then they got back together and Phish 2.0 began with a New Year’s Eve show at Madison Square Garden in 2002. That era ended at Coventry in August of 2004. Everyone expected that Phish was done at that point. Trey had his solo career going on. Then he got busted with heroin and prescription drugs in 2006 and needed to raise some cash and thus Phish 3.0 was born. They haven’t taken another hiatus. Phish 4.0 isn’t a thing.

My first Phish shows. If you ask nicely, maybe I’ll tell you about them. Well, maybe not you, but someone who cares:

[Axle Hongsnort 208]

My first Phish shows. If you ask nicely, maybe I’ll tell you about them. Well, maybe not you, but someone who cares:

I was at 3/6/93 at Liberty Lunch, now respect your elders. And relax.

[WhatTheBuck 28,831]

21 hours ago, Axle Hongsnort said:

I was at 3/6/93 at Liberty Lunch, now respect your elders. And relax.

LOL. What’s that supposed to mean? That Phish got to your neck of the woods a month before they got to mine that spring tour? If you want to compete over Phish 1.0 bona fides, we can go. What was your 5th show? Your 10th? Your 20th, 30th, 40th, or 50th? And be prepared to show your stubs because I can do that. Regardless of the outcome, it doesn’t change the fact that Phish 4.0 isn’t a thing. So what’s your point?

I should’ve seen them at the Newport in ‘91 and ‘92 but I was late to the party. I regret that. But I was more focused on seeing the Dead where every tour I saw more Phish bumper stickers on cars than I did the year before.

Speaking of the Dead, my first show was 7/6/87.  When was yours, sonny boy?

[HOOKEM4 5,075]

Wook fight!!!!

[stc 1,470]

[WhatTheBuck 28,831]

7 hours ago, HOOKEM4 said:

Wook fight!!!!

There were no wooks at Phish shows before Jerry died. At least, not in the Midwest. I don’t know about the East Coast  The scene at Phish shows was very different back then. I walked to those first two shows at the Newport. I was out of school but still living on campus. It’s basically across the street from the main student union on High St. which is the strip running along the east side of campus where all the bars and restaurants and cafes and book stores, etc. are. There’s a parking garage at the union but there’s also lots of free parking on the streets in the off-campus housing area nearby. There was no lot scene to speak of in those days.

My third show was at the Cincinnati Zoo on 8/6/93. That was pretty awesome. There was a parking lot there but nobody was vending or interacting at all. We tailgated, ate some sandwiches and drank a few beers, then went in and toured the zoo before going to the show. Caught my first Slave to the Traffic Light there. (“See the city, see the zoo.” Get it? It was the first time they played it since 10/24/91.) There were also Cocaine and Tequila jams/teases sprinkled in throughout the show. I also saw Fish do Cracklin’ Rosie for the first time. That was a great show.

[Axle Hongsnort 208]

LOL. What’s that supposed to mean? That Phish got to your neck of the woods a month before they got to mine that spring tour? If you want to compete over Phish 1.0 bona fides, we can go. What was your 5th show? Your 10th? Your 20th, 30th, 40th, or 50th? And be prepared to show your stubs because I can do that. Regardless of the outcome, it doesn’t change the fact that Phish 4.0 isn’t a thing. So what’s your point?
I should’ve seen them at the Newport in ‘91 and ‘92 but I was late to the party. I regret that. But I was more focused on seeing the Dead where every tour I saw more Phish bumper stickers on cars than I did the year before.
Speaking of the Dead, my first show was 7/6/87.  When was yours, sonny boy?

It means I laugh at your pompous omnipotent tone.

https://forum.phish.net/forum/show/1378967669

[Druggist 303]

On 8/4/2021 at 10:30 AM, WhatTheBuck said:

Lulz. Go ahead and refer to Phish 4.0. Say it to other phans in the lot. See how that works out for you. Don’t be surprised when they just look at you with a puzzled look on their faces. 

First, this thread is amazing and no doubt explaining the phenomenon of Phish to the uninitiated.
 

I have heard some of the DJs on Phish Radio on Sirius refer to the current tour as 4.0 as have some of the folks on my Phish nerd group on FB.  I think 4.0 might stick.  I can’t imagine caring enough to argue about it though.  Really, who cares?

also, I didn’t see them until fall of 95 (~20 shows). I don’t consider myself any more or less of a fan of than any of you.  Everyone has different life circumstances. This claiming of status re these metrics is stupid as shit.  

[alincoln 2,385]

1 hour ago, Druggist said:

First, this thread is amazing and no doubt explaining the phenomenon of Phish to the uninitiated.
 

I have heard some of the DJs on Phish Radio on Sirius refer to the current tour as 4.0 as have some of the folks on my Phish nerd group on FB.  I think 4.0 might stick.  I can’t imagine caring enough to argue about it though.  Really, who cares?

also, I didn’t see them until fall of 95 (~20 shows). I don’t consider myself any more or less of a fan of than any of you.  Everyone has different life circumstances. This claiming of status re these metrics is stupid as shit.  

Wrong.  WTB is a better Deadhead and Phan than you.  He will inform you of this in due course. 

[atomheartbevo 90,054]

1 hour ago, Druggist said:

First, this thread is amazing and no doubt explaining the phenomenon of Phish to the uninitiated.

Actually it's not.

Just like Phish, I've tried to understand this thread multiple times, and ultimately end up walking away just shaking my head.

[WhatTheBuck 28,831]

On 8/10/2021 at 9:03 AM, Axle Hongsnort said:

It means I laugh at your pompous omnipotent tone.

https://forum.phish.net/forum/show/1378967669

Lulz. Did you even read the replies?

Quote

That was such a beautiful troll by Trey!

What really sucks is that Trey lost his chops and never became the guitarist I thought he would become when I was seeing him in the 90’s. He got into hard drugs and that didn’t help matters. I’ve thrown out all my 2.0 discs. And from what I’ve seen of 3.0, sobriety hasn’t exactly improved things either. Not to mention that they’re just getting older. They’re about the same age now as the Dead were in ‘94 when I stopped following them and devoted my free time to following Phish because of their youthful energy.

It’s funny how some Phish fans have such a sense of insecurity.

[WhatTheBuck 28,831]

On 8/10/2021 at 12:42 PM, alincoln said:

Wrong.  WTB is a better Deadhead and Phan than you.  He will inform you of this in due course. 

Oh fuck off. I was just responding to some dumbass who was telling me to respect my elders because he saw his first Phish show a month before I saw mine. Any criticism of him? No? Why not? Maybe it doesn’t have anything to do with anything I’ve said. Maybe, and this is just an educated guess, it has more to do with where I’m from. I get that a lot around here.

I’m far from the biggest Phish phan or Deadhead I know. But I’ve seen a pretty decent amount of shows by each, have listened to a lot more on bootleg tapes and CD’s, and I’m not dumb enough to think that Trey “jokingly” referred to Phish 4.0 after he got a new guitar means it’s a thing. 

[WhatTheBuck 28,831]

On 8/10/2021 at 1:25 PM, atomheartbevo said:

Actually it's not.

Just like Phish, I've tried to understand this thread multiple times, and ultimately end up walking away just shaking my head.

You should check out the show they played in West Valley, UT on 11/2/98. 

[WhatTheBuck 28,831]

A good demonstration of how Trey has lost his chops.

Tweezer 1.0:

Tweezer 3.0:

 

[dcbc 14,568]

Looks like I missed the fun. First show was at the Austin Music Hall in October 1995. Saw plenty of shows in the late 90s and thereafter.

This is the only ticket I could find to photograph today. But it's a good one.