Phish Reuniting
Though this has nothing to do with politics or Delaware, my hippie past takes over when it comes to the jam band Phish. After several years on hiatus, their second one, Phish are reuniting for three shows in March at Hampton Coliseum in Hampton, Virginia. If the drugs are good, they’ll tour this summer.
If you’ve never heard of Phish, then you’re showing your age or your political preference (kind of joking). Phish began in the 80s as a group of college friends taking Vermont by storm. Soon, through word of mouth, Phish conquered New England and then the rest of the East Coast playing large stadiums that consistently sold out. Their music is a combination of jazz, improvisation and rock’n roll.
Here’s Phish covering Dylan’s Quinn the Eskimo (The Mighty Quinn). So light a spiff tonight, kick back and enjoy one of their free downloadable shows.
Wow….almost like the Grateful Dead, but without musical talent!
The grateful dead ….. sloppiest live band ever.
BWAAAAAAA HA HA HA HA!!! Alright that was hilarious, and to a small degree, I agree, but not really.
The Dead is the absolute pinnacle of that type of music, but I can’t deny that Phish have their place, and have carved out their own niche.
I’m not a big fan of the more-whimsical aspects of their music, but a lot of their jazzier work speaks to my love of artists like Sun Ra and Cecil Taylor, who created that dense, near atonal-but-not-quite atmosphere.
That said, nothing they have ever done can hold a candle to a perfectly-executed “China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider” from ’72.
Don’t confuse sloppy with being unafraid to constantly take improvisational chances. I will readily admit that you’re taking a chance with anything after 1979, but from ’69 up through ’78, there isn’t another band I’d have rather seen live (except maybe Zeppelin).
It is not nice to slander the Dead.
Oh, so sloppy = improvisational.
I’m just sayin’, not the tightest band ever.
Jeez, don’t take me the wrong way, I’m a fan. Just an observation.
“Wow…almost like the Grateful Dead, but without musical talent!”
Um, you mean WITH musical talent, right? Apologies to Tyler, but the Dead was absolute crap, and I’ve seen them perform live. (Somebody had to be straight enough to drive.)
Not much of a Dead fan (I do like some of their songs), but I had the opportunity to see them live at the
Sprectum in ’94.Great show, and they played Quinn…plus I was able to take a nap during Drums/Space. 😉
…now where is THAT nitrous tank?
Like I said, anything post-’79, not so much. Lots of Dylan covers and too-long drum solos. But just about any show from ’69, ’72, ’74 and ’77 is some of the best psych-folk-blues-rock you’ll ever hear.
Veering back on-topic, I AM a big fan of Phish’s old annual Halloween shows, and I like a lot of Trey Anastasio’s solo work, particularly with the big horn section.
Re: “sloppy = improvisational?” … you’re right, it doesn’t.
All I’m sayin’ is that – as someone who plays and writes music – I’m more than willing to overlook the occasional sour note by Jerry Garcia or an awkward transition between songs in service of the greater good, which is maximum improvisation and taking the version from the night before even further.
Sour notes are sometimes good notes. Just listen to Frank Zappa ,the king of sour notes. They both turned it into an art form.
I guess I’ll bite when the Supremes really do “…..be Together”….oh well….another time
Phish was great for their first continuous run as a band (’85 – 2000’ish). I don’t know about yet another reunion…I saw their last Hampton Coliseum reunion shows a few years ago. Their performances sucked…bad…like they couldn’t recover the magic. They knew it too
Their subsequent “reunion” tour was a disaster, so they hung it up “permanently” for the 2nd time.
When those guys were in the groove, it was pretty amazing stuff, especially in the early days. (Anyone here see Spectrum 12/15/99?)
Maybe they have now had enough distance from it, but I suspect that was the problem when they first got back together : too much distance from touring and playing together.
I second Patrick about a flawless ’72 China > Rider. Patrick – you should come see my friends Dark Star Orchestra (DSO) at the Grand on 12/4. (Ironically, the last time I saw Phish was up in Camden with two DSO band members, as well as their tour manager and lighting technician.)
Here is a taste of their stuff (St. Stephen).
Here is them doing a cover everyone would recognize..
The whole show..
GRex, no apologies needed. It’s not like I am making the music. You should check out DSO.
It’s all an acquired taste, certainly not for everyone. I suspect most people who lambaste the Dead really didn’t listen much, before passing judgment, and had to have missed pretty much missed anything they did from 1971-1981.
I do think calling the Dead “absolute crap” is ridiculous, though, and to say they didn’t have talent is just absurd on its face. It is one thing not to like a band’s music, but I never understand those who feel the need to trash the band. You aren’t that insecure about your own choices are you?
Anyhow, thanks for the heads-up Nemski. If they come around on tour again I’ll go see them with you.
Hey Tyler,
Well, we agree on something. I loved the Dead, but never really could get into Phish (I tried, though).
Maybe our paths have crossed in other places, like the Spectrum.
So Trey is off probation? Off the smack?
The Reunion To Pay My Legal Bills and Smack Tab Tour
🙂
I bet we have anonone….and I bet it was hella more fun than the Reagan ’84 rally in Media!
The Dead’s music has a universality that cut across all lines. Glad to see at least one bridge between us.
You should check out DSO. Dan Healy is doing their FOH sound out west with them, as we speak. Weir will probably join them again at the Fillmore. Donna-Jean (Godchaux-McKay), who I spent time with at numerous DSO shows, may join them for NYE in Baltimore. They will be around this area (northeast, mid-Atlantic) all through Thankskgiving and Christmas time.
What do Phish and Jason have in common?
They both are failures at quitting…twice!
….and we’re all richer for it…..
LOL.
Smittay!!
worrrrd!
Hi Tyler,
Yes, I’ll check DSO out some time. I think they may be coming to the Grand sometime.
I remember the day that Garcia died in the same way that people remember the day Kennedy was shot.
Those were fun times at the shows, for sure. In spite of all the political acrimony between us, it is nice to think that we both shared some of those great shows.
What a long strange trip its been.
I’m at the DSO’s Bottle & Cork show every summer. First found out about ’em when I was going to college. They’re GREAT.