Phish Phinally Phinished?

[shniggens]

Phish breaks up with tour, new album approaching

By NEKESA MUMBI MOODY

AP Music Writer

"NEW YORK (AP) -- Phish, the Vermont-based jam band whose legions

of dedicated fans made them one of the nation's top touring acts,

announced Tuesday that they were breaking up.

The surprise announcement came as the band prepared to release a

new album, "Undermind," on June 15 and embark on a summer tour,

which will kick off June 17 at Coney Island in Brooklyn, a borough

of New York City.

Band leader Trey Anastasio made announcement on their Web site.

"Last Friday night, I got together with Mike, Page and Fish to

talk openly about the strong feelings I've been having that Phish

has run its course and that we should end it now while it's still

on a high note," he wrote.

The quartet will end their tour in Vermont. "

 

Does this mean there will finally be an end to patchouli induced riots at Red Rocks?

[Phait]

Phait pheels he should put on some phones and phish for some Phish, I've never heard them.

[Anomaly]

Phunny how some pholks pheel phish was phuckin phantastically phenomenal phar out phreaky band, yet some pholks phound phish phreakin phonies, and other pholks never even went phishin'.

[nhcomp45aol.com]

If ya never went Phishin ya aint missin nottin.

[Super 8]

Originally posted by Phait:

I've never heard them.

You should check them out. I'm not a big time follower of them, but they are definitely a unique band. Trey is an incredible guitarist.

 

I was especially impressed by the album "Rift".

 

Not many bands out there doing what they are doing.

[mwestenberg]

So, like, I want to check out some Phish. What're the best tracks/albums to get for a maximum dose?

The most popular fish up here in Wisconsin seem to be perch and walleye

[Salyphus]

Rift and Picture of Nectar are both great

[Barandine Vondenger]

Ol' TREYman is a hero of mine.

Their jams (PHISH) are way neato..

I liked treys philosophy of looking up into the LAST ROW and including them in the jam.

[David R]

Like them or not (I personally enjoyed them quite a bit), Phish was a quartet of incredibly talented musicians, and when they were at their peak the whole was even greater than the sum of its wonderful parts. Their live shows, which I unfortunately never got to attend, were an experience unto themselves. I respect them, not only for their musicianship and talent, but for the way they included fans in their music and their pioneering methods of music distribution (LivePhish archival releases and downloads, getting a huge audience without any of the major media outlets). Also, their light shows were improvised as much as their music was -- Chris Kuroda, their light tech, was really like the 5th member of the band.

 

I'm sorry I never got to see that conglomeration in person, but the tapes are still out there. Here's to more music from them, as individuals, in the future.

 

David

[Magpel]

Phunny, I never completely dug Phish as either a jam band or as songwriters, BUT...some of their tunes, esp. the older ones, feature extended, complex instrumental compositions that are on par with Zappa or Gentle Giant. Some of that stuff was phreakin' great. See, for example, the long, acutely detailed instrumental section in Reba, an otherwise silly little song. I guess I'm saying I liked 'em as a prog band, to the extent that they were one.

 

Saw them live once, in Poughkeepsie, NY during a bad blizzard. They were good. As with all the other next-generation deadheadish bands, the culture was never a great turn-on for me, but luckily I can see, or hear, past that extra-musical concern.

[Botch.]

"...and that we should end it now while it's still

on a high note," he wrote. [/QB]

 

"on a high note"? I must've missed that...

[Gabriel E.]

I've had a problem with them ever since their fans shit all over the grounds at Jazzfest a few years back rather than use the toilets. Dirty hippies.

[Groovepusher Sly]

Weird. As I'm reading this thread, I reached over to change the channel on the TV. Charlie Rose is introducing Trey and talking about their breakup. Just showed a video clip of the playing at Madison Square Garden, (unimpressive).

 

From what he's sayin'. Seems like they just got tired. Started when he was 18 now he's 40 with two kids.

 

Sly

[Dogfur]

I'm a pretty big phan, but certainly am not heartbroken about the decision to call it. Going into their hiatus in 2000 you could tell that the interest and inquisitiveness was starting to dull in their live performances, and apparently it didn't spark enough voltage to keep them going longer. Great band, glad I saw 'em at least a dozen times over the years.

 

For the new phan, "A Live One" is a 2 disc set that really showcases some of their best early material in a great sounding and performed package. My favorite studio albums are Rift and Picture of Nectar.

[I I mjrn]

I think I'll miss their ice cream the most.

[Anomaly]

22 years of dropping acid will eventually make you tired. I only did it phor about 2 years 30 years ago and I still think my mend is miced up phrom it.

[Darklava]

Some of you guy's are pretty cold blooded

[Super 8]

Originally posted by Sal Baloney:

Rift and Picture of Nectar are both great

Agreed.

 

I would definitely recommend those to new listeners.

 

Rift is more of a concept album.

 

Picture of Nectar is song oriented.

 

Originally posted by Magpel:

As with all the other next-generation deadheadish bands, the culture was never a great turn-on for me, but luckily I can see, or hear, past that extra-musical concern

I never could understand the comparisons to the Grateful Dead. I s'pose there are some similarities. They both have the little Bluegrass in their music.

But apart from that, I always thought Phish reminded me more of Zappa than Grateful Dead.

[I I mjrn]

Originally posted by DARKLAVA:

Some of you guy's are pretty cold blooded

Well, aome of Phish's music was OK but anybody who develops a fanbase that's often uncritically & over-the-top enthusiastic is also gonna develop some who point out their clay feet.

That was some good ice cream, though, I most liked the "reverse chocolate sundae" look of it.

[Magpel]

Originally posted by Super 8:

[

Originally posted by Magpel:

As with all the other next-generation deadheadish bands, the culture was never a great turn-on for me, but luckily I can see, or hear, past that extra-musical concern

I never could understand the comparisons to the Grateful Dead. I s'pose there are some similarities. They both have the little Bluegrass in their music.

But apart from that, I always thought Phish reminded me more of Zappa than Grateful Dead.

Yeah, I meant to suggest a cultural similarity more than a musical one, though I think the Dead's paw print is pretty unmistakable on the music as well. Some people tend to forget that the Dead were half a roots band, half an artsy prog band. For every Workingman's Dead, there's an Anthem of the Sun. For every Mars Hotel, a Terrapin Station. BTW, I much prefered the Dead as purveyors of trippy Americana (at their peak circa '72 or so), and I much prefered Phish as an ambitious and complex proggy band.

[_Sweet Willie_]

Dig. I'm a big fan of the ice cream.

 

I don't own any Phish CDs, but I did see them do a show at a club in Providence years ago (approx. 1991). It was a great show.

 

I have to check out Trey's stuff w/ Les and Stewart in Oysterhead.

 

Mike Gordon's gotten into some interesting stuff away from Phish as well.

 

It does seem like maybe the time is right for them to head their separate ways.

 

Peace.

--SW

[BP3]

Trey's solo band as well as Vida Blue is playing Bonnaroo in a couple weeks. I had the pleasure or recording Trey in Chicago last summer and I find his solo project to be very creative. Phish served it's fans well, It's time for the members to grow beyond it.