I wonder if Trey made a conscious effort place more separation between TAB and Phish during 2.0 (or maybe Mike and Fish didn't actually want to play those songs). First Tube was only played 4 times (all in 03), Sand once (and if I remember correctly it wasn't supposed to be played at all. Trey called for stash, Mike misheard him).
Not to pick on you, but I get this kind of comment from time to time. So just to clarify: There's a lot of places on the internet to read about the firsthand experience of attending each Phish show, but I'm aiming for something different here. It's not for everyone, but I appreciate you (and others) giving it a try. Let's say it's fair to stipulate with all of my essays that the show itself was a fun time, and certainly more fun than reading some jamoke's newsletter.
Grayson Currin actually just nailed my entire thesis perfectly in his GQ piece:
"I think about how the band’s biggest zealots double as its most ardent critics, debating song selections or which member didn’t push a jam far enough. Phish do this, too. It is a steadfast belief in possibility and to me, the true ligature between Phish and its fans. Criticism and cynicism are often wrongly conflated; Phish fans are critical about their world because they are not cynical about it. They trust in how good it can be."
You will continue to do you and play your tune no matter my opinion of it. And I celebrate you for it!
But I’m losing the thread and I’ll likely unsubscribe once we get past this set of west coast shows that I attended.
Please continue to do what you do! It has value and it is worthy, it’s just not really revealing anything about phish to me though I’ve learned quite a bit about what you like.
Someone has to do this project, just suggesting that your writing could have a bit more verve and punch and that your language could be imbued with a greater sense of joy.
I wish you the best and hope that you’ll enjoy all that you enjoy.
Max! What’s with the harsh critique?!? Of coarse there is fun to be had - militant happiness aside - we are living 25 years in the future where we can take stock of what just happened. Lay off the smile smile smile cult and eat a pint of phish food for breakfast.
Rob, excellent take, as always. I was going to say that you nailed the friction that would continue to grow till the hiatus. The invasion of TAB format/jam strategy came to dominate the heady, versatile, collaborative and introspective jams of the past. This would eventually convince me to seek joy elsewhere and definitely turned me off of showboat Trey. I will say that 25 years later and investigating this Fall Tour, that the present day Phish jams in a similar format only the onslaught of sound seems much more collaborative with every member raging all at the same time. One might even call the current sound JEMPB to honor the original T-A-B
Wow! Thin skinned? Unable to accept an opinion that paints a picture different than the one in your own mind without criticizing it and personally insulting the author?
Where’s your presumption of grace? Do you presume guilt before the trial?
I don’t smile, smile, smile, I’m not in whatever cult you’re referencing and I don’t eat Ben and Jerry’s - there’s way better ice cream made locally.
This review isn’t an investigation it’s just a guy who wasn’t there listening to a tape and giving his twelve cents.
It’s not a fun read through though his opinions are of interest to me and I’m not hating on them. Just reminding folks that shows aren’t the sum of their jams nor are the tapes the actual show.
Not sure I agree with you on Ghost. Through the slow development Mike and Page are connecting/communicating especially in the second half.
I wonder if Trey made a conscious effort place more separation between TAB and Phish during 2.0 (or maybe Mike and Fish didn't actually want to play those songs). First Tube was only played 4 times (all in 03), Sand once (and if I remember correctly it wasn't supposed to be played at all. Trey called for stash, Mike misheard him).
Audience video, mislabelled Seattle
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7qhr4cMSDU
But the show was fun fun fun - and your review strips that away.
I appreciate your intellectualizing analysis of phish but let’s never forget they’re a dance band at heart.
Reading your reviews is rarely fun though often interesting.
Hi Max, love your work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjeUuakHsLw
Not to pick on you, but I get this kind of comment from time to time. So just to clarify: There's a lot of places on the internet to read about the firsthand experience of attending each Phish show, but I'm aiming for something different here. It's not for everyone, but I appreciate you (and others) giving it a try. Let's say it's fair to stipulate with all of my essays that the show itself was a fun time, and certainly more fun than reading some jamoke's newsletter.
Grayson Currin actually just nailed my entire thesis perfectly in his GQ piece:
"I think about how the band’s biggest zealots double as its most ardent critics, debating song selections or which member didn’t push a jam far enough. Phish do this, too. It is a steadfast belief in possibility and to me, the true ligature between Phish and its fans. Criticism and cynicism are often wrongly conflated; Phish fans are critical about their world because they are not cynical about it. They trust in how good it can be."
https://www.gq.com/story/four-days-with-phish
You will continue to do you and play your tune no matter my opinion of it. And I celebrate you for it!
But I’m losing the thread and I’ll likely unsubscribe once we get past this set of west coast shows that I attended.
Please continue to do what you do! It has value and it is worthy, it’s just not really revealing anything about phish to me though I’ve learned quite a bit about what you like.
Someone has to do this project, just suggesting that your writing could have a bit more verve and punch and that your language could be imbued with a greater sense of joy.
I wish you the best and hope that you’ll enjoy all that you enjoy.
Max! What’s with the harsh critique?!? Of coarse there is fun to be had - militant happiness aside - we are living 25 years in the future where we can take stock of what just happened. Lay off the smile smile smile cult and eat a pint of phish food for breakfast.
Rob, excellent take, as always. I was going to say that you nailed the friction that would continue to grow till the hiatus. The invasion of TAB format/jam strategy came to dominate the heady, versatile, collaborative and introspective jams of the past. This would eventually convince me to seek joy elsewhere and definitely turned me off of showboat Trey. I will say that 25 years later and investigating this Fall Tour, that the present day Phish jams in a similar format only the onslaught of sound seems much more collaborative with every member raging all at the same time. One might even call the current sound JEMPB to honor the original T-A-B
Wow! Thin skinned? Unable to accept an opinion that paints a picture different than the one in your own mind without criticizing it and personally insulting the author?
Where’s your presumption of grace? Do you presume guilt before the trial?
I don’t smile, smile, smile, I’m not in whatever cult you’re referencing and I don’t eat Ben and Jerry’s - there’s way better ice cream made locally.
This review isn’t an investigation it’s just a guy who wasn’t there listening to a tape and giving his twelve cents.
It’s not a fun read through though his opinions are of interest to me and I’m not hating on them. Just reminding folks that shows aren’t the sum of their jams nor are the tapes the actual show.
Guys why do serious?