08/12/2011
Outside Lands Festival
Golden Gate Park
San Francisco, CA
Set 1: KDF, Wilson, Funky Bitch, Moma Dance, Peaches En Regalia, Sample, Possum, Tweezer > Mound, Suzy Greenberg, Axilla I, Mikes Song > Hydrogen > Weekapaug
Set 2: Rock n Roll > Steam > Piper > Roses Are Free, Julius, Life on Mars?, Birds of a Feather, Fluffhead, BDTNL > 2001 > Chalkdust Torture
E: Cavern > Tweezer Reprise
It looks like Phish participates in 'Phone It In Friday' also. :|
The hate is strong with this one.
forgot phish played a show last night. Probably won't download.
I own that album... It's one of my favorites.
Jim Harrington of the Oakland Tribune calls Phish's performance at Outside Lands "quite accessible."
http://www.mercurynews.com/entertainment/ci_18675202?nclick_check=1 (http://www.mercurynews.com/entertainment/ci_18675202?nclick_check=1)
I heard Page sat in with The Meters. Any other guest apperances?
Quote from: G. Augusto on August 13, 2011, 07:24:03 AM
The hate is strong with this one.
Quote from: mistercharlie on August 13, 2011, 06:29:58 AM
It looks like Phish participates in 'Phone It In Friday' also. :|
ha
bdtnl>2001>chalkdust looks like it could be fun. will give it a listen.
Quote from: PIE-GUY on August 13, 2011, 08:40:26 AM
Jim Harrington of the Oakland Tribune calls Phish's performance at Outside Lands "quite accessible."
http://www.mercurynews.com/entertainment/ci_18675202?nclick_check=1 (http://www.mercurynews.com/entertainment/ci_18675202?nclick_check=1)
That's a polite way f saying that they didn't do anything experimental.
::adds phrase to arsenal of hate::
Hm, so did Phish play the best show at the fest yesterday?
:evil:
just cause the link wasn't working (at least when I tried):
QuoteThe first day will be remembered for the stark contrast in fan bases. Thousands of patchouli-scented fans came primarily to see Phish, the top dog in the jam-band universe, while those who'd showered more frequently were there to watch young hipster acts like Foster the People, MGMT and the Shins.
The latter treated Phish like the plague, going to great lengths to avoid Vermont's "Phinest" and making sure everybody knew they weren't there to listen to jam-band music. It became a talking point for those wearing tight black jeans and thrift-store sweaters, with the refrain going something like, "What are you going to do while Phish is on?"
...
And then, of course, there was Phish. "Phans" loved the fact that their favorite band played two full sets, consisting of such favorites as "Wilson," "Fluffhead" and "Sample in a Jar." Trey Anastasio was in particularly fine form, electrifying the faithful with one epic guitar lead after another.
The set was quite accessible, at least by Phish standards, meaning that the elongated space jams and curious insider gimmicks were kept somewhat to a minimum. Still, it's doubtful that Phish made any new converts.
Quote from: goodabouthood on August 13, 2011, 11:11:23 AM
just cause the link wasn't working (at least when I tried):
QuoteThe first day will be remembered for the stark contrast in fan bases. Thousands of patchouli-scented fans came primarily to see Phish, the top dog in the jam-band universe, while those who'd showered more frequently were there to watch young hipster acts like Foster the People, MGMT and the Shins.
The latter treated Phish like the plague, going to great lengths to avoid Vermont's "Phinest" and making sure everybody knew they weren't there to listen to jam-band music. It became a talking point for those wearing tight black jeans and thrift-store sweaters, with the refrain going something like, "What are you going to do while Phish is on?"
...
And then, of course, there was Phish. "Phans" loved the fact that their favorite band played two full sets, consisting of such favorites as "Wilson," "Fluffhead" and "Sample in a Jar." Trey Anastasio was in particularly fine form, electrifying the faithful with one epic guitar lead after another.
The set was quite accessible, at least by Phish standards, meaning that the elongated space jams and curious insider gimmicks were kept somewhat to a minimum. Still, it's doubtful that Phish made any new converts.
first of all, I prefer old spice
second, how the fuck did they know that Sample is my fav...damn prophets
Quote from: mehead on August 13, 2011, 11:27:02 AM
Quote from: goodabouthood on August 13, 2011, 11:11:23 AM
just cause the link wasn't working (at least when I tried):
QuoteThe first day will be remembered for the stark contrast in fan bases. Thousands of patchouli-scented fans came primarily to see Phish, the top dog in the jam-band universe, while those who'd showered more frequently were there to watch young hipster acts like Foster the People, MGMT and the Shins.
I prefer old spice
Really... I haven't smelled patchouli even on a wook in 10 years.
Quote from: PIE-GUY on August 13, 2011, 11:29:35 AM
Quote from: mehead on August 13, 2011, 11:27:02 AM
Quote from: goodabouthood on August 13, 2011, 11:11:23 AM
just cause the link wasn't working (at least when I tried):
QuoteThe first day will be remembered for the stark contrast in fan bases. Thousands of patchouli-scented fans came primarily to see Phish, the top dog in the jam-band universe, while those who'd showered more frequently were there to watch young hipster acts like Foster the People, MGMT and the Shins.
I prefer old spice
Really... I haven't smelled patchouli even on a wook in 10 years.
I wear it regularly. :oops:
Quote from: PIE-GUY on August 13, 2011, 11:29:35 AM
Quote from: mehead on August 13, 2011, 11:27:02 AM
Quote from: goodabouthood on August 13, 2011, 11:11:23 AM
just cause the link wasn't working (at least when I tried):
QuoteThe first day will be remembered for the stark contrast in fan bases. Thousands of patchouli-scented fans came primarily to see Phish, the top dog in the jam-band universe, while those who'd showered more frequently were there to watch young hipster acts like Foster the People, MGMT and the Shins.
I prefer old spice
Really... I haven't smelled patchouli even on a wook in 10 years.
I envy you.
Quote from: goodabouthood on August 13, 2011, 11:36:47 AM
I wear it regularly. :oops:
All I ever smell when we hug is whiskey.
It's funny that they received a review that was a little less touching from their appearance at The Austin City Limits Festival, which was played deep in the heart of Texas, than the review they received from the Outside Lands Festival, which was played in the heart of San Francisco... :-o
Quote from: Poster Nutbag on August 13, 2011, 11:46:39 AM
It's funny that they received a review that was a little less touching from their appearance at The Austin City Limits Festival, which was played deep in the heart of Texas, than the review they received from the Outside Lands Festival, which was played in the heart of San Francisco... :-o
You've never met a deadhead that despised Phish?
Quote from: PIE-GUY on August 13, 2011, 11:29:35 AM
Quote from: mehead on August 13, 2011, 11:27:02 AM
Quote from: goodabouthood on August 13, 2011, 11:11:23 AM
just cause the link wasn't working (at least when I tried):
QuoteThe first day will be remembered for the stark contrast in fan bases. Thousands of patchouli-scented fans came primarily to see Phish, the top dog in the jam-band universe, while those who'd showered more frequently were there to watch young hipster acts like Foster the People, MGMT and the Shins.
I prefer old spice
Really... I haven't smelled patchouli even on a wook in 10 years.
I caught a whiff of it on a hipster chick at the Woods show this week.
Quote from: Hicks on August 13, 2011, 11:48:48 AM
Quote from: Poster Nutbag on August 13, 2011, 11:46:39 AM
It's funny that they received a review that was a little less touching from their appearance at The Austin City Limits Festival, which was played deep in the heart of Texas, than the review they received from the Outside Lands Festival, which was played in the heart of San Francisco... :-o
You've never met a deadhead that despised Phish?
Yes!! but like Pie Guy pointed out.. "I haven't smelled patchouli even on a wook in 10 years", Which is largely affiliated with Grateful Dead fans. So it seems like he was generally putting down all jam-band fans, by batching them all stereotypically together; Just my opinion though, I guess.
Looks fun. Way too many songs for there to be much jamming but I like pretty much every song played.
Glad JPhishman got his Steam!
last minute i decided to see this show, since it was in my backyard and all.
great time. no, there weren't long jams, surprise surprise, but they rocked the fuck out. trey was on fire. RnR > Steam was lovely. Life On Mars was great until the final riff which trey blew. oh well. Piper was actually very cool and trippy, but as usual right when they found a groove, trey ended it. Julius was huge.
the set list might look phoned in, but the performance wasn't. trey seemed hellbent on blowing the place up.
Totally agree with Cactus. Trey was melting faces all night. My retinas are burned from all the white lights. IMO, Phish crushed these sets, albeit 3.0 style. The real fail is by anyone who showed up expecting extended improv.
I danced to this Julius like it was the last Phish tune I'll ever hear... And it was an absolutely soul-cleansing exercise.
UIC gonna get the roof blown off!
:phish:
Quote from: JPhishman on August 13, 2011, 05:10:23 PM
Totally agree with Cactus. Trey was melting faces all night. My retinas are burned from all the white lights. IMO, Phish crushed these sets, albeit 3.0 style. The real fail is by anyone who showed up expecting extended improv.
I danced to this Julius like it was the last Phish tune I'll ever hear... And it was an absolutely soul-cleansing exercise.
UIC gonna get the roof blown off!
:phish:
Yeah Bud! :beers:
I love the endless optimism....lol
"this show wasn't bad but such and such will ROCK".....
if they haven't turned up the h33t by now, they ain't gonna.....
Granted, Trey is sounding MUCH better as of late but there's just no music being made....lots of songs, 3-4 minute slices of pure bliss interspersed within sets full of mediocre songs....yay!
1. Is this the first time a Mike's Groove has been played inside a Tweezer???
2. I smell Spiritual Sky Patchouli Musk a shit-ton... An older hippy ladies that works for the radio station upstairs in my building wears it... I know the smell because it was very popular and I smelled it a lot on the various chicks I was banging back in mid 90s...
3. Lesson for/from the wife: if you're gonna get so drunk you can't go to work the next day, don't post about it on FaceBook. If you do, your co-workers will know that you're just hung-over and not really "sick"... Being "single-dad" for the day was very hard...
As you were...
Terry
Quote from: mistercharlie on August 13, 2011, 06:29:58 AM
It looks like Phish that SF music reviewer participates in 'Phone It In Friday' also. :|
fyp
Marmar, lol.
Quote from: antelope19 on August 15, 2011, 01:16:27 AM
Marmar, lol.
Right.
I am generally pretty forgiving of the hate. I mean, to each his own. But "no music is being made"?!
Really?
Really??
They are rocking the fuck out. If u don't like it, that's fine, but not music? You must be very, very disappointed.
Making sure your expectations are realistic is key.
A fortune cookie taught me that.
Give him a break, dudes. If he changed his tune now he'd look like a big pussy.
there's no need to hate. I try not to but slip sometimes.
but there is also no need to fluff every show like it is great.
I actually get what Art is saying. I don't agree 100% but I can see how he has that opinion.
as far as adjusting your expectations because it is 3.0. tickets are $70 plus the costs of what comes with a show. I stand by my view that if ti wasn;t for history (aka nostagia) not many would pay $70 to see thsi product.
what Art is saying and I agree is that yes Phish is playing shows but they are not creating new music i.e. in their improvisation.
Yeah, that's what he's been saying for 2 1/2 years, pretty much. But what Art is doing is being a big wet blanket at every opportunity, and it's beyond tiresome. We get it--he's uber-h3tty, has unapologetically high standards, yada yada yada. Every post of his I've seen in the last year basically constitutes a dickish, derisive snort at someone else's good time. Yeah, I'm sure he's a great guy and I can't wait to meet him sometime. :roll:
Oh pop.
anyone catch that great ending in the pga championship yesterday?
Quote from: bvaz on August 15, 2011, 08:51:14 AM
anyone catch that great ending in the pga championship yesterday?
PGA Golf is unwatchable these days.
Quote from: mattstick on August 15, 2011, 09:22:32 AM
Quote from: bvaz on August 15, 2011, 08:51:14 AM
anyone catch that great ending in the pga championship yesterday?
PGA Golf is unwatchable these days.
PGA 3.0. I watched most of yesterday, there were some amazing shots.
Quote from: barnesy305 on August 15, 2011, 10:34:59 AM
Quote from: mattstick on August 15, 2011, 09:22:32 AM
Quote from: bvaz on August 15, 2011, 08:51:14 AM
anyone catch that great ending in the pga championship yesterday?
PGA Golf is unwatchable these days.
PGA 3.0. I watched most of yesterday, there were some amazing shots.
Barnes has gone country club.
(http://ecdn2.hark.com/images/000/001/692/1692/original.jpg)
Everyone I know that went said it was incredible.....I have yet to dl, but everyone said it rocked.
Quote from: bvaz on August 15, 2011, 08:51:14 AM
anyone catch that great ending in the pga championship yesterday?
I was wondering if there were any hackers on here...golf thread ftw!
Quote from: sunrisevt on August 15, 2011, 08:46:49 AM
Yeah, that's what he's been saying for 2 1/2 years, pretty much. But what Art is doing is being a big wet blanket at every opportunity, and it's beyond tiresome. We get it--he's uber-h3tty, has unapologetically high standards, yada yada yada. Every post of his I've seen in the last year basically constitutes a dickish, derisive snort at someone else's good time. Yeah, I'm sure he's a great guy and I can't wait to meet him sometime. :roll:
He's really not posting that frequently.
Don't take it so personally when someone so adamantly disagrees with you.
Quote from: barnesy305 on August 15, 2011, 10:34:59 AM
Quote from: mattstick on August 15, 2011, 09:22:32 AM
Quote from: bvaz on August 15, 2011, 08:51:14 AM
anyone catch that great ending in the pga championship yesterday?
PGA Golf is unwatchable these days.
PGA 3.0. I watched most of yesterday, there were some amazing shots.
Well, these days its about individual shots that count, not full tournaments. :wink:
So is this really all we are ever going to discuss anymore around here....how much we think Phish is awesome or how much we think they are not awesome. Then bitch about our good times being ruined by "HATE"??? :| Thats all that is going on here anymore. For this entire tour its been
Poster 1: Phish is SOOOOO awesome!!!!
Poster 2: Yeah they are :beers: :rawk:
Poster 3: But they are not actually very good
Poster 1: Stop Hating!!!!
Poster 2: Yeah your ruining my good time
Poster 3: Still, they're not very good...stop acting like they are
Poster 4: Phish sucks
Poster 2: No they don't
Poster 3: Yes they do
I am very bored with this Band right now, mainly because of set lists and performances like this one. There is nothing "wrong" with it...but really....jphishman, Cactus etc.....is this a show that would have gotten you to want to see them more if you were at Outside Lands hearing them for the first time ever? How can we keep saying that a band that we love due to their creativity and experimentation being reduced to pure rock and roll is a good thing?
Quote from: Igbo on August 15, 2011, 11:43:09 AM
Quote from: barnesy305 on August 15, 2011, 10:34:59 AM
Quote from: mattstick on August 15, 2011, 09:22:32 AM
Quote from: bvaz on August 15, 2011, 08:51:14 AM
anyone catch that great ending in the pga championship yesterday?
PGA Golf is unwatchable these days.
PGA 3.0. I watched most of yesterday, there were some amazing shots.
Barnes has gone country club.
(http://ecdn2.hark.com/images/000/001/692/1692/original.jpg)
I got a free bowl of soup with that hat!
WTF, golf is now getting 3.0'd
Yes TFG I think if this was the first Phish I ever saw I would want to see them again. It was a high energy rock show and people were going nuts.
I enjoyed this show much more than Hollywood Bowl actually, even though that venue was tits McGee.
Creativity is A reason I love Phish, but above all else thes guys can play the shit out of their instruments. And they still are. The way trey plays guitar just does it for me. Sure it's not as adventurous but I can live with that because the collective sound of these four playing together is still a pretty special thing. Id bet that feeling came across for some noobs at outside lands.
Sure I want the jams, but if it ain't happening, in all honesty, im not heartbroken over it and I'm going to get the fuck down to wolfmans. Cuz that song rules.
Quote from: Superfreakie on August 15, 2011, 01:09:10 PM
WTF, golf is now getting 3.0'd
Let's face it. You're a PGA fluffer.
Quote from: mattstick on August 15, 2011, 01:10:54 PM
Quote from: Superfreakie on August 15, 2011, 01:09:10 PM
WTF, golf is now getting 3.0'd
Let's face it. You're a PGA fluffer.
Adam Scott was all about the plinko and Stricker ripcorded into a shit sandwich with no patience whatsoever.
Quote from: barnesy305 on August 15, 2011, 01:21:04 PM
Quote from: mattstick on August 15, 2011, 01:10:54 PM
Quote from: Superfreakie on August 15, 2011, 01:09:10 PM
WTF, golf is now getting 3.0'd
Let's face it. You're a PGA fluffer.
Adam Scott was all about the plinko and Stricker ripcorded into a shit sandwich with no patience whatsoever.
I heard Tiger passed out on the lot and never even made the show.
Quote from: rowjimmy on August 15, 2011, 01:25:46 PM
Quote from: barnesy305 on August 15, 2011, 01:21:04 PM
Quote from: mattstick on August 15, 2011, 01:10:54 PM
Quote from: Superfreakie on August 15, 2011, 01:09:10 PM
WTF, golf is now getting 3.0'd
Let's face it. You're a PGA fluffer.
Adam Scott was all about the plinko and Stricker ripcorded into a shit sandwich with no patience whatsoever.
I heard Tiger passed out on the lot and never even made the show.
He fished out and did a header into a grilled cheese vendor. That caused him to lose his endorsement deal with the nitrous mafia.
remember what i said about trey teasing a harry potter song last week?
golf = trey playing harry potter x 1,000,000
Quote from: rowjimmy on August 15, 2011, 01:25:46 PM
Quote from: barnesy305 on August 15, 2011, 01:21:04 PM
Quote from: mattstick on August 15, 2011, 01:10:54 PM
Quote from: Superfreakie on August 15, 2011, 01:09:10 PM
WTF, golf is now getting 3.0'd
Let's face it. You're a PGA fluffer.
Adam Scott was all about the plinko and Stricker ripcorded into a shit sandwich with no patience whatsoever.
I heard Tiger passed out on the lot and never even made the show.
and then woke up next to.....
(http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kshq8e6dFV1qz59fwo1_500.jpg)
this thread has taught me one thing:
i can fall asleep just as fast reading posts of someone talking about golf, just as fast as watching it myself.
Quote from: JPhishman on August 15, 2011, 01:10:18 PM
Yes TFG I think if this was the first Phish I ever saw I would want to see them again. It was a high energy rock show and people were going nuts.
I enjoyed this show much more than Hollywood Bowl actually, even though that venue was tits McGee.
Creativity is A reason I love Phish, but above all else thes guys can play the shit out of their instruments. And they still are. The way trey plays guitar just does it for me. Sure it's not as adventurous but I can live with that because the collective sound of these four playing together is still a pretty special thing. Id bet that feeling came across for some noobs at outside lands.
Sure I want the jams, but if it ain't happening, in all honesty, im not heartbroken over it and I'm going to get the fuck down to wolfmans. Cuz that song rules.
Fair enough then. I just don't see how someone who never heard them before or only knew of their legacy would do anything but walk away from this show wondering what all the fuss is about. Reading local reviews and non-jamband sites, the consensus was pretty clear...no one expected any new fans to be formed from this performance.
I find it very telling after ACL and now this...Phish WANTS people to see them as a hard rocking band. Not an experimental, improvisational band. I guess when it get down to it, I just don't see what newer fans see in this band. After 30+ 3.0 shows, they are all really starting to blend together, no shows stand out to me except the Greek and Utica, that I have seen...everything else is just a blur of Possums, Divided Skys, Fluffheads, same sounding YEMs, 12 minute Tweezers, Pipers and Ghosts...none of the Jams with very, very few exceptions sounds any different from each other. So far this whole year it seems all we have is the Storage Jam and the 30min DwD that is even worth relistening to.
Seriously put on 10 YEMs and listen to the end sections...and they all sound, very similar. Other than the community spirit, I see nothing that drives people to see a lot of shows in this era. I feel when Marmar says there is no music being created he is very correct...no new music is being created. They are no doubt getting better at playing the same stuff, I'll give you that. But, after almost 3 full years...what MUSICALLY is driving the apologetic, excuse making fans back to see more....if not the hope and desire they actually do something worthy of their legacy???
Quote from: Superfreakie on August 15, 2011, 01:09:10 PM
WTF, golf is now getting 3.0'd
the triple bogey on 15 was worse than the late 2nd set joy.
true story.
Jphishman and I talked about this last night. I think what drives people like me and birdman and caravan to want to see so many shows even after all these years is a long view of the band. When we started seeing shows there weren't 20+ minute jams every night. In fact, I didn't see a 20 min jam until Years into my phish career.
Even in 1995, arguably the year of the big jams, or at least the first year where they happened regularly, my favorite show of the year was 10/29. The longest track of the night was a 16 minute Bowie with an intense Stash-like jam. After the wide-open Bowies of the summer, it was an absolute revelation to me. The show was Tight tight tight.
Fast forward to 2000 and I am bored to death of the big 2nd set jams. 30 minutes of Sand sounds like a chore to even get through to me. It's almost as bad as a late 80's Drums>Space.
I can imagine of I started seeing shows in 97 and the peak of my show-seeing years was 97-2000 I might have the view that phish sucks right now. But the fact is, they have progressed noticeably in the last 3 years. SBIX was much better than 8, IMO... And I think those are two good benchmarks.
Are they playing like they did in 1997? No. In fact they are playing like they play in 2011. That is all. Tis is the phish we have now. Enjoy it or don't show up. That's fine with me, and, frankly, I think that's fine with them.
Now let me go enjoy 3 nights of indoor phish, because there is no place I'd rather be!
Quote from: PIE-GUY on August 15, 2011, 02:23:33 PM
Jphishman and I talked about this last night. I think what drives people like me and birdman and caravan to want to see so many shows even after all these years is a long view of the band. When we started seeing shows there weren't 20+ minute jams every night. In fact, I didn't see a 20 min jam until Years into my phish career.
Even in 1995, arguably the year of the big jams, or at least the first year where they happened regularly, my favorite show of the year was 10/29. The longest track of the night was a 16 minute Bowie with an intense Stash-like jam. After the wide-open Bowies of the summer, it was an absolute revelation to me. The show was Tight tight tight.
Fast forward to 2000 and I am bored to death of the big 2nd set jams. 30 minutes of Sand sounds like a chore to even get through to me. It's almost as bad as a late 80's Drums>Space.
I can imagine of I started seeing shows in 97 and the peak of my show-seeing years was 97-2000 I might have the view that phish sucks right now. But the fact is, they have progressed noticeably in the last 3 years. SBIX was much better than 8, IMO... And I think those are two good benchmarks.
Are they playing like they did in 1997? No. In fact they are playing like they play in 2011. That is all. Tis is the phish we have now. Enjoy it or don't show up. That's fine with me, and, frankly, I think that's fine with them.
Now let me go enjoy 3 nights of indoor phish, because there is no place I'd rather be!
on that point I agree 100%. I'm still amazed at the trouble peopel are still going through to see something they won't enjoy.
I can comment on the previous years but there is no need to hate any more on 2011.
I do hope everyone enjoys the chicago run.
Quote from: barnesy305 on August 15, 2011, 01:31:24 PM
Quote from: rowjimmy on August 15, 2011, 01:25:46 PM
Quote from: barnesy305 on August 15, 2011, 01:21:04 PM
Quote from: mattstick on August 15, 2011, 01:10:54 PM
Quote from: Superfreakie on August 15, 2011, 01:09:10 PM
WTF, golf is now getting 3.0'd
Let's face it. You're a PGA fluffer.
Adam Scott was all about the plinko and Stricker ripcorded into a shit sandwich with no patience whatsoever.
I heard Tiger passed out on the lot and never even made the show.
He fished out and did a header into a grilled cheese vendor. That caused him to lose his endorsement deal with the nitrous mafia.
Sounds like a rookie maneuver, to me.
That's a tough break since he lost his molly hookup on the last leg.
Dude's gonna have a tough time making loot.
Tiger pulled an Aug and left at setbreak.
The Gorge RnR is worth relistening to, so is the SBIX ASITHOS and honestly I prefer the Bethel DWD to Detroit.
Just sayin.
Good points Pie Guy, however...
What makes you want to see that many shows today? Compared to 93>2000?
Is it really for the same reasons? I fell the older fans here are in it just for nostalgia. How many of us with family and kids take them to shows to share this love of a band. Or are most of them going with their old friends, leaving the family at home...doing things they don't want the family to know they are doing? Im not saying this is true of everyone but I have friends that go to shows to rage it with the boys and maybe smoke or dip some molly or eat doses...and go home to the wife and kids who have no idea what they have been up to.
To me that is nothing but reliving youth, straight up trying to recapture their glory days. Not trying to see as many shows as possible because they want to hear every note from a band that is on another level from any other rock band out there. Furthur, Widespread, moe. etc etc all are out there playing improvisational music. Many of us even here would argue that they are doing it better.
I went to over 3O shows last year because I wanted to be a part of their growth, to see it happen night after night and it has all be very bland since Utica IMO. What could have been a benchmark is now just a fluke. New Years run was a HUGE step back from October. This summer, feels like a huge step back from last summer...fewer songs, more repeats, jams still being cut off, relying on bustouts to make a show etc. etc.
What exactly do you we all see as growth these days...if they were really growing, shouldn't some of these things be over by now...if they aren't going to jam...why bother just to cut it off and force another segue into Caspian???
It may not seem like it but I'm trying to soften by hateful stance. Being at the gorge, I was just happy to be there. I will go to shows in the future to see old and new friends to continue to be a part of something I love...it just seems the actual music is the least important reason to be there these days.
And Hicks...great almost a full tour and you got 3 songs to listen to again. :crazy: :wink:
Quote from: barnesy305 on August 15, 2011, 12:35:51 PM
Quote from: Igbo on August 15, 2011, 11:43:09 AM
Quote from: barnesy305 on August 15, 2011, 10:34:59 AM
Quote from: mattstick on August 15, 2011, 09:22:32 AM
Quote from: bvaz on August 15, 2011, 08:51:14 AM
anyone catch that great ending in the pga championship yesterday?
PGA Golf is unwatchable these days.
PGA 3.0. I watched most of yesterday, there were some amazing shots.
Barnes has gone country club.
(http://ecdn2.hark.com/images/000/001/692/1692/original.jpg)
I got a free bowl of soup with that hat!
:hereitisyousentimentalbastard
Oh, it looks good on you though
Quote from: thatfargone on August 15, 2011, 03:04:00 PM
Good points Pie Guy, however...
What makes you want to see that many shows today? Compared to 93>2000?
Is it really for the same reasons? I fell the older fans here are in it just for nostalgia. How many of us with family and kids take them to shows to share this love of a band. Or are most of them going with their old friends, leaving the family at home...doing things they don't want the family to know they are doing? Im not saying this is true of everyone but I have friends that go to shows to rage it with the boys and maybe smoke or dip some molly or eat doses...and go home to the wife and kids who have no idea what they have been up to.
I can say unequivocally that I am not in it to "rage with the boys" away from the wife or whatever. With the brutally long work day I have to face tomorrow, I wont even drink a single beer tonight, much less do any of the "raging" activities mentioned above. I am going to the show tonight to see phish play music. I will always want to see phish play music.
I happen to think there are far fewer cringe-worthy moments these days than there were in 2009. I truly think the playing is getting better.
The only disappointment for me this year is the lack of new tunes. I'm not impressed with Steam and it's the only new song of 2011. That's disappointing, for sure. With a Trey tour and a couple of legs of phish tour already down I'd like to think Trey would have something new written. But there is talk of an album in the fall, so maybe there is some writing time with Tom on the horizon. I'm hopeful.
I think this summer isn't a step back from last summer. If anything a little it of a step forward. Need you be reminded of the constant Whale Call throughout leg one. While this summers leg I may of had a lot of repeats, at least they aren't Whale'd out. THe whale is just annoying and ruined my first reba.
Yeah leg I of last summer was some of the worst Phish I've heard ever.
i'd take the whale any day over getting ripcorded
Also, if your wife doesn't know what goes on at Phish shows she's a lot more naive than mine.
Quote from: Hicks on August 15, 2011, 04:14:26 PM
Also, if your wife doesn't know what goes on at Phish shows she's a lot more naive than mine.
:hereitisyousentimentalbastard
My wife didn't really know for sure until Hampton3. We had to step outside during Gin for her to get her head straight. She went to Ptown last year, more as an observer.
Now she just says prayers for me.
Quote from: jedifunk on August 15, 2011, 03:57:33 PM
i'd take the whale any day over getting ripcorded
Leg I 2010 had both.....
Quote from: UncleEbinezer on August 15, 2011, 04:22:19 PM
Now she just says prayers for me.
Wait until she sees your new Tape Collection...
Terry
Really I'm just cranky because I'm missing UIC.
Quote from: susep on August 15, 2011, 08:35:47 AM
what Art is saying and I agree is that yes Phish is playing shows but they are not creating new music i.e. in their improvisation.
:clap:
I'm glad SOMEONE has picked up what I've been puttin down for a while now....
jeezuz.....
Quote from: PIE-GUY on August 15, 2011, 03:22:07 PM
Quote from: thatfargone on August 15, 2011, 03:04:00 PM
Good points Pie Guy, however...
What makes you want to see that many shows today? Compared to 93>2000?
Is it really for the same reasons? I fell the older fans here are in it just for nostalgia. How many of us with family and kids take them to shows to share this love of a band. Or are most of them going with their old friends, leaving the family at home...doing things they don't want the family to know they are doing? Im not saying this is true of everyone but I have friends that go to shows to rage it with the boys and maybe smoke or dip some molly or eat doses...and go home to the wife and kids who have no idea what they have been up to.
I can say unequivocally that I am not in it to "rage with the boys" away from the wife or whatever. With the brutally long work day I have to face tomorrow, I wont even drink a single beer tonight, much less do any of the "raging" activities mentioned above. I am going to the show tonight to see phish play music. I will always want to see phish play music.
I happen to think there are far fewer cringe-worthy moments these days than there were in 2009. I truly think the playing is getting better.
The only disappointment for me this year is the lack of new tunes. I'm not impressed with Steam and it's the only new song of 2011. That's disappointing, for sure. With a Trey tour and a couple of legs of phish tour already down I'd like to think Trey would have something new written. But there is talk of an album in the fall, so maybe there is some writing time with Tom on the horizon. I'm hopeful.
i find it baffling that anyone would go to a phish show for reasons aside from what i bolded above. why on earth would you want to go just to hang around a bunch of dirty hippies?
we go to shows because phish is a kick-ass band that puts on musically powerful shows. yeah, it's too bad they're not as awesome as they once were, and not every show is worth listening to over and over again on tape, but so what? if you truly can't hear the changes in their sound over these three years, then you're hating based on setlists alone.
outside lands was on fire. they were there to melt faces, and they did. so some reviewer claimed no new fans were made. what does that even mean? have you been to any phish shows lately? there are a lot of noobs. phish must be doing something right. anyway, they've been hated and mocked by the 'cool' kids and ass-hat music reviewers since they began. that's hardly new.
Quote from: thatfargone on August 15, 2011, 01:59:34 PM
But, after almost 3 full years...what MUSICALLY is driving the apologetic, excuse making fans back to see more....if not the hope and desire they actually do something worthy of their legacy???
the chance to have the sound waves of Phish performing Divided Sky envelope my body, and vibrate through my mitochondria, to jump for joy (har har har) and flip shit when they drop Whats The Use, fully displaying my headier-than-thou status and superiority to the "man I hope they play Kill Devil FAHHLLZZZ" k1dz, and the fucking dying hope that they will string some magic together and punch through the stratosphere with a gnarly Mike's Song.
I mean, thats my personal thing. Phish is a different entity today, that is actually revelling and getting a chance to appreciate something they took for granted before: themselves. Their songs.
Yes, they played songs before, but the focus was always on them being the vehicles for the storming of Jupiter, and the transcendence of musical annihilation by means of spontaneous group discovery.
But, for all the naysaying-frustrateds, every time they play Limb By Limb, it will have a sweet Trey solo. Every time they play Weekapaug Groove, you will be dancing. Every time they play Maze, it will peak hard.
They are realizing that the things they have constructed permanently and concretely (songs) have just as much equal value as the things that they would momentarily construct (jams). And if both of those are equal, isn't the thing that permanently lasts better than the thing that is fleeting? Why chase something elusive, when you've got something stable, and those 2 things are of equal value and reward? Why endure heartache, frustration, and disappointment, when you can simply go to the thing thats already there, waiting for you?
I have a sneaking suspicion that Phish today is a metaphorical personification of Trey's drug use. Why spend thousands of dollars destroying yourself for the same feeling that you can get when you hold your wife and make love in the morning? Why wear yourself down chasing a momentary state that you can get by engaging the things that were there before, are there now, and will be there tomorrow?
Again, this is what THE BAND FEELS. Yes, we can analyze and dissect this to pieces, about their confidence, intentions, desires, goals....whatever, whether they feel inable to adequately create from nothing despite us believing them to be capable of doing so, whether they think that we want structure and predictability... it doesn't matter.
At the end of the day, they have clearly shown their choice. And who can blame them? When you know that you can go onstage and play Maze, Number Line, YEM, and Gotta Jibboo and be 100% satisfied in the results vs going onstage only vaguely sure of the potential in Ghost, Piper, Tweezer, and Birds of a Feather and with the very real fact that you'll end up only 75% satisfied..... which is the better option for someone in the middle-age of their life, wanting to have every single solitary second count and be fulfilling and worthwhile?
Older people don't take risks. They're old. They don't take risks anymore. Its okay, guys. You like Phish. Phish wrote songs. Therefore, you like songs. You like Phish. Phish play songs now. Therefore, you like songs now.
I understand the frustration, though. Because in my mind, there are 2 worlds in focus here: at the show, and at home. As long as at the show, nothing pulls me from the rapturous pulse they bring, then i'm 100% satisfied. And that has only happened a few times, like when they aborted the visibly potentially-epic Golden Age jam for Mike's at Darient. But hey, the rest of that set was fucking incredible, so... I'm good.
But then, you can question "well, they don't see the possibilities before them". Well, okay, maybe they don't. Does that matter, though? Are you the one with the instruments in your hands? Nah, you've got glow sticks, cuz you're a h3tty brah. heh
Phish don't care if they aren't seeing possibilities. Because possibilities aren't inevitabilities. They want the inevitable, sure-thing. Just like you all do, now that you're 30...35...40. Phish is your one outlet for risk-taking and unplanned spontaneity. You want stability in your family and job. Well.... unfortunately, we, being the opposite of the band (as fans), must experience the opposite from the band: they also want stability in their professional, job-lives. It just so happens that their position in that equation conflicts with ours, in terms of the desired results and outputs.
As long as they keep getting better at doing what they want to do, which they clearly are, then.... Phish has a long bright future in my life. And I am stoked for it.
I mean hey.... if the Rock and Roll -> Steam ARROW SEGUE doesn't fluff your nutter.... well, methinks some Bisco-following would suit you a bit more.
"h3tty rock-chrystals! git 'yer pimp chrystals, help you bang shortys and imbue your fortune with the energy of life, 1-for 3, 2-for-5.... or trade for dirtily-cut bunk ketamine!"
Thanks Gumbo. I actually needed to read that. And at least for my part...while there, I am right there with you. My ONLY difference is once the dust has settled, the fun is over for the night, and I think back to the show...I will always say a mediocre show was so. I will be critical as hell away from the actual performance. I honestly think there are a few here that think I hate to hate and am miserable at every show I see. I throw down with the best of them if not harder...I also am just as critical after. I only saw 3 shows this tour. Jersey sucked. Period. Gorge2 had a few moments of mention, but again I still see the EXACT problems since 09 in terms of band communication.
Jams, should not end like they do and segues should not be forced after 3 years back...I'm very sorry if others feel this is just something we should accept and NOT be critical of. Sure, no doubt Trey is getting more and more comfortable as things progress. Hampton, Greek, Bethel. Hell of a progression for him actually. And yes, songs are being played better. Fuck, they sure as hell should after about 30 live plays each since being back for even the rarer tunes in rotation. But, compared to that, the rest of the progression has been very 1 step forward, 2 steps back. They came out the gate swinging at Bethel with 2 above average, if not great shows, just to mail in the next 3. They keep showing signs that good shows are planned and bad ones are just formulaic and routine.
But again, thanks Gumbo, your post has given me much to think about. Good stuff. :beers:
Every person I've met on this site goes to Phish for the music. Some people "rage" some people don't -- but to suggest that anyone here is just going to get fucked up with friends is silly and proves that you don't know anyone here too well.
Quote from: WhatstheUse? on August 16, 2011, 05:25:37 PM
Every person I've met on this site goes to Phish for the music. Some people "rage" some people don't -- but to suggest that anyone here is just going to get fucked up with friends is silly and proves that you don't know anyone here too well.
LOL...reading into posts to start shit, huh? Why don't you just put me on ignore...though we went though this already. We don't like each other...no reason to try and start anything. Also I don't claim to know anyone here except a few people I am actually friends with outside of Phish and this forum.
Quote from: thatfargone on August 16, 2011, 06:16:29 PM
Quote from: WhatstheUse? on August 16, 2011, 05:25:37 PM
Every person I've met on this site goes to Phish for the music. Some people "rage" some people don't -- but to suggest that anyone here is just going to get fucked up with friends is silly and proves that you don't know anyone here too well.
LOL...reading into posts to start shit, huh? Why don't you just put me on ignore...though we went though this already. We don't like each other...no reason to try and start anything. Also I don't claim to know anyone here except a few people I am actually friends with outside of Phish and this forum.
Seemed like a pretty legitimate response to this
Quote from: thatfargone on August 15, 2011, 03:04:00 PM
Is it really for the same reasons? I fell the older fans here are in it just for nostalgia. How many of us with family and kids take them to shows to share this love of a band. Or are most of them going with their old friends, leaving the family at home...doing things they don't want the family to know they are doing? Im not saying this is true of everyone but I have friends that go to shows to rage it with the boys and maybe smoke or dip some molly or eat doses...and go home to the wife and kids who have no idea what they have been up to.
To me that is nothing but reliving youth, straight up trying to recapture their glory days.
Didn't seem (to me) like he was looking for trouble. Of all of the people on the boards, I'd say wtu would be the least likely to pick a fight bud.
I go to phish shows to hang out with :wtu:. I assume everyone else goes to hang out with me. Unsure why people attend the shows I'm not at.
:wtu: is 3.0
Quote from: kellerb on August 16, 2011, 06:45:23 PM
I go to phish shows to hang out with :wtu:. I assume everyone else goes to hang out with me. Unsure why people attend the shows I'm not at.
True.
The reason why I skipped GW this year cause I heard you weren't going.
Like I was telling mehead, I hope Phish blows up just for 1 tour so Scotty can really experience it. It would be nirvana = the end of all suffering(3.0).
Interesting......please define rage
Quote from: antelope19 on August 16, 2011, 11:06:54 PM
Interesting......please define rage
According to
Newsweek:
(http://ebonymompolitics.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/bachmann-crazy-eyes.jpg?w=575&h=484)
But according to many of our friends:
(http://musicalstewdaily.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/page5455x517400x455.jpg?w=285&h=300)
...maybe we need a new word?
Quote from: antelope19 on August 16, 2011, 11:06:54 PM
Interesting......please define rage
Remember that time? Yeah...that was
rage. :hereitisyousentimentalbastard
^^^ All valid definitions, but I'd still stick with this as my answer for rage:
(http://week4paug.net/index.php?action=dlattach;attach=24158;type=avatar)
Looks like we've got a winner, boys.
Quote from: thatfargone on August 16, 2011, 04:57:37 PM
Jams, should not end like they do and segues should not be forced after 3 years back...I'm very sorry if others feel this is just something we should accept and NOT be critical of. Sure, no doubt Trey is getting more and more comfortable as things progress. Hampton, Greek, Bethel. Hell of a progression for him actually. And yes, songs are being played better. Fuck, they sure as hell should after about 30 live plays each since being back for even the rarer tunes in rotation. But, compared to that, the rest of the progression has been very 1 step forward, 2 steps back. They came out the gate swinging at Bethel with 2 above average, if not great shows, just to mail in the next 3. They keep showing signs that good shows are planned and bad ones are just formulaic and routine.
But again, thanks Gumbo, your post has given me much to think about. Good stuff. :beers:
Thinking too hard and overboard analyzationalalysis is what I do here. haha
I almost wonder if Trey did things like this on purpose, to kind of force people to accept the band as-is, or if it was an experiment in SETLIST tension-and-release playing... ie: a macro version of the bands jam style. Kinda like a whore blueballing you before letting you get the hose.
Either way, TFG, trust me... Scott (wtu) is completely incapable of serious ill-will towards a person. Dude is the living embodiment of glittering, exuberant spaceman-glee. haha
Quote from: WhatstheUse? on August 16, 2011, 05:25:37 PM
Every person I've met on this site goes to Phish for the music. Some people "rage" some people don't -- but to suggest that anyone here is just going to get fucked up with friends is silly and proves that you don't know anyone here too well.
Really? Right away I can think of a few people we both know that personify what is wrong with the scene and exemplify what Joe is talking about. As much as I would like to paint a picture of this board being all rainbows and hugs, and being good fans. Some of us suck, and do get lost in the storm. I'll even be the first to admit, I've gotten caught up in the "fun" and it's been a deterrent for me at seeing shows. Partying hard is something the majority of Phish fans do, there is no argument about that. In fact, the only person I know on this board who isn't partying at Phish is Postjack. Everyone else I've met, I've seen varying degrees of fucked up and sobriety from them. Everyone else on here is partaking in drinking, and drugs. To what degree, yes, it does vary. But at the end of the day, using is using, and it goes on with many of us.
That environment is part of Phish and while we do love the music, we also love to party. I'll be a dick here, and point out, that I think many of us, wouldn't or couldn't do sober 3.0 (myself included). I think Joe has a point, and I also think you have a point as well Scott. But we don't need to sugarcoat the reality of the situation. With this type of music, a dark side will always exist, and most of us will walk that fine line. I have friends outside this board that love teh phish, but when it comes to a show, they're scrambling preshow to find drugs, and they're partying.
I don't hide what I do, and I'm fine with admitting that I like to rage. However, I get asked about drugs a lot from people outside this board and on this board. It doesn't bother me, but it is eye opening to me, to constantly be asked about what is going on, and to me, it goes back to Joe's point, while we may love the music, it's also about being in the right state of mind for the music, and that is a big part of seeing these shows.
To throw myself under the bus here, I got fucked out of my gourd for five straight nights with you Scott. Was it a lot of fun? Hell to the fucking yes. We had profound late night conversations about life and music, we laughed our asses off, and we had a hell of a time burning the Southeast down. At the same time, I fully recognized that I, this one person who knows Phish, and knows their music very well, and loves them with all my heart is contributing in a negative manner to the scene. There is no way to justify using and spin it in a positive light. The man I worship on guitar has to watch us all getting fucked out of our gourd every night, how fucked up is that? Someone trying to maintain a clean and healthy lifestyle is exposed to the most tepid and disgusting habits of his phans on a nightly basis. How is this a good thing? To me, it's only a testament to Trey's character, and at the same time a disgusting reality of what the jam band scene can be. Sure, every niche has its dirt, but to me, we are by far the worse. At the non-jam shows I've seen this year, the crowds look so much healthier, and you can just see a difference, it's profound (at least to me). So my point is that it's really hard for me to sit back and act like we're doing this noble thing at shows. We're not. If we actually gave a shit about Trey's well being, the fans as a whole wouldn't expose him to what he is adamantly trying to avoid. But we don't do that, we are all selfish bastards that put our good time first, and I think that has also impacted the music the band is making as well.
Quote from: antelope19 on August 16, 2011, 11:06:54 PM
Interesting......please define rage
An overindulgence in various substances (licit and illicit).
I know I've said this before but I think alot of people are way off when they think that Trey is taking the fans wants into every aspect of the bands performance. I think they have set the framework with cool venues, lights, great repertoire and when he gets out on that stage, he just wants to do his thing. Whether that be rock the F#@! out, sing a balad that inspires him or transcend the space time continuum with an otherworldly jam (although not as frequent as most would like). And like anyone else in the world, he (or any of the band) has off days where they just aren't feeling it. Most phans, being keen listeners, will notice this sort of thing but they could come out the next day and throw down like they have been in Chi-town. Dude's done enough at this point and is still doing it because he loves music, his music, not what the fans belly ache about. I also think that after 28 years of doing this, he is past the point of caring about whining fans saying they don't jam anymore, wish it was the glory days, etc. He knows he'll get paid at the end of the day for doing something he loves.
And Sophist, this sort of shit has been going on since day 1 though. It's not like 3.0 is that much of a change other than new substances have become preevalent that were not readily available or not as popular back in the day. I was chatting with a friend last Summer at one of the shows I hit that said while he was touring back in the early to mid-90's, they were doing copious amounts of LSD. Dosing multiple times pre, during and after the show. He said sometimes they would have no idea who they were, where they were or how much they took. Just pouring it onto eachothers palms. I guess for some, this can enhance the music, not deter from it. My last point would be to the notion that non jamband fans don't party. I've seen tons of people completely out of it at other 'mainstream' shows, maybe not on Mars, but so completely sauced that they can hardly stand up. If that means healthier, I have to beg to differ. Music involves partying, whether that be to the extreme, or within your limits (some, like you may have a higher tolerance). Doesn't mean you are not critiquing the music while you indulge.
Quote from: Buffalo Budd on August 17, 2011, 11:16:08 AM
And Sophist, this sort of shit has been going on since day 1 though. It's not like 3.0 is that much of a change other than new substances have become preevalent that were not readily available or not as popular back in the day. I was chatting with a friend last Summer at one of the shows I hit that said while he was touring back in the early to mid-90's, they were doing copious amounts of LSD. Dosing multiple times pre, during and after the show. He said sometimes they would have no idea who they were, where they were or how much they took. Just pouring it onto eachothers palms. I guess for some, this can enhance the music, not deter from it. My last point would be to the notion that non jamband fans don't party. I've seen tons of people completely out of it at other 'mainstream' shows, maybe not on Mars, but so completely sauced that they can hardly stand up. If that means healthier, I have to beg to differ. Music involves partying, whether that be to the extreme, or within your limits (some, like you may have a higher tolerance). Doesn't mean you are not critiquing the music while you indulge.
I'm not saying it has gotten worse, I'm saying it's kind of laughable to act like a majority of the people there are 100% focused on the music, they're not. If you're talking a DMB concert or any huge act, yeah, many people are sauced. But these smaller shows I've been seeing, it's a different crowd. Indie fans are a lot different than jam band fans. At both Animal Collective shows I saw, I was in the super minority both nights. I only puffed at Alpharetta, and I got spun at MPP. I people watched both nights, the bulk of fans weren't drinking, and I saw almost no smoking.
You're rationalizing use here, and that's fine. I do the same. I just also recognize my rationalizations and justifications for said use. I rage harder than most, after all, it's why George nicknamed me the "conductor" because I can be fucking crazy when it comes to tripping. It's what I like to do. I just find myself wondering if it really is enhancing my experience or if I'm just making justifications for partying/raging.
so this is the thread to debate whether or not someone goes to phish for the "right" reasons?
cool. :roll:
Quote from: sophist on August 17, 2011, 11:24:53 AM
I just find myself wondering if it really is enhancing my experience or if I'm just making justifications for partying/raging.
I see, okay then, carry on. I've done Phish sober (3 shows I think) and not, I gotta say, I enjoy the realizations and trippiness of a spun show just a hair more. Not to say I didn't have fun at the early sober ones I caught, just that, imo, I enjoy myself even more when a 'mind-enhancer' is added to the mix. Maybe helps me cut loose a bit, I don't know.
And I have never thought of phish as an excuse for those types of nights but more as a reason. I never do it at any other shows, definitely not in the last 6 or so years.
Quote from: Buffalo Budd on August 17, 2011, 12:33:16 PM
Quote from: sophist on August 17, 2011, 11:24:53 AM
I just find myself wondering if it really is enhancing my experience or if I'm just making justifications for partying/raging.
I see, okay then, carry on. I've done Phish sober (3 shows I think) and not, I gotta say, I enjoy the realizations and trippiness of a spun show just a hair more. Not to say I didn't have fun at the early sober ones I caught, just that, imo, I enjoy myself even more when a 'mind-enhancer' is added to the mix. Maybe helps me cut loose a bit, I don't know.
And I have never thought of phish as an excuse for those types of nights but more as a reason. I never do it at any other shows, definitely not in the last 6 or so years.
not that this thread isn't already totally jacked, but i'm gonna chime in here.
i've seen approximately 200 shows, and saw well over 80% of those sober (i consider puffing to be sober). the party favors (E & L) were only fun during 99-00 when jams were of the groove based, dance till ya drop variety.
regardless of spun or unspun, i have ALWAYS been there for the music, first and foremost. i do not need the stimulant to enjoy a show, or to listen with a critical ear.
i agree that for many people the music is secondary, and sometimes even farther down the list. thats fine by me, just don't come around and think that i will find your opinion valid when discussing the music.
Phan brings the tr00f.
I have to agree, with both of you (phan and Budd). However, I think that Phan has the edge in his perspective on the scene. Granted, i'm not sure how much of it Trey actually sees or realizes; unless he's cruising the lots or has informants, its hard to see people snorting coke 30 rows back when you're up on the stage.
I think he knows its going on, but I'm not sure. Either way, I have to agree with Budd in that this thing has always gone on. However, I think the scene today has devolved in a manner that heavily favors and caters to the more destructive, mind-closing, soul-eating substances like ketamine, cocaine, opiates, amphetamines, etc. Granted, a drug is a drug, but I would think that nearly any person could understand the difference between a scene thats favoring personal exploration and transcendence via mushrooms and LSD vs. one that concentrates solely on the ego-centered fixes of morphine, oxycontin, adderall, molly....
And I include molly because for all the empathetic and social qualities MDMA possesses, I fully believe most molly sold in the lots is not completely MDMA, and probably mostly speed/amphetamine additives.
Regardless, the high is ego-centered, and the social feelings are generated out of a craving for self-satisfaction and a desire for self-pleasure.
My stance does not change. I cant think of a single person from this board whose main reason for seeing phish is NOT the music.
The people I seem to party with most love this band and their music with more exuberance than most.
Right, and WTU is correct.
I mean, the issue is always up for debate though.... whether we *need* pot and molly to enjoy the music to the most degree.
I think it comes down to transcendence... because drugs help you transcend reality in a way that is just physically not possible otherwise. And since Phish is such a danceable, transcendental band, I feel that drugs simply allow the experience to be pushed that much further.
Granted, you *should* be able to enjoy Phish sober. And I can. I mean, every morning when I drive to work, and I'm pumping the 12/16/99 Tweezer, or the 6/23/04 Crosseyed Noblesville Jam, the 8/10/04 ACDC Bag, the 7/22/03 Gumbo and the 10/31/98 Mike's Song sounboards, I get the goosebump jam feeling. It gets me off, and I feel electrified. The MUSIC itself is the transcendant.
Yet, despite the quality of Phish's music now and on a day-to-day basis, those moments of sky-shredding brilliance aren't all that common. Phish is ALWAYS good. Frequently GREAT. Once or twice a show, INCREDIBLE. But very few are those moments that, for whatever reason, somehow move beyond what is normal, and what is human, and what is typical, having blown out into the stratosphere and become a true wonder, the type of musical moment that crystalizes in your mind and etches itself into your soul. These are pieces of music that you remember, note-for-note.... the jams that you can re-play in your mind exactly as they were played.
These moments are not so frequent in 3.0. The Camden Sand and Tweezer? Definitely. The Albany Seven Below and Ghost? I'd say so. The Manchester Ghost -> Mango? Oh yeah. The Miami GBOTT? Of course. The Charlotte 7/2/10 Drowned with Page on the piano? Absolutely. The Utica Have Mercy > Piper? No question.
Anyway, my point is that people want to be transcended when they go see Phish. And for better or for worse, 3.0 Phish has not been consistently transcendent. Granted, this is purely subjective, but I think that people are doing drugs because they want to get the most out of something that they feel isn't completely delivering their desires by themselves.
I mean, lets look at marriages. My relationship is falling apart, so my g/f and I are sort of like... "de-relationshipping" ourselves, sort of, to impose some limits and boundaries, in order to kind of "rinse out" our relationship to allow it to grow again, and to fall in love all over again. We've done it before, and although I disagree that there was a problem (given the fact that up until only 3 weeks ago we'd consistently having some of the best sex we'd ever had, which has always been a good barometer for our relationship), she has come to a place where she isn't happy, and just needs a break from 'relationship stuff' which is understandable, given the schedule we both now have and the stage of life we're at.
So, you need to inject some extra stuff to help things along, just like married couples who now need some extra help in getting aroused, either through porn, viagara, swinging, whatever.
Does that mean there is a quality deficiency? Does that mean that it was better before? No, its just different. And sometimes we need help to get things going the way we had before, and the way that we'd like them to be.
I think i lost track or forgot what i was trying to originally say here...
Quote from: Gumbo72203 on August 18, 2011, 10:49:55 AM
I think i lost track or forgot what i was trying to originally say here...
Trey needs boner pills?
Quote from: kellerb on August 18, 2011, 02:54:33 PM
Quote from: Gumbo72203 on August 18, 2011, 10:49:55 AM
I think i lost track or forgot what i was trying to originally say here...
Trey needs boner pills?
and the four of them need to have a swingers session with the wives?
So.
The show.
Like the Tweezer. Gets to the point quick.
Like the Julius. Page shines under Trey's leads.
Everything from Birds on is solid. Best Backwards in a long while. A really good stretch of present day Phish, and well above average for Trey.