The Phish phenomenon is puzzling. I have never seen any of the following at Merriweather. (1) A concert sell out the lawn. (2) Be able to scan the back of the lawn and not find an inch of space. (3) The foolproof secret free parking at the library be full!
So, people love them, and I love that. That’s what turned me from a Rise Against hater to lover back in the day.
In theory, I should love them. Epic songs are some of my favorites: Wilco’s “Spiders” / “Impossible Germany,” Weezer’s “Only In Dreams,” Green Day’s “Jesus of Suburbia,” Bruce Springsteen’s “Jungleland,” etc. Those wouldn’t considered riffs/jams, which seems more Phish’s wheelhouse, but live, I’m generally all about those as well.
I’ve liked sounds within their sounds and really attempted to prep them — listening to their new album, Evolve, and listened to their list of Top 50 Most Played Live Songs multiple times.
The problem is a more extreme version of one I had with Friday Night Lights’ Explosions in the Sky in 2017. When (almost) everything is an extended instrument, everything seems to blend together.
I’m confident I studied songs part by part or marinated on each album as they came up over the years, I’d be transfixed. I’d also appreciate the Bear-like way have BRAND NEW SETLISTS EVERY NIGHT?! As is, unfortunately, it made it impossible to get a handle of much anything before.
There’s precedent for me eventually being hooked. I spent the beginning of the David Bowie documentary baffled and infuriating — what was I missing?! Then, it clicked — and became kaleidoscope heaven.
Sadly, for Phish, for me, it never did. I was grateful at least that it did for so many others. That included Jim, the awesome guy next me, who enthused, “First show?!” without me even mentioning it. He also confirmed that it was not unusual for them to feature a 31 MINUTE SONG in their second set, which they did with “Carini” in this one. I did dig the last five minutes, a clear escalation of excitement, and was proud I riff at the end. It was a callback to the beginning of the song, decades earlier.
Jim and his friend came in from Niagara Falls and have apparently been to more than 50 shows!!! Love how Jim was giving me tidbits about songs and how Trey Anatasio was going to hold his guitar up at the end. He also asked for the info for my concert site!
Apparently Phish played “No Men in a No Man’s Land,” “Beneath a Sea of Stars Part 1,” “Ruby Waves,” “Backwards Down The Number Line,” a cover of The Beatles’ “I Am A Walrus,” and “First Tube.”
Hahahah at “thanks so much for having us.” These are the first and only words I hear from Trey over the course of the night.
“First Tube” has a drive, focus, insistence . . . and then pullback that makes it ten times better than anything before it!!!
Overall, Phish was not for me, but I’m glad I was an outlier!
Grade: C/C+/B-
















