Part of the reason why I love Phish so much is ’cause they are a fun and unpredictable band to listen to. Many fans turned their back on Phish and stopped supporting them. They are now one of the most hated jam bands out there now and I can’t understand why. To me they are just a regular band just like all bands. Playing music ’cause they love it. They have fun doing it. That’s one of the reasons why I respect that band ’cause of their passion for music and they do show it when they get on that stage.

I finished listened to Phish’s studio albums. Their entire catalog of albums I listened to this week. While I enjoyed listening to Phish’s studio albums, it’s even more fun listening to them live, though. Either listening to them live in person or listening to their live albums is more fun ’cause why? Phish is more of a live band than a studio band. That’s why a lot of Phish songs on their studio albums are pretty short but when they play their songs live, they extend them into an improvised jam. They never play their songs the same way twice either. That’s another reason I respect them so much.

Another reason I respect them ’cause all the guys in Phish are very talented musicians. I respect the talent of each member: Trey, Mike, Jon and Page. Phish has always been the same 4 guys. They never had any lineup changes.

I’ve always been a huge fan of Phish and still love them now. I’ve never turned my back on them: What are my favorite albums by Phish? While I do like them all a lot… my favorites would have to be “Rift”, “Hoist”, “Farmhouse”, “Lawn Boy” and their latest record, “Fuego” is an amazing record. I would say “Fuego” is their best record.

Phish is one band that deserves an induction in the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame and it’s kind of crazy they aren’t in yet.

Love Phish or hate them all you want to but this band is very successful. They still sell out arena shows everywhere. I respect the hell out of this band.

Maybe part of the reason people hate them is the drugs which is understandable but I don’t care about the drugs… I Just love the music and the band’s musicianship. Plus they are fun as hell to dance to at their live shows which is what they’re all about.

Phish is a genius band. I’ll always respect them. I don’t care what the haters think.

Kev

I’m sure some would wonder why I love that band Phish, which are known as a hippy acid rock jam band. I know most Phish fans do drugs and drink, but I don’t need to do any of that stuff to enjoy their music. Do I enjoy their songwriting skills? Yes, they write pretty good stuff in the studio…but what I’m most impressed about with this band is the way they play their live shows. I’ve seen so much live music over the years. In today’s music, no live performer out there can perform live better than Phish can, period.

They are not really seen as a studio band. They are seen as a live band. That’s what people are used to seeing Phish as. So many people compare Phish to the Grateful Dead, but I disagree. They don’t sound like each other at all. What I admire about Phish’s live playing is that they know how to control an audience. Their instruments speak to their audience. They can have the power to control an audience how they please just by playing on stage. Trey’s magical guitar leads blaring out in far away places, just makes you want to dance to them. A band like Phish they can get on stage and play as long as they want, all night if they wanted to. They would jam on every song for like 30 or 40 minutes each, and after the gig, they act like it was an easy thing to do and it was nothing.

When ever I go to a Phish show, they make you feel like it’s your second home. They really make you feel part of the band. The band shows that they do it for the fans and not for themselves. Them coming back is not about ego and money at all. They came back ’cause their fans wanted them back. A band like Phish, you don’t even have to know their songs well by heart just to see them live, just go there and enjoy the show. Just for the enjoyment of feeling like home with the band. You’re looking at future, Rock n’ Roll Hall of Famers here.

Phish is indeed, the greatest live performers on this planet. Trey Anastasio may not be a trained vocalist, he may not be that great of a singer, true, but in jam band music, you don’t even need to sing good. They just did it. Just sang with no musical training. In jam band music, fans don’t really worry about the vocals anyways. They just want to hear some long guitar jams. That’s what jam band is all about.

Phish will be playing two nights of SPAC in Saratoga Springs this Summer, and I’m thinking of going to both of them. Probably will. If I go, I’ll probably get lawn tickets, not inside.

Kev