Comments on: A Phish-Head looks at 40 http://www.storiesinhighfidelity.com/2008/10/a-phish-head-looks-at-40/ Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:31:13 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 hourly 1 By: LP http://www.storiesinhighfidelity.com/2008/10/a-phish-head-looks-at-40/comment-page-1/#comment-376 LP Fri, 16 Jan 2009 20:21:11 +0000 http://martinzager.com/stories/?p=240#comment-376 I became a parent as I discovered Phish. My son was born about a week before my first live experience with Phish in October, 1991. My wife happened to not "get" Phish, and so I was able to got to many shows with my friends who DID get it. The mid '90s were my heyday years with the band and their phenomenal manipulation of sound waves. I was already grown up I suppose, but their music left me with newly formed gills on my neck. The biggest sadness for me when Trey made the "done" announcement was that I never took my son to see them, as he was still too young for that scene the last time I saw Phish in '03. Now he is 17 and taller than I (and I'm 6'-1") and if all goes well, I will take him to see and hear live Phish this year. I hear Junta coming from his bedroom every now and then, so I know he likes them for his own reasons, not just because I do. Bring it on! PHiSH at the Gorge in '09! LP I became a parent as I discovered Phish. My son was born about a week before my first live experience with Phish in October, 1991. My wife happened to not “get” Phish, and so I was able to got to many shows with my friends who DID get it. The mid ’90s were my heyday years with the band and their phenomenal manipulation of sound waves. I was already grown up I suppose, but their music left me with newly formed gills on my neck.

The biggest sadness for me when Trey made the “done” announcement was that I never took my son to see them, as he was still too young for that scene the last time I saw Phish in ‘03. Now he is 17 and taller than I (and I’m 6′-1″) and if all goes well, I will take him to see and hear live Phish this year. I hear Junta coming from his bedroom every now and then, so I know he likes them for his own reasons, not just because I do.

Bring it on! PHiSH at the Gorge in ‘09!

LP

]]> By: Allison http://www.storiesinhighfidelity.com/2008/10/a-phish-head-looks-at-40/comment-page-1/#comment-169 Allison Fri, 07 Nov 2008 18:11:55 +0000 http://martinzager.com/stories/?p=240#comment-169 I'm looking forward to a more mature audience......more respectful......hopefully everyone has grown up, and is there for the MUSIC! My experience with Phish was there were too many kids around me getting high, and not listening. But I must say, there has always been plenty of people there for the music, and no matter who is standing near me, I can block them out. The music let's me escape! So, my only hope still is that 2009 audiences are more mature. Well, that, and Phish is still magical!!! I’m looking forward to a more mature audience……more respectful……hopefully everyone has grown up, and is there for the MUSIC! My experience with Phish was there were too many kids around me getting high, and not listening. But I must say, there has always been plenty of people there for the music, and no matter who is standing near me, I can block them out. The music let’s me escape! So, my only hope still is that 2009 audiences are more mature. Well, that, and Phish is still magical!!!

]]> By: markah http://www.storiesinhighfidelity.com/2008/10/a-phish-head-looks-at-40/comment-page-1/#comment-121 markah Sun, 02 Nov 2008 07:46:53 +0000 http://martinzager.com/stories/?p=240#comment-121 fantastic article, Chris! Great to see your name in print...er...text again. RMP lives! Psyched, - 30 yo markah fantastic article, Chris! Great to see your name in print…er…text again. RMP lives!

Psyched,

- 30 yo markah

]]> By: critical limited design http://www.storiesinhighfidelity.com/2008/10/a-phish-head-looks-at-40/comment-page-1/#comment-109 critical limited design Thu, 30 Oct 2008 17:40:15 +0000 http://martinzager.com/stories/?p=240#comment-109 I'm curious about what folks are saying re: Trey and a "meeting." Are you suggesting there was an AA meeting backstage? That he was calling out to some friends in the program? It's really dangerous to break someone's anonymity, however lax they may feel about it themselves. Of particular danger is the celebrity AA, one who regardless of how they carry themselves is percieved as the "face" of AA (or NA, OA, any other 12-step program). If the public (i.e. a suffering alcoholic or addict) is to look to Trey as that "face," and see him stumble, well, it causes a serious misconception as to the success of such programs (whether or not they work). That said, (and I'm one of the lax ones!) I do hope sobriety is more than a "phase" or passing interest and becomes a spiritual foundation for him. What was the foundation for those early years, when the music was so spontaneous, schizophrenic even, the attitudes so playful and irreverent (while still maintaining a sacred bottom line)? It was all so tongue in cheek and somehow at the same time, demand the most serious scholarship from listeners and dancers. There are many days a year when I wake up from a dream about the concerts (Mike and his dreaming always resonated with me :), many days when I struggle to figure out why that band did what they did to me/with me/for me. Many days when I want to somehow give something back, or to help achieve that unification that I felt on 6/21/94, or 11/30/95. What I still feel when I dance to Divided Sky or Brother from 2/16/1991! How do we get there? It has to be a "we," right? This band didn't do it alone, and always already knew that. How do we push things forward? I feel as strongly that it's not my place to say, until I revisit those old tapes and want to demand it. I’m curious about what folks are saying re: Trey and a “meeting.” Are you suggesting there was an AA meeting backstage? That he was calling out to some friends in the program?

It’s really dangerous to break someone’s anonymity, however lax they may feel about it themselves. Of particular danger is the celebrity AA, one who regardless of how they carry themselves is percieved as the “face” of AA (or NA, OA, any other 12-step program). If the public (i.e. a suffering alcoholic or addict) is to look to Trey as that “face,” and see him stumble, well, it causes a serious misconception as to the success of such programs (whether or not they work).

That said, (and I’m one of the lax ones!) I do hope sobriety is more than a “phase” or passing interest and becomes a spiritual foundation for him. What was the foundation for those early years, when the music was so spontaneous, schizophrenic even, the attitudes so playful and irreverent (while still maintaining a sacred bottom line)? It was all so tongue in cheek and somehow at the same time, demand the most serious scholarship from listeners and dancers. There are many days a year when I wake up from a dream about the concerts (Mike and his dreaming always resonated with me :), many days when I struggle to figure out why that band did what they did to me/with me/for me. Many days when I want to somehow give something back, or to help achieve that unification that I felt on 6/21/94, or 11/30/95. What I still feel when I dance to Divided Sky or Brother from 2/16/1991!

How do we get there? It has to be a “we,” right? This band didn’t do it alone, and always already knew that. How do we push things forward? I feel as strongly that it’s not my place to say, until I revisit those old tapes and want to demand it.

]]> By: Blueveedub http://www.storiesinhighfidelity.com/2008/10/a-phish-head-looks-at-40/comment-page-1/#comment-102 Blueveedub Wed, 29 Oct 2008 04:45:20 +0000 http://martinzager.com/stories/?p=240#comment-102 I would have to say that Phish so much defined my youth.. that the most heart wrenching thing about their breakup.. was the thought that I would never be able to bring my (eventual) children to a show.. and connect with them.. like i did with so many of you.. and let them know what their dad is all about... It was a devastating thought.. I would have to say that Phish so much defined my youth.. that the most heart wrenching thing about their breakup.. was the thought that I would never be able to bring my (eventual) children to a show.. and connect with them.. like i did with so many of you.. and let them know what their dad is all about… It was a devastating thought..

]]> By: scarlite http://www.storiesinhighfidelity.com/2008/10/a-phish-head-looks-at-40/comment-page-1/#comment-72 scarlite Wed, 22 Oct 2008 03:13:30 +0000 http://martinzager.com/stories/?p=240#comment-72 Yo, all that y'all are saying is SO true: telepathic wizardry, self indulgence, covens, family (oh yeah, I got family here b----), blown minds, God and Christ, frizzle schnizzle ! So now a poem from my homeboy: Scarlight Scarbright Who will be my star tonight? signed - * the purple starfish * (sorry- is that off topic?) Yo, all that y’all are saying is SO true: telepathic wizardry, self indulgence, covens, family (oh yeah, I got family here b—-), blown minds, God and Christ, frizzle schnizzle !
So now a poem from my homeboy:

Scarlight
Scarbright
Who will be my star tonight?
signed - * the purple starfish *
(sorry- is that off topic?)

]]> By: KCdiggler http://www.storiesinhighfidelity.com/2008/10/a-phish-head-looks-at-40/comment-page-1/#comment-71 KCdiggler Wed, 22 Oct 2008 02:39:22 +0000 http://martinzager.com/stories/?p=240#comment-71 Yea, I'm in the married with children club now and I'm totally fine with that. If they do some Midwest shows I will see as many as possible, because like I told my wife, after this summer's tour we can have our second child. Because you know like the past 2 summers, touring was limited and we weren't even able to attend Wakarusa right in our backyard. But things are lined up for this and it's all good. Love to hear comments from other Phishy parents!! showmediggler@yahoo.com Yea, I’m in the married with children club now and I’m totally fine with that. If they do some Midwest shows I will see as many as possible, because like I told my wife, after this summer’s tour we can have our second child. Because you know like the past 2 summers, touring was limited and we weren’t even able to attend Wakarusa right in our backyard. But things are lined up for this and it’s all good. Love to hear comments from other Phishy parents!!

showmediggler@yahoo.com

]]> By: sound design http://www.storiesinhighfidelity.com/2008/10/a-phish-head-looks-at-40/comment-page-1/#comment-69 sound design Tue, 21 Oct 2008 20:39:38 +0000 http://martinzager.com/stories/?p=240#comment-69 My response is about Trey staying clean amidst the Phish (new versus old) scene. I believe Trey's last hiatus and return was about drug abuse. It will be interesting to see how he plays out this new attempt to reconstitute Phish. I was thinking, perhaps Phish should just invest in appealing to a new type of fan, say Christian rockers or something. Spell the name with an "F" instead of "Ph" and sing about love and redemption and sobriety. 'Cause God knows, in the Phish scene of old, sobriety is an up-hill battle. Ben really resonated with me because I, too, was at Saturday night's Trey show, listening to Trey greet his new friends from the Albany area and I SERIOUSLY wondered if they were all AA friends because I got a SERIOUS telepathic vibe that smoking pot was not ok. And you know what? My husband and I, too, have a family, a real life and do not do drugs at home ever. When a show comes around, though, we like to smoke a little pot and enjoy our night out with a slight buzz. Is that going to be alright in the new and improved Phish scene? Maybe it shouldn't be. I'm not judging. I'm just saying it didn't seem alright in Albany and maybe it's not alright for Trey.... Remember one rule of thumb for addicts is to hang with completely different company than you hung with during your drug use... Good luck Trey. I'm rooting for you. Ayyy Yiii Yiii Yiii Yiii. My response is about Trey staying clean amidst the Phish (new versus old) scene.
I believe Trey’s last hiatus and return was about drug abuse. It will be interesting to see how he plays out this new attempt to reconstitute Phish. I was thinking, perhaps Phish should just invest in appealing to a new type of fan, say Christian rockers or something. Spell the name with an “F” instead of “Ph” and sing about love and redemption and sobriety. ‘Cause God knows, in the Phish scene of old, sobriety is an up-hill battle.
Ben really resonated with me because I, too, was at Saturday night’s Trey show, listening to Trey greet his new friends from the Albany area and I SERIOUSLY wondered if they were all AA friends because I got a SERIOUS telepathic vibe that smoking pot was not ok. And you know what?
My husband and I, too, have a family, a real life and do not do drugs at home ever. When a show comes around, though, we like to smoke a little pot and enjoy our night out with a slight buzz. Is that going to be alright in the new and improved Phish scene? Maybe it shouldn’t be. I’m not judging. I’m just saying it didn’t seem alright in Albany and maybe it’s not alright for Trey….
Remember one rule of thumb for addicts is to hang with completely different company than you hung with during your drug use…
Good luck Trey. I’m rooting for you. Ayyy Yiii Yiii Yiii Yiii.

]]> By: Ben http://www.storiesinhighfidelity.com/2008/10/a-phish-head-looks-at-40/comment-page-1/#comment-67 Ben Tue, 21 Oct 2008 16:15:55 +0000 http://martinzager.com/stories/?p=240#comment-67 Well then, it is with great delight I type these comments, allbeit with slight apprehension as well. I went to Trey's Albany show this past saturday. The show was by all means not a mind blower, but a reminder of all the times my mind was blown by Trey. Trey had a meeting before the show, you know the ones?!?! the ones where one is reminded not to stray on that path that led you to ruin or otherwise; cops in whitehall pulling you over thus leaving you with no other choice but to get help. Which leaves me to hope that this reunion isn't coming too early in Trey's rehabilitation. I hope that backstage is no longer a place where drugs are constantly offered up in hopes that "Trey will think I'm cool and we can become friends". Because if he's not truly ready to do this Phish thing again without the hard drugs, shit, even the fundamentals, then this reunion thing will be over as quickly as it will have started. I wish you a content life Trey where you don't have to chase that buzz in order to enjoy or numb your life. Thats not life, thats addiction. I want to hear how you and the band's music has evolved and hopefully my appreciation will evolve with you guys. Well then, it is with great delight I type these comments, allbeit with slight apprehension as well. I went to Trey’s Albany show this past saturday. The show was by all means not a mind blower, but a reminder of all the times my mind was blown by Trey. Trey had a meeting before the show, you know the ones?!?! the ones where one is reminded not to stray on that path that led you to ruin or otherwise; cops in whitehall pulling you over thus leaving you with no other choice but to get help. Which leaves me to hope that this reunion isn’t coming too early in Trey’s rehabilitation. I hope that backstage is no longer a place where drugs are constantly offered up in hopes that “Trey will think I’m cool and we can become friends”. Because if he’s not truly ready to do this Phish thing again without the hard drugs, shit, even the fundamentals, then this reunion thing will be over as quickly as it will have started. I wish you a content life Trey where you don’t have to chase that buzz in order to enjoy or numb your life. Thats not life, thats addiction. I want to hear how you and the band’s music has evolved and hopefully my appreciation will evolve with you guys.

]]> By: Caroline http://www.storiesinhighfidelity.com/2008/10/a-phish-head-looks-at-40/comment-page-1/#comment-66 Caroline Tue, 21 Oct 2008 12:21:36 +0000 http://martinzager.com/stories/?p=240#comment-66 Chris, you couldn't have put it better! Although I'm only 32, I also grew up with Phish. The first hiatus brought me through my marriage, getting a teaching job, and buying a house. This most recent time has brought my a beautiful little boy. They were and still are the soundtrack of my life. I found quite a few Phish tracks (from Billy Breathes mostly) on my birthing play list! Although I don't hold tickets to Hampton, it's OK! My soundtrack is back. I'm hoping for amazing things..for my mind to be blown..but if it's not...that's OK too..Phish is just a way of life ;) Good to see an old familiar face in the hysteria that is Phish 2.0 (and a few familiar faces in the comments!) Chris, you couldn’t have put it better! Although I’m only 32, I also grew up with Phish. The first hiatus brought me through my marriage, getting a teaching job, and buying a house. This most recent time has brought my a beautiful little boy.

They were and still are the soundtrack of my life. I found quite a few Phish tracks (from Billy Breathes mostly) on my birthing play list!

Although I don’t hold tickets to Hampton, it’s OK! My soundtrack is back. I’m hoping for amazing things..for my mind to be blown..but if it’s not…that’s OK too..Phish is just a way of life ;)

Good to see an old familiar face in the hysteria that is Phish 2.0 (and a few familiar faces in the comments!)

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