Is this normal?
Halden
unable to listen to anything but Phish. I keep grabbing my iPod and
thinking "What should I listen to?" and with very few exceptions as of
late it has been a Phish show.
Not only do I seldom listen to any other artist I have found that the
studio albums get little play compared to the shows.
Will any other bands ever creep back into my listening line up? ;)
Halden
OneOhEight
I suggest that you embrace it while you can. My experience is that I
will go through extended portions of time where Phish is the only
thing I care to listen to. Those time periods tended to be longer
back when I first started liking Phish (2002, still relatively
recently). I remember when I started College in '03, a friend of mine
gave me a couple mp3 cds with all of live 1-20 on them, I listened to
that shit to and from school a half hour each way for two semesters
straight. I would also get unbelievably high every time which would
say a lot about why I'm still in college today.
After seeing Phish 10+ times in '03 and '04, including seven shows
between Miami and Vegas, and finally Coventry, I probably took a break
for a while. I would get into some other music for a while and after
a few months go on a Phish binge again, listening to all my favorite
shows with a renewed respect for them each time.
As much as I loved '03 and '04 and also '09 with the reunion, whenever
to this day I hear a version of say Slave to the Traffic Light or
Bowie that has a few flaws in it, I love to cleanse the pallet by
listening to an incredibly raw version from like 93 or 94, just to
respect how amazing that time was.
Basically, the time will come when you will want to put Phish aside
for a while and listen to something else, but until then, just keep
the buzz going.
108
Z
much to explore with phish music that it may be awhile....and it will
come back in waves. Right now, all I want to listen to is
phish...like I did in 2000....
Enjoy!
Z
DaManfred Mann
get it and you give current newbies a good name, my phriend.
I still go through phases like that. Sometimes it happens for a couple
months, other times it lasts longer, especially if they're touring and
there is new stuff to listen to every day or so.
Eventually you'll spend a few minutes with regular radio, or an album
you have in your collection, or go to a non-Phish concert and maybe even
immerse yourself in another artist with a new album, that you're going
to see in concert or something. But whenever I take a break, I
eventually remember why I'm so into Phish...it's simply the best overall
musical experience going today.
I'll say this though, I'm done trying to convert people who have an
attitude about Phish though. Let them go listen to the flavor du jour
and I'll enjoy my Phish.
I listen to a lot of stuff...I've probably got over 5 thousand CDs,
vinyl records and various tapes, DVDs and digital files (I know, it
probably sounds OCD), but I'm a music guy. The thing is, I now listen
to about 75% Phish overall. I still listen to other jam bands and other
heritage artists and believe it or not, I still seek out and listen to
other new things. But I always come back to the best band on the planet.
When I was on a Classic Rock radio station, I still drove around
listening to Phish in my car...I've been listening to the Classic Rock
catalog for my whole life, it'll always be there, but a new Phish show
is something different and alive, in the moment and that is a beautiful
thing.
Like 108 said, enjoy it while it lasts, because the initial blush will
eventually wear off a bit, but phear not my phriend, Phish will always
be there ready to kick your ass again when you need it.
Take care,
Dave
Z
Dave: I'll say this though, I'm done trying to convert people who
have an attitude about Phish though. Let them go listen to the flavor
du jour and I'll enjoy my Phish.
I have tried to open up many of my friends to Phish and some people
just won't get it or can't get over the stigma that comes along with
phish/jam music. Ya just gotta let it be.
Z
Halden
> you have in your collection, or go to a non-Phish concert and maybe even
> immerse yourself in another artist with a new album, that you're going
> to see in concert or something. But whenever I take a break, I
> eventually remember why I'm so into Phish...it's simply the best overall
> musical experience going today.
That is exactly how it has gone. I listen to an album or two,
something that just came out or something that strikes my fancy, but
the staple has been Phish. In the car, doing dishes or at work it all
goes better with a Phish show in my ear.
One thing that really struck me was how listening to Phish shows has
affected my attitude towards other live music. I went to a Metallica
show last week, and despite being a HUGE Metallica fan from Kill 'em
All onwards I found myself thinking how staged the show felt. The Set
List and song arrangement was static and the banter was very scripted
(insert City name here type stuff). This was fine and the show and
spectacle were everything I expected and wanted from a Metallica show
but it was tainted by the comparison to how organic and interactive a
Phish show would be.
> I'll say this though, I'm done trying to convert people who have an
> attitude about Phish though. Let them go listen to the flavor du jour
> and I'll enjoy my Phish.
I do not think I have converted by my wife has commented how she
prefers the sounds of Phish to my usual 80s/90s metal, grunge and
Indie/hipster collection.
halden
marcman
> One thing that really struck me was how listening to Phish shows has
> affected my attitude towards other live music. I went to a Metallica
> show last week, and despite being a HUGE Metallica fan from Kill 'em
> All onwards I found myself thinking how staged the show felt. The Set
> List and song arrangement was static and the banter was very scripted
> (insert City name here type stuff). This was fine and the show and
> spectacle were everything I expected and wanted from a Metallica show
> but it was tainted by the comparison to how organic and interactive a
> Phish show would be.
>
Indeed. Much like the GD, there is very little scripting going on at
all. I find the live performances of bands like phish, the GD, maybe
the A Bros (and maybe SCI and a few others) to be much more honest
than what the "other guys" are putting out there as a stage show.
There are very few bands one could follow from city to city and not
see repeats.
I think some of that has to do with the band's marketing plan. If you
want to release your catalogue of live shows for sale, they can't all
be the same. Also, Phish (like the GD) draws from an enormous
catalogue of original material, not to mention many many covers.
Halden
> want to release your catalogue of live shows for sale, they can't all
> be the same. Also, Phish (like the GD) draws from an enormous
> catalogue of original material, not to mention many many covers.
That is definitely true. Because of a Date change they gave us
vouchers to DL the show from livemetallica.com and I did but I would
only get the show I was at for sentimental reasons as all the shows on
the World Magnetic have essentially the same set list.
BassPlayer
dive and it sounded really thin and weak to me. I lost a girl due to
listening to too much Phish.
tomahawkcounty
Don't worry about it. PHiSH is a special and unique band.
I have been seeing PHiSH live since 1991, and still to this day - I go
through long periods of time (months even) where I want to hear PHiSH
whenever I am in control of music - in the car, or a home stereo.
Live, they are beyond compare. But I must say that the Grateful Dead
also shares this same type of position in my musical life. Before I
discovered PHiSH, I was a hardcore Deadhead because they ruled my live
music universe from about 1980 until the time I discovered PHiSH in
1991.
So I have long spells listening to both of these groups.
Just enjoy PHiSH and really dig into their live stuff
(www.phishshows,com) or the commercial releases you can buy - as long
as you feel like it. Never let yourself feel like you should do what
anyone else thinks. If you want to listen to PHiSH for months on end -
do so. It's mighty rewarding.
LP
abe
I've seen cases like this before, and based on your symptoms I would
say that you are screwed. Eventually, you may be weened off of a pure
phish musical diet, but you are in too deep to just quit cold turkey,
so I'd say enjoy it.
Some possible side effects may occur. You may feel:
-the sudden urge to discuss the greatness of phish with friends and
loved ones. Don't be alarmed if they respond quizzically. If this
symptom persists, it may result in violent opposition.
-the need to smile much more than normal while listening to phish.
Again, don't be alarmed if people around you respond quizzically.
-a pulling sensation, to attend shows when phish is playing in your
area*. Do not resist.
*-area being defined as within 2 states, so a Chicagoan may feel the
need to visit Cincinnati or Detroit during a fall tour, should the
need arise.
Now, there are other bands out there, and your phish intake may ebb
and flow depending on their schedule, but that's OK. Phish just gave
you 99 albums that you should hear, well, at least 80. Phish will
still be there for you when you get back.
Relax, you are among friends.
abe...debating New Years in Miami.