I'm not very discerning

Phish Live Shows
#1

when it comes to Phish jams. Almost every jam does something for me at some point where I think “yeah, I like this!” It sounds pathetic, but anytime Phish jams I tend to get something from it that I enjoy.

Also, I’ve heard so many damn shows and smoked so much pot that I can’t sit back and remember specific parts of most jams. I just remember whether I liked it or not.

And usually I don’t listen to specific jams more than once for some reason. Usually I’ll listen to it once and put it away for awhile.

#2

me too for the most part. though the 11-17-97 ghost has gotten quite a few spins…

#3

I’ll listen to one show over and over again and then not play it for months. This just happened to me with the Bomb Factory Tweezer. It is the only show I played in my car from May 7th - 11th. I do this quite often, moreso out of laziness then anything, but usually only with Phish.

#4

Yea I try to remember specific jams but I never can remember, and tend to just recall if i liked it or not. I’ll also just lsitent to a show and shelf it for a while

#5

I saw 6 shows and never got my “Discern!”

stomps away pissed off at world

#6

You did not miss much!

#7

aka Spices
aka Pebbles & Marbles.
a

#8

I hate all of those songs.

“Pebbles and Marbles” might be the most overrated song in Phishtory.

#9

Yeah on the west coast run in summer 03 we got alot of repeats that weren’t really repeats!

#10

Pebbles and Marbles has/had potential.

#11

I love that song. Eff you in the Eh.

#12

I really like Spices most out of the three of them.

I guess I’m not very discerning when it comes to the jams either, but it’s more by choice … I just don’t hang my enjoyment on the jams, you know? I like a show that a) sounds clear b) is well executed c) has great songs and d) good jams … which kinda falls under b) is well executed. If they’re playing tight and having fun, they usually play jams that I enjoy.

But I’ve never been one to say, “You gotta hear the Tube from (names some show from 99) - it’s sick” or whatever. I love the Providence Bowie. Some of the jams from Great Went (2001, Bathtub Gin) were very memorable and spectacular. But ultimately I’m more interested in the fluidity of their performance and the written material - what songs they played. (I realize Trey wants me to be more interested in how the songs are played. Sorry if I broke up Phish. Bad fan.)

I like the jams, we all do. But I always wanted to be blown away by a brand new tune again like when I first heard all those early songs. I was less interested in what happened accidentally via improv on stage than most fans. I wanted to see what they could come up with intentionally.

The more I listen to post hiatus, the more I appreciate how much of the focus went to improv, and the more I’m able to enjoy it.

Part of the reason I’m getting more comfortable with it is that I’m no longer waiting for a brand new song that’s gonna blow me away.

In fact, I kinda gave up on that happening by the time Story of the Ghost came out. But now that it’s all laid out and done, I can’t possibly anticipate or expect to hear some new composition, since I’ve heard them all.

I dunno … maybe I’m just too much a fan of pop songs to really pay close attention to the jams. Lots of times I enjoy them without consciously comparing or analyzing them too much.

Tell you whut, so that I don’t sound like a jam ignoramus, here’s some jams I adore:

Curtain With 8/10/1987 has a beautiful peak.
Antelope 12/31/92 - doesn’t get any better IMO.
Brother 3/13/92 - same thing, never better
Harry Hood - ALO - just picture-perfect.
Reba - studio version. gorgeous.
Tweezer - studio … really unique, tight jam.
Great Went day two second set (Down with Disease -> Bathtub Gin -> Uncle Pen, Also Sprach Zarathustra**-> Harry Hood - maybe it’s nostalgia though!)

Man, now that I’ve analyzed it like that, it’s apparent to me that I don’t pay enough attention to the jams. I guess I mainly zone out!