The Divided Stall

Phish General
#26

Wow, I always wondered what everybody else thought of that stall. Just catching this thread now.

I guess I assumed it’s supposed to be antic-y, or at least dramatic, or appear improvised … but not actually improvised cuz they always do it. So I liked it the first time I heard 'em do it … but since then it’s like the end of “Glide” - the novelty of the dramatic pause has worn off for me, I’d rather they just hit it head-on again.

I get a feeling like I’m hearing a joke I already heard … that “it was funny the first time” feeling. However … I enjoy what the doojer’s saying about it being not an antic, but a new part of the song. [At least in DS, not so much in Glide.] I would still like to see them play it straight some time; it’d be kind of a nod to the natural beauty of that section, you know? It’s also beautiful without that pause.

Another live pause I’d like to see go is the one right before the Split Open & Melt a capella section … wouldn’t it be great if it went:

final bar of the composed part, where the horns sound all jazz-hands and Mike goes down that skewed pentatonic and back up again >
NO pause, no woodblock count-in either, just >
immediately into a-capella part, using that final bar of the composed section as the count-in, a la Lawn Boy studio version
?
Who’s with me??

I love how all of this stuff matters. :unamused: :exclamation: Sometimes I catch myself feeling like “I wish Phish would (this) or (that)_” and then I realize how compared to other bands I enjoy, these guys are totally doing it right and I should shut up.

#27

Inside this silent scene, we’re all free, we’re all free. Second time around…

#28

Silence can be music, I had a music class last year and we listened to a song, I forget what it was called but it was over 2 mins and 30 seconds of silence.

My first Phish show (06/07/09 Camden) featured a pause after My Sweet One and before 46 days. I was so pumped during it. I remember Phish just standing at their mics doing nothing.

And when I heard my first Divided Sky (11/25/09 Philly) I was beyond pumped. I agree its Trey’s moment but I just feel like its a point where you don’t know what is coming next. I honestly support it, but I agree if it didn’t happen it would be pretty awesome.

#29

^ I think you’re probably referring to this piece:

4′33″ (pronounced Four minutes, thirty-three seconds or, as the composer himself referred to it, Four, thirty-three) is a three-movement composition[2][3] by American avant-garde composer John Cage (1912–1992). It was composed in 1952 for any instrument (or combination of instruments), and the score instructs the performer not to play the instrument during the entire duration of the piece throughout the three movements (the first being thirty seconds, the second being two minutes and twenty-three seconds, and the third being one minute and forty seconds). Although commonly perceived as “four minutes thirty-three seconds of silence”, the piece actually consists of the sounds of the environment that the listeners hear while it is performed. Over the years, 4′33″ became Cage’s most famous and most controversial composition.[2]
Conceived around 1947–1948, while the composer was working on Sonatas and Interludes,[2] 4′33″ became for Cage the epitome of his idea that any sounds constitute, or may constitute, music.[7] It was also a reflection of the influence of Zen Buddhism, which Cage studied since the late forties. In a 1982 interview, and on numerous other occasions, Cage stated that 4′33″ was, in his opinion, his most important work.[8]

I think the silence is definitely meant to be part of the song. I wish people on the tapes would shut up for once and actually let the silence be silent.

#30

I’ve been listeing to a lot of Phish lately so I have heard quite a few Sky’s lately. Something that struck me just now is that it seems really interesting to me where the stall is placed. It seems to make more sense to me to have the stall be after Trey’s “baaaaaah”, then fish starts the song back up with his “ting ting”. I guess having it the way it is helps to build the anticipation a little more. Just an interesting idea I had. :nerd:

#31

Yes and yes.

#32

I think they should keep doing the stall if everyone at the show doesn’t know it’s going to happen (never).

#33

I have always thought “the stall” is a great moment in the live setting, but naturally, it gets old when listening to live shows. I can understand how people have gotten tired of the 1+ minute stalls over the years, but for some reason I still enjoy it and each one has a different feeling for me.

My first show ever had a Divided Sky closer and the stall was almost tear jerking for me. My friends and I were literally floored by the energy and by the fact that Trey could stand completely still, eyes closed, with the lights on him while everyone screamed at the top of their lungs! Also, the version from Philadelphia on the 20th anniversary run saw one of the biggest glowstick wars erupt during the stall which was pretty cool! The version from Great Woods 04 was quite literally EAR PIERCING! There are many more, but I won’t blabber. My point is that for me, they all hold a special place and I support “The Stall!” :thumbup:

#34

I remember reading that Trey said he waits for at least 3 different roars of the audience to peak and fade during Divided Sky, then continues. He said no matter what you can count on at least 3 separate times of peaking and fading to occur. Im paraphrasing of course, but that is the summation of it. Its all about the anticipation and energy; two factors that Phish knows how to manipulate for the creation of a unique live musical experience for everybody involved. Its reasons like that that make me come to understand why seeing or listening to Phish live is one of a kind.

#35

Interesting! Gives me something to do during the stall.

Notice that: Counting sheep nearly rhymes with :arrow_right: Counting peaks.

Um. Yeah, so … okay.

#36

Has anyone ever felt that the stall was egotistical? I used to think it was just Trey slurping up adulation from the crowd. I don’t really think that anymore, but it used to bug me. If it really WAS silent during that part, I would love it. :shh:

#37

Lets start the “Shut the FUCK up during the Divided Sky Stall” movement this summer… I agree, I have no issue with it and actually think it fits fine…

But complete silence for what 45 seconds, would be ROCKING!!!

#38

^
I totally agree. Silence for at least some part of it would be amazing.

#39

silence would be awesome, but i doubt it could happen

#40

^^ Yeah it could never happen. I mean 20,000 people give or take in complete silence at a rock show?? I don’t think so, especially since 3/4 of them are intoxicated in one way or another.

Reminds me of the shows from the early nineties when they would sing acapella without microphones and everyone would stay quiet for about 10 seconds then a small cheer would erupt from one side of the venue, then someone would scream on the other, then another and another, all the while frustrated people would be shushing! HAHA!!

I even remember this broad shushing in Cincinatti this year during Squirming Coil, I was like " ARE YOU F*CKING SERIOUS!" hahaha!!

#41

It’s great live doesn’t translate in recordings. Alpine trey had a huge friggin smile so it made it just wonderful.

#42

It’s all about “building suspense”! “When’s the song going to start again? Do YOU know when it’ll start again? I don’t know when it’ll start again!? When they gonna start it again!? This is crazy!” Every good band keeps their fans in suspense for a little while.

Besides, they’re still jamming…it’s just a “silent jam”

Plus I my first Divided Sky was in Toronto in 1999…I think it’s the longest “stall” I’ve ever heard…seems like three or four full minutes at least but that’s probably me exaggerating…the crowd just went nuts the whole time.

#43

There is no such thing as an empty space or an empty time. There is always something to see, something to hear. In fact, try as we may to make a silence, we cannot.

  • John Cage

I think the pause in divided sky is a great time to experience space or the lack thereof. It’s a pretty special moment, and I do think that people not being aware of the subtle power of that moment, and not allowing themselves to experience it because they are talking ow whatever, is a little depressing. Everybody has their own experience, though.

#44

Walking in the woods can be very spiritual & beautiful.

But I would hate to arrive at my seat for a Phish show to find the concert experience replaced by a quiet forest.

#45

^I heard that’s what they’re gonna do next Halloween.

Wait… should this be in the rumours board?