I think Phish 3.0 is good and fun and all, and although Fish has shown improvement, I think the band’s true potential to take off rests on his spry, stout shoulders.
we’re waiting! … 
i really liked fish’s performance in albany ghost. i thought he was firing off some fills faster than i heard him do all year.
hmm…I think they’re true potential has more to do with them finding that chemistry as one(more segues), and finding they’re phishyness…and honestly I think a Europe tour might do it for them- or maybe the New Years shows…
i think theyre phishyness is returning. i dont think at this point in their career that a europe tour would do much for them, this isn’t '97, and theyre not blowing up like they were back then, looking for some sort of retreat.
i agree about the NYE shows, yet i dont thnik they will yield anything too crazy.
i think hank has it on this one, fishman hold the pace, and when he’s ripping off fast fills, and holding down interesting grooves, it allows trey to shred without it sounding forced, and allows mike to find some interesting grooves.
I’m not really trying to complain about Fish’s playing…it hasn’t been bad or anything. Just trying to start a conversation. I think Fishman IS the main component of the “phishyness” you guys are talking about. If he’s lose, taking risks, sharp with his chops, AND into the music…good things happen.
one of my favorite memories of this whole year is watching Fish from up close the first night of Red Rocks. He was INTO IT. Mouth moving the whole show…just groovin. It was great. I think he can step it up even more, though…
Hmmm, that’s a pretty interesting observation, Hank.
I know a few times I heard Fishman trying to get funky and the rest of the guys didn’t seem to be having it. Can’t recall the show or jam right now, but I’ll try and see if I can remember where it was from. Fishman seemed to have some nice chops going, but no one was following his lead.
Not really saying the other guys aren’t listening to him, not really sure what I’m saying… just making another observation, I guess.
still waiting…
Totally agree with this. I think that is why there was such an improvement from summer 1 to summer 2, because he loosened up a lot. But from summer 2 to fall tour I don’t think Fish changed much, where as Trey showed a bunch of improvement, despite his seeming tentativeness as far as jamming goes. A jam cant truly go places unless Fish is willing to take it there/let it go there, so now I think its Treys job to loosen up a bit more. I think with the improvements that they have all shown this year, 2010 is going to be a monster. I’m hoping the NYE shows show some progression/envelope pushing, but at the same time I’m also expecting just a nice solid recap of the year.
I would definitely say that Fish improved from Summer 2 to Fall. Not as much as Trey perhaps but he is progressing. I’ve been thinking this same thing lately, though, listening back to some 96/97 shows. Back then Fish just seemed so into it and would often just start yelling and encouraging the rest of them during jams and he would just work the whole building into a frenzy. And there are several 97 fall jams where Fish carrys it completely and decides where it goes. I just feel for the type II jams, and antics to make a full return Fish just needs to be feeling IT more often. You can tell listening back to alot of 09 jams that he is feeling IT, but it just doesn’t seem to be as consistent as it used to. All that said, Fish has definitely been playing well and improving. And they all seem to be having a good time. So far so good.
I don’t think he is any better or worse now from the summer…he is about the most consistant drummer on Earth…what you see is what you get. Thats why he is so perfect…his adaptibility is like no other! 
I’m not really saying he’s improving as a drummer necessarily … I just feel like hes showing improvement in how well hes meshing with the other members.
Fish is getting back to full steam I think, I practice drums to Phish and I can hear the difference between Summer 1-2 and Fall Tour…It does not all rest on Fish’s shoulders, I think Trey needs to continue to step his game up (which he is totally doing)…
I look at it this way, Phish did not practice after 2000 until the break-up and from 05’-08’ they were not even a band, so it will take sometime to get back on the train so to speak… 
fishman has tho put a few pounds on…like a lot of us…he’s just a lil outta shape
I agree with you Hank . . .
You know Jerry was famous for saying, “When Phil is on, the Grateful Dead are on.”
Well, I kinda think that holds true with Fishman and Phish. Trey and Fish are kinda a package deal like Jerry and Phil. You can hear it in the music when Trey is going south in the jam or when Trey is just about to pick it up and fucking soar; Fishman is there to masque what Trey is doing or highlight it. Fishman is the natural progression of any show.
During the Hartford show, after AC/DC Bag, Fish did the drumroll for Birds. It was almost unaudible in the loud pavillion but if you were paying attention, you could hear it. Of course, they discussed it and did Forbins>Mockingbird instead. BUT . . .they went back for it. And it was arguably the best jam of the entire show. Fish was ON that night, and it was very apparent.
And that’s important for Trey, Phish, and the shows as a whole . . .
I think Fish’s licks and vocals during Fluff @ 8 saved the whole night. He made it a little more Halloweenish and a litle less festie. It was the only remotely spooky part of the whole night. He’s got that “IT” factor. 
Agreed.
Poor Fish… I mean I love walleye too… 
I concur that Fishman is the KEY to jamming for Phish… if he doesn’t play quick fills and transitions then the boyz don’t fire on ALL cylinders… take the Albany Seven Below and Ghost jams as examples…
I know that this was a special jam but he has THAT potential each and every song let along each and every night
GOOD IDEA!
Fish has had some amazing 3.0 shows to be sure though. I thought he was basically the star of the show at Deer Creek this year. I think the band thought so do, based on some Trey banter in the first set.
I don’t know if anything is really holding Phish back at this point, but if there is one member, I guess it would have to be Fish.