Why?

Non-Phish General
#1

You know that feeling that you get when you listen to a Phish jam or Dead song? It’s sort of indescribable but I’m sure you guys know what I mean. Well do you ever wonder why there aren’t more bands that give you this feeling? I mean what makes these sorts of bands special? I just can’t get into any other kind of music after hearing what I’ve heard and its saddening. Saddening to think that there really aren’t bands like this around anymore. I’ve been to ratdog shows and stuff like that but they just don’t give me the same feeling. Am I making sense? I just always sit around thinking why? Why can’t there be another Phish? What if thats where it all peaks out…

Sorry if this is crazy.

#2

Crazy is a relative term. In here, in the asylum, you’re not crazy at all. We all know what you’re talking about and agree with everything you feel and observe about that feeling.

Why not more than two days ago I nearly disintegrated from a 94 version of Maze while I was driving home from work. When I pulled up in front of my house, I was almost in tears from it, wondering what the fuck was wrong with me. Or right with me.

If you try to analyze this shit, you could really drive yourself nuts. Just surfice it to say that something in your x amount of years of life experience has provided you with the magic number of cognitive filters that allow you to experience Phish music the way you do.

At times I’m not really sure that the band actually experiences the music in this way, and that’s the realization that really blows me away. I’m just grateful that there are people here who understand it, and that’s probably the reason why I continue to haunt this place. From time to time I also find the need to come here, to people who understand, and say, holy shit, is this music fucking unbelievable or what?

And I believe that there is another “Phish” in some garage working on the music that will blow my mind again like this. The unfortunate thing is, as long as I only listen to Phish, I might miss this band when they appear, so I force myself to keep my ears and mind open, something that Phish music helped me to learn how to do in the first place.

#3

god damn, do i know that feeling, too.

i’ve been moved to tears before. in fact, the very same thing happened to me while driving that happened to fony, only it was a Hood if i recall correctly.

#4

umphrey’s has the ability to give me the shivers the way phish did. at times, anyway.

#5

Brett abd i had a long discussion on this a couple weeks ago. All we could come up with is that we were lucky!

#6

meh…I never really got that feeling.

I was in it for the drugzz.

#7

^I’ll make the cheap shot before bigb does…

BECAUSE YOU ONLY SAW POST-HIATUS SHOWS! HAHA

#8

i’ll quote my quote

“What do you think you are, for Chrissake, crazy or somethin’? Well you’re not! You’re not! You’re no crazier than the average asshole out walkin’ around on the streets and that’s it.” Randle Patrick McMurphy

#9

^such a great quote!!!

I gotta say moe. gives me that special something.

#10

really?

i almost hate umphrey’s.

#11

Youz guys need to get into Yes.

Lacking in the improv dept., but very unique, challenging & moving music.

Still, it’s not the same as Phish. I just like Yes about as much, and sometimes, even more than Phish.

#12

I’ve seen all good people

then again i’ve seen a few bad one’s too

#13

and that is “o-kay”.

#14

yeah, i didn’t mean any offense by my comment…just wanted to convey my shock, which i probably could have done in other ways.

#15

#16

^haha.

This music is indescribably nifty. On the other hand there are many things in this wide expanse of space of equally or infinitely more indescribable niftyness.

Sometimes.

You can get shown the light.

In the most strangest, mundane unassuming of places.

If you look at it right.

How do you look at it right?

I don’t know but we have to keep trying.

Music is but one aspect. One side of infinite sides. To get stuck on one side is to miss all the rest. Is to miss whats right behind you that you are of unaware. Look at more than one side, at one time.

“It is like a finger pointing to the moon. DON’T concentrate on the finger or you will miss all of that heavenly glory.”

10 pepsi pts to who can name the movie and actor of the quote. ;D

#17

In no way am I saying that there isn’t good music still coming out. It’s just that I haven’t heard anything that gives me the same feeling that listening to a Terrapin Station does. You brought up Umphreys. I like them a lot, but never once while listening to them have I stopped and actually felt MOVED. The kind of moved feeling you get when you listen to powerful speeches or read an insightful book. Something thats so powerful it changes the way you think about things. For me only Phish and the dead have done this.

#18

True and for me it was Dead more than Phish but then again it seemed to have depended on the moment. I look at them as a phenomenon that really isn’t worth repeating and replicating. I think BigB said it right when he said we were lucky to experience whatever we did. If such thing could be replicated by anyone then it would be very special now would it?

So whatever change or inspiration the music brought you use it!

#19

Well the problem is, I never truly got to experience them. I only got into Phish in 2004 (do’h). I never got to go to any shows. So I have been living off torrents. But I get what you are saying with using the inspiration it brings you. Wise words.

#20

I’m still banking on Phish playing together more. We can’t completley dismiss that. I hope so atleast. Because like some of us, I never saw them either. I have to feel that feeling.

BUT, If they don’t, it still doesn’t change the fact that Phish changed my life and many others in a huge way. I mean fuck. I can’t stop listening to them. It’s been every day since I was a sophomore in high school. Same with the Dead, but with Phish more. I’ve had tears come to my eyes on several occasions while listening, not really just because I “missed out”, but because of the sheer beauty and genius of their wonderful music.

But I believe there will be something greater musically. I mean, it’s almost impossible to think of any band ever topping Phish, but I think that maybe it can and will happen at some point. I really can’t believe I’m saying that either. But it has to evolve! It has to grow! Or we’re all fucked.

It sucks now with bands like Phish, Dead, and String Cheese off the radar, but there are some great bands to go see while waiting for the next incredibly moving thing. Jazz music gets you high as fuck. Same with Bluegrass. Umphrey’s is fucking wonderful. Sound Tribe blows my mind. The Allmans are still melting faces right off.

None of these even come close to Phish or the Dead, or even the Incident for me (the ones that are no more), but it’s not ALL gone, and never will be. I think my generation has some shit brewing. We’ll see in the next 5 years, I hope.

I don’t know if I’m making any relevant sense at all. I’m heavily sonted.