skelter Posted August 10, 2010 Report Share Posted August 10, 2010 I can't help but feeling after reading through 2010 setlists and listening to a handful of shows that Phish is officially past it's prime. There were a handful of new originals debuted in early summer, and only the generic Show of Life has made it into rotation ... otherwise, the setlists are becoming a little predictable, the jams are generally void of risks or experimentation, and while the shows are certainly an awful of fun, I don't feel quite the same level of excitement as I have in years past.Anyone else with me?PS - I am NOT a PT-style Phish sceptic, I love the band more than any other by a long shot ... just putting some thoughts out there! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaimoe Posted August 10, 2010 Report Share Posted August 10, 2010 Past their prime in 2010? They peaked over 10 years ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basher Posted August 10, 2010 Report Share Posted August 10, 2010 They have certainly been disappointing in my book. Nostalgia act may be a bit of a stretch, but they are close, that's for sure. And while I agree that they peaked years ago, that doesn't mean that we should come to expect what I consider to be boring shows. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phorbesie Posted August 10, 2010 Report Share Posted August 10, 2010 i disagree....the alpharetta shows and charlotte were some of the best phish i have ever seen. it's only the start of the tour, and phish is never great at the start of a tour. i generally avoid the beginning of the tour... people complain about new songs. people complain about old songs. same as it ever was. i don't feel quite the "same" about it all as i used to, but i'm also 10 years older and so are they. looking forward to jones beach. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluffhead77 Posted August 10, 2010 Report Share Posted August 10, 2010 (edited) i disagree....it's only the start of the tour, and phish is never great at the start of a tour. i generally avoid the beginning of the tour... people complain about new songs. people complain about old songs. same as it ever was. i don't feel quite the "same" about it all as i used to, but i'm also 10 years older and so are they. Edited August 10, 2010 by Guest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaimoe Posted August 10, 2010 Report Share Posted August 10, 2010 Phish's peak and inevitable decline paralleled the peak and decline of the jam genre in general. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Velvet Posted August 10, 2010 Report Share Posted August 10, 2010 Compared to phorbesie I'm a rank amateur, but I'll add that in the current era of Phish when I buy a ticket I know I'm in for a show that lands somewhere between good and great. There have been periods in the past where I didn't feel this guarantee walking into a show. Certainly it woulda been hard to walk out of the Hallowe'en shows slagging the band for not being at the top of their game. I don't know much but they rehearsed Exile a hell of a lot more than they rehearsed past Hallowe'en sets. There are plenty of new songs, lots of nifty covers coming out, and four Tweezer Reprises in two consecutive shows; predictable?What are they gonna play tonight? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basher Posted August 10, 2010 Report Share Posted August 10, 2010 My biggest issues with Phish 3.0 have nothing to do with song selection or length of jams. "i disagree....the alpharetta shows and charlotte were some of the best phish i have ever seen."Correct me if I am wrong, but wasn't Hampton '09 your first show? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Velvet Posted August 10, 2010 Report Share Posted August 10, 2010 I look forward to the following correction (which will span three continents). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phorbesie Posted August 10, 2010 Report Share Posted August 10, 2010 nah, i have seen them since 1995. however, i did have a big gap in shows (saw no 2.0 shows) when i couldn't go to the states. maybe that makes me appreciate the shows (no matter what they play) more than the average kid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basher Posted August 10, 2010 Report Share Posted August 10, 2010 Ha, I don't know why I thought phorbesie hadn't seen Phish before 3.0. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basher Posted August 10, 2010 Report Share Posted August 10, 2010 Don't get me wrong, for the most part I am having a blast at the shows I attend, but unfortunately there have been too many underwhelming experiences for me in 3.0. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freak By Night Posted August 10, 2010 Report Share Posted August 10, 2010 I don't think we can call them a nostalgia act until they're doing the casino circuit, or performing at a Ribfest with free admission. I still think Phish is the best live act out there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northern Wish Posted August 10, 2010 Report Share Posted August 10, 2010 Lefsetz liked it. That worries me..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Velvet Posted August 10, 2010 Report Share Posted August 10, 2010 And bless then for touring in earnest at $50 a ticket. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Velvet Posted August 10, 2010 Report Share Posted August 10, 2010 Let me just throw this out there to all and nobody for consideration:Is it possible, almost a decade on, that you are taking less crazy drugs at Phish shows than previously and are thus finding the experiences less overwhelming?Maybe just a bit? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basher Posted August 10, 2010 Report Share Posted August 10, 2010 Is it possible, almost a decade on, that you are taking less crazy drugs at Phish shows than previously and are thus finding the experiences less overwhelming?That can obviously affect your feeling at the show, but listening to the shows after? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northern Wish Posted August 10, 2010 Report Share Posted August 10, 2010 Let me just throw this out there to all and nobody for consideration:Is it possible, almost a decade on, that you are taking less crazy drugs at Phish shows than previously and are thus finding the experiences less overwhelming?Maybe just a bit?I have found it to be quite the opposite; I'm paying alot more attention and the highs/ lows of a performance are only enhanced.... and putting together the setlist in the hotel after the show without notes is relatively easy :content: I don't think they are a nostalgia act- what does that even mean anymore? If they had released another album since Joy and were playing the shit of it- we'd all be posting for more 'old stuff'. Shit this scene has been the same since 1997- "too many Twists", "another Zero set closer?!", "Round Room sucks" etc. etc.Let it be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YearsAlongTheSea Posted August 10, 2010 Report Share Posted August 10, 2010 I think they're still playing extremely tight. Maybe not as experimental or adventurous as they're and our younger years, but solid all the way through. They're musicianship hasn't deteriorated at all. Most of all, they're playing 10X better than they were during they're brief, post-hiatus comeback. Like any band that's been around as long as they have, there are ups and downs. I think they're hit a nice plateau, and at least it's good and high... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheAlphaNerd Posted August 10, 2010 Report Share Posted August 10, 2010 WSP Sucks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peipunk Posted August 10, 2010 Report Share Posted August 10, 2010 (edited) Roll off some goddamn treble Trey!!!To Trey: Whats with the treble, rebel?(been wanting to use that one for a while) Edited August 10, 2010 by Guest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Esau. Posted August 10, 2010 Report Share Posted August 10, 2010 PHiSH = Nostalgia Act? I don't think they are. But then again, Phish was never a big deal to me although I do like them. I think perspective plays a part. No rose coloured glasses, mine broke at a Dylan show in the mid 90s. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edger Posted August 10, 2010 Report Share Posted August 10, 2010 Like any band that's been around as long as they have, there are ups and downs. I think they're hit a nice plateauAnd Esau, that's pure gold! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basher Posted August 10, 2010 Report Share Posted August 10, 2010 YATS, I dunno, in my opinion they are nowhere near tight. I also refuse to throw Phish 2.0 under the bus like most do, because I believe there were some amazing shows/sets/journeys during that era that have yet to be matched in 3.0.Just one dude's opinion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basher Posted August 10, 2010 Report Share Posted August 10, 2010 I will also add that they also have yet to approach the extreme lows of 2.0 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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