In a career spanning nearly 30 years, Phish has done what most musicians could only begin to dream about: they’ve inspired countless bands, ranging from Incubus and moe to Gov’t Mule and Disco Biscuits; spawned tribute acts, most notably The Big Black Furry Creatures From Mars; performed all around the globe, from Tokyo to Telluride; established one of the most loyal fan bases in all of music, phriends; but most importantly, they’ve influenced the culture of our society. And that’s what I’ve come to appreciate most about a Phish show, the fact that its more than just music being played (I can’t stress that enough) it’s a cultural experience; the gathering of both young and old, left and right, black, brown, yellow, and white; and that’s what I was a part of on Thursday night.
On the other hand, I’m fully aware of the social stigma attached to Phish and their followers by some outsiders, but if you simply look past the labels (hippies, drug dealers, potheads, etc.) you’ll see these people for what they truly are, which is nothing more than thousands of fathers, mothers, brothers, and sisters enjoying the beauty of music.
Now, I don’t know why I find it necessary to defend Phish (or any other band for that matter), maybe it’s because of the protesters and religious zealots (which I might add are fully entitled to their opinions) I’ve encountered at their shows and other festivals, or maybe it’s because I’m a staunch advocate for any form of creativity (whatever form it might take), but whatever the case may be, Thursday night was both an assemblage of sensory harmony, and the reaffirmation of a peaceful community.
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