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=> GENERAL DISCUSSION => Topic started by: ggw on May 25, 2004, 04:11:00 pm
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Phish Breaks Up With New Album Approaching
12 minutes ago
By NEKESA MUMBI MOODY, AP Music Writer
NEW YORK - Phish, the Vermont-based jam band whose legions of dedicated fans made them one of the nation's top touring acts, announced Tuesday that they were breaking up.
The surprise announcement came as the band prepared to release a new album, "Undermind," on June 15 and embark on a summer tour, which will kick off June 17 at Coney Island in Brooklyn, a borough of New York City.
Band leader Trey Anastasio (news) made announcement on their Web site.
"Last Friday night, I got together with Mike, Page and Fish to talk openly about the strong feelings I've been having that Phish has run its course and that we should end it now while it's still on a high note," he wrote.
The quartet will end their tour in Vermont.
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040525/ap_en_mu/phish_breakup_2 (http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040525/ap_en_mu/phish_breakup_2)
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Wow - that's pretty huge.
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The world is coming to an end. :roll:
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Finally. Good riddance.
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Yeah, the impact to my life is...nil.
But, here's a longer story in Rolling Stone online. (http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story?id=6068398&pageid=rs.News&pageregion=double1)
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Will they still have a Ben and Jerry's ice cream flavor?
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I thought they broke up a long time ago and Trey was now sleeping with Dave Matthews. It was all over the tabloids.
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I know someone who will probably commit suicide over this news. He followed them around the world.
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Originally posted by redsock:
Finally. Good riddance.
My exact words!!! Only like one song by them..and even that song keeps me thinking all night about cluster flies!!1 I mean what the hell!!
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Originally posted by Sugartastic Tee Silk:
I know someone who will probably commit suicide over this news. He followed them around the world.
yeah, I feel for the fans. I don't get it, but I feel for them. It's probably the jam equivalent of GBV breaking up...but in both cases, there will still be band-related material (ie, from Pollard and Trey) coming out....but no more live shows.
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Somehow, I don't think equating the breakup of one of the most popular bands in the country with the breakup of a band that maybe 5 people on this board are fanatical about, but whatever...
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Originally posted by Rhett Miller:
Somehow, I don't think equating the breakup of one of the most popular bands in the country with the breakup of a band that maybe 5 people on this board are fanatical about, but whatever...
In terms of the way the fans feel about the band's demise...GBV has a much smaller audience, but they are freakin' fanatical. It's the jam/indie equation, which is an equation at a ratio of about 1000 to 1.
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Every band has at least a few fanaticists. A number of people would be crushed if Wilco or Old 97's broke up. Hell, even a few people would be really upset if Last Train Home broke up.
I'm not sure why people would be upset if GBV broke up, anyway. I mean the band is just the drunk middle aged guy and whoever he chooses to tour with, right? Once drunk middle aged guy breaks up the band, wouldn't he just tour with side musicians as a solo project?
Originally posted by Bagalicious Tangster:
Originally posted by Rhett Miller:
Somehow, I don't think equating the breakup of one of the most popular bands in the country with the breakup of a band that maybe 5 people on this board are fanatical about, but whatever...
In terms of the way the fans feel about the band's demise...GBV has a much smaller audience, but they are freakin' fanatical. It's the jam/indie equation, which is an equation at a ratio of about 1000 to 1. [/b]
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you're such a prick. Sorry I'm not being mean to the disappointed phish fans. Fanatacist is not a word; they're fanatics, or "fans."
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Sorry, I didn't go to Fat Cow University like you, so my vocab is sometimes lacking. Sounds like a good word, though.
Originally posted by Bagalicious Tangster:
you're such a prick. Sorry I'm not being mean to the disappointed phish fans. Fanatacist is not a word; they're fanatics, or "fans."
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nice reply.........Rhett you are an insecure, immature , sad excuse of a human being.....
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Phish fans, don't worry. I'm sure they have about 16 billion boots that will be out in circulation to keep you all going on forever.
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Who asked you?
You're right though. I should have let her childishly call me a name, and then turn the other cheek. I'm sure that's what you would have done, right?
Originally posted by MAXX44:
nice reply.........Rhett you are an insecure, immature , sad excuse of a human being.....
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Originally posted by Rhett Miller:
You're right though. I should have let her childishly call me a name, and then turn the other cheek. I'm sure that's what you would have done, right?
Yes you should have. There's a psychology school of thought that suggests what you say about another will actually begin to influence how others see you. It's why negative political ads are rarely effective & can actually be quite damaging.
There you go - a selfish reason to be nice. :D
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Thanks for the advice.
The high minded thing to do would have been to turn the other cheek.
The equal justice thing to do would have been to call her a "cunt" in return for her calling me a "prick".
Instead, I chose to just toss off a silly comment. I will watch myself and try not to be silly anymore, since silliness apparently makes one a "sad excuse for a human being".
Originally posted by grotty:
Originally posted by Rhett Miller:
You're right though. I should have let her childishly call me a name, and then turn the other cheek. I'm sure that's what you would have done, right?
Yes you should have. There's a psychology school of thought that suggests what you say about another will actually begin to influence how others see you. It's why negative political ads are rarely effective & can actually be quite damaging.
There you go - a selfish reason to be nice. :D [/b]
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Originally posted by Rhett Miller:
The high minded thing to do would have been to turn the other cheek.
or at the very least turn her a hairy butt cheek
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I'm sure that the other moderaters will agree, that refereeing name calling spats is not our number one priority.
But, I would like to point out that the amount of trolling, by a handful of posters, on this board has risen to a rather unbearable level. It has IMHO resulted in the board becoming less lively. Obviously, there are some that can ignore it better than others. But it's clear that some have just chosen to stay away. Which is a shame because in the past this has been a nice sandbox to play in.
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Not sure how "trolling" is exemplified in this thread, but I wasn't even sure I knew what "trolling" was, exactly, in the net discussion board context, so I looked it up...I think I need a more modern dictionary, but my favorite example was:
"Then doth she troll to the bowl."
There are a lot of funny examples on dicitonary.com
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=trolling (http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=trolling)
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Yes, it is true. I am the proud owner of two hairy buttcheeks. Hairy and proud, damnit!
:D Originally posted by Ball Girl:
Originally posted by Rhett Miller:
The high minded thing to do would have been to turn the other cheek.
or at the very least turn her a hairy butt cheek [/b]
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Why is it that Rhett is always in the middle of these little conflicts around here?
Does he bahave badly, or is it everyone else behaving badly?
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Originally posted by Bagalicious Tangster:
It's the jam/indie equation, which is an equation at a ratio of about 1000 to 1.
If I can return to topic for a moment, I don't think those numbers are right at all bags. Jam fans aren't terribly numerous save on the east coast. The reason they seem so obnoxiously large in numbers is that when a show comes around, they all go to it. Barring Phish, I'm sure your average GBV CD sells better than any Jam Cd. Course, Jam bands are all about the live show, not the CD. But still, many many more closet indie fans who don't go to shows than jam fans.
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I can proudly say I have lived my 43 (very nearly 44) years of life without having heard ONE Phish song/tune/jam whatever it is they call it. Even though there's a Phish cd right in my kitchen!
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What planet are you on?
I'll bet none of GBV's albums have sold more than 100,000 copies. I'll also bet a new Phish album sells at least five times that much. So in a sense, you are right about the ratio being off. But Bags was an English major (I think?) so her clumsy math skills should be forgiven.
Apparently closet indie fans don't buy albums, either, as Phish kicked Sonic Youth's ass...
Jam band journeymen Phish and DJ Quik also scored top 20 debuts, as Phish's "Farmhouse" sold more than 88,000 copies to debut at number 12, while DJ Quik's "Balance & Options" moved more than 68,000 copies to land at 18.
The week's other notable debuts include The Temptations' "Earresistable" at 54, MXPX's "Ever Passing Moment" at 56, Nine Days' "The Madding Crowd" at 87, Carly Simon's "Bedroom Tapes" at 90, the A*Teens' "The ABBA Generation" at 100, Five's "Invincible" at 108, BBMak's "Sooner Or Later" at 118, Dido's "No Angel" at 144, Fenix TX's self-titled album at 150, Veruca Salt's "Resolver" at 171, and Sonic Youth's "NYC Ghosts & Flowers" at 172.
Originally posted by redsock:
Originally posted by Bagalicious Tangster:
It's the jam/indie equation, which is an equation at a ratio of about 1000 to 1.
If I can return to topic for a moment, I don't think those numbers are right at all bags. Jam fans aren't terribly numerous save on the east coast. The reason they seem so obnoxiously large in numbers is that when a show comes around, they all go to it. Barring Phish, I'm sure your average GBV CD sells better than any Jam Cd. Course, Jam bands are all about the live show, not the CD. But still, many many more closet indie fans who don't go to shows than jam fans. [/b]
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I actually know a few people who are as proud as can be that they've never heard a Phish song, yet they are absolutely sure that Phish sucks. I don't really understand that. I can perfectly understand why people would hate the music. But I don't understand the pride that comes along with never even listening to it before forming an opinion.
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Originally posted by Bollocks:
I can proudly say I have lived my 43 (very nearly 44) years of life without having heard ONE Phish song/tune/jam whatever it is they call it. Even though there's a Phish cd right in my kitchen!
other than the endless jams, which are better appreciated high and while outdoors, their songs can be clever and tuneful...I quite liked them in my 20s
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Originally posted by redsock:
Jam fans aren't terribly numerous save on the east coast.
That's an odd claim.
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I've never heard anything by these jam bands either. I did go to a few dead parking lots in the early 90's though. Wierd scene. A girl I knew helped pay for college by selling jewelry she'd made at dead shows. I helped her sell necklaces and stuff and I got to keep some of what I made for her. Everytime I'd make a dollar or two I'd buy a beer or a balloon or whatever. It was fun! Her stuff was really nice and would sell pretty well. Not a bad way to spend two or three days out of my life.
Never did get inside for the music though. The dead's music was not my thing. In fact, other than the whole traveling circus aspect I never could figure out the appeal at all. Overall though the scene seemed ok except for the whole drunk jock set of folks that always seemed to gravitate towards these things.
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I'll bet the Dead's music is as different from Phish's as Guided by Voices' is from Modest Mouse's.
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Originally posted by Rhett Miller:
I'll bet the Dead's music is as different from Phish's as Guided by Voices' is from Modest Mouse's.
The Dead's music seems much more varied to me...they have some that sounds really country-ish and some that's quite jazzy...I think the Dead's basic tunes before they go into the jams are a little more traditionally structured than Phish's songs
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Originally posted by Skeeter:
I actually know a few people who are as proud as can be that they've never heard a Phish song, yet they are absolutely sure that Phish sucks. I don't really understand that. I can perfectly understand why people would hate the music. But I don't understand the pride that comes along with never even listening to it before forming an opinion.
I never claimed to have formed an opinion regarding their music did I?
Just looking at Phish Phans (good huh?) is enough to turn me off though.
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Originally posted by Bollocks:
I never claimed to have formed an opinion regarding their music did I?
Nope - point taken.
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Originally posted by Bollocks:
I can proudly say I have lived my 43 (very nearly 44) years of life without having heard ONE Phish song/tune/jam whatever it is they call it. Even though there's a Phish cd right in my kitchen!
Originally posted by Skeeter:
I actually know a few people who are as proud as can be that they've never heard a Phish song, yet they are absolutely sure that Phish sucks. I don't really understand that. I can perfectly understand why people would hate the music. But I don't understand the pride that comes along with never even listening to it before forming an opinion.
I'm 43/44. I once heard a fish song on "progressive free-form" WRNR. Fish suck. Suckerfish suck.
FISH HEADS (http://www.aquariumpros.com/sounds/Fishhead.mp3): Now I'd buy that for a dollar!
Originally posted by kosmo vinyl:
I'm sure that the other moderaters will agree, that refereeing name calling spats is not our number one priority.
But, I would like to point out that the amount of trolling, by a handful of posters, on this board has risen to a rather unbearable level. It has IMHO resulted in the board becoming less lively. Obviously, there are some that can ignore it better than others. But it's clear that some have just chosen to stay away. Which is a shame because in the past this has been a nice sandbox to play in.
Who took a dump in the sandbox? I swear it wasn't me this time...
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Originally posted by ggwâ?¢:
Originally posted by redsock:
Jam fans aren't terribly numerous save on the east coast.
That's an odd claim. [/b]
The Dead aside, most Jam bands stick to heavy touring on the east cost for a reason. Look at Phish. They play a couple of midwest and west shows a year, but always play NJ, phili, and Boston. Go to jambase.com and check out all the decent jam festivals. mostly on the east coast.
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Originally posted by Rhett Miller:
What planet are you on?
I'll bet none of GBV's albums have sold more than 100,000 copies. I'll also bet a new Phish album sells at least five times that much. So in a sense, you are right about the ratio being off.
Again, I said except for phish. And I'm sure some of the recent GBV CDs have sold more than 100,000 copies.
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Originally posted by redsock:
most Jam bands stick to heavy touring on the east cost for a reason.
Wouldn't that reason be population density?
<img src="http://static.userland.com/images/aef/population.jpg" alt=" - " />
Plenty of California shows and festivals on jambase.com
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Well the initial comparison was between Phish and Guided By Voices.
If you're going to change who we're comparing, I'll choose a less popular indie band.
Still, the NY Times puts the GBV sales figures at 50,000 per album. So I wouldn't be so sure of your claim, if I were you.
Hell, even the Old 97's sell more albums than GBV.
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/11/17/arts/music/17VOIC.html?ex=1384405200&en=3614eb012cd74f56&ei=5007&partner=USERLAND (http://www.nytimes.com/2003/11/17/arts/music/17VOIC.html?ex=1384405200&en=3614eb012cd74f56&ei=5007&partner=USERLAND)
Mr. Pollard knows that every album, every single and all the side-project discs he issues will probably be bought by at least a corps of diehard fans, which he numbers at about 3,000. Several Guided by Voices albums have each sold about 50,000 copies. While those aren't platinum figures, they're enough to allow Mr. Pollard to continue answering his apparently chatty muse.
Originally posted by redsock:
Originally posted by Rhett Miller:
What planet are you on?
I'll bet none of GBV's albums have sold more than 100,000 copies. I'll also bet a new Phish album sells at least five times that much. So in a sense, you are right about the ratio being off.
Again, I said except for phish. And I'm sure some of the recent GBV CDs have sold more than 100,000 copies. [/b]
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Originally posted by kosmo vinyl:
But, I would like to point out that the amount of trolling, by a handful of posters, on this board has risen to a rather unbearable level. It has IMHO resulted in the board becoming less lively. Obviously, there are some that can ignore it better than others. But it's clear that some have just chosen to stay away. Which is a shame because in the past this has been a nice sandbox to play in.
I agree with you completely, Kosmo, I've certainly noticed. But I don't think the higher trolling factor has anything to do with namecalling, cuz there's been virtually none on here for months. In fact, there was a lot more activity say, last fall, when there was more consistent squabbling going on. I'm not sure what the falloff's attributable to...for a while I thought there wasn't as much music playing around town that the board folks follow (generally), but we actually had some killer weeks in April and May. ???
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Originally posted by Bagalicious Tangster:
Originally posted by kosmo vinyl:
But, I would like to point out that the amount of trolling, by a handful of posters, on this board has risen to a rather unbearable level. It has IMHO resulted in the board becoming less lively. Obviously, there are some that can ignore it better than others. But it's clear that some have just chosen to stay away. Which is a shame because in the past this has been a nice sandbox to play in.
I agree with you completely, Kosmo, I've certainly noticed. But I don't think the higher trolling factor has anything to do with namecalling, cuz there's been virtually none on here for months. In fact, there was a lot more activity say, last fall, when there was more consistent squabbling going on. I'm not sure what the falloff's attributable to...for a while I thought there wasn't as much music playing around town that the board folks follow (generally), but we actually had some killer weeks in April and May. ??? [/b]
I thought I was just getting bored with the board again, and was considering banning myself for a month or so like I have in the past.
Maybe the board has reached it's life expectancy though.
I can't say I've noticed much serious shit slinging recently. Light-hearted piss taking, but not real nasty stuff. Well, apart from Rhett of course, but he does it so often the rest of you should be immune to it at this point.
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phish has about as much in common with gbv as either band does with the old 97's and wilco.
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Originally posted by Rhett Miller:
The equal justice thing to do would have been to call her a "cunt" in return for her calling me a "prick".
Nope, I think prick and fat cow are of equal weight. C*** is a word that is held in reserve for especially egregious situations. For instance, you'd say prick or fat cow in front of your boss or your mother, but would you say c***? I accepted that we hit each other equally and moved on...hasn't happened in ages, which is the more amazing part of the story.
I'm more befuddled over the still active discussion of GBV vs. Phish. My comparative illustration was carried way beyond my intent...you never know what will spark the controversy, among the dozen of us who still post regularly... :)
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GBP
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Guided By Fish Voices
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Originally posted by Bagalicious Tangster:
Nope, I think prick and fat cow are of equal weight. C*** is a word that is held in reserve for especially egregious situations. For instance, you'd say prick or fat cow in front of your boss or your mother, but would you say c***? I accepted that we hit each other equally and moved on...hasn't happened in ages, which is the more amazing part of the story.
[/b]
It would have to be a pretty big prick to have equal weight to a fat cow! :D
I like "twat" as you all know. It's short, to the point and not gender specific.
*unt is a big no-no in my vocabulary, unless when referring to anyone associated with Arsenal Football Club. In which case, it's the only word to use.
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Personally, I'd rather be told that I went to "Fat Cow University" than be called a "prick" or a "cunt". I won't say which of the two latter terms phases me more, because if I actually admitted that either of them did, I'm sure certain boardies would take delight in using it any chance they get.
I would not use either "prick" or "cunt" around my boss. I don't think words of that nature are appropriate for the professional workplace, though my boss has been known to toss a few out there (but neither of those as far as I remember).
Then again, I typically don't use either of those words around my wife. Cock and pussy seem to be much sexier.
Or around my mom either.
I agree with Bags that both Phish and GBV have FERVENT fans. My point was that Phish has many MORE fans, as well as many MORE fervent fans. Which have fans with more FERVENCY? Well that's just silly and immeasureable.
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Note: The word I'm looking for could be fervor, not fervency. Not really sure. I'm not a language fanatacist.
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Originally posted by Bagalicious Tangster:
I agree with you completely, Kosmo, I've certainly noticed. But I don't think the higher trolling factor has anything to do with namecalling, cuz there's been virtually none on here for months. In fact, there was a lot more activity say, last fall, when there was more consistent squabbling going on. I'm not sure what the falloff's attributable to...for a while I thought there wasn't as much music playing around town that the board folks follow (generally), but we actually had some killer weeks in April and May. ???
It might just be that there's not much music news in the summer. Unless you like festival type shows (which have swallowed up the indie bands lately), there's not many tours out there.
How many new releases are there to look forward to in June, July and August? How many club tours are there after June 15th?
There's the UK/Europe festivals in August and Radio Station/Lalapalooza/Warped Tour/conglomeration tours in the States and that combination has left this summer in particular, quite dry. I think I can safely say that most of the usual posters don't like big tours.
I know Kosmo hates the sports talk, and I would love to talk about music too, but even Kosmo's attempt to talk about a cool new band (driveblind) went for naught because they have no MP3's or US releases.
So what do we do? We make feeble attempts to make the board interesting. I know there are baseball fans out there, so I chat up baseball. I'm sorry if you don't like it, but the alternative is to lurk on the board instead. I find that some folks here have personalities I enjoy outside of music, so I think running from the board is no answer. Try to find something else to chat about, otherwise, you're right, it will become a boring place.
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I can say with a straight face that I don't sling any personal shit at anybody on this board, except on a few occasions in the ancient past for which I have apologized.
Do I try to say things that will stir up controversy? Hell yeah. Isn't that part of a discussion board? But they're never directed at anybody specifically. In 10,000 posts, you're going to cross over the line once in awhile and I apologize for those occasional lapses in judgement.
Originally posted by Bollocks:
Originally posted by Bagalicious Tangster:
[qb] Originally posted by kosmo vinyl:
[qb]
I can't say I've noticed much serious shit slinging recently. Light-hearted piss taking, but not real nasty stuff. Well, apart from Rhett of course, but he does it so often the rest of you should be immune to it at this point. [/b]
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Originally posted by Rhett Miller:
Note: The word I'm looking for could be fervor, not fervency. Not really sure. I'm not a language fanatacist.
But you are qualified to be a Republicanist Presidentilizer!
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Originally posted by vansmack:
We make feeble attempts to make the board interesting. I know there are baseball fans out there, so I chat up baseball. I'm sorry if you don't like it, but the alternative is to lurk on the board instead. I find that some folks here have personalities I enjoy outside of music, so I think running from the board is no answer. Try to find something else to chat about, otherwise, you're right, it will become a boring place.
:D
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Originally posted by Rhett Miller:
Note: The word I'm looking for could be fervor, not fervency. Not really sure. I'm not a language fanatacist.
that was hysterical, Rhett...
[no sarcasm in that sentence at all, I thought it was hysterical...]
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Thanks. I owe it all you you for setting up the punch line. :D
Originally posted by Bagalicious Tangster:
Originally posted by Rhett Miller:
Note: The word I'm looking for could be fervor, not fervency. Not really sure. I'm not a language fanatacist.
that was hysterical, Rhett...
[no sarcasm in that sentence at all, I thought it was hysterical...] [/b]
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personally sports and poltical threads make my eyes glaze over and there's been a lot of those lately... plus poltical threads usually end up a sniping matches.
part of me wants to create additional forums i.e. non music, self promotion,etc but that would lessen the spirit of the board. so grinning and bearing will be my route.
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Originally posted by kosmo vinyl:
part of me wants to create additional forums i.e. non music, self promotion,etc but that would lessen the spirit of the board. so grinning and bearing will be my route.
You know, I think that's a great idea. Other boards do that, and instead of just the three forum options, we could have four. I almost never read the sports threads, but I just skip over them so I'm down with it. But, if there were another "Miscellaneous" forum for non-music topics, I'd post about a lot more things (which is probably something no one on here wants anyway... :D )
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May 27, 2004
CRITIC'S NOTEBOOK
True to Form, Phish Disbands On Its Own Maverick Terms
By JON PARELES
The New York Times (http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/27/arts/27PHIS.html)
This time Phish is really breaking up.
On Tuesday the group announced on its Web site, www.phish.com, (http://www.phish.com,) that it was disbanding after a final tour this summer. The decision was made four days earlier at a band meeting, it said.
"We all love and respect Phish and the Phish audience far too much to stand by and allow it to drag on beyond the point of vibrancy and health," the band's guitarist, singer and main songwriter, Trey Anastasio, wrote online. "We don't want to become caricatures of ourselves, or worse yet, a nostalgia act." Its final studio album, "Undermind" (Atlantic), is due on June 15. The tour begins on June 17 at KeySpan Park in Coney Island, Brooklyn, and concludes in Coventry, Vt., on Aug. 14 and 15.
If it all sounds a little familiar, that is because the four members of Phish went separate ways in 2000 for an open-ended hiatus and reunited two years later. "This is not like the hiatus, which was our last attempt to revitalize ourselves," Mr. Anastasio wrote. "We're done."
Splitting up in its 21st year of existence, when Phish could easily coast along the arena circuit for as long as it wanted, may be the last unorthodox move in a career full of them. Many of those moves came from the playbook of the Grateful Dead, which figured out how to be a band of arena troubadours, making a career on the road while selling enough albums to satisfy a record company.
The whole Phish template â?? making every performance different, allowing audiences to make and trade concert recordings, archiving and tabulating its collective works, letting every fan feel like an initiate rather than a consumer, never acting like rock stars â?? came from the Dead, as did a significant part of its musical approach.
Like the Dead, Phish stays light-fingered, steering free of any style that contains bombast. The band would rather have fans "bouncing around the room," as one concert staple put it, then feeling aggrieved; as with the Dead, Phish's lyricist, Tom Marshall, is not in the band. And like the Dead, Phish encourages its fans to prize all sorts of music, to fight the niche listening that radio stations and recording companies promote. When band members turned to solo projects, they embraced big-band arrangements (the Trey Anastasio Band), folky guitar (the bassist Mike Gordon's duets with Leo Kottke), Frank Zappa-like humor (the drummer Jon Fishman's Pork Tornado) and Latin music (the keyboardist Page McConnell's band Vida Blue).
In disbanding, Phish may also have been glancing at the Grateful Dead, whose final years on the road with a failing Jerry Garcia were far from their best. But just as likely, Phish was exercising the persnicketyness that always separated it from most of the jam bands on the circuit that Phish helped establish.
Countless jam bands live for the opportunity to vamp and sprawl, spinning long stretches of music out of the most basic structures. Phish can stretch out a song with the best of them, but it has been determined not to sprawl; it always had an ear for structure. Phish comes from the generation after the Dead. Where the Dead looked back to blues, folk and country roots, Phish is also steeped in latter-day styles like progressive rock. In its catalog, it was as likely to come up with suitelike songs as with verse-chorus-verse, and it was as fond of odd time signatures as it was of country-rock lilts.
Phish was always a paradox. A band that lived for improvisation, Phish always had plans: performing other band's albums end to end at its Halloween shows and concocting goofy stage spectacles for arenas. It kept trying different recording strategies, from meticulously overdubbed studio productions to its reunion album, "Round Room," made from rehearsal tapes. And it has played nearly every place imaginable, from the club Wetlands Preserve to gigantic, sold-out, multiset marathon concerts in the middle of nowhere. Phish has nothing left to prove. After August Phish's members are likely to turn up with any number of collaborators. That's what happens in the recombinant universe of jam bands. What disappears is two decades of accumulated reflexes: the subtleties of knowing just when another member is going to start shifting keys in a jam, or when to pause for another member's rhythmic fill.
Reflexes can become formulas, and Phish was always too perfectionistic to want to hear that happen. There are songs on the band's Web site from "Undermind," and they are as varied and breezy as ever. Whether or not Phish knew what was coming, the lyrics hint at valedictory: "Run away, run away, run away," Mr. Anastasio sings in "A Song I Heard the Ocean Sing," and in "The Connection," he sings, "I change my direction/One foot follows the other, one foot follows something new." For two decades, that was Phish's strategy all along.