Whoever told you that babies and bongs don’t mix has, apparently, never been to a Phish concert. But one could forgive him or her for forgetting. The jam-tastic foursome had taken a five-year break from touring, stemming in part from guitarist Trey Anastasio’s pill-popping ordeal that ended in a DUI arrest and Anastasio cleaning festival fairgrounds for community service. Maybe the innocent observer has been away from the scene, or maybe it’s just common sense kicking in: Who the hell brings a baby to a Phish concert?
It was a multigenerational version of debauchery at Alpine Valley this past weekend, with thousands of twentysomethings hopped up on “doses” and “Molly” ready to witness the return of Phish—the Vermont goofballs who quietly crept their way to the top of mainstream neo-hippie culture in the ’90s. At times it felt as if the crowd was divided (not a “Divided Sky” pun, I swear) into vets and newbies. There was the “I’ve seen Phish 129 times” guy standing next to me who refused to stop patting me on the back every time they played a recognizable tune, in sharp contrast with the “I’m a rich suburban teenager but I need to dress up like a hippie so my pothead boyfriend thinks I’m down to Earth” yuppie.
Could the foursome still noodle and explore the depths of their inner-jamminess with the best in the biz? The short answer is a resounding yes.
A now-sober Anastasio sent the 40,000+ crowd into a frenzy with the echo of his major chord opening to “Punch You In The Eye” Saturday night before frantically working the fret board on “Stash,” a flamenco number off 1992’s A Picture of Nectar, which glistened with a dash of jazzy intuition. Poking fun at his recent legal misfortune, Anastasio paused during “Makisupa Policeman,” at a point where he always inserts a comical lyric, and said, laughing, “Woke up this afternoon/Called my probation officer.” The crowd ate it up. After all, many in attendance could relate.
Pianist Page McConnell worked the keys with the elegance of a split-personality patient; switching off from Mozart-like progressions in slower numbers like Saturday’s “Train Song” (Billy Breathes) and Sunday’s “Bug” (Farmhouse), to knee-jerking renditions of “Wolfman’s Brother” and Stevie Wonder’s “Boogie on Reggae Woman” on Sunday evening. Bassist Mike Gordon, clad in purple denim on Saturday night, got funky with the ripple of his electric bass effects during “NICU.” Throughout the mayhem, muumuu-clad drummer Jon Fishman worked the snare almost invisibly, while anticipating Trey’s potential boredom with each jam.
Despite its chops, the band would ultimately play into the hands of the suburban yuppie and leave the diehards yearning for more or maybe just more drugs. Playing uninspired versions of songs such as “Farmhouse,” as well as the romantic-comedy soundtrack filler “Waste,” Phish would leave the $200 designer-hippie-outfit clad yuppies screaming in excitement and the $2 Wrangler jean-shorts and cutoff-wearing diehards groaning in disgust. Couple these softies with some new tunes, particularly “Time Turns Elastic,” (the first single from Phish’s yet-to-be-titled album set to be released this summer), a 20-minute -jam heavy on sappiness, and we ended up with varying emotions from the varied audience.
Fittingly it was Father’s Day for the second of the two Alpine shows. Prior to Sunday’s opener, a stagehand brought out a tin tub and placed it at the front and center of the stage. One by one, as the band opened with “Brother,” an old fan favorite, the band member’s children (including two infants needing to be carried onstage) sat in the tub and glared out into the haze of marijuana and chemically altered pupils. “Happy Father’s Day,” Anastasio yelled as the children exited the stage.
As it stands, Trey is off drugs (we think), and Phish continues to lap up the excess remnants of stoners’ pocketbooks. The band sounds as tight as ever when it chooses to play the appropriate songs. A Phish concert will allow you to see the full spectrum of the social stratosphere. And hell, if you catch the band when it plays Toyota Park on August 11, you might get to party with someone who isn’t even born yet.
Great review. Way to overgeneralize every phish fan as a yuppy or drug addict. Come on - you can’t expect to keep your job in this economy with this type of mindless critique.
Aren’t you witty?
You should stick with music critique and leave your social criticism to a comedian or a better writer.
While I wouldn’t call the show (or any specific songs) uninspired, Phish lyrical chops don’t match their performance ability. An easier way to say it would be, “Tom Marshall writes shitty lyrics.” Few critics ever comment on that even though it is easily their biggest musical flaw. Nevertheless, I’ve seen a lot of music over the years and I thought the performance on Saturday night was exceptional. That is an unbelievable F-ing Rock band.
Or maybe, call me crazy, there were 35k+ people generally excited to see Phish regardless of their clothes.
At least you acknowledged they can play and can sound as tight as ever. Too bad you peppered the rest with insults, generalizations and half truths.
(Or maybe you needed to get the numbers up on this blog quickly so figured you’d stir the pot?)
Anyway, I’d like to reiterate Mr. Perkins’ comments above; Saturday was a straight up ROCK show - Excellent stuff and that is the point, too bad you missed it!!!
Yeah youre not a very good writer. I hadn’t seen Phish in 12 years and Sunday night was a show worth seeing. Phish is definately a great band now. The crowd was very diverse and a lot more grown up and chill than ever before. Good times
what an odd article. I can’t tell if the author enjoyed himself or not. he seems to have liked the music, but hated everyone in attendance, including the band members.
Having been there I can sum it up for you….it ROCKED, and I wish that all the people I meet could be as wonderful as the people I meet at phish shows.
nuff said
I Heard LFO is reuniting for a fall tour. That should get your “Juices” flowing
wow. what a horrible review. pure trash. I’ve been seeing phish since the early 90’s and thought these shows were great. Also, to counter your blatant generalizations, I happen to run a very successful business and flew in first class from the west coast to see these shows. I’m so happy that I don’t view the world through your jaded eyes.
This review was written by a stupid hipster who should have stayed home in his mom’s basement. It’s simple really, if you don’t like a good groove and a friendly vibe, just don’t go to a phish show. I guarantee there were 39,999 other people at Alpine with me who had their faces melted and enjoyed it.
I went to three phish shows this summer. I didn’t hang out with any twenty somethings, yuppies, or people on “doses” or “molly”.
Phish fans, believe it or not, are as diverse of a crowd as many other rock bands if you take the time to look past the surface. Obviously, you did not and thus felt the need to stereotype everyone in attendance at Alpine Valley.
Music interns write the bestest blogs.
The review was pure horse shit. Perhaps the author should review a few Circle Jerk concerts- that may be a little more up his alley…….
C’mon. This author clearly doesn’t belong at a Phish show. Assign him to some right-wing, hypocritical essay project.
Playing uninspired versions of songs such as “Farmhouse,” as well as the romantic-comedy soundtrack filler “Waste,”
those are called ballads. def from wiki: In jazz and popular music, the term ballad denotes a short song in a slow tempo, usually with a romantic or sentimental text, though the term is also used for instrumental pieces.
I didn’t know that Time Out Chicago did Editorials.
It’s even better to know that you have no idea how many people were even there, so why should anyone believe the rest of what you were writing?
For the record, the venue holds 37,000 fans. Let me know what else you need to be fact checked.
Oh and please let me and the other 36,999 know what “the appropriate songs” are so we can realize if we saw a good concert or not, the next time we break out our pocketbooks.
It’s time for me to comment, seeing as everyone has something to say about this post.
1. I’ve been to 6 phish concerts now ( and enjoyed every single one for that matter).. These concerts blew away the ‘04 Alpine shows even though I thought those were incredible at the time.
2. Any review is going to be opinionated..
3. I’m a huge Phish fan– just not a fan of the scene. I think it’s evolved towards the mainstream.. and despite what everyone commenting seems to say.. most hardcore Phish fans I know agree with me
4. I’m going to Toyota Park and expect to be impressed.
5. Think about shows objectively.. don’t go in with the mindset of a fan
Whoa!! Superfan Alert.
Wow! i’m speechless. 6 entire shows. thats amazing. My mother has been to more shows than you.
Clearly my comments are just a way for you to try out your inner comedian.. bottom line; I think Phish is an amazing band- keep disputing if you want to waste your breath
we dont need people like you at phish shows, stay home.
Dan, please explain to me how my previous comment was any more “offensive, potentially libelous, or just plain nasty” than your own?
Hey Guys,
It’s me Trey. I just want to let Dan know that I’m not on drugs anymore. I also really like the song “Waste.”
Hopefully you can tell me the appropriate songs to play at our coming shows. Does this mean no “Big Black Furry Creature from Mars”?
Regards,
Trey
LOL! It’s gotta feel great to be a writer and have so many people criticize your work (or should I say correct your stereotypes). But if you weren’t so ignorant then you might stand a chance of holding on to your job. Good luck.
I like this review. I have seen many Phish shows over 15 years, including 8 at alpine valley. Every venue brings their own fans and sometimes that means some stereotypical characters. Alpine is always full of rural wisconsin deadheads, suburban chicago rookies, and people on tour. there, I generalized too. so what? if anything in this article makes me a bit uncomfortable, its that the old crowd ‘yearns’ for more drugs. most of the old people from tour that I saw had seriously cleaned up their act. I hope Trey continues to show the Phish world how epic and fulfilling life can be while sober.
thank you
Way to stereotype and disrespect an amazing purely-American scene: PHISH.
Is the author an ex-cop, or narc’d out former fiend? There’s no reason to hate on such a happy scene where EVERYONE is having fun, exchanging smiles and high fives. Music unites. Disses divide.
Author is a jerk!!!
I think I saw a concert review somewhere in this social commentary. Actually the review of the music was pretty good albeit a little exaggerated “Pianist Page McConnell worked the keys with the elegance of a split-personality patient; switching off from Mozart-like progressions…” I wouldn’t go that far, but he was solid. Dan, I think you are just trying to stir the shit to please some douche editor and the larger group of readers that might read your blog who dislike jam bands and their fans… that or you are just a jag.
This reads a lot like the girl talk interview you wrote earlier in the month. Pretty one dimensional if you ask me. What is the fixation on hippies and “inebriated crowds” all about?
well since someone else likes to make a point that they arent me here’s what ill say to them: the “inebriated crowd” idea, while perhaps repetitive in terms of word choice, is merely a product of attneding Summercamp and Phish.. it, for better or worse, is the nature of the shows.. Yes not everyone chooses to partake in those activities, but esp at Summercamp that seemed to be the preferred choice of physical state to be in.. just writing it how I see it
Rest assured, I will no longer read anything from this source if I am looking for legitimate journalism.
Also, If I can “just write it how I see it”, than how come my first comment about this piece was deleted?
To me its obvious this author agress with most of you that the show rocked. Everyone leaves a concert thinking “o…i loved this and loved that …. woulda been great to hear….. i coulda done without the…… ” thats normal music appreciation if you ask me. The critique of the alpine was crowd funny. im sure the author does not believe everyone there fits those sterotypes but who of you doesnt recognize that the ones described exist no matter how large a group it involves. its a concert reveiw, of course it will make points you dont agree with but that doesnt mean the commentary is invalid
I think the point of any music review is to offer your opinion on the music itself. This wasn’t lost on Dan. He did review the music. He said the band was tight. Didn’t agree with all the song choices. Same could be set for any concert ever.
In terms of describing the scene- seems like he is describing things through his own eyes. He was at the event so objectively, this could have been what he experienced.
However, were all Phish fans yearning for more drugs? No. Generalizations were made.
Whatever. It’s a concert review. Chances are you only read this review if you were already a Phish fan, so you were going to be upset if the review was anything less than glowing. If you feel like generalizations were made, you probably care too much about Phish to begin with and should go get a Bob Dylan album, that has 3-4 minute songs w/ mostly sensible lyrics not about stepping into freezers.
Well, this sure is one of the most poorly written, cliche driven, pieces of crap I’ve ever read. Embarrassing for the author and website.
I heard the author after the show scissor-kicked Angela Lansbury.
Dear Dan,
Please focus your efforts elsewhere. This style of output is completely wasted desecrating a band and its’ fans in the way you did here. Cliched, bad writing. Go away, please. No more of this stuff. I think you’re embarrassing yourself and TimeOut Chicago. Please stop. It’s even more embarrassing that you and your editor think this is viable fodder for print. Next time, take this garbage to your private blog or something. Totally inappropriate.
Seth
P.S. Please give your Toyota ticket to someone who holistically appreciates Phish.
The cliches and sweeping generalizations are objectionable. The rest is op-ed stuff. But see how you negate all the “good” stuff of this piece with cliches and sweeping generalizations? Where did you learn this was okay? Or does TOC hire low quality writers? What’s the explanation? … I’m embarrassed for you and TOC at this point. Wow.
I agree with you completely. Have my babies.
Do you know where I can score a blow up doll and a couch after the toyota show brasephile?
Nothing is funnier than hearing people complain that something is getting too “mainstream.” Just go and enjoy the show! If your there to just, assess the “scene,”….well, i don’t know, maybe you should take up sociology and do some sort of scientific study… just don’t pretend to be a music critic when your really critiquing the fans of the musicians. And furthermore….lol ;), I definitely don’t look the part of a “traditional” phish fan…. but…ummm… I am.
I heard Dan Hyman hates Mexicans….and he’s half Mexican…..and he hates irony!
My unborn child has already been to three shows. As long as you put earplugs in baby’s ears, sit on the lawn, and don’t let them eat any treats from the lot, it’s all good.
Dan should can his judgment a bit,
and see the moment from a place of full acceptance. We could use a lot less judgment in this world…
It was a great night for the young, the old, the hippies, the yuppies, the addicts, the teenagers, the babies, the pregnant,
everyone was psyched and smiling and sweating, some were reminiscing, some were experience the excitement for the first time, it was pure fun. (and i was basically sober)
It was simply good -old fashion- shake down fun -with a band who definitely still has it!
and that is somethin you don’t get to see everyday! I am still smiling….
that’s my 2 cents…
julie
I heard Dan Hyman’s Family Crest is a picture of a barracuda eating Neil Armstrong.
To Dan Hyman!!!!!
wow.
wish you would have talked about the music…can’t really argue with the fact that a bunch of hippies were there, as were a bunch of kids who had been waiting to see this band for the first time, as were a bunch of children (father’s day! hint hint).
you probably listen to nickelback.
trying to fluff your style file resume?
Quite Frankly, I feel like there is a good review in here somewhere….HOWEVER, Dan Hyman wouldn’t know good music if it was waiting for him in Mr. Submarine parking lot!
Very funny commentary. phish fans are awesome!!! Even Trey is getting in ;) Is it just a coincidence how 99% of the readers have agreed with eacother? I’ll leave out my comments regarding Dan’s judgments and bigoted comments. Instead I’ll ask why hasn’t anyone commented on or acknowledged TMWSIY?!! Gamehenge is EPIC!!!
thank you phish for creating, channeling, and providing a venue where mankind has a great chance for repeated epiphanies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sounds like you had a rough childhood. My Dad took me to my fist concert, Eagles, at Chicago Stadium when I was 5. The only thing I recall from that was the lighters going up in appreciation. I certainly became a fan of music ever since, and 30 years later I brought my 4 year old daughter to the Alpine Valley Phish show. It would be her 2nd of 3 shows this summer. It was a Fathers Day to remember and she had a blast. Although she passed out before the second set only to wake up briefly when they played her favorite tune, “Boogie on Reggae Woman.” I would never think of bringing her around any other group of people than my Phish Phandom. I loved seeing their kids on stage. Since when is “family” a bad word? Anyway, I strongly disagree with your generalizations of the crowd and I doubt you sat next to the “129 time Phish show guy” that’s just too easy. You are after all, a story teller.
dear dan, what’s wrong with bringing a baby to a concert?
apart from noise considerations (but this was an outdoor venue), I do not see any reason at all to not bring your child to the show…