Where to start with Phish?

Brisk.
Brisk. Posts: 11,581
edited May 2009 in Other Music
Have only really come across Phish from reading about them here, some of you might remember my Grateful Dead thread which was very very very useful and its basically the same thing i want to do here.I dont know anything about this band really apart from the odd youtube video i watched becuase people said it was amazing on the board.

Just give me an extensive list as possible as to what albums/bootlegs etc to get to begin my Phish journey.


***EDIT*** - I am aware they are quite the live band too? perhaps better than live? If this is the case then let me know some shows i should get, i can get pretty much anything so just let me know.

Thanks for anyone who helps out, i know some people may take loooads of time and its greatly appreciated :) If you need any PJ bootlegs then let me know and i coudl help out :)
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Comments

  • jervin007
    jervin007 Posts: 3,182
    I would definitely check out Rift, Billy Breathes, and Picture of Nectar for studio albums. For bootlegs, etc. their New Years shows are always epic. Also focus on the nineties (probably between 1994-1998) for live material. They were really tearing it up during those years. Releases such as "Hampton Comes Alive" are great at well.

    Enjoy the journey!
    PJ:
    2003 Mansfield: July 2
    2004 Boston: Sept 28 & 29
    2005 Montreal: Sept 15
    2006 Boston: May 24 & 25
    2008 Hartford: June 27, Mansfield: June 28,
    2010 Boston: May 17
    2013 Worcester: Oct 15, Hartford: Oct 25,
    2016 Hampton: April 18, Raleigh: April 20 (cancelled), Columbia: April 21. Quebec: May 5. Boston (Fenway): August 7

    EV Solo: Boston 8/2/08, Boston 6/16/11
  • soulsinging
    soulsinging Posts: 13,202
    With another band ;)

    I kid! I know nothing about Phish really :)
  • drew0
    drew0 Posts: 943
    Get The Island Tour (4/2/98, 4/3/98, 4/4/98, 4/5/98)

    Easiest way to get into Phish - four flawless shows at the their peak. Funk, tight jams ... it doesn't get better (until you get into Fall '97).

    If you like it funky, get Live Phish 11 & Live Phish - Dayton, OH 12/7/97.

    Also try to grab At The Roxy, A Live One, or New Year's 1995.

    Actually, here is a compilation that someone made of remastered soundboard recordings from Phish at their ultimate peak, the Fall 1997 Tour. It's free, legal, and able to be downloaded. Flawless from start to finish - some of the greatest live music I've ever heard.

    http://andykaufman.tumblr.com/post/7941 ... soundboard

    <---- Download that. If you like it, purchase either the Island Tour, Live Phish 11, or Dayton 12/7/97.

    If you want to try something from a different era, I suggest At The Roxy or getting your hands on 6/11/94 or 6/18/94.
    Pittsburgh 6/23/06
    Madison Square Garden 6/25/08
  • TallGuyCM
    TallGuyCM Posts: 328
    I like Billy Breathes the best of their studio albums.

    Hampton Comes Alive was an xmas gift I got from my little bro that is fantastic.

    I dunno, it's kind of hard to say really. They just have so much material that it's really hit or miss with what might grab you and what you might not dig as much.

    Edit: DEFINITELY check out Junta early on!
  • battan1120
    battan1120 Posts: 310
    The Glens Falls,NY Halloween Show.They did the Beatles "White Album".
    The bus came by and I got on!!!!!
  • fotd
    fotd Posts: 514
    The album that turned me onto Phish is the "Story of the Ghost." Anything prior to that album and you will hear some amazing guitar work, after and trey's drug problems really became evident. as far as live albums go my favorite is Hampton Comes Alive.
    I’ve seen Pearl Jam 25 times, Eddie Vedder 9 times, and Brad once.
  • 12345AGNST1
    12345AGNST1 Posts: 4,906
    I have live in brooklyn 2004 and I think its really damn good.

    My favorite studio albums from them are definately a picture of nectar and story of a ghost.
    5/28/06, 6/27/08, 10/28/09, 5/18/10, 5/21/10
    8/7/08, 6/9/09
  • gusturtle
    gusturtle Posts: 443
    personally, i liked phish the best when they were on hiatus.
  • drew0
    drew0 Posts: 943
    Hampton Comes Alive is a classic.

    The Moma Dance -> Free on "Live in Brooklyn" is one of the funkiest, tastiest jams that I have EVER heard.
    Pittsburgh 6/23/06
    Madison Square Garden 6/25/08
  • OneTooFree
    OneTooFree Posts: 265
    studio albums
    Rift, Hoist, & Lawn Boy

    A LIVE ONE is a great place to start as well. they took some of their best single song performances from '94 and put them together on that double disc album. this is the album that got me hooked


    as for live shows, there are way too many great shows to name so i'll list off my 5 favorite shows with links to their pages on Phishows.com, a great FREE site where you can Stream and/or DL (in .zipped mp3s) almost every show Phish has done:

    08.28.93 - Berkeley, CA
    12.30.93 - Portland, ME
    10.21.95 - Lincoln, NE (no stream on Phishows.com)
    11.22.97 - Hampton, VA
    12.07.97 - Dayton, OH
  • LukinFan
    LukinFan Florida Posts: 29,129
    LIVE boots!!!!
    www.RLMcDaniel.com

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  • fanch75
    fanch75 Posts: 3,734
    Screw Phish. Go pick up the first Buckcherry album Buckcherry and then pickup 15. Real rock and roll for people with balls.

    Oh, and pick up Timebomb too. It may make you go do some illegal activities, though.
    Do you remember Rock & Roll Radio?
  • InHiding19
    InHiding19 Posts: 2,385
    I wouldn't mess around with the studio albums very much, since its all about their live shows. Pretty much anything from the mid 1990s is supurb, since it was in their haydays.

    You must look into
    12/31/95 - possibly their greatest performance ever
    Halloween 1996 The first set is fucken killer with a sick Icculus followed by the Divded Sky
    The Clifford Ball DVD this is just amazing


    Those are good places to start.
    Out of the Blue and Into the Black................Uncle Neil Philly 08 here I come!!!!
  • Back_Pedal
    Back_Pedal Posts: 1,171
    fanch75 wrote:
    Screw Phish. Go pick up the first Buckcherry album Buckcherry and then pickup 15. Real rock and roll for people with balls.

    Oh, and pick up Timebomb too. It may make you go do some illegal activities, though.
    Buckcherry blows. What defines "real" rock and roll, anyway?
    Thanks EPOTTSIII!
    "Vinyl or not, you will need to pay someone to take RA of your hands" - Smile05
    424, xxx
  • whygo
    whygo Posts: 55
    you want rock? go w/Widespread Panic. you want noodly jamband shit, go w/Fish... they fucking blow I tell ya... I've tried over & over to listen to them & they just don't do it.... give it up. different strokes?
  • InHiding19
    InHiding19 Posts: 2,385
    Oh yeah I wouldn't download to many shows from the post hiatus tours (2002 and on). They were def not as vibrant during that era. However, the shows they played in Hampton this March sound fantastic!
    Out of the Blue and Into the Black................Uncle Neil Philly 08 here I come!!!!
  • OneTooFree
    OneTooFree Posts: 265
    whygo wrote:
    you want rock? go w/Widespread Panic. you want noodly jamband shit, go w/Fish... they fucking blow I tell ya... I've tried over & over to listen to them & they just don't do it.... give it up. different strokes?

    i don't consider Phish to be that noodley (think moe. or Umphrey's McGee for that adjective)

    but Widespread Panic definitely kicks ass too. plus, the crowds at their shows are a bit more of the hot southern girl persuasion :twisted:
  • DewieCox
    DewieCox Posts: 11,432
    FuzzyDunlop wrote:
    whygo wrote:
    you want rock? go w/Widespread Panic. you want noodly jamband shit, go w/Fish... they fucking blow I tell ya... I've tried over & over to listen to them & they just don't do it.... give it up. different strokes?

    i don't consider Phish to be that noodley (think moe. or Umphrey's McGee for that adjective)

    but Widespread Panic definitely kicks ass too. plus, the crowds at their shows are a bit more of the hot southern girl persuasion :twisted:

    Admittedly, I've only heard a bit of Umphrey's and moe, but I don't think it gets much noodlier than Phish.

    From what I can tell, there is a lot more rock influence on Umphrey's and moe. I think Trey's jazziness makes him sound really noodly, compared to them.
  • Zoso
    Zoso Posts: 6,425
    from what I have heard they are as weak as water... I would delve into MMJ, The Hold Steady, Ryan Adams, Sonic Youth, Wilco, The Black Keys or Okkervil River before I even touched Phish...
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  • OneTooFree
    OneTooFree Posts: 265
    just thought i'd up this thread b/c http://www.Phishows.com is back up after some server problems!

    it is definitely worth a visit for anyone who likes the band or wants to start getting acquainted with their live performances


    i should also add another show to my recommendations. in July of '91, Phish toured with the Giant Country Horns and, imo, the brass section adds an amazing layer to Phish's music. if you have not heard the 07.21.91 show from Parksville, NY you should really check it out

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