Thanks Craig! My son went too and had a photo pass, so we should get a review from him and some pics up after he gets home from school.

"They explored songs from the entire span of their career and rarely was there a break. They just kept jamming all the way through. It was really entertaining to see how they melted their set together."

You just described every show that Phish has ever played. And thanks for leading the way on the too-easy generalizations. I think all Primus fans are large-brow meatheads whose idea of pleasure is whipping their heads back and forth for three hours without interruption. How's that, moron? I haven't smoked a joint in five years, just graduated law school and work at a big firm, but Phish remains my favorite band, jerk-off.

So you're sorry you don't have Primus to yourself anymore? Boo-freakin-hoo. Yeah, there's a lot of idiots at Phish shows looking for a "miracle" (i.e., ticket). So laugh at them and go on your merry way.

P.S. Sorry for the name-calling, but your post really pissed me off.

Dude, no need to be a humorless fuck. As that kind of "Phish Phan" don't the hippies and their pervasive odoriferousness offend your nose as well?

I admit it. I don't like Phish. I was trying to be funny and I hope more people will find it funny than not.

What did the Phish fan say when he ran out of drugs at the show?

Damn it!!! This band SUCKS!

Craig, is this photo okay?

Hell yeah... I am trying to figure out what angle your son had to be standing at to get that shot. It couldn't have been easy. Very impressive.

Thanks a lot!

Point taken. I just didn't find the easy, cliche swipes at Phish fans very funny. That's all.

To be sure, sometimes going to a Phish show is a real buzz killer. There are so many trust-fund babies living their fantasy lives as traveling hippies, it makes me want to puke. At some point the lifestyle and music had a true connection, somewhere way up there in the snows of Vermont, but now most of the people there adopt the lifestyle as a form of play-acting. They themselves are chiches: the van, the burritos, the hemp necklaces, the posture, the dancing, the hair, the language -- you name it. (This socio-cultural phenomenon might make a good thesis.)

I really did find it interesting that the things you enjoyed most about the show reflected some of Phish's musical strengths -- tight musicianship; an extensive, 20-year catalog of original songs and time-honored covers; and a free-form approach to each individual piece that actually weaves some semblance of structure over the course of a show.

Sorry to have hijacked this thread. Now back to your regularly scheduled programming.

I need to ask this question because I can't imagine what the answers will be.

Did anyone enjoy the Oysterhead album that Les Claypool, Trey Anastasio and Stewart Copeland did?

Craig, I'm with you on the sadness at seeing the Phishheads latch onto Primus like leeches. I don't care if it gets me labeled as closed-minded, I really don't think most Phish fans give a damn about the music. What they're there for is the community. I think Primus still primarily appeals to metal fans with an odd bent, but Claypool's shameless flirting with the jam-band genre has unfortunately opened the floodgates wide, what with not only Oysterhead (I agree, it sucked, and not in the "Primus sucks" way) but also with his Fearless Flying Frog Brigade, which was just a proggy jam band, really. I applaud him for doing whatever it takes to get out of the rut he'd fallen into with the post-Tim Alexander Primus, but I really regret seeing the Primus scene turned into another Deadhead parking lot convention.

This also happened with Bela Fleck & The Flecktones. I saw them here in Phoenix a few years ago and the audience was very clearly divided between jazz fans and the hippies, who spilled into the aisle to do their noodle-dancing. A visibly amused Fleck requested that the dancers take it to the sides of the stage so those who paid a lot of money for the seats could still enjoy the view. Happily, they did (one thing I can say about the hippies, they're nice people . . . if a bit smelly.) I'm seeing them again on Monday and am very curious to see if the hippie contingent has hung on. I imagine there will be some entertaining "interpretive dancing" going on.

One more note: I downloaded the Phoenix Primus show from the site Tuesday and devoured it yesterday. Great mix, very raw and energetic. Sounds like I missed a great, maybe a bit violent, show. $12.95 well spent, and I'll be buying more as time goes by - the band supposedly has vowed to play everything they've recorded by the end of the tour. I see a lot of my money going towards Primuslive.com . . .

Hey Andre, I actually like the IDEA of Phish. I can't stand the cliche fans, but on top of that, I can't dig their music. I have listened to it and I understand and appreciate their musicianship, but the vocals and songwriting don't do anything for me. I really liked their halloween "White Album" performance that I heard on tape, but that goes to show what I think of the actual songs.

In another perspective, I liken it to the Dave Matthews Band. I don't think DMB and Phish are all that similar, but hear me out. I LOVE Dave Matthews' song writing. I think his band's shows are great. I like almost everything he has put out. His fans are THE most obnoxious bastards on the face of the earth. Most of them aren't even music fans. They ONLY listen to DMB. A large percentage of them are a part of Frat Nation. When they talk about THE BAND, they talk about Dave this, and Dave that, completely ignoring the fact that their are other members in the band while indicating that they have some closeness to the music.

Anyway, I think we have two cliched fanbases here which annoy a lot of true fans who would like to appreciate the music. Unfortunately these are the people that define the band. As a result, I think I am the only DMB fan on earth who absolutely REFUSES to ever go to a show again because his fans piss me off so badly.

In both cases I recognize the value of the bands and their respective talents. In the case of Phish, I just don't like the music. This makes it an even easier target for me.

with the photo pass, he was in the roped-off area.

You should tell me what shows you want to go to and maybe I can get you in.

I will certainly do that. I love taking pictures at shows anyway, but increasingly, they are banning cameras.

I like the dancing hippie atmosphere - I think it's hilarious, and with all the dope smoking and essential oils, you can't much smell the hygiene issues anyway. But I agree with Craig: Phish has no songs, and I don't get Dave matthews Band AT ALL. I do like some songs, and the band is fine in an unexciting crunchy way, but I hate his voice - the permanent head cold has got to go.

Bring on the hippies! But many of their bands can go away.

My favorite thing to come out of the Deadhead movement, or at least what I attribute to it, is the "intrepretive dancing." You know what I'm talking about - the people who feel the need to illustrate every line of lyric in a song by moving their hands in some way that they intrepret as meaningful to the song. I could be entirely wrong about the Dead connection. It just seems that since the Deadheads had to find new things to trail like plankton behind a ship, I see more and more of these misguided, talentless "dancers" at shows of all types now. They were entertaining for a while, but I've grown weary of them. Please, folks, leave your flagellating emoting at home. We would all rather watch the action on stage than you, but we usually can't ignore a good laugh, regardless of how expensive those tickets were.

the point of the interpretive dancing is to more fully "be there" and there's no way I would resent someone getting into it to the fullest extent. it may be the performer in me but I want people to be into my performance - anyway - to the fullest extent possible, and if that includes something that feels right from the inside but looks retarded from the outside, more power to them. I think in general people are TOO self-conscious rather than not self-conscious enough. The lack of self-consciousness is what makes these shows fun and communal.

What social movement are the hippies of today supporting? Change already occured!!! Break your trust, take a shower and get a job. I'm sick of you offering me fish taco's from the trunk of your moms Volkswagon Jetta!

Have a Bad day Hippie,

Hippies may be annoying but at least they aren't (for the most part) evil. Where is the love, Moonbeam?

I think it is a funny phenomenon because I don't totally get it, but I will say that it is relatively harmless and fun to watch. I would never tell anyone to stop, but I have to say it's also fun to partake in a bit of mockery as well.

I won't mind as long as they don't block my view. I have unfortunately had many shows ruined by inconsiderate dancers who absolutely had to block my view of the concert with the meaningless flailings. Like Bela Fleck said, take it to the side. They are entertaining, as long as I don't have to sit behind them.

"...the people who feel the need to illustrate every line of lyric in a song by moving their hands in some way that they intrepret as meaningful to the song."

Rob Halford singing "You Got Another Thing Coming" at the Us Festival in 1983. Classic.

Judas Priest. US Festival. 1983. SWEEEEEEEEEEEET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm reminded of a Tubes concert long ago. Up in front, a group of drugged-out prima donnas was jumping around, waving their arms, shouting at the band in between songs, in short, making a distraction of themselves. The Tubes guitarist, Ed Spooner, playing the role of tough guy, comes up to stage center, grabs the mike, points a finger at this group, and shouts, "Hey! We didn't pay to see YOU!" That was the end of that.

Sheez, were those punks on dope or something?

"you know white boys can't control it"

Come to think of it, they were all white guys, too. When it comes down to it, you just have to ask yourself what you want from life.

Personally, I'd like a whole herd of Winnebagoes.

Winnebagoes with satellite TV, of course. I really love my television.

Personally, I'd rather kidnap an heiress and threaten her with a knife. Anybody know where Paris Hilton's boney ass is today?

Dude, Eric, you need to watch more TV. Besides starring in her very own porno, late this fall Paris is going to be in that reverse Beverly Hillbillies idea with whatshername Ritchie (daugher of Lionel) where they get put on a farm and have to deal. Reality TV, sure, but it might be entertaining to watch a couple spoiled little rich girls deal with high heels and cow patties.

no, I mean today, literally

preferably in the next half-hour before I pick up Lily

let me guess... Frank Zappa was a smelly italian junkie too. if you know anything about music, you can't deny the complexity of many Phish compositions. you don't seem to know much, except the setlists from the ASTOUNDING 3 primus shows you've seen.
...and let it be known, Phish doesn't sell drugs. they sell music, and live performances. that's all they've ever sold and it's earned them one of the biggest followings in history. i bet Primus doesn't shy away the overpour of Phish fans onto it's tour. Sooooo, why don't you try to let it slide too? huh, cool guy.
sorry that Phish didn't turn out to be the ultimate pop band you had always hoped for :(

now go turn on MTV before you miss your favorite Carson Daly show!

Get a Grip, Primus Rock yah ok u dont dig phish, neither do i, but hey people are into things that u might not get off on but who gives a shit, enjoy what u want to see, and let others do the same.

LONG LIVE JOHN TESH!!

HEY F_CK YOU F_CKIN METAL F_CKS I HATE MY DAD TOO BUT THATS NO REASON TO BE A DEADBEAT AT A CONCERT IF YOU PAID MONEY TO GET IN WHY NOT HAVE FUN AND DANCE INSTEAD YOUD RATHER WATCH OTHER PEOPLE DANCE AND MOCK THEM...REAAAAAAALLLL COOOOL AND I SEE FOOTAGE OF PRIMUS AT WOODSTOCK 94 AND SEEMS LIKE ALL THE CROWD IS INTO IS JUST BEATING THE SHIT OUT OF EACH OTHER NO ONE SEEMS TO BE WATCHIN OR ACKNOWLEDGING THE MUSIC...BUT I GUESS THATS PRETTY COOL

i love your anger, and also how you censor said anger

Les Claypool got more into improvisation and jamming quite a while ago. In fact, it was rumored as one of many reason Tim left for a period on drums, "creative differences". I saw Primus on the "Tales from the Punchbowl" Tour with Tim, shortly thereafter on the "Brown Album" Tour with Brain, and the changes were already there...there was way more jamming, songs blending, etc. SO it should be no surprise nearly a decade later.

Music as an art is suppose to grow. It is okay to say you do not like music, or where it has grown. However, it is all subjective...something does not suck because it is not ones preference. And it is childish to criticize because you do not like something. Or it is not like the stuff from the past.

Remember to each their own.

I'm a professional producer and recording engineer, coming from a family with a long history around music. I like Primus, I like Phish...both having been heavily influenced by one of my all time favorites Frank Zappa. I cannot say I'm really fond of either of the crowds from the shows I have attended of both bands. A band is certainly not it's crowd, nor is the music.

I also saw Oysterhead live, later on the tour, and it was a spectacular show. I thought the music was quite creative, and the performance top notch. The album sold well, and was equally good. Again, if a person does not like it, that is fine. However, to say Oysterhead was a "travesty" in such a negative way; then making assumptions about changes in a band's music and crowd that started happening long before 2001 (the date Oysterhead's CD was released); makes me really question this blog writer's judgement...and character.

I don't think it's fair to say that old school primus fans are just metal heads. I've been a fan of primus since frizzle fry and if you saw me at the show, you'd most likely assume that I was just another confused hippie recently getting into primus when in fact I've seen primus more than you have. I've also moshed in two slayer pits. not all pot smoking bearded folks are naive hippies. don't be so quick to judge by appearance.

Way to pidgeonhole Phish fans, nitwit. And if you had even a decent ear for music you'd know that Phish was as good a improv rock/prog/jazz/latin/funk/bluegrass band there ever was. Rolling Stone said they were the most important band of the '90's. Sorry if most of us prefer their opinion to yours.