This Summer's Top 10 Most Wanted

If you read my last post you know I have developed quite a fondness for the band Phish.  In anticipation of making it to a good amount of shows in the next two months, you could say I have been listening to a rather extensive amount of live shows in preparation for what is sure to be some good times with some great people.

Far too often as I am listening to these shows a song comes on that I can't get enough of.  So I decided to give myself the task of narrowing a list down to 10 songs that I would like to see most this summer.  They are in no particular order, but damn do I really want to hear these guys get into some long jams with the following songs.

Most importantly I understand Phish isn't for everyone and we all have our different tastes, but scroll through the songs and you might find one that gets your toes tappin'.  You may even be surprised by some of the artists they cover and some of the bands that truly influence their sound.

*Important Note: It is no secret that Trey's voice is less than stellar, but Phish isn't about the vocals.  It is about the music, the journey, the composition, and most importantly having Phun! Enjoy...

1. First up is "Boogie on Reggae Woman" which is originally performed by a musical genius in his own right, Stevie Wonder.  This uptempo, funky song starts off strong from the beginning and makes you want to dance all night.

2. Next up is "Wolfman's Brother" which is a lot more on the easy listening side when it comes to Phish.  It's nothing real crazy, and has a solid chorus.  It's a song doesn't stray too far off the path and gets straight to the point, just some standard jamming.  This song is a Phish original and they have been playing it since 1994.

3. "Carini" has quickly become one of my favorites in the past few months.  Those first few hard-rock chords suck me in immediately and I can't wait to see where they are going to take it.  When I listen to this song I picture them taking the baton from The Beatles when they were starting to experiment with their sound and take it to a whole different level.  They create a dark, yet enticing mood that I just can't get enough of. I really hope to hear this song at least once, if not a couple times.

4. Next on the list is a song that feels like an adventure every time I listen to it, "My Friend, My Friend".  It starts very light, but quickly takes a dark turn and is full of peaks and valleys.  It's not a song that get's the crowd buzzing too much, but is simply just an interesting piece that sparks my interest.

5. If you ever wanted to get a little weird with it just insert some Frank Zappa.  "Peaches en Regalia" is just a fun, energetic song that gets the energy up quickly.  There isn't a too much more to say about this song, besides sit back and enjoy, or get up and rage.  My favorite part of the video below, is seeing the raw emotion this song invokes in the crowd.

6. I had the pleasure of hearing Phish play "The Lizards" last summer during their stop at Blossom in Cuyahoga Heights, Ohio.  As soon as the song began and the amazing lights began dancing with the music I was completely entranced.  The sound was so carefree and catchy, and was carried throughout the entire song including a great piano solo which does nothing but make you smile and want to be on an island somewhere.

7. Oh, you like rock and roll?  Then "Free" is the song for you.  You'll get a heavy dose of some great guitar riffs and some of my favorite Phish lyrics.  What I thought was a song about being carefree and living your life without worry is actually about throwing your wife off a boat and getting the hell out of there.  So there's that, but like any other song, it is what you make of it.  For me it's song of not letting life's worries get the best of you and making the most of what's around.

8. Easily one of my favorites since I started listening to Phish is a Talking Heads cover, "Cities".  Phish takes a lot of creative freedom with this cover and has morphed it into a more bouncy, uptempo song and Trey even plays with the lyrics to make them more of his own.  Hands down one of my favorite covers that Phish performs.

9. "Wilson" is a crowd favorite and one of their most played songs.  The song starts off with a back-and-forth between the band and the crowd and then jumps straight into the rockin'.  Lots of heavy guitar and lyrics that the crowd can't help but to yell at the top of their lungs.  Odds on seeing this song a time or two this summer are looking pretty good.

10.Last but most certainly not least, "Weekapaug Groove".  Whenever I am introducing Phish to a new listener this is my go-to first song.  From the get-go the bass heavy beat is fast and the guitar is infectious.  If you don't start moving just a little bit when this song starts then it's definitely you and not the band that is doing something wrong.  They're just trying to "make a woman that you move" and "share in a Weekapaug Groove" with you.

I hope you enjoyed at least a few of these songs.  I feel that Phish has a little something to offer everyone, regardless of your musical taste and preferences, it just takes an open mind.  See ya'll soon.

Phish: A Love Story

After finally completing an intensive one year Masters program I am planning what will be a summer to remember.  I mean hell, I deserve it.  This summer will be packed with some crunchy jams and tasty grooves.  This summer I will be attending not 1, not 2, not 3, not 4, but 5 Phish shows, and I wish I could go to 5 more.

The crazy thing about my Phish obsession is that just 3 years ago I swore I hated them.  My good buddy at Florida State, Ariel, was always listening to them and trying to get me to go to a show with him just to experience it and then make my mind up.  Unfortunately, I was too stubborn and set in my ways at the time and never gave them a fair shake.  I was walking through life not knowing what I was missing until a group of buddies in Cleveland called me one Friday afternoon in August 2010 to take a road trip with them to Deer Creek, Indiana where Phish was playing and they just so happened to have an extra ticket.

Since I had no excuses and not a damn thing going on I figured "why the hell not"?  At worst I'll have a great weekend tailgating and shooting the shit with my buddies and we'll come away with some good stories and memories.  So off we went to Indiana.  The drive was great, six hours of good tunes, good ole bullshitting, and making fun of all the 100 foot tall crosses that line the interstate once you cross into Indiana.  Next thing you know we were parked at the venue and ready to “rage” the lot (a term used by veteran Phish-goers for tailgating).

To no surprise I was really good at the tailgating part: drinking beers, grilling food, throwing a Frisbee, listening to some music, and having a talk with others around us doing the same.  Then after doing some tailgating it was time to hit “Shakedown Street”, which is a half-mile or so stretch of vendors selling everything from tie-dyes, CDs, burritos, quesadillas, and all kinds of other goodies with “special ingredients”.  Everyone there was in a great mood, bartering of all types was happening all around, and this open market was thriving.  The band hadn’t even taken the stage yet and I was already having a great time, thinks were looking up.

After raging the lot all afternoon it was almost time to enter the venue.  As the masses all flocked towards the gates it felt as if we were going into a sporting event, people hooting and hollering, high-fiving, and telling each other to “Have a good show”!  There was an energy or buzz in the air that I have never felt at another concert.  Finally, my first Phish show was about to begin.  The band took the stage, the anticipation built, Trey started rocking the opening chords to “Axilla” and the entire crowd erupted in joy.  I WAS HOOKED!  From that moment on this band had me.  Immediately, I texted my buddy Ariel and let him know I was sorry for ever doubting him, and I couldn’t wait for the time we can finally catch a show together.  The music, the crowd, the energy, the sing-a-longs, the glow stick wars, the vacuum solo, everything had me hooked.

As the concert ended and we filtered back out to the parking lot, I was smiling from ear-to-ear.  Everyone was talking about what their favorite part was and what songs they couldn't believe were played.  It felt as though we were leaving a game but there was only one team playing and everyone was going home after seeing a winner.  Since that hot day in August 2010 there has been no looking back.  I am slightly obsessed with Phish and I don’t see any end in sight.

Now with Summer Tour 2012 upon us I will finally get that opportunity to see a few shows with my dear friend Ariel and I couldn’t be any happier.  I haven’t seen him in who knows how many years and I couldn’t think of a better way for us to reunite, than over a band he knew I would love despite my constant hardheadedness and stubbornness.

So at the end of the day I want to say thank you to Ariel for knowing me better than I knew myself, and thanks to my Cleveland boys JLaz, Brandon, Billy, and Ira for taking me on that road trip, opening my mind, and changing my life.  If you take anything away from this, whether you like or Phish or not, just remember to have an open mind in all things you do in life, because no matter how much you swear you hate something, it may be the complete opposite that is true.

Now with my love story of Phish concluded, I’ve been listening to a lot of past shows in anticipation of this summer and about every other song I think to myself “I want to hear this song so bad this summer”. So for my next post I figured I would make a list of the 10 songs, in no order, I am hoping Phish dives into while I’m in attendance....so stay tuned!