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.
The Lizards!!!!
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