subject: Phish Tickets - The American Jam Band Kicks Off The First Leg Of Their Summer Tour [print this page] It may seem hard to believe that Phish has been on the music scene in some form since the early 80's. Their sound is timeless and fresh, even when the band gets to jamming aimlessly. Phish's sound comes across as young and inspiring, capturing the attention of younger fans as the older ones proclaim their loyalty to the jam band. Phish tickets are a popular item amongst people from all walks of life who want to check out what the buzz is about when the band comes to town.
Many regard Phish as having inherited the jam band crown from The Grateful Dead after the passing of Jerry Garcia. Certainly the atmosphere is much the same as a Grateful Dead concert with the attendees looking to kick back, relax and listen to their favorite band play their favorite music.
Phish is known for multi-day bookings at venues, which allows for the carnival-like atmosphere to proliferate. It also sets the stage for uncertainty, as the band puts on a different kind of performance every night at the same location.
One aspect of being a jam band is that there is plenty of improvisation constantly going on, with a touch of noodling. It keeps the audience on its toes as to what is going to happen next. A lull or slowdown in the musical progression relaxes the audience into thinking it's time to mellow out for a bit, only to be taken by surprise when the band gets it together to rip headlong into a rousing performance.
Those who go to consecutive performances can attest to the fact that there is no knowing what is going to happen. Phish has a set list of sorts, but they only follow it as it suits them as opposed to sticking to it. One night they'll have the audience in a largely relaxed state, and the next they'll have everyone jumping up and down, screaming at the top of their lungs. Therein lies the magic of Phish.
Phish most certainly has an impressive catalog of music to draw from, and the artists tap into it to good effect during shows. Some of the songs they play include "I am Hydrogen," "Weekapaug Groove," "Halley's Comet" and more. Phish also doesn't hesitate to cover songs from other bands such as Talking Heads, putting their own spin on classic songs. The band is also expert at tantalizing the audience by trickling in bits and pieces from songs already played into the song that is currently being played. There is just no knowing what to expect.
One of the hallmarks of Phish is their interaction with the audience. The leads do not hesitate to stop a song cold if they feel that something is not right with its progression, making a casual comment to the audience about what's going on. Other times, a conversation between the players gets started up for the audience to listen in on. It is truly part and parcel of the charm that is Phish, and one of the many reasons why audiences keep coming back time and time again.
