Phish
 

Going to go out on a limb here and talk about my other favorite band, Phish.

Before you dismiss them as some crappy jam band (I actually dislike that genre name and scene for that matter), let me share some of the parallels I find between Phish & Sonic Youth:

Both Rock.
Both play improvisational music.
Both experiment musically.
Both are a force to reckon with live.
Both started in a "grassroots" manor in the early 80's. (Phish in 1983).
Both have always had a strong DIY ethics.
Both have multiple lead singers.
Both have a kick ass drummer.
Both have shared the same recording engineer/producer : Jon Siket

Both make me dance like a madman out of control.

Like I said above, I am not a fan of jam bands at all, I never thought of phish as a jam band, more of an American band that happens to play many styles of music. At a phish concert you are more apt to find me jumping around, head banging-rocking out-devil horns up in the air style. For me it's all about the music at the moment getting into my head and making my body move.
Listening to each part of the music individually yet as a whole at the same time.

I've made a little sampler of live recordings that can be downloaded here:
http://www.mediafire.com/?ws6b4fmdvcy5ypp

I can understand the appeal, but I don't identify with it at all.

Both bands might be improvisational/experimental, but both are still coming from a completely different background + different schools of thought.

I remember Thurston saying a few years ago that he was curious to see what would happen if the Youth and some "jam bands" did some shows together.

In other words....throw 'em in the ocean (phish phood).

Uh, I like their ice cream at least.

The annual Phish debate is 5 days too late this year. MBV's ''Is Loveless Their Best Album?'' and ''What's Your Favourite Dinosaur Jr CDR Bootleg?'' are also running a bit behind their regular monthly appearances. Sort it out.

I don't think you'll find much love for Phish here. I think they're alright. I can't say this about many bands and don't think it's a compliment at all... but they are really a performance you have to be fucked up to enjoy.

that said, I really like Billy Breaths.... their best and complete album.... a classic actually. Hoist, Junta, both have some gems, but that's about it in my realm.

I think Trey Anastasio is pretty unlikeable and kinda ruins the vibe of the band in general. A lot of people critic music or a band by how appealing the musicians themselves are to them..... so in that case, that's where the falling off happens for Phish. Also, they're general vibe is upbeat, happy and festive .... this doesn't bode well with the majority of folks who are appealed to the angst and attitude of more moody and aggressive music.... to reflect on their shitty attitudes.

I agree...but, I'm also one of those that can enjoy most things when I'm fucked up, depending on what I'm fucked up on. Certain pharmaceuticals can make me feel so great that it doesn't matter what I'm listening to to begin with, I'll just enjoy it because it's there and I don't have to think about it.

Drugs...they're a killer.

"LIFE: it's a killer"

Fuck you for all eternity. Phish are a fucking joke.

you don't do the conversation thing to well do you?

She doesn't. She spends her time writing very good L7 rip offs because that's when music was unique...18 years ago.

phish suck. that's all.