Great article, as well as everyone's comments following it! I am 28 years old, so i definitely entered "the scene" (notice we consider "the scene" to include both Phish and the Dead) during Phishs' prime. However, I saw the Dead w/ Jerry before i ever saw Phish, (My only Grateful Dead show was the last show ever at Soldier Field) and i am so GRATEFUL that i got the chance to have seen them both. Since then, i have seen over 50 Phish shows, ranging from 99' to these last 3 amazing shows at UIC Pavillion. I prefer Phishs music to the Dead, but i love them both so much more than any other bands, and i give the Dead all the credit in the world for creating such a beautiful thing that we have all been a part of. There are obviously many musical differences between the two, but to argue about who is better than the other is ridiculous when u think of what they both stand for. They both created something much bigger than the music itself, tho we all GET OFF on the music, which is why we have these conversations. At my age, I am lucky to be able to say that i saw them both, and the only thing that any of us should be saying is that we are a part of the greatest musical thing in the world, whether it be Phish or the Dead or both.