Great review. I love it when someone keeps it real and simply tells it how they see it. It's an opinion piece. No one should get mad at anyone else for an opinion.

As for the band called Phish in the year 2012, well, yeah...a lot of people have it right in the comments. 1997 was 15 years ago. At that point, I have to assume that they were hanging out playing music together at least 15 hours a day. They toured constantly. The improvisation that we all know and love was a honed beast capable of blowing minds and because they played so much, they had to take risks and get weird. I don't blame them because all of them are approaching 50 with families, but they just don't play that much together anymore. Still, as much as I understand and even condone it from a human perspective, the live music suffers. It just does. So they've adapted. Also unfortunately, their adaptation lost what made them stand out - unpredictability. Phish is essentially the best touring rock band out there. As much as it pains me to say it, they actually almost have fixed set lists (not really, but kind of in a Phish sort of way - you know what I mean). The thrill of the unknown is not so much. The passion and the quest for something new, different, and groundbreaking is just not there. That's ok, sad, but understandable and ok. From my observations, they don't seem to be pushing anymore.

I love this band. When I first heard A Live One, it was so different from anything I had ever heard. Creative, fun, wild, powerful, focused, and free from the cookie cutter nonsense of pop culture. That was 16 years ago. Wow. I have seen four 3.0 shows (one a year) and have loved each of them. They are still amazing live and have put in so much effort to be professional. I appreciate that. There are very few duds, but also very few completely unpredictable throw downs. Again, that's fine. I only see them once a year and my chances of seeing a show that's 7 out of 10 is strong. Still, I love having my finger on the pulse of the scene and what I see is a little stagnant. I keep waiting for a crazy, thought-out set with a sneaky theme, a seriously jammed out opener like Hood, Tweezer, or YEM (why not, they can do it), new material, something. These are my own expectations, and I realize that. I do appreciate them. I am happy as hell they are all healthy and playing. I don't need them to play the first show I ever saw every night - 12/29/96 - but I hope Dick's is different and passionate. If not, I too worry about the long-term future. This "new album" is taking an awful long time. Sure, next year should be special for obvious reasons, but still...

Just a long winded expression from me, so I'm glad to get it off my chest. For those in the Rocky Mountains this weekend, bring the positive energy and propel those shows over the top. Enjoy.

Sincerely,
Dosque