I read an article on MTV.com (probably my first mistake) talking about the Phish reunion. Basically, it says that Phish is uncool and that music snobs hate Phish and most other jambands. I consider myself a bit of a music snob. However, I love Phish. It got me thinking… Phish was just becoming big when I was in high school (1993-1997). There were those who loved Phish and those who hated Phish. The latter group did everything to get people not to start listening to them (perhaps Phish is a very addictive drug?). It was uncool to be a Phishhead back then. When I was in college (1997-2001), Phish was huge. Maybe it was just the people I hung with, but Phish and other jambands were very popular.
Anyway, my question is this… Has Phish become “uncool”? Has the increase in the popularity of “indie” music caused jambands to become “uncool”? The MTV article basically makes that point, though I would venture to say that the guys from Phish have more musical talent in their little toe than most indie artists.
If Phish is so “uncool”, does that mean tickets will be easy to get for their shows? One can only hope…
Pfft… MTV – who gives a crap? When was the last time anyone thought of MTV as “cool”?
Anyways, I could care less what pop-culture thinks is “cool” or not. I think the members of Phish and most of their fans probably feel the same way.
But, like you said, if being uncool means easier access to tickets, then so be it!
I’ve actually always thought of them as uncool, but that’s because they’re a bunch of geeks, like me. I could care less about what MTV says, I just thought it was interesting considering my experiences with people. Phish has become uncool, like they were when I was in high school (or rather, that was the case around 2003-2005). Who knows what people think of them now. I was hoping they’d have been forgotten enough that it wouldn’t be crazy, but I have a feeling I’m wrong. I want the scene from the mid-90′s back. When everyone was actually into the music and not just the scene.
Another thing that occurred to me: If Phish’s fanbase did drastically diminish (although, not likely), but they kept on touring anyways, it could mean being able to see them in smaller venues. I started going to Phish shows in ’94, so the smallest venue I saw them in was the UIC pavilion (great show, btw – awesome Reba and the first ever glow-stick war, which I think the glow-sticks were actually dispersed to the audience by someone working for Phish to go along with Trey’s Harpua narrative).
But I digress… Anyway, it would be great to get the chance to see them in smaller venues.
That’s something I would love to be able to do. I’d love to see them play smaller 5,000 seat theatres. They’ll never be able to get back to clubs, unless they did some secret shows (which the Rolling Stones have been known to do). But theatres are definitely within the realm of possibility in my opinion, even at their current popularity.
My first show was in ’97. The smallest venue I saw them at was the Worcester Centrum (now the DCU Center).
However, I doubt their fanbase has gotten smaller. Though I know many older fans have moved on, they have gained fans. I know of one student that works for me who is into Phish and she’s 19. I’m actually a little surprised not as many college-aged people are into them.