Well this one has the internets a-buzzin’ while suddenly sending thousands of Phish fans into a phull on phrenzy. In an interview conducted last week with Rolling Stone which was posted on the magazine’s website two days ago, Phish guitarist and frontman Trey Anastasio hinted at the possibility of Phish reunion:
When Phish broke up, I made some comment about how I’m not gonna go around playing ‘You Enjoy Myself’ for the rest of my life. “And it’s so funny because Fish and Mike and Page have been talking to each other a lot lately and now — it’s not that I can’t believe that I said that, but its symbolic of how much I lost my mind or how much I lost my bearings or something. Because at this point in time I would give (anything) to play that song five times in a row every day until I die
But wait, there’s more…
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Adding to the intrigue is the fact that Trey has just been added to the lineup for the Rothbury Music Festival, July 3 - 6 in Rothbury, Michigan. So why the intrigue? The festival’s lineup also includes Phish bassist Mike Gordon as a solo performer as well as the band’s drummer, Jon Fishman, who will be appearing with the Yonder Mountain String Band. That only leaves keyboardist Page McConnell M.I.A.
I wouldn’t be surprised if ticket sales to the festival suddenly get a bump as Phish fans begin to scoop up tickets on the chance that band might possibly re-unite during the festival’s four days of music. Should a reunion take place, it would almost instantly put Rothbury on the map in its inaugural year.
As it stands now, over 70 acts are currently scheduled to perform at the Rothbury Festival including Charlottesville’s own Dave Matthews Band, as well as Widespread Panic, Primus, Snoop Dogg, and Modest Mouse. The festival is expected to draw around 50,000 fans.
Phish, the mother of all jam bands, last performed together in August of 2004. However, the foursome last shared the same stage earlier this month when the band appeared together to accept their Lifetime Achievement Award at the seventh and final Jammy Awards show in New York City.
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[Here’s my own take. I gave up the jam band scene a long time ago. I think the last time I saw Phish was in 2000 at Merriweather Post Pavilion. Musically I’ve moved on. Having said that, I would be lying if I told you I had no interest in seeing them again live. I know I would never, ever, ever go on tour and I may only see them once and be done, but if they got back together I’d definitely go see a Phish show for old time’s sake. In a heartbeat! How bout you?]
[Also, it should be noted that Trey Anastasio, Mike Gordon, and Yonder Mountain String Band (in which Jon Fishman has played a re-occuring role) are all signed to Red Light Management. I don’t want to put my cart in front of my horse here, but should a reunion take place and should a possible tour follow, you gotta think that Charlottesville, with our Red Light connection and the “new car smell” still lingering at JPJ, would have to be considered a front runner for a reunion show date. I’m just sayin’]
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Tagged as: Music, Phish, reunion, Rolling Stone, Rothbury Music Festival, Trey Anastasio
It IS happening. A production company out in California finished booking 12-14 fall dates on May 20th.
In addition, a birdie who works on the crew for another band chatted with Chris Kuroda and said he alluded to making plans with Trey for this fall.
In other words, Rolling Stone didn’t break this. People have heard this from other sources and have been talking about it for over a week.
I had to add that because I think Rolling Stone has become one of the worst music magazines out there. They always seem three steps behind these days.
:: CLEANING OFF GRILL :: STOCKING UP ON BREAD, CHEESE AND PHARMIES :: QUITTING JOB :: SAVING UP GAS FOR TRIP TO ROTHBURY :: BUYING A MAP TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THE HELL ROTHBURY IS :: THROWING AWAY DEODORANT
Save your gas money and go to All Good.
All signs point to Phish touring in the fall. Even if they do get together at Rothbury, their first performance is going to be rough. Heck, based on the post-hiatus shows, the entire tour is going to be rough.
All Good is too much of a wook fest
Rothbury is about sustainability, an added bonus.
@2 But for those who don’t follow Phish and the scene closely, this is the first that a lot of folks have heard of this I’m betting. And agreed, Rolling Stone is to music journalism as MTV is to music videos. With that aside, this will create excitement among the Phish fans….case in point: You Go Girth!!
@3. All I can tell you is western Michigan (so I’ve elimnated half the state for you)
i just heard that Phish is buying seven oaks and turning it into a festival site, mostly beacuse page needed room to land his Lear jet and open a sandwich factory.
kangfirmed
I’m buying a Segway.
Keanefirmed.
i heard they’re buying 7 Oaks because Fishman wants to build a BioDome on it
NOOOOOOOOO. I’ll only allow this if Pavement reforms too.
I hear they’re reuniting, but calling themselves Van Halen.
I hear they’re reuniting, but calling themselves Van Halen.
But then they got in a fight at Rapture and decided to postpone reuniting.
Ok, so we’re all very witty. But would anyone actually go to see the guys if they got back together?
only if it was at seven oaks and underwater
I would go if they played in Charlottesville or Richmond. I could see the boyfriend wanting to go if they played Hampton, but I think the chances of that are pretty low.
I saw one of the last shows (Great Woods) and it was pretty lame, so the bar was left pretty low. Plus, it might be kind of novel to see Trey sober.
i was just looking at the set list for my last show…and i have to say it was a pretty amazing affair! i probably wouldn’t go too far out of my way to see em, but if the circus came to town i’d definitely go!
Can we file this under things the world doesn’t need?
you know what they say…one man’s trash is another man’s treasure and vice versa
what’s up squid?
i’d go to seven oaks to see them if i could swim in the pool.
I’d go see them, but I agree that thier first show will be rough. Similar to last time. It took them a while to get back to where they left off. They may never. I kinda hope they just change the whole thing and take a more grown up approach to the music. Just a big ol’ boot in the wookie ass.
They’re all so talented and chemisteric (coin!) that they can’t not play awesome music. I hope they get over the stonehenge thing, though. If I ever hear another version of Harpuah I’ll walk out on them, just like I did the last time I heard it.
I will admit - I saw Phish in the 90s. I think if you were in college then it was sorta hard to get away from. I saw them in 94/95 in Richmond at (then) Strawberry Amphitheatre, in Cville, and a couple more times up till 97 or so. Then I turned 22, rediscovered Fugazi and I couldnt relate to the noodling anymore. I don’t hate on them - I just think when bands break up there’s usually a reason. And when they get back together there’s usually a reason too ($$$$$ + sideprojects didnt particularly take off = reunion). Granted this isn’t always the case but I am immediately suspicious. It will get all the hippies out of Cville for a weekend though and I’m all for that!
haha. that’s funny…it’s a good thing I don’t live in C’ville proper. I won’t be missed.
I’ll let the band figure out all the finances, I just want to look at the pretty lights.
Walking out on a harpua (no extra “h” brah) is about the dumbest thing I have ever heard.
just got back from a monumental night at Lazy Parrot - Trey was there and sat in with the house band and debuted an epic new song called “Page’s Sandwich”
[…] rumors of a comeback kicked into high gear earlier this summer when three of the members of Phish appeared on stage together at the Rothbury Music Festival back […]