I think that people who judge Phish harshly may not understand that, like the Dead, so much of the appeal of the band had to do with the communal atmosphere they sought to create during their live shows. If you're to type of person that buys albums to hear great recording artists or goes to shows to hear the best musicians than Phish would never have appealed to you.

Back in 1990, early June, a quartet of shaggy mates from Vermont arrived at my beucolic boarding school along the Connecticut River to play a show for a bunch of preppies on a Saturday afternoon. They brought their little trampolines and a handful of hippy followers selling t-shirts. About 150 of us in the audience danced our asses off for nearly 4 hours. Trey would stop on occasion to talk to us about music and life. The band invited us on the low-rent risers we had erected for a stage and let us strum a few chords or take turns "bouncing 'round the room." When it was all over we had a memory that would stay with us forever.

Do I think the music of Phish is on par with the best acts of the 90s? Hell no. But their demeanor and generocity of spirit is what made me a fan of their music and everything else they stood for.

Years later I cought one of their New Years eve shows in Madison Square Garden. I had a good time. It wasn't like before, but the connetion their fans had to the music was nearly the same. I hope that explains a little of their popularity to the sceptics.

Love Phish!! Noodling and all