Phish is NOT a Jamband

Discuss

I have always felt this way..... The "jamband" classification doesn't do them justice and it is an immediate turn off for many listeners. It is superficial but its the truth.

Counterpoint:

Phish IS a jamband, and there's nothing wrong with that. "Jamband" is just a genre label. If you don't like applying genre labels in general, or if you hate the negative associations that the word jamband conjures up, that's fine, but that's a different discussion. The one genre label that best applies to Phish is probably "jamband." Like most other bands with that label, they jam quite a bit, play long, multi-set shows, and blend lots of genres.

That doesn't diminish what they do or imply that they never do anything other than what you'd expect from the genre, it's just a label to help classify them. To pick some examples mostly at random, was Robert Johnson "just" a blues player? Was Fugazi "just" a punk band? Well, basically yes. That doesn't diminish what they did, or imply that they never incorporated other influences. Both were very unique artists, and they differed in many ways from the typical musicians in their respective genres, but those labels still serve a purpose. They are just a way to help describe those artists to people that know nothing about them. Same thing with Phish.

I agree with that to an extent. The label of a "jam band" definitely repels people. But unlike a lot of other "Rock N Roll" bands, they improvise a lot more on stage than anything else, so I'd still technically call them a jam band. But they are a jam band that plays everything and every style of music. There really isn't anything specific that you can label phish that pinpoints the band as a whole.

Under the genre tab on itunes, everyone should just rename it to "live music". That should cover it.

I don't really like to call them a "Rock N Roll" band because I do believe that makes them sound limited. There should definitely be something more broad we could call them.

Typically, Phish tickles my Jazz sensibilities more so than Rock.

I do, however, like me a good Tweeprise.

@Penn42 I dig your thoughts on this. My only response is that of course there are shitty jam bands. Just like there are shitty rock bands, metal bands, bluegrass bands, etc.

@relax_ said:

Personally, I like to think of them as Avant-Neo-Psychedelic-Fusion-driven Trad with a touch of Retro-Swamp-Heartland-Free-Funk-Jazz Revival.

Signed'

At first there was no genre. The Dead and their improvising contemporaries (e.g. the Allman Brothers) were anomalies, as were Phish and a handful of second-generation bands that regardless of other influences got their start on roads carved and paved by the Dead.

When the big tree came thundering down in 1995, an entire genre was released from its shadow and exploded into bloom. A ridiculous variety of jam-oriented talent flourished from the mid-late 90s into the early-mid 2000s. The wave crested, and it was already beginning to ebb by the time the term "jamband" came into play. Phish is among the seminal outfits that simultaneously belongs to and transcends the jamband genre.

@Penn42
You bring up a very good point. I agree with you completely that the jamband classification extends beyond the music and encompasses the whole ethos more than anything stylistic. I've always argued to people who ignorantly try to say that Phish is a GD ripoff band that their music doesn't sound all that similar, and that the similarities were in terms of their overall philosophy and culture. But they're both definitely "jambands" by any normal definition of the term.

I don't think there's anything wrong with bringing non-musical factors into genre classifications though. I hadn't thought about any of this before, but the very least, I'd argue that it's something that's not exclusive to the jamband label. To take one of the examples I used earlier, Fugazi is a "punk" band in large part due to their DIY/anticorporate philosophy, their roots in the DC scene, and the previous projects of their members (Minor Threat being the most obvious one). Much of their music bears little resemblance to punk, like this song, which I'd say has more in common musically with indie rock. Hell, indie rock itself is basically a classification at least nominally based on one's place in the music industry rather than any particular musical characteristics. To beat the point into the ground, the "electronic music" label is technically entirely about process rather than the end product (though of course they are closely related in practice). I'm not sure what my point is, but it's interesting to think about.

Phish is Phish just like The Grateful Dead is The Grateful Dead, they have their own genre of music. Its every genre you can think of rolled into one giant monster of a band, with a lot of improvisation and jamming.

I haven't seen this dead horse in a while

i like phish - they JAM!

Band that jams = jam band

You guys take this kinda stuff too seriously.

You mean it characterizes them too broadly?

@TinaFeyScar said:

@patper

No man - thats the problem..... They improvise (which any performer who frequently tours should).

Should, but doesn't. This is a part of the problem and also a reason I admire any Jam Band.

@patper

no... too narrowly.

No disrespect, but who really cares what they're classified as? They're a band who jams, and if a label holds somebody back from listening to their music, then sucks for them, they'll never know the greatness that is the Phish. I, myself, will continue to refer to them as jamband, and anyone else can label them however they want. The jamming is the most significant aspect of why I love Phish, and if somebody else thinks they're lame because of their interpretation of a jamband, then once again, sucks for them.

Funny . . . if memory serves, Phish is a traditional roots reggae band . . .

Phish is a jam band. Almost every jam band sucks. But Phish is one that clearly doesn't. But they're still a jam band. Anyone who says anything different is in denial.

I agree. Phish is a band that jams.

@deBebbler said:

@openpath said:

Funny . . . if memory serves, Phish is a traditional roots reggae band . . .

Actually it is Authentic Jamacian Roots Reggae.

Indeed they are, mon...in the Makisupa stylee.

Phish is THE jamband.

@spaced nails it, imo.

I really never liked the term "jamband" and resisted it for many years, but whatever. Its a thing. And phish is that (but not exclusively that). And I'll stick to a realization from the late 90s, one of my good friend's quotes: "I don't really like jambands, I just like Phish."

To this day, when someone asks me (out of sincerity and curiosity) "What kind of music do they play?" I always lead off with "Rock and roll." (Despite knowing that the correct answer is "Authentic Jamaican Roots Reggae." )

I stopped leading with rock and started leading with Jazz-Rock, Orchestrated Rock Anthems, and other more traditional rock and throw in blue grass and a cappella on the side.

Then they stand there with their mouth agape and I think to myself thats what i look like at concerts. Then they say they don't get it, and I say I know, it's ok.

or

They say awesome!! I'd love to see that....then I invite

am i rambling?