Classical Composer Reacts to Phish (Divided Sky) | The Daily Doug (Episode 397)

#Phish #DividedSky #PhishReaction
In this episode of #TheDailyDoug, I'm listening to music by Phish for the first time on the channel. I was astounded to learn that Trey Anastasio's hometown is Princeton, NJ (where I went to graduate school and still live nearby). I was also fascinated by this song's backstory. But, I was most impressed with the band's musicality and sophistication within their improvising and jamming while performing this song. I hope you enjoy!
Reference Video: • Phish - 8/29/12 "Divid...
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[@PauliG]

…also at 14:07 you said “I’m really enjoying myself.” Funny you should say that! The next tune you react to should be “You Enjoy Myself.” Another masterpiece.

[@brianchristiansen8511]

I came here to say this.

[@johnolsen6095]

I literally laughed out loud when he said that.

[@chrismagsmags]

@@johnolsen6095 Me too. Im like right on man

[@jakecohen5739]

@@johnolsen6095 I think we all did!

[@Gr8flGrrl]

My thoughts exactly! LOL

[@chrisphair1699]

Reba is in my opinion the quintessential Phish song. Odd progression and timings, quirky lyrics, great hook over the chorus, composed piece, inspiring guitar driven end jam, tying it all back together with a good ole whistling section before calling it a day. So many great versions out there really can't go wrong, but I think most would say prior to 2000, or anything after 2009. The in between years can be touch and go. You Enjoy Myself is going to get a lot of votes, and it's well deserved, but the "vocal" jam near the end will either blow people away, or force them to click unsubscribe.

[@dla233]

Good opinion on Reba… spot on

[@morganghetti]

Definitely my favorite phish jam.

[@harpua8298]

If I absolutely had to pick a favorite Phish song, it would probably be Reba. Even when Trey flubs that tricky middle section, the jam always makes up for it. That groove is my happy place

[@WhiteWolf--]

Halloween 94-Glens Falls Civic Center hands down the best Reba I've ever heard

[@PPP-td2nk]

Bag it, tag it baby.

[@jasonremy1627]

If you want another great instrumental from this period, "You Enjoy Myself" would be a great one. If you want a more traditional song format from a bit later in their career, "Waste" would be great listen.

[@Darkalen]

I'll vote up "Waste"

[@bernadinegates7109]

Definitely YEM :)

[@jackstraw8145]

@@bernadinegates7109 YEM and The Curtain With of course

[@joshphillips9033]

Waste is a great choice for this format

[@JeffHochberg]

I was also going to suggest You Enjoy Myself. Especially after you said “I’m really enjoying myself”. Lots of great arpeggios and amazing transitions.

[@matabercrombie3816]

In regard to the crazy stuff you read after the song: Trey’s thesis in music school was to wright a musical/rock opera. It’s a story about a far away land called “Gamehendge” which is inhabited by a race of kind-hearted but dimwitted folk. All the knowledge their society possesses is contained in a single book written by the great prophet Iculus. One day a traveler came to town and stole the only copy of this book, thereby enslaving the land and installing himself as the evil King Wilson. The story of the musical follows a new traveler from our world who finds himself magically transported to Gamehenge and helps a band of rebels steal back the book from Wilson and liberate the land. Most of the songs from this opera became the bedrock of classic Phish tunes from the very early days of the band. The name of the opera is “The Man Who Stepped Into Yesterday”, but the songs, characters, and story points from this material is generally referred to by fans simply as “Gamehenge”.

[@bullwinklemoose8291]

Great summary Matt. Read Icculus...the great and knowlegable Icculus.

[@joshspurgeon5288]

Read the PHuCKING book!!!

[@averyprice9422]

But the land wasn't liberated ... Aaron Wolfe just took Wilson's place and they locked the Colonel in a dungeon...

[@alexanderednie1205]

Read the freakin book

[@xxyphaxx]

So glad you like your first Phish song. 'Fluffhead' or 'You Enjoy Myself' are also superbly written and played songs that you might want to review next Doug.

[@spicetraders]

Fluffhead, YEM, Reba, David Bowie... YES!

[@77kevd]

YEM is the clear choice for the next ph video

[@KyloRenNStimpy]

Literally came to post these two songs... these are all early songs of theirs and great showcases of treys writing ability

[@ebitdareadthebook1535]

and Reba!

[@SantamanitaClauscaria]

@@77kevd I agree. The only question is which one?

[@Read-Icculus]

"Guyute" and "It's Ice" both have interesting compositions. As a piano player, you may like "The Squirming Coil"

[@thejeremyclouse]

Squirming coil as a set closer might be a great vid for Doug.

[@coreychung5282]

It's Ice has some crazy composition of 5ths, 4ths, and 3rds in sequence to build the tension

[@dreadpirate88]

Yes on all three of those. The version of Coil from “A Live One” is great.

[@EILevine]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/iIDVqaanm7ODa7s

[@sweatband100]

+1 for Guyute!

[@getexis8685]

I'm flabbergasted... I didn't know this band or their music that good. I liked the surprise. Good job

[@turnsout5061]

Oh wow, you should definitely delve further man. They have like 350+ songs. Live is best but the albums are all great too. They hit on all kinds of styles and are outstanding at improv/jamming. It’s rewarding stuff. I’d start with The albums Junta, Lawn Boy, and Rift. Have fun!

[@getexis8685]

@@turnsout5061 Thanks for the sugestion. I'm always learning.

[@liberatedhippything]

Get into the live shit and you'll probably puke lol. They're so weird talented and it's - as my boyfriend says a love hate relationship and it's insane to me that so many other people feel same.

[@justing42]

@@liberatedhippything hate for sure

[@getexis8685]

@@justing42 Not always but sometimes this contradictory love/hate is what attracts us. The Phish can perhaps configure that situation even stranger; we have days we like it and other times we don't. I recognize that it also depends on our state of mind that day.

[@jphive5]

“They’re not in a hurry.” Music stops. Welcome to your first phish prank. And it was pulled off perfectly on you. :)

[@user-cr2bt3zp1f]

@@gregsalisbury4967 11:44

[@AAronL1968]

The pause in Divided Sky lasts for "three waves of applause."

[@Faceman400]

Gotta love it!

[@jonathanquigley1851]

The pause, at a love summer outdoor show, is often from when the sun touches the horizon until it goes behind

[@justing42]

So lame

[@MikeB12800]

Who else thought “You Enjoy Myself” when he said “I’m really enjoying myself y’all”?

[@TK-fk4po]

Totally.

[@matt_white_music]

If you get a chance, go see them live. They’re one of the best bands I’ve ever seen. 👍🏻

[@phishyleo]

I’ve been a Phish fan since 1992. What you read is Trey’s senior thesis, “The man who stepped into yesterday.” It’s in essence a musical, from which many phish songs and lore sprang from. You def want to listen to Harry Hood. Very epic song and maybe there best!

[@otherstar1]

Harry Hood and Harpua are two of my favorite Phish songs.

[@pirate2031]

Yes, Harry Hood. You will love.

[@treyphan420]

What if I told you that not only did Trey write this at 19-22 years old, but he wrote it as an orchestral piece...for a four piece rock band...nobody does that...

[@tayloroquinn1976]

Yup, Trey & Zappa are the only ones I can think of.

[@amosdusseldorf4304]

The overture by the disco biscuits

[@jeremysheely3930]

Cough cough Jon Gutwillig...

[@treyphan420]

Ok ladies, now they'll me which one of those greats we're writing that shit as a teenager ... I'll wait

[@86vibrato]

@@treyphan420 bravo sir agreed

[@petergrow3375]

I love that Phish is getting a reaction! I think Foam from pre-2000 would be a good one.

[@aae1972]

Second this. Doug would really enjoy the interplay on this one.

[@Read-Icculus]

Love the Foam!

[@petergrow3375]

@YA Totally agree. Some say its YEM or Bowie or Divided but for me, Foam is the true early Phish song to understand all that is early composed-era Phish. There's some cool fugues in things like Guelah or the "chase" segment of Reba but Foam is the core for me.

[@TK-fk4po]

UNDERRATED song indeed.

[@kendrickjim23]

I agree. I came to say Foam. It was noted that the climbing riff in Divided Sky moves up by a minor third and I think that’s because, especially for these early songs, they were composed on guitar by a guitar player. I think(?) Foam was Trey’s first real attempt to write a composition for all instruments. Another good one would be Split Open & Melt where Trey actually charted out everything. I’d also suggest giving all of Trey’s solo album Seis De Mayo a listen.FWIW, I’d disagree with the You Enjoy Myself suggestions. Not that it’s a bad tune but it is similar to Divided Sky in that it is definitely a song composed on guitar and I’d want to hear something a bit different.

[@sidlevy7828]

To my Phish Phriends, you can thank me for recommending this show to Doug. I really enjoyed watching Doug's puzzlement when we came to the pregnant pause.

[@maxwellbrand]

he really should be listening to the album versions

[@NickDonellan]

Nice job. They were so tight on this!

[@biscorbit]

​@@maxwellbrandthe Live version of Divided Sky is better at this point of time. Same goes with other songs from Junta

[@gregoryantonucci8683]

Totally befuddled. 😂

[@benwear]

Hey Doug, divided sky and the weird paragraph were from Trey's senior thesis titled, The Man Who Stepped Into Yesterday, which is based on the created Gamehenge mythology. Wilson is a character in the mythology. You can find the original recording of The Man Who Stepped Into Yesterday online if you want to hear the whole thing with narration. I'm pretty sure the band has played it in its entirety live a time or two. Thanks for the great content!

[@ebitdareadthebook1535]

You're just throwing him straight in the deep end hahah - Welcome to the dark side, Doug. Remember to READ THE BOOK!

[@christyneruffolo7083]

There are many phish songs that play off of this as well, and there’s a period of time where you’ll find them played a lot live. Songs like guyuye, icculus, fly famous mockingbird, lizards, and more reference gamehenge and help to tell the story. Have fun, read the book, there’s no turning back. You’re gonna have to see a show now.. Compositionally divided sky has always been my favorite, but as many others have said you enjoy myself is an obvious pick. Personally though I would look into Trey Anastasio Band as well - he’s got a horn section!

[@bemplit]

@@christyneruffolo7083 AC/DC Bag, Colonel Forbin's Ascent, McGrupp and the Watchful Hosemasters, Llama...all part of Gamehendge. All superbly composed.

[@benwear]

Oh, and if I chose your next Phish tune, I would go with Harry Hood as my fave, but You Enjoy Myself is also a great piece! Then again, there are some incredible sleepers out there, like Mound, so choosing one to go with is always tough! Good luck, but I have no doubt that you will enjoy most any phish tune you choose.

[@ebitdareadthebook1535]

@@benwear I wanna hear him review the Bomb factory Tweezer, Went Gin, 12/9/95 Yem

[@scottygelbs]

Glad you enjoyed Divided Sky, your reviews are really appreciated! As a classical composer interested in choir arrangements I promise you that you will LOVE the song The Lizards. It has more lyrics pertaining to what you had read regarding the musical that involved Divided Sky and harmonies. Enjoy and Welcome Home!

[@treebeard8475]

Lizards is beautiful ⭕️⭕️⭕️⭕️⭕️

[@seanmurphy4077]

The Lizards is my all time favorite Phish song, between the fun lyrics, the musical middle, and the “aaaah” singing to close it out, just gives me goosebumps EVERY time I listen to it!

[@ThevelvetdogsG13]

This is so awesome to see someone hear them for there first time. There are so many more absolutely brilliant pieces. As a fellow musician and 30 year phish fan, welcome to our world. Go listen to you enjoy myself, my friend my friend, the horse, maze Keep these phish videos coming please. Thanks for making me smile

[@fluffhead917]

Watching someone get blown away by Phish for the first time is really awesome. The first 2 songs I heard in 1993 were Bouncin Round the Room and Fee. That was it. I thought it was weird, but great..

[@elizabethvanorden3028]

I'm with you. I got hooked at summer camp in the early 1990s because all of the counselors were college kids and I was blown away. I am also a classically-trained musician and can't wait for Deer Creek in 2 weeks!

[@sweatband100]

It was fascinating to watch your reaction to the long pause, it is something that the band loves to do with this tune live…I think you hit it on the head when you said “They’re not in any hurry here”, lol. The beautiful thing is that they have cultivated an audience that’s not in any hurry either! The trick is to surrender to the phlow! Song suggestions: Reba, Guyute, Stash, The Lizards

[@mulletjc]

Hey Doug, big Phish fan here and have been watching a lot of your videos lately so this is a welcome surprise! I would suggest Reba (video from Clifford Ball), which is a similar song with a long composed section followed by a jam

[@ArtimJar]

Reba would be a great next song to dive into-there’s a fugue in the compositional section, among other cool things. Three great versions readily available on YT: Reba 1996-08-17 | The Clifford Ball, Reba 6/19/95 - Deer Creek Amphitheater, and Phish - 6/17/12 "Reba".

[@thejeremyclouse]

Yes

[@NalinX]

This

[@michaeleckhardt5019]

Clifford Ball Reba was the first thing that came to my mind. Doug...8/17/96...Reba. it's on KZbin. Pro-shot, multi-camera. You won't be disappointed!

[@johnthiele984]

THIS is THE Reba - 1994, Glens Falls, NY, Halloween (The White Album Show) kzbin.info/www/bejne/qZDbcoN-mq2CmrM

[@princehartsea]

Fully agreed. 10/31/94 is THE Reba. But if Doug is more likely to enjoy reacting to Phish when he can enjoy professionally-shot footage in addition to the recording, then I'll also suggest Clifford Ball Reba.

[@jonromefoodmusic]

I enjoyed it with you. They are a devilish group. I think you would be really tickled by Foam, David Bowie, Fluffhead. These are all incredible compositions that harken Pat Metheny, Mahvishnnu, and Monk sometimes simultaneously. This was just A+ content.

[@userslickcrownvic]

Hah! First time exposure to Phish and I heard Pat Metheny vibes at certain times. Made this ol' timer smile....

[@jleitch76]

Doug, Gamehendge is a fictional land where Trey's senior thesis, "The Man Who Stepped into Yesterday", is set. The recording of the thesis is composed of several songs, with narrations between them telling the story. This is required listening for anyone looking to get into Phish's music. The "Gamehendge" songs are an integral part of Phish lore, and are still played at their shows. When a Gamehendge song makes an appearance, it is a special moment. Have a listen to the original recording here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aZDdp5qgaMhjbZY

[@andrewtrexler293]

Reba, You Enjoy Myself and Slave to the Traffic Light would all be excellent choices. You Enjoy Myself is kind of like Phish in a 20 - 25 minute nutshell

[@thejeremyclouse]

I’d recommend a hard stop at the vocal jam, or a version without one.

[@matteopacelli9001]

@@thejeremyclouse every vocal jam is different so idk maybe he’ll find it funny I mean this band also has a humorous aspect that a lot of people love

[@stephenjohnson4634]

Slave to the Traffic Light is an all time favorite. Masterfully composed piece of work!

[@RossOrsucci]

I love watching musicians from all different backgrounds blown away by the different aspects of Phish. They're not just rock, they're not just funk, they're not just some hippie band. Phish is music for musicians.

[@BuckHypervisor]

I found you because of Phish. Divided Sky is one of those songs that'll bring tears to my eyes when it hits me right.

[@owenstc]

Lots of great suggestions here…a more recent “composed” phish song is a song called Petrichor. Similar to divided sky with different movements. But their original compositions from Junta are my faves. YEM, Foam (this one is really interesting from a composition standpoint, lots of chromatic movement), Fluffhead, David Bowie, Harry Hood. You have a LOT of potential content here if you tap into the Phish community, btw. Good luck!

[@jeremywillinger6404]

EXCELLENT pick. Maybe the one from New Years Eve?

[@EILevine]

Also one of my favorites when he plays with the orchestra kzbin.info/www/bejne/hHSsaWCQZdtqock

[@g420ize]

Nooooo. Only the classics

[@j.g.5693]

oooOOOooo. Let's see him do the 12/29/94 Providence Bowie.

[@filmpopmovie]

A composer analyzes Phish? I’m smiling. Welcome to the our world, sir.

[@lotwook]

"I'm enjoying mysely, which song should I do next" - Well, "You Enjoy Myself", another highly composed song. Or "Fluffhead", you'd have fun with both of those.

[@ithaliem]

Try "My Friend My Friend" from their album "Rift". It's musically highly interesting song with some morbid lyrics that only Phish could write.

[@kallisti23]

MIFE

[@martyw9504]

You can do any phish song from any of their live concerts and you can't go wrong

[@ditmavic]

First time I've heard this group, very nice. reminds me a lot of Camel, especially the guitarist who sounds like Andy Latimer.

[@hedgehog]

Lots of great suggestions on this thread already. More technical, composition driven: You Enjoy Myself or Reba are great BUT… To see a great example of what the band is doing now… Ghost from 4/21/22 MSG

[@marcsierra6439]

"They are not in a hurry..." Never a truer statement has been used to describe The Phish.

[@dreadpirate88]

Theme From The Bottom would be fun for the next one.

[@animalcinema]

These are so fun to listen to. Feels like hearing for the first time again through your ears!

[@michaelschey1084]

Two words: Harry Hood

[@pablodanielbujanmatas106]

So nice to see you diving into Phish!!! You have to hear "You enjoy myself", "Guyute", "David Bowie", "Rift"... they have so many great songs!!! I almost forget, you have to hear "The Squirming coil"!!!!!!

[@treebeard8475]

David Bowie is fire 🔥

[@jeremywillinger6404]

For him, Coil would be a great piece

[@EdWard-iy1pu]

Harry Hood from 11/30/2019 is a good one. A composed song with a bit of improv toward the end.

[@shanebilowitz7261]

The weird part right after the vocal break is a musical palindrome.

[@elizabeththomason5964]

Next listen to: You Enjoy Myself, Fluffhead, Guyute, and Slave to the Traffic Light. Guarantee you’ll be a fan by the time you’re done listening to everyone’s suggestions! So glad you have finally decided to pull up your chair and have a listen 🎵🎶

[@sandstronaut]

Yes!!!! Been hoping for you to do some Phish! Especially these grand early compositions like Divided Sky. I think you'd love Reba from 10/31/94

[@thejeremyclouse]

Reba is amazing…lyrically it can be a challenge for new ears. Bag it tag it can scare people away from a masterpiece of music culminating in peaking fugue jam

[@manualboyca]

REBA!!

[@TK-fk4po]

Exactly the Reba I was thinking.

[@PauliG]

@@thejeremyclouse Every time I hear the Jam to Reba, I am reminded how a simple two chord jam can be so amazing. Two. Chords.

[@cleantones]

@Doug one thing to think about is that the guitarist composed this when in College in the 80's. This bands debut album Junta is worth a listen and especially in the context of it being essentially a college/bar band in Northern VT in the late 80's. Very impressive and holds up to this day. One of the all time best rock bands indeed.

[@tatevancleve1802]

I love hearing music lovers listen to phish for their first time. You have no idea. Between you enjoy myself, to foam, fluffhead, guyute, it's ice, petrichor, you could listen and find unimaginable beauty the rest of your life. Trey us a fountain of music like some of the greatest musical composer's ever. That's why his music translates so well to symphonies.

[@tbangert2584]

For beautifully orchestrated Phish songs done with strings, check out Trey's 2020 Beacon Jams residency. A month of streamed shows during the pandemic. The arrangement of Harry Hood from the sessions is gorgeous.

[@bobschenkel7921]

The "pause" is always a part of Divided Sky, the video from "The Clifford Ball" will confirm this, that was an all-Phish three day event at an old Air Force base in Plattsburgh, N.Y. a few years before this show. I attended ten Phish shows from 1990-95 and they played this song at most of them, always a highlight, but most songs are their own highlight. No filler at Phish shows, jamming yes, filler no. I also attended about 50 Grateful Dead shows from 1980-95, and also Gov't Mule, Allman Brothers, String Cheese Incident, Widespread Panic, Oysterhead, and many other "Jam Bands", because it's ALL SO GOOD!!! Being a musician, you'll love exploring Phish, they are all really great musicians, as you will discover. If you haven't already.

[@cleantones]

I think you would like Guyute, You Enjoy Myself, Fluffhead, Petrichor. They have hundreds of songs.

[@kevinm8871]

WOOOO Thanks for doing this. Harry Hood and Slave to the Traffic Light would be my next suggestions as plenty others have recommended YEM. Or if you really want to go there, can't beat 10/31/94 Reba.

[@brianrestuccia9756]

fluffhead, david bowie, slave to the traffic light, You Enjoy Myself

[@scottbowen5190]

For more songs like this one 'Stash' or 'You enjoy myself' are two good choices for next. Theme from the bottom, waste, down with disease, or Julius are good choices to see their more structured songs.

[@manualboyca]

STASH is my favorite from Phish....maybe on my top 20 favorite songs of all time! YOU ENJOY MYSELF is also amazing!

[@jonathanlobell1533]

Hey Doug! I very much appreciated your analysis of Divided Sky, particularly your calling out the various modulations, modes, and overall subtleties of the dynamic interplay between the band members. I would really like to hear your interpretation of three of the most dynamic and complex standouts in Phish's core canon, namely "Ha Ha Ha", "Ass Handed", and "Fuck Your Face". Thanks!

[@lisawilliams8180]

Lol

[@jimrunaway5060]

😂🤣

[@joehynes5452]

🤣🤣🤣

[@marksherrick]

that's a good way to chase the guy away. 😆

[@253spkelly253]

Personally I think the studio version of “rift” is a great listen, the battle between the guitar and piano is heavenly

[@22over7guy]

I say do Reba from Clifford Ball (kzbin.info/www/bejne/fZS6n36Eg9pka7M). A couple of reasons: 1. It has tons of lyrics - quite different from Divided Sky. 2. see if you can figure out what keys they cycle through during said lyrics. 3. It has some great composition. 4. the jam is as free as any they have ever played without ever leaving the basic structure of the song.

[@jllamb88]

I vote for “Demand” off Hoist, which also contains a really sweet section of a live performance of “Split Open and Melt”

[@sobrietyisoverrated]

First Tube, Bouncing around the room… personal fave of mine is Esther. Get your head right first. 😉✌🏼

[@mariocartaya6165]

If you're looking for some of their other material similar to Divided Sky, I'd go with: You Enjoy Myself, David Bowie, The Curtain With, Foam, Harry Hood or Stash (if you're REALLY adventurous, check out Fluffhead). If you want to see them at their best, make sure it's a show from 2000 or earlier (aka the 1.0 era).

[@mattflickinger8151]

Welcome aboard, and welcome aboard me, to this channel. You are about to see the “phish bump”, and gain like 25% subscribers if you keep these up…

[@mktplyr76]

Divided Sky has been one of my absolute favorite songs since i heard it in 1992. Still gives me chills 30 years later!

[@johnhugunin8239]

You Enjoy Myself, sure, but I’d love to see you watch Reba!

[@josephchisholm2654]

I think of Trey's big compositions as being "Fluffhead," "Reba," "Guyute" and "Petrichor." Any of those would be an excellent choice. There's also one more that we don't talk about. It's fine.

[@JasonTBell]

Agree - I enjoy Petrichor from the NYE show. kzbin.info/www/bejne/nZOwhZRnrsqGr9k

[@RubyWaves]

TTE is better than Petrichor shut up

[@anvobiandreams]

ah, you must be speaking of Jennifer Dances

[@kristootle5066]

Time turns elastic. It's okay to talk about your feelings.

[@josephchisholm2654]

@@kristootle5066 In that case: the acoustic demo is sweet, the orchestral version is bloated, and the breakout performance after eleven years because there was no audience in attendance to complain was pretty funny.

[@whatwouldhousedo5136]

AWESOME! Welcome to the insane and very deep rabbit hole of Phish. Interesting pick for an introduction for sure. A couple of things- the part just after the vocals is a musical palindrome, as someone else mentioned; Trey wrote it out, and then flipped it around and charted it exactly the same again but in reverse. Trey would often challenge himself to write really 'out there' stuff to bring to the guys. Or, to quote him- "I want to see how far out there I can take it and still make people dance". The 'pause' is one of his famous 'tension and release' things, which is prevalent in his writing, jamming, and solos. The pause builds tension while the crowd waits for him to play "The Note" that resolves the preceding phrase. It's become a thing now where he knows we will scream our heads off until he drops The Note and he enjoys it. A lot of people are suggesting You Enjoy Myself (YEM) or other pieces with minimal lyrics- all amazing compositions to be sure, but I'd suggest a more vocally-based song to get a different side of the band. They have a lot of straight-ahead songs, but some that combine the Phishy weirdness and intense composition with vocals are Reba (HUGE crowd favourite), The Squirming Coil (gorgeous piano outro by Page) and Guyute- an extremely dense, challenging piece that is also highly melodic and really rips. Maze is also one of my top Phish songs- very weird but a real rocker. Birds of a Feather is great and has a lot of funk. The Horse/Silent in the Morning shows a different side- very beautiful but also complex musically- something not a lot of bands seem to pull off well. Guyute might be a great one- there is a live version they shot for TV on October 20, 1998 that is incredible- very intimate setting and shows just how tight they were. Trey's concentration in the middle section is insane. And a note abut lyrics- while they have a lot of great lyrics especially in their gorgeous ballads like Waste, Fast Enough For You, Dirt, or Secret Smile, they also have a lot of weirdness for weirdness sake- abstract stuff with no meaning except to act a a 'fifth instrument' to hang melody on, or to create the playful, whimsical humor we all love. Looking forward to more!

[@adriennefloreen]

None of those songs have nonsense lyrics, you just don't understand the lyrics.

[@whatwouldhousedo5136]

@@adriennefloreen Excuse me? You don't know anything about me and therefore cannot make any judgement on what I do or do not understand. Read what I wrote again- you will see that the syntax clearly indicates I was not referring to any of the specific songs I listed when I was talking about lyrics- i was referring to some Phish songs in general. Which, according to Trey and Tom, (who should know;) are precisely what I said- words simply meant as a fifth instrument used move the melody forward. Are you going to tell me that "rhinplastic microgaze" or "solar garlic" mean anything? Have a cup of coffee and catch your breath, phanner.

[@adriennefloreen]

You said, "And a note abut lyrics- while they have a lot of great lyrics especially in their gorgeous ballads like Waste, Fast Enough For You, Dirt, or Secret Smile, they also have a lot of weirdness for weirdness sake- abstract stuff with no meaning except to act a a 'fifth instrument' to hang melody on, or to create the playful, whimsical humor we all love." That is not true. You only listed songs that had lyrics that were straightforward that anyone could understand with no hidden meaning. Obviously you think the rest of Phish's lyrics do not make sense as you stated or implied.

[@adriennefloreen]

@@whatwouldhousedo5136 Yes, solar garlic has a meaning. The solar garlic starts to rot... that is the full lyric. Control for smilers can't be bought... You obviously have no clue... Was it for this my life I sought? Go sit down and listen to Stash again, I cannot and will not retype the entire lyrics to Stash. Stash is not a nonsense song. Guelah Papyrus is not a nonsense song, I actually sang that song on my channel. Here's the actual lyrics which you misspelled. Read them, this is NOT a nonsense song. genius.com/Phish-guelah-papyrus-lyrics

[@adriennefloreen]

@@whatwouldhousedo5136 "Aboard a craft bereft of oar I rowed upstream to find Lenore Abducted by a bandit Or a king from some forgotten war And mindful of his larval craze The rhinotropic micro-gaze Ignored it and to my amazement Rode to Paris in twelve days This is the work of the guelah papyrus Stranded for a moment on the ocean of Osyrus Absorbing all she can for every member of her clan Expanding exponentially like some recursive virus." This is not a nonsense song! Your lack of understanding of something does not equal it being nonsense!

[@coastercook]

Well said on the comment about extending the emotional space while attending a concert. Divided Sky is one that is composed and played the same, for the most part. You should check out Stash.

[@WisdomHouseCreative]

Agreed. Wonderfully put.

[@melissawest5921]

Highly recommend: YEM Shoreline 2000: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z3XTfIZsi5iLbq8 Camel Walk Gorge 2021 - kzbin.info/www/bejne/eKenfmaZptWkj9k

[@jez443]

Trey did a whole symphony tour, I think you’d dig some renditions of these songs he did on that tour!

[@chrishale1019]

Phish’s simplicity is their genius. Bite-sized melodic nuggets, clever rhythmic misdirections and use of space, and a sense of humor. Choice compositions also include You Enjoy Myself, Reba, Run Like an Antelope, and Stash. Of course, from there are another 100 stunning tunes in a myriad of genres. Phish is a musical rabbit hole worth the plunge.

[@tkelleher75]

Since you asked... 😎 I'm torn between recommending "You Enjoy Myself," also one of their older tunes, and going with something more recent, like "Mercury." 🤷‍♀️

[@dknapp100]

"Mound". So Phish. So unique. Hope you check it out.

[@stoppropaganda2573]

How such a prolific and talented band has stayed underground for so long is baffling ...

[@sgsg1212]

Underground? They have been selling out MSG multiple nights every year since the mid-1990s! They don't make disposable radio garbage for teenagers, so if you measure "underground" by radio play, yeah. But they're one of the biggest budget bands ever, with the best sound system, best lights, best crew ... oh yeah, best musicians, best fans!

[@stoppropaganda2573]

@@sgsg1212 Calm down, I'm a fan. And since they get little press or play ... yes they are underground.

[@nirradical]

Yeah I'd say they're pretty far above ground at this point...

[@fluffhead917]

@@sgsg1212 He wasn't insulting the band. He just means you NEVER hear them on the radio, or even talked about that much. They have their own universe..

[@sgsg1212]

@@fluffhead917 yeah I know. Underground isn't an insult anyway.

[@jayteasprout]

Made me think of when I first heard Divided Sky as a teenager. This song still means so much to me 20+ years later. Glad Doug enjoyed it. This is my favorite Phish song. Would love to hear a breakdown of the other epics like Reba or You Enjoy Myself.

[@shyshift]

Tweezer from A Live One. 30 minutes of musical magic.

[@russellflagg8519]

Taken from the Bangor, Maine show in 1994.

[@antoniocarlin5026]

YES!! Jjeje when I was a tennager here in México on the 90s....I think PHISH was the ex singer from Marillion jajaja... these was my first experience with the band. 1994 :p

[@shyshift]

@@antoniocarlin5026 no Fish Scotland sang in Marillion 4 albums 1983-1987. Phish American band.

[@antoniocarlin5026]

@@shyshift YES! I Know...I´m 45 but in 1994 I´m 17 years old...the only bands that I had heard (prog) was Pink Floyd, Yes and King Crimson... I was a Teenager Prog Beginner jajajaja

[@phantomtouch7049]

check out "You Enjoy Myself", "Reba", "Harry Hood" or "Fluffhead" next

[@thebreadcraft4216]

I know this is not a popular take, but listen to the studio version of fluffhead. Like no other. Also try the lizards!

[@dla233]

Love the Lizards

[@katesjanice]

If you don't do some deep tracks from 70s Kansas (1st 8 albums), I and my fellow wheatheads may just have to bow out. Some suggestions: Journey from Mariabronn, Lamplight Symphony, Icarus Borne on Wings of Steel, The Pinnacle (!!), The Wall (!!), Miracles out of Nowhere (!!), Portrait, Closet Chronicles, Hopelessly Human (!!), Relentless, Hold On (!!). And there's a double live album, Two for the Show, which is absolutely worth listening to start to finish. More great Kansas please!

[@pimpdaddybdog]

That section where you say "Mary had a little lamb" is a musical palindrome. Written on a staff it goes forwards and backwards in a mirror image. Next, find Reba off of their Lawn Boy album, and listen to the solo section where piano and guitar go through a motif...but then repeat it a half a measure apart from one another creating contrapuntal fugue.

[@michaelgilson2069]

I was hoping someone would mention the palindrome!

[@maxwellbrand]

you really should be listening to the album versions

[@DrChrisKerszko]

My favorite Phish songs are “Lizards” and “Guyute”. As a musician myself, I’ve been in awe of these guys for over 25 years now! Enjoy!

[@harpuajimi]

Compositionally … You Enjoy Myself, Reba, my Friend my friend, David Bowie

[@justherb666]

I saw Phish for the first tine in Keene, NH in the fall of 1989, the (handmade) tickets were $3.

[@chrislinnehan8423]

You Enjoy Myself, Reba, Slave to the Traffic Light, Harry Hood, Stash, The Lizards, Foam, Squirming Coil all have great compositions. You should check out the orchestra version trey did of Divided Sky as well

[@brianfarnan2337]

Try Fluffhead, You Enjoy Myself or Guyute. The quotes you mentioned are part of “Gamehenge” a rock opera written by Trey as his senior thesis in college.

[@groovestochaos8138]

My closest friend (passed away last February) and I had, once upon a time, started working on an A Capella cover of this song, as Muppets. Swedish Chef and Beaker took care of the intro "Mmm bork bork Mmm bork bork mmm MEEP MEEP MEEP MEEP MEEP MEEP MEEP MEEP" Enter Kermit for "Divided Sky the wind blows high".... we hadn't completed much more than that... You recorded this just a few days after his birthday. Thank you for doing this song - it's a very meaningful one for me

[@johnny85er]

Best reaction to a first time Phish performance I’ve seen in awhile. I love seeing people open their eyes and ears to the Phish world. The song 2001, or Punch You In The Eye are both favorites. You would love ‘slave to the traffic light’ 💕💕 I look forward to more. Welcome to our world

[@JamesTrapani]

Composition wise- Guyute, maze, the lizards, Fluffhead, stash As a phan- you enjoy myself, Reba, squirming coil, slave to the traffic light, runaway jim

[@camking8817]

I would highly suggest Fluffhead, Reba, You Enjoy Myself, or It’s Ice.

[@giarc0]

Definitely YEM. Couldn’t help to think of it when you said you were enjoying yourself. Some would say “You Enjoy Myself” ✌️

[@gfuterfas]

Check out the album Rift. It has a theme about a person suffering from a mental split, good and evil. The first song, Rift, incorporates an alternated vocal between Trey and Page... the whole album goes around this theme, of a split\Rift and the dreams ightmares. It's so well-composed. The B-side has a wonderful build to a denouement with The Horse and Silent in the Morning, but It's Ice and Mound are incredible. Trey is virtuoisic on this album, Rift and Maze are the big hits, along with the camp-tune Sparkle, about a guy (Tom, his writing partner) who proposes and shouldn't-have. Divided Sky here isn't a jam. This whole song you reviewed is a composition, no jamming.... You'll know the jams when they happen. Mostly on every song these days, unfortunately.

[@mosheteitz7441]

Gotta do You Enjoy Myself next BUT BEWARE: there’s is an extended vocal jam at the end that is not going to be pleasant

[@owenstc]

Excellent advice re: vocal jam. Improvised phish vocal jams, in my experience, seem to be what scares away people with fresh phish ears the fastest. Even seasoned phans can be overwhelmed at times.

[@sbdeluxe2088]

During the extended pause Trey composes a solo in his head and waits for jungien synchronicity to play out in the crowds reaction to the unheard as Zappa would say imaginary guitar solo. There's an interesting interview with Trey about the Chicago 95 version that is arguably the most poignant performance of this piece in phistory. Obviously under the influence of psychedelics, Trey and the crowd really seemed to, if you're a cynic or unattuned (tune in), coincidentally vibe extremely hard during that specific pause section. Everything's connected maaan.

[@yellowmagicdog3350]

listen to more Phish. Check out "Undermine", check out "Ghost", "Waves", etc. Look up their show from MSG on 4-21-22 and 4-22-22. Great all the way through. Start there! So glad to hear your knowledgeable and thoughtful perspective!

[@tommorris1679]

When I watch this video, it’s more about the connection between the sounds and the environment mixing energy with the crowd. This video would be more about the fusion of all three elements than any one of them alone.

[@yellowmagicdog3350]

@@tommorris1679 Hi Tom, would you be interested in analyzing my new album? Would be awesome to hear all of your thoughts. If I had to label this I would call it Psychedelic. A constant play between beauty and chaos/darkness and light. Would love you to do it! Full album here titled "Colors and Sounds". Thank you and God bless! kzbin.info/www/bejne/kIKkfmdpoJJqa7M

[@nathancoblentzcoblentz7042]

do Guelah Papyrus. There's a mind bending fugue-like counterplay between the guitar and piano.

[@aryehbarson]

Yesssss!! I've been wanting to have Doug respond to this composition since I stumbled across his channel. I would have been satisfied with the studio version, but live is just icing.

[@shawnwilkerson8711]

Check out You Enjoy Myself. You will not be disappointed.

[@filldrummin42]

I love how you're taken in by the "silent jam". He's actually playing the song in his head and seeing if the crowd reacts "in the right places". And you missed what's going on with the rhythm behind everything. Theres a 1, 1-2, 1-2-3 rhythmic circle going on underneath the changes in different places. What got me into Phish was how many layers they are constantly working through in their bigger compositions. And as far as next listen You Enjoy Myself (YEM) is probably the song they've played the most. That one starts composed and comes out in a funk/rock jam. It covers all the bases as far as what the band does. Finally, thank you for getting to my guys! Have enjoyed your channel for a while and have been waiting for this. Nice work! PS/BTW Gamehenge is a music mythology/children's story that Trey created as a senior thesis at Goddard College which you can find and listen through as "The Man Who Stepped Into Yesterday." Wilson is the evil king in the story. Also, the band has on several occasions performed complete "Gamehenge" sets live which are found easily enough on the web. As you saw their singing isn't really up to spec (which, unfortunately is almost to be expected in this genre) but their composition is pretty incredible. What I feel they do best though is in the moment improvisations which, especially lately (you can identify periods of the bands progress using strictly their improvisations), have been coming off as complete works in and of themselves. I'd point to the "Chalkdust Torture" from their Baker's Dozen run of shows at MSG in 2017. As you can tell I can talk about these guys all day. Thought I was already subscribed (as a musician, I watch you a bunch) but now I am officially for sure. Keep up the great work!

[@geoffadavis]

Check out Simple from 8/29/2014, it is composed beautifully.

[@barbarjinx3802]

Hello Phriend and welcome to the Phish community. I sincerely hope you do a lot more. It’s rare to see a band where 4 member are just meant to play together and the whole is so much more than the sum of the parts. Legendary band with legendary shows. 13 consecutive gigs at MSG and not a single repeated tune.

[@nedflanders3769]

Next Phish tune you react to should be Reba, or YEM. Now, as to which performance of those... no idea.. there's so many good ones!

[@dennisquinn7729]

First impressions listening to Phish. Cool jamming! Also, quite a bit of Grateful Dead meets Frank Zappa...

[@ItsAllBallBearings]

Really wish you had done the Clifford Ball version. But awesome reaction.

[@treysguitarlessons4572]

As a classical composer you might enjoy the Phish song, Petrichor, which is one of Treys classical compositions. I witnessed the first time they played it live and you could hear a pin drop in a stadium of 20k people. Also the MSG performance of Petrichor with Broadway dancers does not suck 😉

[@RraMakutsi]

The premier, with the Portland Symphony Orchestra, was heavenly... one of my favorite concert experiences.

[@treysguitarlessons4572]

@@RraMakutsi in person this would have been incredible!

[@anonymousowl72]

I was at that OKC show…driving up from Texas to Colorado for a stellar 3 night run at Dick’s.

[@britterickson4709]

The way you described how jams extend time was beautiful!!!!