# Introduction

## Background

Phish is a musical group from the Burlinton-area in Vermont. Begun in 1983 and reformed around 1986 when second guitarist Jeff Holdsworth left and pianist Page McConnell joined, Phish is: Trey Anastasio, Mike Gordon, Jon Fishman, and Page McConnell. Trey and Mike play guitar and bass guitar respectively. Jon plays the drums and Page plays piano and keyboards.

According to bassist Mike Gordon, Phish plays "bluegrass, Latin, rock, funk, classical, jazz, calypso, hard-core" (qtd. in Hirshberg 78) and has a "Broadway sound" (ibid.) Phish's music is characterized by simple lyrics, communication, interactivity, and improvisation. Some of Phish's music conforms to concepts of contemporary popular music, other music serves as a framework for avant-garde improvisation.

Phish combines technical skill, stylistic variety, creativity, and willingness to experiment. These attributes in combination set Phish apart from many popular bands and musicians. Phish is a live band, touring year round in the U.S. and Europe and holding special summer festival, Halloween, and New Year's holiday performances.

Hirshberg, Charles. "Face to Face", Life, June 1996.

Heres a brief Bio of the Band

Photograph above left from "Night of the Noodle Dancers", Musician, Sept. 1994.

## The Music

### Recordings

Phish has released seven discs on the Elecktra Label since 1992. Crimes of the Mind contains eleven songs written by the Dude of Life and arranged by Phish. These Elektra releases are Phish's only authorized commercial recordings. Recordings of other performances are sold in violation of federal copyright laws and endanger the privilege of taping at future Phish performances. Phish allows their performances to be recorded by many individuals for non-commercial purposes.

Click on CD

Junta | Lawn Boy | A Picture of Nectar | Rift
--- | --- | --- | ---
Hoist | A Live One | Billy Breathes | Crimes of the Mind

### Surrender Slip, Stitch & Pass
Unpublished Music

The Helping Phriendly Book contains a list of these songs, the dates each was first played, and historic set lists.

#### Gamehendge

While a student at Goddard, Trey composed a work titled The Man Who Stepped Into Yesterday (TMWSIY) which is a cycle of songs and narration about a man named Col. Forbin who steps through a doorway (Narnia-esque) with his dog McGrupp and finds himself in a place called Gamehendge (sic). Gamehendge is populated by Lizards who once lived in peace and harmonie with the help of their god Icculus and his book of revelations, the Helping Friendly Book. Col. Forbin enters Gamehendge during a period of tyrannical rule by King Wilson (of Prussia) and becomes involved in a revolution to restore tranquillity to Gamehendge. Here's the complete text of TMWSIY. Phish has performed TMWSIY in its entirety only five times but performs portions of the project much more frequently. Though not a part of the original project, other Phish songs such as McGrupp and Llama (see the liner notes to A Picture of Nectar) contain significant references to the people and places in Gamehendge. The liner notes to Junta even relate The Divided Sky to Gamehendge.

Also put together, although not by Trey but by a phan, is the beginings, Pre-Gamehendge.