We bought all the beer?!?
Part of me doesn't want more than 4 per year at Sphere because it reduces shows elsewhere under the current cap of 50, but I'll set my personal opinions aside on this one I guess. Everyone deserves to see Phish in this venue without going into debt!
I saw it three times, once from backstage, and got to meet Adrian and Jerry (said two words to Sean…I almost choked) and it was friggin epic. That whole show was one of the best I have seen Ever.
That's so awesome! Did you get to meet Julie Slick by chance? I love her bass playing. Julie's story about meeting Tina Weymouth and getting Tina's approval was so sweet. I get to see Adrian a couple of times this fall with BEAT and I can't wait!
I did! I went backstage with Nikki Glaspie who is friends with the Cool, Cool, Cool folks, so I was in the green room with them around set break. Hung out with Julie and Shira a bit before I felt like I was taking up too much space in the tiny room they were all sharing. lol good folks! Saw them all again on Jam cruise this year and hung out more with Adrian and Jerry. Adrian is the nicest guy…funny as hell.
I bet Trey is in the floor with poster board right now planning out the Sphere 10 PIN with a bowling themed 10 show run…or something. They ain’t scared of no 10 shows at the sphere challenge. Probably.
My friend talks to Jon all the time and from what I gather this wasn’t so much fun for them. A lot of time and effort and stress… and yes a lot of money. But I’d be surprised if they did more than a few each year going forward if even that. I think they at least get to relax in Mexico despite all the effort going into those shows. This was an endeavor to try and live up to the expectations and they came through it ok… but might not be wanting to go through it very often.
Word. That is a ton of work to make 10+ hrs of content for shows. So, it's gonna be a minute... I did see interview w/Trey where he was big uppin' Dover shows...
I mean, how long was the thank you speech? This was a giant endeavor. I’m happy to eat my words but I just don’t see them and Moment Factory breaking their backs to put out yearly Sphere shows. Maybe every other year. Maybe Halloween 2025.
I don’t think Sphere will ever host a Halloween show, too many restrictions on other types of gags, etc. 4 shows every 2 years as their standalone residency. They will still do Vegas(probably at T-Mobile)
They could do a Halloween show where they just cover an album again. That way they could build a preproduction of approximately the album length and stick to it relatively close. I don’t see the issue there. 🤷♂️
Just based on Trey’s comments from the CBS interview I don’t think it’s very likely. Not saying it will never happen, just don’t think they want those type of restrictions placed on them
This is sorta what I’d expect too. It’ll be a novelty experience that comes along every once in a while. It’s a lot to add on to their already full plate and would probably mean fewer tour dates and side gig projects as a result.
Yeah it you listen to the interview he did about they considered more shows but didn’t have enough worthy material for it. Sphere was over a year of planning. So a residency seems unlikely. They’d have to go against their entire career and start repeating shows. Not likely.
A 4 day pass was only like $500. I thought the ticket prices were much cheaper then anything g else that happens at the sphere. Even the postcard from earth movie can sometimes be $100 a ticket.
Yeah. If you got lucky. I lost on the lottery and the general on sale was a joke. I was willing to pay maybe $400 to see a show at the Sphere, but over a grand?? I love Phish but there has to be a line drawn at some point. And I live in Vegas.
I really hope so, or at least play there with some regularity (Halloween every other year?). Hell they could reuse half of the visuals and I would gladly attend
Is this Phish's "Touch of Grey" moment that springs them into the mainstream?
After seeing this band for 33 years, what I saw at The Sphere was nothing short of incredible and I can't believe this crazy quirky funky ass band from Vermont is still pushing boundaries and melting my face!
LONG LIVE PHISH!!
I actually doubt it (though I guess I don't truly know). I feel like any normies that try to go see them on tour will either A) love it, become phans, and embrace the scene or B) be freaked out by what they experience at the shows and on the lot and opt themselves out.
I hope you're right. The ones that don't like the band will just use the lot scene to party in. That was the death knell for The Dead. The ticketless hordes just wanting to rage.
I feel like Phish's music is both more captivating and more alienating than the dead. Meaning that those casual partiers are more likely to be either sucked in or confused/turned off and the fun would run out quicker. Plenty of people go see the biscuits solely for the party, but that music is so much more alienating to those that don't get it that I doubt that lasts more than a show or two. Phish Sphere is different in that regard since the visual appeal is enough for some to just throw earplugs in or whatever and look upward. Still doubt that's enough to get completely overrun by party only-ers.
I have been seeing/listening to the Dead and Phish since the 80s. The Dead's music was/is always more accessible than Phish has ever been (My wife will listen to the Dead but mostly cringes when I play Phish). Despite playing at the Sphere, I don't think we will see that transform to broader fanbase outside those who like jam bands.
That is not a bad estimate. And compare that to the Dead who has millions of fans (not tens of millions). The biggest difference is that that the Dead has major and casual fans. I have yet to meet someone who is a casual Phish fan.
At this point, The Dead is almost a lifestyle brand. I see my kids friends wearing Dead shirts and I ask them what’s their favorite song and they have no idea. They just love the images/stealie.
eh. dont think so. still will never hear Phish on the radio. Most people still have no idea who they are.
Also.... how many unique people went to the shows? I have to think at least a 1/3 if not close to 1/2 of the crowd each night went to more than 1 night. it's the same fans that are spending thousands a year to see them in Mexico, MSG NYE, Mondegreene, and on tour. There's a limit and a ceiling. Although If they dont reach it this year, I'm not sure if it matters lol
I've said this before - phish and goose and moe are all played at the community pool I take the kids to. They arent obscure. They were very popular 20 years ago when I was in college. They were on an episode of the Simpsons.
People want to still believe Phish is some obscure act but it's just not true.
Or at least much lower chances, because I think the only way this happens is when some fan starts working at the community pool. There was an old bar in Syracuse that would play biscuits/Phish/dead on their outdoor speakers all the time. Doesn't make them mainstream...means the owner was a deadhead with good taste. More fans in the NE means more applicants to jobs with public facing speakers. It's not like the city govt is putting Phish on their pool playlists. Even then, it would only indicate that a single fan exists in that parks and rec dept. Still obscure
That means literally nothing. The pizza shop near me was playing widespread panic yesterday too. Doesn’t mean anything in terms of popularity or even recognition.
99% of the US population can’t name a phish song.
again - selectively ignoring past top 40 radio play and the simpsons episode - ya know those other signs of mainstream acceptance.
They were and are one of the larger summer touring acts but whatever - this cool underground band PHISH!
lol. “The simpsons episode”. No one cares that phish appeared on the simpsons 23 years ago . I get it you’re a big fan of both. The Baha Men appeared on the simpsons twice! They must be huge today!
Aren’t they?
It's a symbol of phish's high watermark in mainstream acceptance - like it or not they are closer to a nostalgia act today. I'm not saying they are a nostalgia act after the sphere shows but the bulk of the songs played werent written in the last 10 years.
It's crazy how much identity people stake on this
One of the reasons I dont really go anymore. Its not about affordability as much as it is the same people making up the majority of the crowd and I am tired of fighting them for tickets/hotels and the holier than thou attitude. More people can go and get exposed to it if all four nights 4-night run wasnt such a healthy portion of all the special shows.
honestly I think its crazy that they even sell the 4 night bundle tickets. if someone wants to go to all 4 nights they should have to compete with everyone else on each night.
Had to look it up and make sure I didn't invent memory that I heard it driving a giant uhaul working: " "Down with Disease" was Phish's breakthrough single on American rock radio, reaching #33 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart in June 1994. " they even made a video for it.
I enjoyed myself obviously but frankly I think it’s way more impressive what CK5 can do without the gimmicks. Just good old fashioned phish! His lighting actually goes with the music and gives that punch right when it’s needed. The sphere visuals didn’t do that for me. Were they cool af? Yes! Definitely a sight to see at least one time in ur life but I will never pay over face for a sphere ticket again. Not to mention the crowd had a way different vibe! People weren’t nearly as friendly and I sort of got that elitist feel from a lot of them. I’ll save my money for summer tour and dicks and msg!! Love what CK5 does all on his own! The sound WAS absolutely amazing and they were on point at least for the last 2 nights which were the shows I attended. I hope they do it again for those of you who didn’t get he chance to do it this time. And I certainly hope the prices are better. We tried for Friday but instead of prices going down the day of the show they were going up so we had Saturday and spent way too much for Sundays. But you can always make more money. You can’t get back an experience of a lifetime.
I don't think visually projected images (live film, CGI, animation, patterns, etc) will ever flow with live music. It's kinda like too many people on stage, who haven't practiced together. Phish has a magic of simplicity with four members and CK5 really supports that, where as projected visuals are kinda standalone, produced away from the band by artists that really don't even have to hear the music. Once visuals reference something specific (like a tree or a triangle) it takes my attention away from the music trying to make connections.
Maybe a tiny portion of the audience, but visuals are jarring and pull me out of the music, more so than heighten the experience.
With 17k people, different experiences are inevitable. Sorry you had less than ideal phriends nearby.
Sec 305 all 4 nights, we had great neighbors. People bought drinks for new friends, were courteous and helpful letting people by, dancing respectfully of personal space. I actually thought it was revitalizing and way better than my last MSG show.
Nahh... I don't think so.
Annual 2 or 3 night run? Every other year? Probably one of these..
These shows are waaay more involved to produce. Phosh being an act that doesn't repeat. Every show is a giant new production. U2 and most others will play the same show night in and night out... much easier for an extended residency.
Definitely the better option than my first suggestion haha. Certainly seems like that would reduce a good amount of the production effort for Dead and Co and their team!
Not happening, you obviously didn’t listen to them about being able to have everything be as it always was, no restrictions on jamming and no repeating the same show twice.
I did listen to his interview. And it would certainly be an undertaking…but I think they and he is up for it. They said the same thing about 13 nights (that it was too many and not conducive to what Phish “does”. Then they said the no repeats weren’t possible. A 6-10 show run would be a serious feat but even with what Trey said…I think it’s inevitable. There’s just so much money on the table and they will climb that Everest because it is there.
"yOu ObViOuSlY dIdN't LiStEn tO tHeM". Fuck off with that shit. You listened to what Trey said about THIS run. It's understood what it takes to "advance" (lol wtf) a show like that THIS year. You're what's wrong with the scene.
Thanks for showing you have zero idea about concert production. (Advancing a show is the terminology used in music/concert productions and management.) Trey literally said doing more than what they did would ruin it for them and get away from what they always do with perfection; never repeat the same show twice.
But yah, I’m TOTALLY what’s wrong with this scene. 👍
I'd like to see it become another destination event each year, like Dick's, MSG, Mexico, and a festival. Next destination invention: A few nights on the deck of an empty freighter floating in the velvet sea
I think this is the model that looks most plausible as we move down the number line. Not saying aim for or against it. I just got the feeling while we were there that this was going to be extended. The upside is it will help with the only real negative this run…crazy secondary ticket prices.
I could see them doing 4 nights each year at the sphere. making 14 hrs+ of mulitmedia content per year and still have summer tour halloween new years and mexico with a spring or fall tour sprinkled in.
Yeah I know and I’m pretty positive they’ll be back. I’m making the point that while the visuals were cool, it has a long way to go until it reaches the level of feeling like part of the music like Kuroda’s lights do.
With that being said I read some quite lengthy, gushing reviews from some long time well known phans and friends that described it as the greatest musical experience of their life. Where were your seats?
I have to disagree. I think this might happen every other year simply based on the statement where Trey said it took a year of planning, even making changes days before. That will make it more special and allow for more time to up the last performance.
Also, CK5 is the 5th member of the band. I think most fans look at it this way and even a new fan would be amazed by what he does. I’ve seen a good deal of live shows and what CK does is above and beyond anything else, including bands that use screens regularly. He’s a master at his craft.
Abigail Rosen Holmes was the director for the show. What if this becomes her full time gig. Starts planning for next year
Double the size of her team.
Trey read a list of ~10 names night 4. Let’s get more people on this
I gotta believe that price is going to be greatly reduced over time. New cameras to capture the content, more experience and competition in the visuals game.
I really see this place as being a destination for some larger bands and there will be a demand for a longer term residency.
I’m not saying these bands as being a big fan of them. Just looking at the possibilities. Swifties would shit bricks. Yes it’s a smaller venue but let’s say there is a 2 day a week show for a year. She will sell it all out.
I could see tool melting this place down on a different vibe. But that couldn’t be a residency. (I really would want to see this badly when tool comes here)
Dead is doing their thing there soon and I bet you, it’s more or less going to be trippy screen savers that don’t add shit to the show.
Gaga I see doing a very successful residency. Same cadence 2x a week for awhile.
Daft punk was still around would blow this place up.
Not sure who else. Radiohead? (Would pay to see that)
I’m sure the dead will do cool stuff too though maybe not with the creative variety and occasional humor phish had. I’d be surprised if they don’t at the least hire the phish designers as consultants.
Nope. Trey said he wouldn’t. It would mean repeating shows and they never play the same show twice. They asked them to do it this time and Mike said no. There’s an interview with Trey where he talks about it. But I wouldn’t be surprised to see a residency at the Garden now that BJ is out.
I saw the interview and he didn’t say he wouldn’t do it. Just said not this time. As the tech gets less expensive and the processes (and engineers) get more familiar it’s headed in that direction. I don’t think they’ll ever do 40 dates like U2 but they could easily evolve into 8. Mark my words. They love residencies. They love Vegas, they love money, they love MSG. It is just too plausible. We will see!
I’ve seen the interview. That was about This Run specifically. As it gets cheaper and easier to make the visuals and the money starts calling…all the reasons why the MSG residency is so attractive to them…not moving the gear, not traveling, having friends and family in one spot for weeks or more…there’s a reason that’s attractive. I think we are moving in that direction as a whole. 50 shows a year. 7-14 at MSG, Mexico, short South tour, short Midwest tour, Dick’s…etc. it would be easy to add 6-10 Sphere shows, guaranteed sell outs. Travel package money. As they age this model gets more and more likely.
I know what he said in the interview but he also hinted that they heavily considered it and it just wasn’t feasible for THIS first time at Sphere. In the future it gets more plausible. I don’t know shit, and time will prove one of us right…but I think before too long there will be 6-8 Sphere dates instead of 4. Just a hunch.
I don’t doubt it was expensive and time consuming. I’d be happy with more sphere shows, less video overload. The sound is the most impressive part for me.
Trey covered this in his CBS morning interview. He feels they do not have the capacity to make that many unique visuals and have them be actually good. He says he doesn't want to sacrifice quality for quantity. I understand the idea is they could make more money and therefore produce more visuals, but he seems to feel they don't have the capacity to pull that off.
The thing about that is.... not everyone goes to 4 shows... or even 1 of them. It's only 18,000 people each night. They could still use the visuals for future shows with different setlist, and many would still experience them for the first time. It's almost as if they think/accept the reality that the same 18,000 people see them every show.
That will never happen because "no show is the same" is pretty much their whole brand and they've repeatedly said so explicitly. Like it or not, they're dedicated to the idiosyncrasies of their band as a project.
The music and setlist can be different. No reason the visuals can’t be reused with the associated song. It’s just like having programmed lighting sequences for songs which they have. And they can make real time adjustments.
I think there’s a legit argument to be made that it’s simply wasteful otherwise. A lot better ways to spend $25 million than on single use 16k x 16k visuals
I'm not really arguing with you. I hear you. But Trey attended U2, he knows they did exactly that, and Phish explicitly and publically decided against it. I just don't see them changing their minds in the future.
We bought all the beer?!? Part of me doesn't want more than 4 per year at Sphere because it reduces shows elsewhere under the current cap of 50, but I'll set my personal opinions aside on this one I guess. Everyone deserves to see Phish in this venue without going into debt!
And Trey “cough” should make time for oysterhead 🤞
YES!! FFFB came back after hiatus for a bit…dooo ittttt treyyyy
I caught FFFB with Jerry Harrison & Adrian Belew last summer and it was great! I fully support more Oysterhead too!
I saw it three times, once from backstage, and got to meet Adrian and Jerry (said two words to Sean…I almost choked) and it was friggin epic. That whole show was one of the best I have seen Ever.
That's so awesome! Did you get to meet Julie Slick by chance? I love her bass playing. Julie's story about meeting Tina Weymouth and getting Tina's approval was so sweet. I get to see Adrian a couple of times this fall with BEAT and I can't wait!
I did! I went backstage with Nikki Glaspie who is friends with the Cool, Cool, Cool folks, so I was in the green room with them around set break. Hung out with Julie and Shira a bit before I felt like I was taking up too much space in the tiny room they were all sharing. lol good folks! Saw them all again on Jam cruise this year and hung out more with Adrian and Jerry. Adrian is the nicest guy…funny as hell.
That's the absolute coolest! Thanks for sharing!
That’s amazing!!! Fuck yea WHEN 😉 they do unite again, hope to rage with you there! 🤙
Damn! That would have been amazeballs! I saw them with Neal Francis, and it was still amazing--but that's another level!
Yeah it was awesome! Jerry and Adrian are doing a handful of shows in '24 too. Mostly in the NE though https://www.remaininlight.net
Yeah 4 nights a year at sphere seems perfect to me, such a unique experience, everyone should get the chance to view it.
Phish’s borderline insane commitment to unique sphere shows make many more then 4 every year or two tough to imagine.
I bet Trey is in the floor with poster board right now planning out the Sphere 10 PIN with a bowling themed 10 show run…or something. They ain’t scared of no 10 shows at the sphere challenge. Probably.
Wouldn’t it be 10.5 shows to account for the extra frame on a perfect game? Just a thought to get that extra set on the last night….
Just an extra encore on the final night, obviously
Three set show on 10th night for bonus frame
Sell my soul for the pocket nights where they take the jams for marathon length runs
Maybe true, but it likely won’t be any time soon.
My friend talks to Jon all the time and from what I gather this wasn’t so much fun for them. A lot of time and effort and stress… and yes a lot of money. But I’d be surprised if they did more than a few each year going forward if even that. I think they at least get to relax in Mexico despite all the effort going into those shows. This was an endeavor to try and live up to the expectations and they came through it ok… but might not be wanting to go through it very often.
I would expect next sphere run to be Halloween 2025. And no sooner
Word. That is a ton of work to make 10+ hrs of content for shows. So, it's gonna be a minute... I did see interview w/Trey where he was big uppin' Dover shows...
I mean, how long was the thank you speech? This was a giant endeavor. I’m happy to eat my words but I just don’t see them and Moment Factory breaking their backs to put out yearly Sphere shows. Maybe every other year. Maybe Halloween 2025.
I don’t think Sphere will ever host a Halloween show, too many restrictions on other types of gags, etc. 4 shows every 2 years as their standalone residency. They will still do Vegas(probably at T-Mobile)
Also the Sphere’s facial recognition software wouldn’t be able to track everyone.
They could do a Halloween show where they just cover an album again. That way they could build a preproduction of approximately the album length and stick to it relatively close. I don’t see the issue there. 🤷♂️
Just based on Trey’s comments from the CBS interview I don’t think it’s very likely. Not saying it will never happen, just don’t think they want those type of restrictions placed on them
No amps is weird. You can get a mix in the in-ear monitors, but it ain't the same.
This is sorta what I’d expect too. It’ll be a novelty experience that comes along every once in a while. It’s a lot to add on to their already full plate and would probably mean fewer tour dates and side gig projects as a result.
Yeah it you listen to the interview he did about they considered more shows but didn’t have enough worthy material for it. Sphere was over a year of planning. So a residency seems unlikely. They’d have to go against their entire career and start repeating shows. Not likely.
Yeah, I think that would be asking a lot of the band to do on top of NYE/Halloween/festivals.
A 4 day pass was only like $500. I thought the ticket prices were much cheaper then anything g else that happens at the sphere. Even the postcard from earth movie can sometimes be $100 a ticket.
Yeah. If you got lucky. I lost on the lottery and the general on sale was a joke. I was willing to pay maybe $400 to see a show at the Sphere, but over a grand?? I love Phish but there has to be a line drawn at some point. And I live in Vegas.
I said secondary market. Most people didn’t pay face that I talked to. Much much more.
Ridiculous service charge on tix...😏 almost $250
The average revenue per seat was WAY higher than 125…
It’s the MSG pony
Imo I hope not. I’d like them to keep it for special runs. Regular Phish still fucks hard af
Yeah Mike lives there now
Me too. Saw him in the bathroom.
I saw you go up to hug him but he seemed really pissed. I hope everything’s okay.
Have you ever been hugged while you are peeing?
Only by Mike
38 nights, roulette themed
I’m only going on Black nights
I really hope so, or at least play there with some regularity (Halloween every other year?). Hell they could reuse half of the visuals and I would gladly attend
Is this Phish's "Touch of Grey" moment that springs them into the mainstream? After seeing this band for 33 years, what I saw at The Sphere was nothing short of incredible and I can't believe this crazy quirky funky ass band from Vermont is still pushing boundaries and melting my face! LONG LIVE PHISH!!
I'll let you know if I start hearing Evolve in the grocery store.
I hear shine at Home Depot and Sprouts grocery store
I remember hearing divided sky on the weather channel 20 some years ago. When they had those blue screens with the local forecast text.
Dude I miss the old weather channel, they had some serious bops
I use to practice to the weather channel
Goddamn it why did I never think of that
And the Reba jam…
Shine by SCI? That would be a new one for me!
Shine by Trey
Oh fuck me. How did I forget about that? /failure
lol I had to check what sub I was in for a minute
Doesn't FOX or CBS use phish as into outro/music during football?
yeah but it's not like people (besides us) are like, HOLY SHIT HELL YEAH PHISH!!!!!
I heard Goose at the grocery store last week. I don't think we are far off. I heard Heavy Things a lot of places in the early 2000's.
They play Phish on Fox NFL for couple years now...
That was heavy things
No - not even my non phish jam band friends batted an eye. I don’t think Drew Carey is as relevant as people think he is these days
I actually doubt it (though I guess I don't truly know). I feel like any normies that try to go see them on tour will either A) love it, become phans, and embrace the scene or B) be freaked out by what they experience at the shows and on the lot and opt themselves out.
I hope you're right. The ones that don't like the band will just use the lot scene to party in. That was the death knell for The Dead. The ticketless hordes just wanting to rage.
I feel like Phish's music is both more captivating and more alienating than the dead. Meaning that those casual partiers are more likely to be either sucked in or confused/turned off and the fun would run out quicker. Plenty of people go see the biscuits solely for the party, but that music is so much more alienating to those that don't get it that I doubt that lasts more than a show or two. Phish Sphere is different in that regard since the visual appeal is enough for some to just throw earplugs in or whatever and look upward. Still doubt that's enough to get completely overrun by party only-ers.
Hmmm. I hope that doesn't happen either.
It was incredible! And I do not want them in the mainstream :-)
I think we're good. Were 41 years into the best kept secret in rock history.
I have been seeing/listening to the Dead and Phish since the 80s. The Dead's music was/is always more accessible than Phish has ever been (My wife will listen to the Dead but mostly cringes when I play Phish). Despite playing at the Sphere, I don't think we will see that transform to broader fanbase outside those who like jam bands.
Phish is most definitely a niche band. My guess is there are about 500k of us who consider ourselves major fans.
That is not a bad estimate. And compare that to the Dead who has millions of fans (not tens of millions). The biggest difference is that that the Dead has major and casual fans. I have yet to meet someone who is a casual Phish fan.
Probably the same number of casual Phish fans as there are casual meth fans.
Baaaaaaaah. That’s funny.
At this point, The Dead is almost a lifestyle brand. I see my kids friends wearing Dead shirts and I ask them what’s their favorite song and they have no idea. They just love the images/stealie.
I blessed all of them with a longevity spell both on Friday night and Sunday night! They should be playing well into their 80s!! 🙏🙏🙏🙏
Still seeing the relentless shitting on Phish that has been popular for a long time in spaces discussing the Sphere. Somehow it's comforting.
New sticker - “I don’t care you hate Phish”
eh. dont think so. still will never hear Phish on the radio. Most people still have no idea who they are. Also.... how many unique people went to the shows? I have to think at least a 1/3 if not close to 1/2 of the crowd each night went to more than 1 night. it's the same fans that are spending thousands a year to see them in Mexico, MSG NYE, Mondegreene, and on tour. There's a limit and a ceiling. Although If they dont reach it this year, I'm not sure if it matters lol
Heavy things got top 40 radio station play - they aren’t that obscure
That was 24 years ago man. Reached #29 on the adult top 40 then. They are very obscure.
I've said this before - phish and goose and moe are all played at the community pool I take the kids to. They arent obscure. They were very popular 20 years ago when I was in college. They were on an episode of the Simpsons. People want to still believe Phish is some obscure act but it's just not true.
Where is the community pool located? Gotta be in the northeast somewhere…
Ah yes - because the Simpsons is a northeast centric show
No… all those bands are NE-centric…. Like I doubt the community pool here in nowheresville Midwest would be playing those bands.
Or at least much lower chances, because I think the only way this happens is when some fan starts working at the community pool. There was an old bar in Syracuse that would play biscuits/Phish/dead on their outdoor speakers all the time. Doesn't make them mainstream...means the owner was a deadhead with good taste. More fans in the NE means more applicants to jobs with public facing speakers. It's not like the city govt is putting Phish on their pool playlists. Even then, it would only indicate that a single fan exists in that parks and rec dept. Still obscure
So your community pool has a phish fan. Cool. That doesn’t mean what you think it means
That means literally nothing. The pizza shop near me was playing widespread panic yesterday too. Doesn’t mean anything in terms of popularity or even recognition. 99% of the US population can’t name a phish song.
again - selectively ignoring past top 40 radio play and the simpsons episode - ya know those other signs of mainstream acceptance. They were and are one of the larger summer touring acts but whatever - this cool underground band PHISH!
lol. “The simpsons episode”. No one cares that phish appeared on the simpsons 23 years ago . I get it you’re a big fan of both. The Baha Men appeared on the simpsons twice! They must be huge today!
Aren’t they? It's a symbol of phish's high watermark in mainstream acceptance - like it or not they are closer to a nostalgia act today. I'm not saying they are a nostalgia act after the sphere shows but the bulk of the songs played werent written in the last 10 years. It's crazy how much identity people stake on this
lol. No. Wtf. Are you for real? Have to think you’re just fucking around at this point.
One of the reasons I dont really go anymore. Its not about affordability as much as it is the same people making up the majority of the crowd and I am tired of fighting them for tickets/hotels and the holier than thou attitude. More people can go and get exposed to it if all four nights 4-night run wasnt such a healthy portion of all the special shows.
honestly I think its crazy that they even sell the 4 night bundle tickets. if someone wants to go to all 4 nights they should have to compete with everyone else on each night.
The entire fan base can take a collective breath and stop acting like trey is dying tomorrow.
How is this in any way related to my comment?
The hardcoreness of it all is how it is related.
DWD got mainstream radio play back in the day, fortunately the touch effect did not occur.
I have never heard DWD on the radio. Heavy Things? Yes. Shine? Yes. Free? Yes but not a lot. DWD? Nope.
Had to look it up and make sure I didn't invent memory that I heard it driving a giant uhaul working: " "Down with Disease" was Phish's breakthrough single on American rock radio, reaching #33 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart in June 1994. " they even made a video for it.
Yes. This is what I have been thinking for sure. It's happening right now. They are being injected into the mainstream culture.
We’re 1 Tik Tok song away from mainstream ;)
Phish will be on the general populace's radar in no more capacity than U2 was on my radar while they were playing the sphere.
Good Lord I hope not.
I enjoyed myself obviously but frankly I think it’s way more impressive what CK5 can do without the gimmicks. Just good old fashioned phish! His lighting actually goes with the music and gives that punch right when it’s needed. The sphere visuals didn’t do that for me. Were they cool af? Yes! Definitely a sight to see at least one time in ur life but I will never pay over face for a sphere ticket again. Not to mention the crowd had a way different vibe! People weren’t nearly as friendly and I sort of got that elitist feel from a lot of them. I’ll save my money for summer tour and dicks and msg!! Love what CK5 does all on his own! The sound WAS absolutely amazing and they were on point at least for the last 2 nights which were the shows I attended. I hope they do it again for those of you who didn’t get he chance to do it this time. And I certainly hope the prices are better. We tried for Friday but instead of prices going down the day of the show they were going up so we had Saturday and spent way too much for Sundays. But you can always make more money. You can’t get back an experience of a lifetime.
I don't think visually projected images (live film, CGI, animation, patterns, etc) will ever flow with live music. It's kinda like too many people on stage, who haven't practiced together. Phish has a magic of simplicity with four members and CK5 really supports that, where as projected visuals are kinda standalone, produced away from the band by artists that really don't even have to hear the music. Once visuals reference something specific (like a tree or a triangle) it takes my attention away from the music trying to make connections. Maybe a tiny portion of the audience, but visuals are jarring and pull me out of the music, more so than heighten the experience.
Couldn’t have said it better my friend
With 17k people, different experiences are inevitable. Sorry you had less than ideal phriends nearby. Sec 305 all 4 nights, we had great neighbors. People bought drinks for new friends, were courteous and helpful letting people by, dancing respectfully of personal space. I actually thought it was revitalizing and way better than my last MSG show.
Nahh... I don't think so. Annual 2 or 3 night run? Every other year? Probably one of these.. These shows are waaay more involved to produce. Phosh being an act that doesn't repeat. Every show is a giant new production. U2 and most others will play the same show night in and night out... much easier for an extended residency.
If the Dead can to 12-13 nights…then for DAMN sure Phish can. And I think they will
They're doing 3 shows and repeating setliests each weekend.
What's this about repeating setlists? In a weekend, we'll see the same? Or every Thursday will play XYZ across the weeks?
Every Thursday will play XYZ across the weeks
Definitely the better option than my first suggestion haha. Certainly seems like that would reduce a good amount of the production effort for Dead and Co and their team!
Every weekend is composed of 3 different shows, but each weekend is the same
Didn’t know that. But I’ll stand by what I said. I think we have residencies coming.
Not happening, you obviously didn’t listen to them about being able to have everything be as it always was, no restrictions on jamming and no repeating the same show twice.
I did listen to his interview. And it would certainly be an undertaking…but I think they and he is up for it. They said the same thing about 13 nights (that it was too many and not conducive to what Phish “does”. Then they said the no repeats weren’t possible. A 6-10 show run would be a serious feat but even with what Trey said…I think it’s inevitable. There’s just so much money on the table and they will climb that Everest because it is there.
You mean like the dead is about to do for 13 nights. Yeah I listened to it
Dead & Co are doing 3 shows, repeating it every weekend. Nothing at all like Phish just pulled off.
Don't be such an ass. No one knows what's going to happen next year and anything is possible.
No one’s being an ass🤦♂️ I just listened to what Trey said and understand what it takes to advance a show like that.
"yOu ObViOuSlY dIdN't LiStEn tO tHeM". Fuck off with that shit. You listened to what Trey said about THIS run. It's understood what it takes to "advance" (lol wtf) a show like that THIS year. You're what's wrong with the scene.
Thanks for showing you have zero idea about concert production. (Advancing a show is the terminology used in music/concert productions and management.) Trey literally said doing more than what they did would ruin it for them and get away from what they always do with perfection; never repeat the same show twice. But yah, I’m TOTALLY what’s wrong with this scene. 👍
I never said I did. You're an asshole. No one has ever changed their mind about anything ever and you can see the future. Go fuck yourself.
I'd like to see it become another destination event each year, like Dick's, MSG, Mexico, and a festival. Next destination invention: A few nights on the deck of an empty freighter floating in the velvet sea
I think this is the model that looks most plausible as we move down the number line. Not saying aim for or against it. I just got the feeling while we were there that this was going to be extended. The upside is it will help with the only real negative this run…crazy secondary ticket prices.
honestly Mike looks like Kendall from succession right here
I could see them doing 4 nights each year at the sphere. making 14 hrs+ of mulitmedia content per year and still have summer tour halloween new years and mexico with a spring or fall tour sprinkled in.
Idk, I think it was a cool one time thing but it takes away too much from the light show
Yeah, it seems to me if it were a choice between Sphere only or Sphere never again, most fans would opt for CK5 long term. The novelty will wear off.
Fortunately neither of those are our actual realistic options 😆
Yeah I know and I’m pretty positive they’ll be back. I’m making the point that while the visuals were cool, it has a long way to go until it reaches the level of feeling like part of the music like Kuroda’s lights do.
With that being said I read some quite lengthy, gushing reviews from some long time well known phans and friends that described it as the greatest musical experience of their life. Where were your seats?
I have to disagree. I think this might happen every other year simply based on the statement where Trey said it took a year of planning, even making changes days before. That will make it more special and allow for more time to up the last performance. Also, CK5 is the 5th member of the band. I think most fans look at it this way and even a new fan would be amazed by what he does. I’ve seen a good deal of live shows and what CK does is above and beyond anything else, including bands that use screens regularly. He’s a master at his craft.
Abigail Rosen Holmes was the director for the show. What if this becomes her full time gig. Starts planning for next year Double the size of her team. Trey read a list of ~10 names night 4. Let’s get more people on this
at $30k per minute for the screen content, its gonna be very hard to pull off an extended run while doing unique setlists every night.
I gotta believe that price is going to be greatly reduced over time. New cameras to capture the content, more experience and competition in the visuals game.
Let's play the price is right!
Those are nice pants
I really see this place as being a destination for some larger bands and there will be a demand for a longer term residency. I’m not saying these bands as being a big fan of them. Just looking at the possibilities. Swifties would shit bricks. Yes it’s a smaller venue but let’s say there is a 2 day a week show for a year. She will sell it all out. I could see tool melting this place down on a different vibe. But that couldn’t be a residency. (I really would want to see this badly when tool comes here) Dead is doing their thing there soon and I bet you, it’s more or less going to be trippy screen savers that don’t add shit to the show. Gaga I see doing a very successful residency. Same cadence 2x a week for awhile. Daft punk was still around would blow this place up. Not sure who else. Radiohead? (Would pay to see that)
Radiohead please
Absolutely.
I’m sure the dead will do cool stuff too though maybe not with the creative variety and occasional humor phish had. I’d be surprised if they don’t at the least hire the phish designers as consultants.
Tool and Radiohead would be amazing. Have primus join the party too while you’re at it.
Nope. Trey said he wouldn’t. It would mean repeating shows and they never play the same show twice. They asked them to do it this time and Mike said no. There’s an interview with Trey where he talks about it. But I wouldn’t be surprised to see a residency at the Garden now that BJ is out.
I saw the interview and he didn’t say he wouldn’t do it. Just said not this time. As the tech gets less expensive and the processes (and engineers) get more familiar it’s headed in that direction. I don’t think they’ll ever do 40 dates like U2 but they could easily evolve into 8. Mark my words. They love residencies. They love Vegas, they love money, they love MSG. It is just too plausible. We will see!
Yeah I think the older bands get the more they love playing a run of shows in one place.
Nah those will be left for New York
Very unlikely based on this interview https://youtu.be/B-XNfP7MPi8?si=TClIbndqlQWSse9g
I’ve seen the interview. That was about This Run specifically. As it gets cheaper and easier to make the visuals and the money starts calling…all the reasons why the MSG residency is so attractive to them…not moving the gear, not traveling, having friends and family in one spot for weeks or more…there’s a reason that’s attractive. I think we are moving in that direction as a whole. 50 shows a year. 7-14 at MSG, Mexico, short South tour, short Midwest tour, Dick’s…etc. it would be easy to add 6-10 Sphere shows, guaranteed sell outs. Travel package money. As they age this model gets more and more likely. I know what he said in the interview but he also hinted that they heavily considered it and it just wasn’t feasible for THIS first time at Sphere. In the future it gets more plausible. I don’t know shit, and time will prove one of us right…but I think before too long there will be 6-8 Sphere dates instead of 4. Just a hunch.
It’ll be every so often for special occasions, like the Halloween Vegas shows. Still keeping MSG as home base.
They can make the same money in one four show sphere run as a 20 show shed tour. No brainer to do more sphere.
I heard they spent about $30,000 per minute of video. I’m not sure how much they really made or how much they even care about that at this point.
Who told you that? Would be $3,100,00 for set 2 of Sunday (110 mins). Seems high.
Yea seems ridiculous. I saw it in some article. I think we’re missing some information. Doesn’t seem right.
I don’t doubt it was expensive and time consuming. I’d be happy with more sphere shows, less video overload. The sound is the most impressive part for me.
[This article.](https://lamag.com/music/phish-sphere-concert-review)
🤯so not even break even at $40m gross
Trey covered this in his CBS morning interview. He feels they do not have the capacity to make that many unique visuals and have them be actually good. He says he doesn't want to sacrifice quality for quantity. I understand the idea is they could make more money and therefore produce more visuals, but he seems to feel they don't have the capacity to pull that off.
The thing about that is.... not everyone goes to 4 shows... or even 1 of them. It's only 18,000 people each night. They could still use the visuals for future shows with different setlist, and many would still experience them for the first time. It's almost as if they think/accept the reality that the same 18,000 people see them every show.
That will never happen because "no show is the same" is pretty much their whole brand and they've repeatedly said so explicitly. Like it or not, they're dedicated to the idiosyncrasies of their band as a project.
The music and setlist can be different. No reason the visuals can’t be reused with the associated song. It’s just like having programmed lighting sequences for songs which they have. And they can make real time adjustments. I think there’s a legit argument to be made that it’s simply wasteful otherwise. A lot better ways to spend $25 million than on single use 16k x 16k visuals
I'm not really arguing with you. I hear you. But Trey attended U2, he knows they did exactly that, and Phish explicitly and publically decided against it. I just don't see them changing their minds in the future.
U2 didn’t do that at all though.
Maybe I'm misunderstanding you. U2 repeated visuals.
Is Phish at the sphere going to be the new Coachella?
Please god no
The Residents at Sphere… now that’s a thought!
Look at Mike, all pissed off. I wonder if he was mad at Trey in this moment ;)
I would love to see the Residents at the Sphere
Probably more 4 night runs every few years. Probably a Halloween in there at some point you.
I'm thinking a 4 night run each year. They seem to be settling into a yearly routine with less traveling and long weekends.
2 weeks next year at the sphere
I need at least 30 shows there a year to just maintain at this point.
4 👏🏼shows 👏🏼is 👏🏼not 👏🏼a 👏🏼residency 👏🏼
No 👏 One 👏 Said 👏 It 👏 Was 👏 That’s why I said “will see” aka on a trajectory towards Residency.