Ben Gardner

@bengardner87.bsky.social

Supporter of voting rights. Striving to live in a democracy. Fan of vinyl records, music, baseball. I have zero time for people who use woke as a pejorative. Thoughts/Opinions my own. All my Phish and Grateful Dead opinions are correct.

Backwards Down The Number Line to close Phish in Five is the ultimate love letter from the band to the fans, and if you can't appreciate the immense weight of the moment, you suck at Phish. Best band ever.

A friend asked for a summary of Phish's improv styles through the 90s, inspired by the past week at MSG. Here's my high-level, deeply unscientific view this was just a text to a friend, if you want to get mad about it go ahead. I'm sure much of it is reductive and wrong. but I don't care.

Also, was that the first ever Purple Rain guitar solo from Trey? I mean Phish had to have talked about reining in the vacuum since Prince is now dead. Trey had to draw a line in the sand.

Jack White show was great. Chompers were insufferable. Stay at home. Don't come to concerts if you aren't ready to play ball. Those four men worked their asses off tonight. Stay home.

I am seeing Jack White play his first ever Pine Knob show. Still can't believe he has never played here. No phones policy and then learning Phish MSG Show #94 should be fun. Pick Five: Julius, Back In The USSR, Simple, Tweezer, Runaway Jim

Bild

Jalen Brunson and Karl Anthony Towns entering the Gamehendge Time Phactory and helping Patrick Ewing and the 1995 Knicks win the NBA Title at Phish's 95th MSG show is going to hit so hard for Knicks fans who love Phish.

I say this every tour, but there are as few bands (if any) who are better 40 + yrs into their career than Phish because of their willingness to evolve and experiment.