12/28 Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
12/29 Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
12/30 Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
12/31 Madison Square Garden, New York, NY

If anybody wants to dismiss Phish as terrible and irrelevant, remember this. They play NYE in Madison Square Garden anytime they want.

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Good people drink good beer - Hunter S. Thompson

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Waiting for the time when I can finally say
That this has all been wonderful, but now I'm on my way

Terrible? Yes. Irrelevant? No.

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A terrible band does not get to play NYE in the most famous arena in the world, whenever they want.

_________________
Good people drink good beer - Hunter S. Thompson

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Waiting for the time when I can finally say
That this has all been wonderful, but now I'm on my way

Getting to play there doesn't = "getting to play there whenever they want". Lots, and lots, and lots of musicians have played MSG. I'll bet even some that you think are pretty terrible.

They're pretty terrible, IMO. But definitely not irrelevant. Has anyone ever said they were irrelevant, Mr. Bernstein?

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I think they are terrible. I recognize their talent and the fact that they have a following, still terrible. Just like Dave Matthews band.

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I said on New Year's Eve. Only one band can play there on NYE, and it's Phish whenever they want. This really can't be disputed.

_________________
Good people drink good beer - Hunter S. Thompson

<º)))><

Waiting for the time when I can finally say
That this has all been wonderful, but now I'm on my way

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I'm sure if Bruce Springsteen, Pearl Jam, Rush, Aerosmith, the Stones, or any other number of acts wanted to play MSG on New Years, they certainly could, and they would certainly sell the place out.

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Yes. I have heard nearly every possible criticism of this band over the last twenty years. Are you trying to say that you are aware of everything I have heard? Or, is your point that my thoughts on Phish should be limited to what has been discussed in this thread? I don't follow.

_________________
Good people drink good beer - Hunter S. Thompson

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Waiting for the time when I can finally say
That this has all been wonderful, but now I'm on my way

Those are two contradictory statements.

_________________
Good people drink good beer - Hunter S. Thompson

<º)))><

Waiting for the time when I can finally say
That this has all been wonderful, but now I'm on my way

You are dealing in hypotheticals, and I am dealing with hard facts.

_________________
Good people drink good beer - Hunter S. Thompson

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Waiting for the time when I can finally say
That this has all been wonderful, but now I'm on my way

No they aren't. There are some talented musicians out there who make some awful music. Just like there are good actors who make bad movies.

The fact is that Phish is playing MSG this year on New Years. It is not a fact that they are "the only band that can" play there on NYE.

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Chus is on a militant pro-Phish crusade.

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Maybe you two can help me out. The idea of telling somebody that their music is terrible, is a foreign concept to me. I don't believe that I have ever told somebody that their taste in music is terrible in any of my nearly 12,000 posts. Music hits you, or it doesn't. There is anything quantifiable here. It's not like sports where you can say, "your team sucks because they lost 101 games" or "your team sucks for blowing a 3 game lead with two weeks to go".

A band that can build a fan base that is as large and rabid as that of Phish, without radio stations and MTV (RIP music videos) getting your music out there, really has something going for them. A band that can play a four night run at MSG, and not repeat a song, is a band that has exceptional talent. Frank, I think that being a musician yourself, you could appreciate that.

I don't get into DMB or Bruce. I give them props for playing three hours every night, and playing a different set list each night. To say that these bands suck, or are terrible, is a ridiculous position to take, and is something that I won't do.

_________________
Good people drink good beer - Hunter S. Thompson

<º)))><

Waiting for the time when I can finally say
That this has all been wonderful, but now I'm on my way

I think their music is terrible. It doesn't "hit me". You initiated the conversation, that is why I said it to you.

I feel like you probably grasp that concept.





Chus - have you ever made fun of/pointed out Cubs fans going to Wrigley more for the party than the actual game? Ever in your 12,000 posts? Im sure you probably referenced that at some point.

I'd apply that same sentiment to Phish having such a large following without being played on the radio (though, I've heard them on XRT many, many times). Many - maybe even most - are going for the environment than the music being played by the band.

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It's not just this year.

1995
1997
1998
2002
2010
2011
2012

They were not touring in 2000, 2001, and fall of '04 thru spring of '09. So yeah, they play NYE at the most famous arena in the world whenever they want.

_________________
Good people drink good beer - Hunter S. Thompson

<º)))><

Waiting for the time when I can finally say
That this has all been wonderful, but now I'm on my way

All of these statements read like you're spiking your hackey sack after setting the new record in the parking lot.

It's just such a strange thing to say out of nowhere, yet you keep repeating it.



That's right! Garth Brooks can play the AA Center in Dallas whenever he wants to! And nobody can stop him!

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Chris Gaines couldn't though.

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Good people drink good beer - Hunter S. Thompson

<º)))><

Waiting for the time when I can finally say
That this has all been wonderful, but now I'm on my way

Except the nights when other bands are already playing there.

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New Year's Eve is the biggest concert night of the year, and Phish plays on that night, in the greatest venue in the world whenever they want. Nobody cares about the AA Center in Dallas, and I don't believe Garth Brooks is touring anymore. I think you understand.

_________________
Good people drink good beer - Hunter S. Thompson

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Waiting for the time when I can finally say
That this has all been wonderful, but now I'm on my way

Such as?

_________________
Good people drink good beer - Hunter S. Thompson

<º)))><

Waiting for the time when I can finally say
That this has all been wonderful, but now I'm on my way

Keep fighting the good fight, Chus. Not sure anybody is actually fighting back - you initiated this entire exchange.


Springsteen got to play all of the baseball stadiums he wanted to this summer. I think he's terrible too. He has huge following. Pretty similar situations.

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Separate conversation -

Is MSG really the "greatest (concert) venue in the world"? I've never heard that statement either.

Red Rocks?
Hollywood Bowl?
Hell....Cabaret Metro? Double Door?
CBGB?
Terminal 5?
Black Cat/9:30?

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Its certainly near the top in terms of name recognition.


Chus, my point is that they are not the only ones allowed to play there on NYE. If Bruce Springsteen's people (or some other very successful act/band) contacted MSG and said, "Bruce would like to play a series of shows from Dec 29th 2013 thru Jan 2nd 2014," I highly doubt the power's that be at MSG would say, "Nope, sorry, we need to check with Phish first!" They would book Bruce and that would be that.

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Elton John holds the all-time record for greatest number of appearances at the Garden with 62 shows including the single longest run ever of 12 nights.

If he wants to play NYE he would have to ask Phish for permission.

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I never said that.

_________________
Good people drink good beer - Hunter S. Thompson

<º)))><

Waiting for the time when I can finally say
That this has all been wonderful, but now I'm on my way

Did I say that?

_________________
Good people drink good beer - Hunter S. Thompson

<º)))><

Waiting for the time when I can finally say
That this has all been wonderful, but now I'm on my way

You came in here with the sole purpose to tell me they suck. Not sure that I iniated that.




I don't care for his music, but I don't think he is terrible.

_________________
Good people drink good beer - Hunter S. Thompson

<º)))><

Waiting for the time when I can finally say
That this has all been wonderful, but now I'm on my way

MSG is certainly the most famous arena in the world. Nobody in their right mind is arguing against that.

Of course, there are many great venues. You are not really going to try to tell me that the Metro is as great as MSG, are you?

Red Rocks is awesome, but I don't think there will be many acts playing there on NYE.

CBGB is closed.

_________________
Good people drink good beer - Hunter S. Thompson

<º)))><

Waiting for the time when I can finally say
That this has all been wonderful, but now I'm on my way