Phish @ Dicks Sporting Goods Park

Phish absolutely crushed their show at Dicks Sporting Goods Park on August 29, 2024 in Denver, Colorado.

Phish

The preeminent jam band of the 1990s and early 21st century, Phish, have not only built a wide-ranging and inventive body of work but also inspired a unique and devoted fan culture reminiscent of their forebears, the Grateful Dead. Formed in Vermont in the mid-’80s, the band cultivated a growing grassroots audience drawn to their exceptional musicianship, quirky personality, and spontaneous, free-form improvisations. These improvisations incorporated elements from a variety of genres, including psychedelia, jazz fusion, funk, progressive rock, folk, country, and blues.

Building on the template set by the Dead, Phish placed greater emphasis on live performance than studio work and encouraged fans to tape and trade concert recordings. By the turn of the century, they had become one of the top live acts in the U.S. Despite their focus on the stage, they produced notable studio albums, such as Billy Breathes (1996) and Farmhouse (2000).

Though they faced significant challenges in the following decade—including a two-year hiatus and a five-year breakup—the band ultimately survived and reclaimed their position as leaders of the American jam band scene. Following their reunion, Phish continued to draw large crowds into the 2020s, taking creative risks with their recorded work. Fuego (2014) cracked the Billboard Top Ten, while they collaborated with Bob Ezrin on Big Boat (2016) and swiftly recorded Evolve live in the studio in 2024.

pulled from AllMusic