It’s over… we really know it isn’t but at least for the meantime, it’s over. Fare Thee Well has made history by reaching fans on the west and almost the east side of the United States bringing people together once again. Although I wasn’t able to go, I was curious to see what people thought. Loving all versions of the Grateful Dead and Being a fan of Phish since the beginning, I still find myself not believing that it all happened. Trey just played with the Grateful Dead… What?
Phish took over for me when the Dead first ended in 95′ but not exclusively. I was still circulating through my tapes as well as listening to local 518 music. Then I started to stumble upon some live boots of Phish along with seeing them a hand full of times. It was different, way different, but somehow Phish had the same abilities like the dead to take you on a musical journey.
Trey’s guitar tone is unmistakable and it’s very prominent in the recordings of the two shows performed at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara and Chicago’s Soldier Field. He doesn’t hide the fact that he’s Trey and that is an important take away. Yes, some of the phrasing was similar to Jerry’s style but with major Trey flavors. It makes it exciting because I am able to easily float between two of my all time favorite bands as the I flip the switch and enter uncharted territory.
Some may not like it and want the total Jerry sound but the total Jerry sound wrapped with this modern feel and energy would be almost criminal. The side show of the Grateful Dead with the total Jerry sound was pulled together by both Bobby and Phil in separate bands and it brought a lot of amazing music but this is the Grateful Dead.
Opinions are out there and that’s what I am looking for so let me know what you think.
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Townley Sound – Undertaper Productions