The band is known for musical improvisation, extended jams, blending of genres, and a rigorous touring schedule that draws a famously dedicated fan base. Their music blends elements of a wide variety of genres, including funk, progressive rock, psychedelic rock, folk, country, jazz, blues, bluegrass, and pop. Phish were part of a movement of improvisational rock groups, inspired by the Grateful Dead and colloquially known as "jam bands", which gained considerable popularity as touring concert acts in the 1990s.
After 15 years of performing together, Phish went on hiatus in 2000. They resumed touring in December 2002, but disbanded in 2004 after a farewell performance at their Coventry Festival in Vermont. They reunited in March 2009 for a series of three consecutive concerts played in the Hampton Coliseum in Hampton, Virginia, and have since resumed performing regularly.
Although the group received little radio play or MTV exposure, Phish developed a large following by word of mouth during the 1990s, particularly through fan-record tapes of their concerts, which circulated for free online with the band's permission. While often compared to the Grateful Dead, Phish finds their roots in styles such as jazz, funk and alternative rock as opposed to the Dead, who were more influenced by folk, country and blues.
Each Phish concert is different in terms of the songs included and the order in which they appeared, and (for many songs) in the way in which they were performed. Also unique to Phish are their large summer festivals which draw upwards of 70K people to remote areas in Maine and New York State as well as close to 100K for their epic Millennium Show in the Everglades of South Florida.
Along with Bob Dylan and The Beatles, Phish were one of the first bands to have an Internet newsgroup - rec.music.phish - launched in 1991.
In regards to Phish, Rolling Stone magazine proclaimed "Given their sense of community, their ambition and their challenging, generous performances, Phish have become the most important band of the Nineties."
Lawn Boy
Phish Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When there's no direct light
And a thin veil of clouds
Keeps the stars out of sight
I can smell the colors
Outside on my lawn
The moist green organic
And the black oleander
Surrounded by blues
I'm soon overwhelmed
By olfactory hues
The lyrics of Phish's song Lawn Boy portray a surreal image of sensory experiences during the night. The song's protagonist is unable to see the stars due to a layer of clouds but can "smell the colors" of the surroundings. The moist, green grass under his feet and the black oleander bushes surrounded by blue hues together create a rich and overwhelming olfactory experience. The imagery takes on a dreamlike quality, with the senses taking over in the absence of visual stimuli.
The song may be interpreted differently by different listeners, but some may find that the lyrics suggest a search for a deeper connection with nature. The singer is able to find beauty and meaning in the colors and smells of what surrounds him, despite the lack of light and visibility. The choice of the name Lawn Boy could add to this interpretation, as it suggests a bond with the environment and emphasizes the importance of taking care of it.
Line by Line Meaning
Throughout the night
During the nighttime hours
When there's no direct light
When there is no sunlight or other bright lights shining
And a thin veil of clouds
And there are thin clouds covering the sky
Keeps the stars out of sight
Making it difficult or impossible to see the stars
I can smell the colors
I can detect the different aromas
Outside on my lawn
Coming from the grass outside
The moist green organic
The fresh and damp greenery
That my feet tread upon
That I walk on
And the black oleander
And the dark-colored oleander plant
Surrounded by blues
Growing near blue-colored plants or objects
I'm soon overwhelmed
I quickly become strongly affected by
By olfactory hues
By the combination of different smells creating a sensory experience
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: ERNEST ANASTASIO, TOM MARSHALL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@LudiCrust.
I love it when Page does his sleazy lounge singer act on Lawn Boy 😂
@brendanmcmahon1162
Oh hell yeah. Imagine Page smoothing on your date at a mmn lounge, though. That would be epic and potentially heart breaking
@brendanmcmahon1162
Oh man I whiffed on the length. . You could be right. Or at least close at least closehh up😮
@CruznN4th
i love that hold that leads into the jam. chills everytime
@chuckhowe123
They will do awesome again, but it won't ever be the same awesome. They are a band packed with once in a lifetimes
@dantrav1927
well said
@jjmah7
You’re right. They keep getting better and surprising us.
@michaelwendeborn5947
Your the man brotha, my best friends Uncle has said this many times about Phish! Sad to say this year will be my very first time seeing such a masterpiece ✨.
@ambermcdade2919
Hmmmm I think they just get awesomer with age
@ericenfield2193
Well said indeed. There's a few bands out there like that, now that you make me see it like that.