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."
Simple
Phish Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cause we've got a band
And we've got cymbals in the band
We've got it simple
Cause we've got a band
And we've got cymbals in the band
What is a band without cymbals?
We've got a saxophone
Cause we've got a band
And we've got a saxophone in the band
We've got a saxophone
Cause we've got a band
And we've got saxophone in the band
What is a band without saxophone
Ooh ooh saxophone is grand
Cymbals and saxophones
Saxophones and cymbals (2x)
We've got Be-bop
Cause we've got a band
And we play Be-bop in the band
We've got skyscrapers
And it seems a pretty tune
Every band needs skyscrapers too
What is a band without skyscrapers
Ooh ooh skyscrapers is grand
Sim-Bop & Be-Bophone
Sky-Balls & Sax-Scraper
The lyrics of the song Simple by Phish may seem quite simple and straightforward, but they hold a deeper meaning. The song emphasizes the role of different musical instruments in a band, specifically mentioning cymbals, saxophones, and be-bop music. The repetition of the line 'We've got it simple because we've got a band' shows the importance and pride the band members feel in performing together. The use of the word 'simple' may also be a nod to the fact that the song itself is relatively simple musically, with a catchy melody and repetitive lyrics.
The lyrics can also be interpreted as a commentary on the importance of diversity and collaboration in musical creativity. Each instrument brings a unique sound and perspective to the band's music, and the combination of these sounds makes the music richer and more interesting. The line 'What is a band without cymbals/saxophones/skyscrapers?' suggests that each component is essential to creating a complete and unique musical experience.
Overall, the song Simple is a celebration of the power of music and the importance of collaboration and diversity in creative expression. It is a simple, catchy tune that encourages listeners to appreciate the beauty and complexity of the musical world.
Line by Line Meaning
We've got it simple
It is easy for us
Cause we've got a band
Because we are in a band
And we've got cymbals in the band
We have cymbals as part of our musical instruments
What is a band without cymbals?
Cymbals are an essential part of a band
Ooh ooh cymbals are grand
Cymbals are amazing
We've got a saxophone
We also have a saxophone
And we've got saxophone in the band
Saxophone is one of our musical instruments
What is a band without saxophone
Saxophone is also an important musical instrument in a band
Ooh ooh saxophone is grand
Saxophone is amazing
Cymbals and saxophones
Both cymbals and saxophone are part of our band's instruments
Saxophones and cymbals (2x)
Repeated line emphasizing the importance of both instruments
We've got Be-bop
We play Be-bop music
And we play Be-bop in the band
Be-bop is one of the music styles we play
We've got skyscrapers
We have metaphorical 'skyscrapers' in our music
And it seems a pretty tune
The music with 'skyscrapers' sounds pretty
Every band needs skyscrapers too
Metaphorical 'skyscrapers' are important in any band's music
Ooh ooh skyscrapers is grand
Metaphorical 'skyscrapers' are amazing
Sim-Bop & Be-Bophone
Play on words of music styles and instruments
Sky-Balls & Sax-Scraper
Play on words of imaginary musical instruments
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: MIKE GORDON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@cglukes
The simple egg sandwich!!! This song legit scared me a bit being there (shrooms) I totally didn't expect something so dark and deep. Loved it, loved every second of this musical journey of a concert...my first phish show ever!
@rankinginsight1976
Wow, well sounds like you did it right lol. Glad you enjoyed it
@lawrence6258
Yes. Page's Sandwich's have gotten very tasty indeed.
@TheHSIHP
Rad. my first was 1994
@cglukes
Yeah I'm ready to spend unnecessary amounts of money to see them every year from here on out
@thomasbedell4770
Seems like a best reaction to a first show. 👍✌️
@Krombopulos_B
While at this show, my wife turns and says, "bet it won't be as good as the deer creek simple." 20 minutes later she turns and gives me this look and we both knew she'd spoken too soon. Phish always brings the heat for simple!
@jesslloydjansen
Were you at deer creek 2021 for simple? Blaze on Wilson simple was epic. Sunday was super fun.
@Krombopulos_B
@@jesslloydjansen indeed I was! N1 was one of my favorite shows of all time. The energy that night was amazing.
@HeyZeusBelden
Heh, phish nerd!