Notes from a super Phan

Famously, no two Phish concerts are alike.

The beloved jam band, which has been rocking together since 1983, makes sure every live show is a brand new experience complete with spectacular guitar riffs, trippy stage design and the occasional improvised vacuum solo.

Yes, really.

And, since the group refuses to rest on their laurels, fans keep coming back for more.

Phishheads travel far and wide to see guitarist Trey Anastasio, drummer/vacumm player Jon Fishman, bassist Mike Gordon and keyboardist Page McConnell innovate whenever they can whether it be their annual four-night end of the year residency at New York City’s Madison Square Garden or Las Vegas’ Sphere next April.

“It’s not like anything you’ve ever seen because it’s never happened before,” NY-based comedian and proud Phan Max Fine told the New York Post.

“Every show is special and unique because they don’t plan for it. You get to be whoever you want at a Phish show.”

For a closer look into the Phish experience, here’s what Fine said about seeing the band live.

Is every Phish concert really unique?

“There’s no set list and no song HAS to be played a certain way,” Fine shared.

“Most songs are jams, especially in the second set,” he continued. “There are two types of jams. A type one jam is where the band kind of stays within the parameters of the song they’re currently playing. These are cool, but you kind of know where you’re at.”

The second option is even more adventurous.

“A type two jam takes the song to a whole different place,” Fine explained. “Over the summer, they closed the second set of the first night with an almost 16 minute ‘Split Open and Melt’ and I probably forgot what we were listening to eight minutes in. Hell, I probably forgot I was in the building. Incredible.”

Does Phish take requests?

“They do indeed play requests, but it’s not as easy to get a request up there when you’re in the Garden,” Fine pointed out.

“As mentioned before, Trey and the band don’t know what they’re going to play when they get on stage which is what makes it so special.”

What is the vibe at Phish shows?

“Whatever you need it to be, but everyone around you wants it be joyous,” Fine wisely stated.

“One of the reasons I keep going is because Phish shows are one of the few places I feel totally present,” he added. “I don’t really worry about what’s going to happen once I leave the building- I just want to experience this thing that will only happen once with as many other people as I can that feel the same way. Politics, religion, whatever, it all kinda dissipates at a Phish show.”

If you want to catch more of Fine’s comedy, we recommend checking out his album ‘I Like His Style.’

Phish MSG tickets

Want to get lost in Phish’s sound before 2023 comes to a close?

A complete breakdown of all the best prices on tickets by section for Phish’s four Madison Square Garden concerts can be found below.

(Note: The New York Post confirmed all above prices at the publication time. All prices are in US dollars, subject to fluctuation and include additional fees at checkout.)

Vivid Seats is a verified secondary market ticketing platform, and prices may be higher or lower than face value, depending on demand. 

They offer a 100% buyer guarantee that states your transaction will be safe and secure and your tickets will be delivered prior to the event.

Phish at Sphere tickets

Been dreaming of seeing the band live in Sin City?

Here’s how much the cheapest tickets will run you for single and multi-day tickets.

Phish set list

Part of the fun of seeing Phish live is the surprises the band has in store for fans.

Still, it can’t hurt to take a peek at what has made the cut recently.

For a closer look, here’s the complete history of what Phish has played live — dating back to 1983 — check out Set List FM.

Huge bands on tour in 2024

While no band jams quite like Phish, here are five rollicking acts you may enjoy seeing live in the near future.

• Rolling Stones

• The Eagles

• Mt. Joy

• The String Cheese Incident

• Bob Weir and Wolf Bros

Who else is out and about next year? Check out our list of the 50 biggest concert tours in 2024 here to find out.