November 24, 2010

I’m a panelist on a podcast called Type II Cast which features a panel of Phish Geeks dissecting the band’s music. Last night we recorded our seventh episode all about

Phish has influenced us in many ways aside from depleting our bank accounts. We are Phish fans and not only because we love their music, the tour or the garlic grilled cheeses, but because the music they have introduced us to has helped push us out of the bubble. As Three Grown Men, we have been able to branch out our musical tastes, and we must give some of the credit to Trey, Mike, Page and Jon.

Jonathan Kosakow on Phish’s general musical influence:

I still remember a single moment in high school English class. For some reason unknown to me today, we were discussing the theme from 2001: A Space Odyssey, but everyone was unsure the name of the song. I said Also Sprach Zarathustra and let everyone think I was cultured while they looked at me in disbelief – “This kid knows the name of that tune?” But, I sure as hell wasn’t about to tell everyone, “Phish covers it.” They’d have written me off immediately. Not that it helped anything, though: I was soon knocked out of high-level English and into the remedial class (that’s right you overachievers, look who speaks English NOW).

Bitter resentment aside, it was that moment I realized that Phish was just the frame of an open door to a world of music. I almost hate to admit how overwhelmingly responsible Phish has been for my ventures into that world, but it’s true.  And not just because they opened me up to one band, or one album, or one genre, but because of the many random bands I may not have listened to otherwise.

Had it not been for their cover of Peaches En Regalia I may never have dug out my father’s old vinyl copy of Hot Rats, and Zappa’s guitar wouldn’t have ripped me to shreds the first time I listened to Willie the Pimp. I wouldn’t have fallen for Talking Heads like a schoolboy in love either.  And, if it weren’t for the fact that Phish covered Little Feat three weeks ago, I wouldn’t have Waiting for Columbus on repeat for the tenth time since then. Somehow, whether I want to admit it or not, those four goofy longhairs from Vermont managed to show me the way.

READ ON for more on how Phish expanded 3GM’s horizons…

It’s been a little while since we’ve heard any Creepfunk around here, so this week let’s check out the newest cover tune in the Steez repertoire, Annie Lennox’s hit, Walking