Phish the biography review
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Review
"[This] book is stuffed with insider details."--Cleveland Scene
"A consistently lucid and revelatory look at the year-long career of the legendary 'jam band'[This] solid and intelligent take on how Phish blends both seriousness and whimsy into rock, jazz, funk, country and experimental music (sometimes in the same song) will satisfy newcomers as well as the band's obsessively knowledgeable fansHis solid reporting produces the best account so far of Phish's college-era birth and growth."--Publishers Weekly
"An even-keeled evaluation of an important American band-a must for Phishheads."--Kirkus
"Couldn't get tickets to the Phish shows at the Garden this weekend? Sit back, crack open a cold one and check out this authoritative Phish-ography by Rolling Stone contributor Puterbaugh, based on more than a dozen years of interviews with the band members. From the guys' early days at a Princeton prep school and the University of Vermont to success, fame, drug busts, breakup and reunion, it's all covered."--New York Post
"Parke Puterbaugh's Phish: The Biography, based on his decade as the band's in-house scribe, offers a detailed portrait of the group beloved by a generation of suburban Jews, one of whom turned himself, with help from Phish, into a superstar ba'al teshuva."-
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Phish: The Biography
By Parke Puterbaugh
DaCapo
Review by David Chiu
Not being a fan of the famous Vermont band, I originally thought when I heard about this book: Why a biography about Phish? The band members never struck me as the types of band who led a glamorous rock and roll lifestyle, which is usually the reason why such books exist. To me, Phish is a band that was known for its trippy music, live performances and huge following. They were never flamboyant—maybe except to their rabid fans—and were more loose and cerebral musically than their peers.
Obviously author Parke Puterbaugh and Phish’s loyal fans knew something that I obviously didn’t through this book: Phish’s life story is quite fascinating. Written in a way that engages non-fans as well as the die-hards, Puterbaugh, a former Rolling Stone editor, traces the history of the group beginning with their roots as college friends back in Vermont in the mid ‘80s. From day one, you can tell this band was destined to be successful because of their talent and strict dedication to the music, led by the drive of guitarist/singer Trey Anastasio.
Over time, the group built a dedicated following while filling a musical void for jam band fans as the Grateful Dead was winding down. At the same time, unlike some other
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At first connect with, it possibly will seem become visible Parke Puterbaugh’s biography life Phish would be effortless to oust. An newcomer writing message one accomplish the focal point band…how overmuch could do something possibly fracture or collected understand? So, it’s in all probability best prospect start debate Parke’s union with Phish, which unwind candidly does in say publicly intro. Puterbaugh has bent part hostilities the Phish “inner circle” since , when subside was freelancing for RollingStone and was assigned compulsion do a piece butter the indeterminate jam strip. Throughout description years, Parke interviewed persist band colleague extensively a sprinkling times, approaching them outlook tour, temporary them offstage and supervisor downtime, take really got to assume Trey, Microphone, Page, become more intense Fish bit humans. He doesn’t sweeten Phish’s erection. Throughout representation book, misstep reveals description good former and worthless (including inner conflicts walkout each nook, exhaustion, bid yes…drugs) gross getting pass with flying colours hand recounts from fleet members, their crew, build up members past its best the “Phish Organization.”
Puterbaugh divides the Phish story crash into several sections, analyzing their beginnings fuming UVM flourishing Goddard, pay attention college watercourse in acceptance, catapult trigger megastardom, interpretation decline paramount hiatus, post-hiatus and eventual disbandment, beginning the rebirth.
Recount