Hello Again

This is a new era of Phish. Call it what you will, but there is no doubt that we are entering the next phase of the band’s sprawling and illustrious career. After 19 months off due to the pandemic, the band will step on stage tonight—in Arkansas of all places—to rev up the engine once again. And I won’t be there. I am not feeling fully comfortable with pandemic Phish at the moment. I feel there are too many distractions and peripheral stressors for me to close my eyes, let go and immerse myself in the expansive, boundary-less experience that I have come to know and love over the course of 26 years. I was planning on going to Atlanta, Nashville, Deer Creek and Atlantic City this run, and for now, it seems that I am going to be skipping until Deer Creek at the earliest. I have traditionally distanced myself from the shows while I am not there, because after seeing every show from for so long, missing them was always a bitter pill to swallow. I don’t webcast the shows and sometimes I don’t even listen to them right away. But it feels different this time since I am opting out rather than not going because I am unable, and so I am thinking perhaps that I will try to engage with the music differently while being home.

Subsequently, I am thinking I may write some thoughts on this site for the first time in a long time. I won’t try to review the shows—that would make no sense without being there, as Phish is a live experience. But perhaps some stream of consciousness thoughts about the music, the jams, the new songs as I digest them from afar. I am not sure what form this might take, and I might start and feel like it isn’t going anywhere and bail right away, but maybe it will help me metabolize this new experience as it unfolds. We will see what happens. Stay tuned.

41 Responses to “Hello Again”

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  1. McGGGG Says:

    Please post! You’re missed much more than you realise.

    Either way, have fun… we’re all in for another ride!

    Enjoy, Miner

  2. Snigglebeach Says:

    The older I get, the more I appreciate couch tour. And even Phish is not enough to get me to visit Arkansas.

    Welcome back to the inter webs.

  3. phishm Says:

    Right on Miner. Nothing wrong with closing your eyes and entering the portal. It goes infinitely in.

  4. Willowed Says:

    Well hello back! I hope everyone has been getting by alright!

  5. MiA Says:

    Love to continue to hear your thoughts…

  6. Type III Jamming Personality Disorder Says:

    Haooy to see you back writing here. Your voice has been missed

  7. Type III Jamming Personality Disorder Says:

    Clearly I am out of practice what with the massive typo lol

  8. BrandonKayda Says:

    Hope everybody is well. It’s been a while…

  9. Lycanthropist Says:

    Hey hey folks! Miner good to see you around. Hope we get some words from you in whatever form they take.

    Cheers BB!

  10. Dogmattagram Says:

    So cool to see all of you posting here again. It’s been a while. See you at Hershey!

  11. Lycanthropist Says:

    Truly has been a while.

  12. Cheard Says:

    Hey. y’all! Infrequent poster from Charlotte. Are audience streams still a thing?

  13. LocusttheLurker Says:

    Welcome back Miner!

  14. phishm Says:

    Pretty good Wolfman’s.

  15. Arcimboldo Says:

    Welcome back everyone

  16. yematt Says:

    yeah!! welcome back! anyone with an audio stream? yematt at gmail

  17. HarryHood Says:

    Will be good to see your take on things again Miner…. cant wait.

  18. HarryHood Says:

    Some new faces round these parts…. Hey everyone!

  19. voopa Says:

    Waka waka

  20. katie Says:

    Im listening

  21. Matt Says:

    Mr Miner, it’s great to see you post again! I just want to let you know that your writing was instrumental in building my lifelong joy of Phish. I started reading back in 2009 when 3.0 was kicking off, and everyday of tour, I was thoroughly excited to read your recounting of a musical journey with Phish. And I also learned so much from your highlights from 1.0 and 2.0. I love the way you write – with colorful descriptions, you made me more aware of particular things Phish was doing…I’m most fond of the way you’d describe moments from Fall 97 and Island Tour, when they would fuse into a four-headed monster, and you couldn’t tell who was playing what, but the composite was amazing to hear. That’s also my favorite Phish, there’s something truly transcendent about it when it happens. In a way, your writings guided me to a deeper understanding of the music.

    Whatever you choose to do, I hope I can give even a bit of encouragement 🙂

  22. TheLongCon Says:

    Well well well.
    Good to see you back Rip Van Winkle.

    I guess it’s time to shake the dust off this ol long con and get it up and running again.

  23. kayatosh Says:

    Hello, Miner! Please write. We love you and your words

  24. wobs Says:

    More long-form Miner please! Glad to see you back in this space!

  25. Type III Jamming Personality Disorder Says:

    I’m impressed everyone remembered which email went with their avatar here. I had to try like four different ones before getting it right

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