Behind The Gag

Okay I promise last post on Phish for the day. I figured why not make it a full day of posts before getting back to your regularly scheduled program. Plus its my blog and well I can do what I want...

I just read a great review of the 31st show by Mr. Miner and his take on the meaning behind Phish's New Years gag or like he likes to call it "Your Soul Joins Mine". Its pretty powerful stuff, and well I like it, I like it a lot. You ready for his take on it (remember he came up with this not me, but I agree 100%). Warning another long Phish post.... be prepared! 

"The band created a powerful, and philosophically driven skit that delivered the poignant message that we are all eternal souls dancing together forever. Recently the Phish fan community suffered three tragic losses in the course of months. Three big fans and fixtures of Phish tour lost their lives due to tragic circumstances and the band was fully aware of this. (A few months ago they played an entire show with every song starting with the letter S in memory of Scottie Nowak). Leave it to Phish to have a pulse on their community, because this New Year's skit struck a chord with many fans. As the narrative of "Steam" began, the smoke machines started to cloud the stage in mystery. And as the song refrain, "You're soul joins mine in steam", the woman rose above the stage dancing to the dramatic music, representing the soul from the song's lyrics. But then, things got far more symbolic. 

As the song progressed, other people, also cabled to the rafters began to rise above the crowd, dancing with mini smoke machines releasing clouds of steam that surrounded each of them. Clearly representing souls, the people weren't dressed as costumed dancers, but rather like Phish fans, your everyday concert goers. Clouds of smoke surrounding each apparition floating above the arena, and they were dancing to "Steam" like we were- together with us. And as the "souls" danced above the audience the bands instruments (that they weren't playing) began to levitate as well. 

Following the dark "Steam" jam, the first woman who danced above the stage counted down to New Years. Then, after "Auld Lang Syne" the symbolism continued. As the dancers performed a choreographed, mid-air routine to "Down with Disease", small circles of the stage under Trey and Mike began to life the guitar players high into the air. Trey and Mike were some ten feet in the air playing in line with the dancers, uniting the entire arena in the skit. The ideas of the impermanence of human life and the unity of all souls seeped through the stunt as a legitimate statement of belief. By Trey and Mike joining the elevated dancers, the message was clear, this community, and all of life on this planet - is eternal and we will always be united whole, dancing through the universe together. This earth is merely one part of that journey. (Whoa) Even the "Disease" lyrics "Waiting for the time when I can finally say, this has all been wonderful, but now I'm on my way" took on a far more powerful meaning. An affirmation of the eternal nature of the soul and oneness of everyone, this stunt had a lot more below the surface than the spectacle floating performers with smoke packs attached to them." 

Thank you Mr. Miner!