2008 Woodie Awards
Strange Design seeks to re-create the magic of Phish
JOHN BARRETT
Issue date: 7/17/08 Section: Variety
Along with guitarist Matthew Chase and bassist Ben Markowitz, the foursome takes on each member of Phish's exact role, vocal duties included.
"We're going to be as literal as we can with who's singing what parts and who's singing which harmonies and try to re-create that as well," Levy said. "As far as the musical aspect, we're actually going for the style and the vibe and sometimes even the jams and teases. We take it to the extent that what happened in Phish's live show is going to happen in our live show."
Musically, the members plan to find a balance between loyalty to Phish's music while still retaining their improvisational spirit.
"We try to do the compositional pieces exactly accurate," Chase said. "But the spirit of their improvisation is being in the moment, so we want to be true to that and musically reach that place that Phish was able to tap into night after night."
"Half of the experience is about the anticipation of what Phish was going to do next, because they would bring out things the audience would least expect," Levy added.
Chase also mentioned that Phish "treated music as their religion," and Strange Design likewise strives to treat Phish's music with the same reverence.
"The energy they put into their music is so inspiring, and in the process of learning their music we're trying to uphold treating music as a religious aspect," he said.
The process of re-creating and combining entire Phish set lists into one, which the band has dubbed "Give the Phans What They Want," gives fans "a chance to hear Phish in ways they haven't gotten to hear," Levy said.
"A lot of people might have only caught them towards the end of their career, so busting out a show from 1991 would give them a chance to see what Phish was doing in that era," he said.
Fans can submit requests for specific set lists via Strange Design's website, www.thestrangedesign.com.
Beyond the musical aspect, Strange Design will adhere to the visual component of Phish's performance, including a full light show and stage antics.
"In the early 90s, they did several off-the-wall things during performances, using everything from trampolines to giant balls, and we want to bring out that side of Phish, too," Levy said.
Strange Design even follows Phish's environmentally friendly example.
"For the majority of Phish's career, they had Greenpeace on tour with them," Chase said. "So we've got Green Team Entertainment on tour with us, which is a company that specializes in green events, and they'll have a booth set up at our shows."
"We're going to be as literal as we can with who's singing what parts and who's singing which harmonies and try to re-create that as well," Levy said. "As far as the musical aspect, we're actually going for the style and the vibe and sometimes even the jams and teases. We take it to the extent that what happened in Phish's live show is going to happen in our live show."
Musically, the members plan to find a balance between loyalty to Phish's music while still retaining their improvisational spirit.
"We try to do the compositional pieces exactly accurate," Chase said. "But the spirit of their improvisation is being in the moment, so we want to be true to that and musically reach that place that Phish was able to tap into night after night."
"Half of the experience is about the anticipation of what Phish was going to do next, because they would bring out things the audience would least expect," Levy added.
Chase also mentioned that Phish "treated music as their religion," and Strange Design likewise strives to treat Phish's music with the same reverence.
"The energy they put into their music is so inspiring, and in the process of learning their music we're trying to uphold treating music as a religious aspect," he said.
The process of re-creating and combining entire Phish set lists into one, which the band has dubbed "Give the Phans What They Want," gives fans "a chance to hear Phish in ways they haven't gotten to hear," Levy said.
"A lot of people might have only caught them towards the end of their career, so busting out a show from 1991 would give them a chance to see what Phish was doing in that era," he said.
Fans can submit requests for specific set lists via Strange Design's website, www.thestrangedesign.com.
Beyond the musical aspect, Strange Design will adhere to the visual component of Phish's performance, including a full light show and stage antics.
"In the early 90s, they did several off-the-wall things during performances, using everything from trampolines to giant balls, and we want to bring out that side of Phish, too," Levy said.
Strange Design even follows Phish's environmentally friendly example.
"For the majority of Phish's career, they had Greenpeace on tour with them," Chase said. "So we've got Green Team Entertainment on tour with us, which is a company that specializes in green events, and they'll have a booth set up at our shows."
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 4
Jim Sneed
posted 7/17/08 @ 12:28 PM EST
if by "magic" do you mean sleight of hand? Like looking like something's happening, but it's really not?
Like thousands of people at a concert, surely it must be good music, right?
Phish is a travesty of a sham of an abortion of music. (Continued…)
John Barrett
posted 7/17/08 @ 1:58 PM EST
You're entitled to your own opinion, but the fact is that Phish changed the face of live music in the 90s and are a monumentally important band. Honestly there are bands I like more than Phish too, but to say they're a "travesty-sham-abortion-sling a bunch of insults together into a sentence" is a bit harsh. (Continued…)
steven
posted 7/18/08 @ 2:26 PM EST
mr. sneed . stop listening to yani.
Jim Sneed
posted 7/18/08 @ 3:05 PM EST
I think Sneed is upset that he doesn't get it, and that Widespread Panic had the chance to be next big thing and FAILED because they have played a total of three notes their entire career
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