@mahimahi said:

Other than Halloween at #1, this list does not make much sense. But then again, this narrow vision is expected in this section of the website--it really is too bad. Maybe next year there will be a better list.

@johnnyd

To answer your question, first, I do appreciate the time someone put into this list, that was a bunch of work. I am happy that someone spent that kind of energy putting it together. However, the premise that an entire year only has ten highlights is absurd. Halloween being #1 only makes sense because it is one of the finer performances I have seen in the past twenty five years of Phish--it truly sticks out. There are so many things to enjoy about 10-31-14. In effect, we have two full albums of new material in the past two Halloween shows, what a treat, excuse the pun.

As far as a list of "Top Phish," I am not one who believes in a "best of a year, best ever, highest rated" etc. How many hours of music have these guys played? There is so much material that has so many wonderful things in it. In order for contrast, people always feel the need to rate something good which means that something else is not as good. Things can be different, they do not necessarily have to be top or bottom.

You cannot compare three set Phish shows with two set Phish shows. I will always take three sets over two. Who wouldn't? What makes a show good? You can have many categories of what was good about a year. Setlist? Jams? Antics/humor? Bust outs? Guest performers? A combination of these things? Sometimes an audience recording is better than a board recording and really captures what it was like to be there; that can also be taken into account. Many phans do not care what they play in a setlist, it is how they play it. It is not a bad point of view, but certainly contrasts with phans that want to see specific songs. Some people over look first sets, why? There many first sets that I think are just as good as second sets. What I look for is what comes back to me, music I go back to re-listen many times. I love listening to a truckload of The Phish, all shapes, all sizes, I just get so much out of it.

As far as this list, forget about rankings, to not include 8-29 anywhere is so utterly bizarre, it destroys the integrity of the entire list. If this was just a forum post it would not be as big of a deal. But to put this front and center of this site is irresponsible. To think someone not familiar with the band could see this list, and not ever listen to 8-29 is criminal.

To a collection of things I enjoyed in 2014. Lets start at the beginning with the Big Easy. It was not Big Cypress, but it was fun. Some people dismiss tour openers, I like them. They have a special energy. 7-12 and 7-13 are popular, I have no beef with those, 7-11 is not just a store, but a solid show in 2014. A "run" or collection of successive concerts I view as one collective performance. 7-3 through 7-5 are highlights. 7-18 through 7-20.7-26 and 7-27. 8-29 through 8-31. I believe there were nine shows in October, all really good. 8-2, is a good one off. As far as the rest of the year, there are many sets I go back to again and again.

Phish needs to be categorized in many ways, and sub categories, not just ten concerts. You do not skim through a good novel, you have to Read The Book.