Speaking as a guitarist myself, do we know if Trey has any medical issues affecting his playing? Cuz he does flub a lot, but many times he is getting the notes but picking or strumming so quiet that it doesnt sound like it
That's been going on for a while. Maybe it's age, I don't know. EVH was crushing his runs even in old age. I give Trey a lot of slack (I give myself a lot of slack), but when he doesn't nail the DWD solo, it bothers me. But I love Phish, I love the shows, and as a Deadhead I'm used to giving my principal players a lot of slack. I think it's the non-Deadheads that have the toughest time giving Trey slack. Just a theory of mine. And I hate to articulate it that way, because "without a net" is a definite thing, and you take the good with the bad, and it doesn't bother me to the point where I'm ever going to stop listening to either. I even hate to use the word "bother." I'm trying to put into words a mode that doesn't need them.
Maybe he's got problems feeling his fingertips or something. I mean once you've played Stash 100 times, how do you not know when or how to hit the next note? Or maybe it's a really complicated and non-intuitive piece. It certainly sounds intuitive.
That's exactly why I asked if he maybe has nerve or muscle problems or something in his arm/wrist. Alex Lifeson had some issues towards the end of Rush that affected his playing a bit. As you say, in my mind (as a fellow guitarist), that stuff is intuitive, imo. I mean, I suck, and I can pick up my axe and play something I learned a year ago pretty quickly. If he's played Stash that much I don't see why he should logically be having that hard of a time. etc etc etc Now, other things like Forbin or McGrupp that only get played once in a blue moon's blue moon I don't expect to be perfect unless he noticeably put in time to rehearse. Stuff like that you gotta refresh, for sure. But even the crazy complicated stuff like Reba or Fluffhead should be relatively "simple" at this point as far as having muscle memory and all that. But I could be wrong! Who knows, ya know?
I do, and I think his assessment is on point. I mean, I think Trey is always doing something musically, so I don't mean to imply that he's lazy or not trying. But I don't think he practices stuff he's already written, or scales/exercises and that kind of thing, that previously enabled him to so effortlessly play the kind of stuff he used to. And...you kinda need to. I mean, I'm sure Satriani still practices "Satch Boogie" once or twice before starting a tour, y'know?
Keep in mind Trey also had a serious drug problem for a while that can also rob you of some ability or accelerate the process for sure. And agreed Trey and the band as a whole don't practice enough.
That definitely affected the end of the 1.0 and all of the 2.0 eras, but he should be back to normal now. I very much noticed an improvement in his technique in 2015...he probably practiced more for the Fare Thee Well shows than he had in years (or has since).
Yes I consider 2015 to be the highpoint of 3.0 the band to me has been declining since then Trey especially.
When I marathoned 2009 and 2010 his playing definitely seemed fine on a physical level - any sloppiness sounded like lack of practice rather than anything possibly related to age/drug use effects, etc He might have unforeseen long term effects from the drug use that are only coming on slowly now or something. A close relative of mine has been clean for 20 years but has all kinds of muscle and memory issues as a result of decades of heroin and alcohol abuse.
But, the thing is, you're still young. Trey is like three years older than I am. But that still doesn't seem to be nearly old enough to have problems hitting strings. On the other hand, he's got a lot of live show wear in his limbs. I think it's gotta be his hands or wrists having a problem somewhere. Total speculation though. Maybe he just doesn't give a **** about nailing those old songs all the time. He want to rock out on "Soul Planet." The ocean is love.
2012-2015 is my vote for extended peak of 3.0, but the absolute best 3.0 tour has got to be Fall 2013. Sooooo many great jams. While the best show of 3.0 remains 8/31/12.
He improved quite a bit in 2015 when he had to get ready for Fare Thee Well. So I think it's mostly lack of practicing.
Fall 2013 is maybe my favorite tour of 3.0 as well. I recently went through Fall 2018 and really enjoyed it! Some great jams on that tour.
3.0 voting Best tour jam wise: summer 2015 Best show: 10.31.14 -- mind blown (and I wasn't there) Best run: Bakers' (Hard to say it was downhill after 2015 when Bakers was 2 years later) I am tempted to give 2012 the nod for most consistently creative setlists (which makes it a very fun year).
I was at 10/31/14 a truly weird and epic show. Sadly as it was my first and only Halloween show I uh overdid it a bit partying and my memories are pretty spotty. Also as far as Fall 2013 goes I just did Hampton but I have to say that Sunday night show was pretty epic. Oct 20, 2013 Setlist - Phish.net
It was great fun and the Paul and Silas was a pivot they were going to open with Tweezer but Trey saw some guys dressed as Where's Waldo and said it reminded him of prison stripes so here's a song about prison, to paraphrase. That was my first Paul and Silas and then because that's how these things go I saw it again two years later at the LA Forum. Jul 22, 2016 Setlist - Phish.net Decent setlist but I was absolutely wiped from the 3 BGC shows prior we did get passes to the Forum Club however which was cool here is a pic of the cake they had in the club.
2018 is pretty terrific too. Ive heard 6 summer shows, 1 fall show and the New Years run. Not a poor gig in the bunch
I consider Bakers to be an outlier it was amazing all three shows I saw were great. But later that year at Dick's I thought the shows were fairly meh except for Friday night set 2. SET 2: No Men In No Man's Land > Carini > Ghost > Harry Hood > Cavern
