10-3-00 - Jay Leno Show, NBC Studios, Burbank, CA

Date: Tue, 3 Oct 2000 21:38:37 EDT
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Hey hey...Leno Phish Review
 
TWIST...started a bit shifty, but they got back on track. Trey didn't know if
they should go back to the couch section with Jay after the song, but Jay,
seeing the nobody was following him, took a few steps back and collected the
band. They all hung out on the couches until the end of the show, where they
lined up to shoot some promos...pretty funny stuff. After the promos, the
band left the stage...but Trey stopped and told Kevin Eubanks how much he
respects his music, and how great of a job he has...And Kevin returned the
complement. It was very cool. (I was within an earshot, and heard how much
the two really appreciated eachother's musicianship.)
 
Great time. Standard television Phish.
Yasmeen looked hot.
enjoy.

Date: Sat, 14 Oct 2000 13:05:36 -0700
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: 10/3/00 Jay Leno Show, Burbank,CA
 
I made it in to the taping.  I was sitting next to Kevin Eubanks, so I was
watching him most of the time. Great player!
"Twist" was a cool choice for TV.  I could only see Mike without looking at
the TV monitor in front of me, so it felt like I was wathing it on TV even
though I was about 30ft. from them.
Right when Jay announced the band, we all stood up and grooved.  The Tonight
Show staff made everybody sit back down though.  It is a TV show afterall.
The best part of the entire show was Trey playing with Fish's nipple at
commercial break.  They both seemed to be really enjoying themselves.
I guess 17 years on the road might.............
 
jim
Burbank,CA

...below here are reviews based on the TV broadcast of the show, above this
are from people at that actual taping...

Date: Sat, 21 Oct 2000 00:29:25 -0700
From: Norm Gaudet [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: "Men of Phish" on Leno revisited
 
I know it's been a couple weeks since Phish played Leno, but with the
hiatus and all, we got time to revisit, right?   So here goes: I thought
Twist was a strange and gutsy choice -- a touchy tune for a cold-start one
tune gig .  It took a little while for the band to get a handle on their
temporary tv reality, and the song,  but they got it together and pulled it
off.  Well done.  If I wasn't also a Dead fan who saw that band crammed
into the 3-minute TV slot a few times, then I might be like some who
anguished over Phish's performance, or compared it to concert Twists, and
rated it a failure.  But I've learned: Best not get too wound up; just be
glad to see ther boys, and hope they make it through their tube trip
unscathed.  Expect them to "suck" by your lights, but allow civilians to
draw their own conclusions and enjoy it on their own levels.
    Jay Leno ran a pretty cheesy ship that night, lowlighted by lame skit
appearances by creepy Olympic swimmer Gary Hall, a visit with the horrid
Yasmine Bleeth ("I'm such a slut!  Watch my crappy new TV show!"), and
Jay's bathroom humor rudeness to the surprisingly charming, and classy
jackie Chan.  Just before he brought out Phish, Leno did make me smile with
his We're-out-of-time-here's-the-CD-Goodnight! goof on the (stoner) phans,
but he really irked me with his repeated "Men of Phish" line, because it
seemed to me it was prompted by Fish's wearing of a dress, which of course
is outside the Leno worldview envelope (and he calls humor his business?).
This apparently was Jay's "subtle" way of saying what he really thought,
which I'm guessing was more along the lines of "Hey check out the fag in
the dress".  It was mocking and rude, almost schoolyard-bullyish.  Come on
Jay, you can do a lot better than that.

Date: Wed, 18 Oct 2000 11:41:45 -0800
From: Jason Schneider [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Leno/Phish
 
Phish...........I've been in Alaska for 7 years now and have not seen a
live phish show since!  These reviews make me sick; reminds me of the
fans at dead shows toward their end.  I thought it was awsome to see
phish live.  Austen City limits was even better.  People are actuallly
taking offense at Leno making jokes about "phish people"?  Grow up!
It's a tv program hosted by a comedian.  What do you expect.  Just like
Letterman teased Jerry Garcia to his face!  It is all in fun and if you
took it to heart then YOU need to take a break from phish.  Maybe Phish
isn't taking a break, they are giving you guys a break!!!!!!  It sounds
like you need one.  Keep it up guys (phish) and enjoy your break (if you
are ever in AK and want to do some phishing, i'll take you to my
favorite, remote hideway were you can be you and not be criticized).
 
Jason Schneider
An Alaskan who would love to see Phish in Fairbanks:)

Date: Sat, 7 Oct 2000 14:34:03 EDT
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Leno form the TV perspective!
 
Sucked!!! I love that every appearance on Network TV Phish has sucked! I've
loved the band since 91 and have seen 92 shows and I say "let them suck on
TV" that will keep millions of people who shouldn't like Phish from liking
them. My  sister and I laughed out loud after they finished! We were like it
sucked, but thank God that I got to see the worst version of Twist ever on TV
and not at a show!
Keep on sucking on TV BOYZ; more tix for me, and less teenie boppers at
shows!!
Johnnyfish
13

Date: Sat, 7 Oct 2000 14:34:03 EDT
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Leno form the TV perspective!
 
Sucked!!! I love that every appearance on Network TV Phish has sucked! I've
loved the band since 91 and have seen 92 shows and I say "let them suck on
TV" that will keep millions of people who shouldn't like Phish from liking
them. My  sister and I laughed out loud after they finished! We were like it
sucked, but thank God that I got to see the worst version of Twist ever on TV
and not at a show!
Keep on sucking on TV BOYZ; more tix for me, and less teenie boppers at
shows!!
Johnnyfish
13

Date: Thu, 5 Oct 2000 11:09:32 -0700 (PDT)
From: Jabez Harlan [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: ready for a break
 
From reading the reviews about the phoenix show i think phish should take a
long,long break.  five years or something.  it seems to me that fans are
expecting the band to live their life for them and give them everything that
there life lacks.  It seemed to me and maybe only me that the wonderful band
called phish has been taken for granted and people are judging setlists and
shows like they themselves should have wrote the setlist.  we did not write
the songs, we did not write the music, we do not play the songs all across the
world on stage, we support it and encourage it.  we used to enjoy it, no
matter how it sounded.  long ago, we didn't care if they played a hood or a
bathtub gin or maze, we had no expectations.  we lived in the moment instead
of dwelling on the future and what they might play or dwelling on the past and
what they did play.  music is about giving yourself, your entire being to the
music, proving to yourself that you do exist, letting the sound and rhythm
flood you with emotion-and take you beyond this world to something that really
matters.
 
i guess it is just human nature to want something different all the time.  
what we as humans must realize is that is always different in one way or
another.  that is why we see the show to be part of the music if but for a
short time-not to slam it when we aren't feeling in the groove.  maybe when
phish goes away we will grow to miss them, maybe we wont miss them.  maybe we
will all give our souls Leno, Letterman, Bush Jr., Gore, Nader, Yoko, tom
green, McDonalds, Wal Mart.  whatever you give yourself to you better be
happy, and if you're not, try not to bitch about it too much, that's what im
doing and its making me feel like shit.
 
ascend.
jabe.

Date: Thu, 5 Oct 2000 12:44:00 -0700
From: steel19 [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: leno honesty
 
after watching the leno broadcast i have one thought,
 
'everyone who believes phish isn't breaking up is an optimist, and,
 
everyone who believes phish is breaking up is an optimist.'
 
Love em, but they need a much deserved break.

Date: Fri, 06 Oct 2000 01:20:09 -0400
From: Matthew Pens [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Leno Review
 
I have to say first of all Leno sucks, Letterman rocks.  The overall
attitude of Leno makes me ill, with all of the stereotypical comments
about the fans "peaking to early" were unneccessary, and attempts at
free laughs.  He seemed a little pissed to have an audience full of
people who were definately not there to see him.  High points, Yasemin
Blaeth (spelling?), ordered the boys pizza backstage, they didn't play
Heavy Things, and they sounded very good despite the absent cheers. The
vocals were a little rocky to start but I truly enjoyed the Trey going
to town, and Page's high hats... Just remember that only guests of Phish
caliber will give Leno ratings from me, and that a class act like
Letterman, who paid Phish compliments that were sincere and meaningful
("you can always tell who the truly great muscians are when they come on
the show, because they jam along with Paul (Schaffer) during the breaks)
deserves our ratings.

Date: Fri, 6 Oct 2000 12:30:39 -0400
From: Tom Rugg [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: 10-3-00 Review
 
    First of all I think Leno sucks and I'm surprised he's still on the air.
His jokes aren't funny, and his laugh drives me up a wall!  Ok enough about
Loser Leno.  On to the music.
    Twist wasn't a surprise, but trying to condense a 10 minute song into
the 3 minutes Leno allowed Phish wasn't the wisest move.  The beginning was
rushed (for obvious reasons), and Trey began soloing right off the bat.
Now, I have often argued with phriends about Trey's singing ability.  IMO he
is either hit or miss, and this night was definitely a MISS.  His voice was
cracking and shallow.  I don't understand why he doesn't let Mike or Page
sing on TV, they obviously both sing better and have better vocal range.
    Twist was quite like the version on Farmhouse, but kinda loose and
boring.  There just wasn't ennough time to extend, and there was little
space between notes.  Rushed and sloppy.  A co-worker of mine came up to me
(she is a bit older and likes 70's music) and told me that she wanted to
check them out and was disappointed.  I said "I don't blame you...they
SUCKED!"  She looked back at me in disbelief and said "Yeah".  I supposed
she was taken aback because she knew how much time I devote to them and how
many shows I have seen (30).  I responded to her "Well the whole band takes
a part in singing, and the guitarist was off that night".  She was like
"Really".  I said "Yeah, I would have loved to see the bass player or the
pianist sing...you really have to see them live."
 
Isn't that the consensus?  I would love to hear a solo Mike or Page CD
during the hiatus.
 
Tom

Date: Thu, 5 Oct 2000 01:21:53 EDT
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: PHISH ON TV!
 
This has bothered me for too long and now I must talk!  Phish agrees to play
these shows with comedy flang and reduced song times and knowing they won't
play it the way they really do!  It's part of the music business and all
bands, whether they say they hate it or not have to do it.  People need to
understand that besides what we all wish Phish would do...it doesn't work
that way!  Whether we talk about making radio songs or taking 2 years
off...it's their decision 100%.
 
Enjoy what we can, cause it ain't lookin' good...
 
EP

Date: Thu, 5 Oct 2000 00:06:04 EDT
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Leno
 
After catching a few shows out east this was my last time viewing "the Men of
Phish,"  for awhile.  And as always their playing doesn't bug nearly as much
as the phans out there who feel the need to analyze a tv version of a phish
tune.  I'm only writing because I was so taken aback by this and the webcast
reviews.   Here's my point, when my friends who don't like Phish and have
never been to show start talking about why they don't I avoid their comments
for one reason.  Phish is a concert band.  You can bicker about what album is
your favorite but the fact remains that the only albums that come close to
resembling the concert Phish are "A Live One," and "Slip, Stitch and Pass."
How can you comment on these guys if you aren't there seeing them live.
I think these guys are taking a hiatus because they are sick of everyone
analyzing their every move.   I like them because they provide a venue for
free expression and most of the time the music kicks ass because I'm already
in a good mood.
 
Some of you should try deriving a little more joy out of your own lives and
then maybe you wouldn't turn into Roger Ebert so often.
 
I thought Twist was pretty cool but then again I wasn't wasted in the front
row with 15,000 of my friends dancing my ass off!
 
Catch a big one,
Matty B
 

Date: Wed, 4 Oct 2000 17:37:58 EDT
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Jay VS Phish
 
As Mr. Burns would say "Excellent"

Date: Wed, 4 Oct 2000 17:29:56 EDT
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Phish on Leno
 
First of all, I would listen to Trey read a cereal box out loud if it meant a
glimpse of Phish, so how excited was I to hear about the boys appearing on
Leno!  Of course, the reality soon sank in that I would have to actually
watch LENO to see them.  I did feel a little dissapointed at the brevity of
the song and the conformed manner in which they played, but I guess that's
what you get when you perform on television.
 
Though there was much that displeased me (Leno's flippant attitude towards
the band, the fake promo shot at the end, no interview, and the disjointed
beginning of Twist), I still had a great time rocking out to their
performance.  Trey's enthusiastic playing was a nice contrast to the limp
audience response during the song (some woo's would've been nice) and Page's
"interesting" demeanor (I believe another reviewer called it "tanked"), as
well as the rest of the band's solid performance made it definitely worth the
previous hour of crap.
 
Of course, seeing them jam live is always better than a manufactured
appearance.  The quirks in the song (which is not my favorite) are only to be
expected.  And I hope they did go out and party "hollywood style" afterward.
They can appear on my box anytime.

Date: Wed, 4 Oct 2000 15:52:05 EDT
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: LENO PHISH REVIEW
 
I am a huge Phish phan, don't get me wrong. But i thought last night sucked!
It sounded as if Trey had a cold, they could have also played a song better
than "twist" on farmhouse (such as a short version of 1st Tube). It even
sounded as if Leno cut Phish off, since they ended the music so suddenly. I
wish I was with the band for there last three concerts before there "break".
Well any way im sure they will be jammin the next couple of nights.
peace,
Scott Phisherman

Date: Wed, 4 Oct 2000 15:13:51 EDT
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: 10-3 review Jay Leno show phish........right.
 
Hello.  I would really first like to say that I am sooooo sick of the
negative reviews on this site.  All sorts of people are not listening to the
music, they just want the title of a song to be played so they can tell their
friends and look cool because they know phish songs and thats cool, right?
Not to bash the newer fans or anything but the phish scene has gotten
progressively less kind, 'they hang on emotions they bottle inside they peck
at the ground and they strut out of stride'  pretty much sums it up from the
bands point of view, and trey telling everyone to slap themselves and their
neighbors.  Nobody likes mob mentality based testosterone, especially in the
name of music. Sorry if I rambled.  Anyway I always thought twist(around) is
a good song.  If you are so unhappy with their song selection tell them, Im
sure trey will tell you to slap yourself and that'll be cool cause then you
can take ecstasy and tell your freinds about it. ok ok ok sorry this isnt a
good review.  Anyway page did look pretty tanked but what else is new, they
ripped  twist and the facial expressions on TV performances are just grand.
So much conveyed emotion through them. HA.  Trey havin fun and Mike even more
so, fishman looked pretty agitated in a way.
OK that's my review, I really just wanted to get a couple words in about the
current scene, hopefully it will get better after their break.

Date: Wed, 4 Oct 2000 10:48:00 -0400
From: "St.Pierre, Timothy" 
Subject: phish 2000 on Leno
 
Well, I wasn't lucky enough to be there but I was lucky enough to be surfing
through my 5 channel selection on TV and hear..... what? "Twist"?  From the
back of my subconscious I remembered that I'd read "Phish on Leno" on
Phishnet the other day.  But I'd forgotten until I switched it on.
 
It was Twist as we know and love it, with Trey surprisingly ripping pretty
damn hard on the good ol' Languedoc (can you believe it?  I mean, he usually
doesn't do that!).  A little funky, quite rocky, and all around fine.
 
The real highlights, in my mind, were as follows:  1) Page looked absolutely
tanked during the performance.  I don't know if the boys were partying
Hollywood style backstage or not, but Page looked like he'd been hit over
the head with a sock full of bricks.  I laughed continuously during every
shot of Page.
Don't get me wrong, I love Page.  And I loved seeing him look all nuggy on
national TV.
2)  Mike looked happy and healthy.  And his singing during the lyrical
reprise at the end of Twist pretty much carried the band.  It was clear and
confident.
3)  Trey looked like he didn't want to be singing during the reprise, just
playing his guitar.  Thats a nice change for TV.
tak4) Fishman - got "dress"ed up 

Date: Wed, 4 Oct 2000 00:58:30 EDT
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: tonight show
 
first of all let me say that i thought Jay Leno was very rude to the band
members, he seemed to shake their hands real quick and then just had them sit
there and not have them talk. maybe it's just me.. second i'm not a big fan
of Farmhouse, although I think every song they play live is about twenty
times better than the studio versions, i've gotten some really great Piper's
along with some First Tube's that i just love. But out of all the songs,
besides Farmhouse, i think Twist is the worst. I've gotten two great versions
of this song though live which really surprised me.(6/30/00 & 9/11/00) I
didn't think the band sounded good at all on Leno and it's a different song
without the crowd's " Woo's" and without jamming this song out. I'm not
complaining though because i would listen to these guys play absoulte crap!!!
but i would've enjoyed a first tube, sand, or even a dirt..
thank you
ian

Date: Wed, 4 Oct 2000 00:39:28 EDT
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Leno Review
 
Many Many sterotype statements made by Jay.  the W. Bush quote was great.  I
think it was the beat song they've played on TV from farmhouse.  Ther version
at Vegas was longer.  Why?  No restrictions from the conformity box.  I
thought you could tell that the boys felt out of place during the "promo"
shots at the end.  But they were all very polite to Jackie Chan and Mr.
Eubanks.  I am ready to hear the "woo's" of the song because 95% on the place
knew right when to throw them it.  I think that the band was a little taken
aback at the phan out come when the curtain went up which caused the
beginning of the song to be disjoited for 3.245 seconds but the quickly we3nt
into a solid shortened performance of a song that should always be
appreciated whether or not it is the new way or the old way.  Kudos Phish,
You dun good.

Date: Wed, 27 Sep 2000 12:49:14 -0500
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: A Wish for NoThings
 
 
 
Is it too much to ask to post this on the October 3rd reviews page?  Thanks.
 
This is it,
for how long
is obscure.
 
Our behavior,
new phish
old phish,
is perilous
at best.
 
We want you
to return,
anxious,
we need time
to miss one another.
 
As you exit
to obscurity,
remember
not what we do
but
what we are.
 
A last look for some,
the screen,
in the land
of the fake,
Leno, camera, action.
 
Can we stop the sticks,
we will bring rings
Just one last favor
Don't play Heavy Things.

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