Phish fans suck. They just do and I think you hit it on the spot with the frat boy thing. Having said that the band is having a great year and I'd say catch a show at MSG when they play it again. I'm old hippie myself so phish seen is always going to be a bit uncomfortable but the music is good enough to tolerate all the bullshit. My musical birth was in the Grateful Dead and I liked the lot at many dead shows. Weekend camping in the middle of the city and partying the whole time was just so damn fun. Now my back is less tolerable of 3 nights of pavement and I'm more inclined to violence towards the tweekers and drunks. I've had a hard time breaking into the professional world because of my crunchiness and that will never change. I like playing in the dirt and hanging in the wilderness. Fortunately, a part of my nature is very organizational, so that strength has balanced out my loosey goosey-ness.
My favorite crunchy band today is railroad earth. They are a perfect companion when I'm car camping or carrying my box (who says that anymore?) to zone out in the wilderness. Fans are super chill. I like to dance to their music.
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