This Is Your Song Too: Phish and Contemporary Jewish Identity

by Oren Kroll-Zeldin (Editor), Ariella Werden-Greenfield (Editor)

Phish has a diehard fan base and a dedicated community of enthusiasts―called Phishheads―who follow the band around the country, some fans attending every show. What may be surprising is that a significant percentage of Phishheads are Jewish. Two members of the band―bassist Mike Gordon and drummer Jonathan Fishman―were raised in Jewish households, and Phish has been known to play Hebrew songs in concert. At live shows, many attendees, some wearing T-shirts emblazoned with “Phish” written in Hebrew letters, express feeling something special―even distinctly Jewish―during their performances. As this book shows, Phish is one avenue through which many Jews find cultural and spiritual fulfillment outside the confines of traditional and institutional Jewish life. In effect, Phish fandom and the live Phish experience act as a microcosm through which we see American Jewish religious and cultural life manifest in unique and unexpected spaces. Featuring an interview with Mike Gordon and a collection of fascinating photographs, This Is Your Song Too is an in-depth look at Jewishness in the Phish universe that also provides a deeper understanding of how spirituality, ritual, and identity function in the world of rock and roll. In addition to the editors, the contributors include Evan S. Benn, Dean Budnick, Jacob A. Cohen, Benjamin David, Jessy Dressin, Josh Fleet, Mike Greenhaus, Joshua S. Ladon, Noah Munro Lehrman, Caroline Rothstein, and Isaac Kandall Slone.

Genres: Music

280 pages, Hardcover

Published September 5, 2023

Reviews

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

More of an academic work.

I’ll try to analyze this as a Phish show.

It started out with a good opening song (summer camp), kind of an AC/DC bag. It resonated, was fun. But then, it took a turn for the worse as if they played Sugar Shack and Yarmouth Road back to back, as the book dabbled in some extreme liberal politics. Queerness, whiteness…not sure what this has to do with Phish or contemporary Judaism. I go to Phish shows to escape this stuff, and have a few hours where the troubles and worries of the outside are of no concern. I do feel part of a community, and there certainly is a part of being at a Phish show that strengthens ties to being part of the Jewish community…but the social justice focus is not it. The book recovers towards the end of the first set with a tie in to Jewish food…let’s go with Character Zero-esque.

The second section is much stronger, just as the second set in Phish shows is usually better than the first set. There are parts that have a loose connection to Jewry, but also some very good parts (e.g., the challenges of Shabbat observant phans on seeing Friday/Saturday shows). Let’s call it a 20 minute Down with Disease in the 2nd or 3rd slot of the 2nd set. There is a section towards the end that compares the Helping Friendly Book to the Torah and Col Forbin to Moses…that is like getting a surprise bust out of FYF to close the set.

The Encore of the book is short interviews that are fun and likely the easiest reading in the book. It’s like a Loving Cup close to send everyone off smiling.

Overall, likely not something that has broader appeal than someone who is very into Phish and Judaism, and maybe a little too many references to Avenu Malkenu (if Phish never played Avenu Malkenu, I think there would still be a connection between Judaism and Phish, albeit a little weaker). If it were being rated on Phish.net, it would likely be a 3.6 show.

[Jeff Wachter · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting read as a Jewish Phish Phan. Connected with a lot of what people wrote, but also felt like a lot of the chapters missed going to the next level. The afterward proposing 18 next step inquiries suggested I'm not the only one with this sense. A couple chapters were particularly interesting to me - especially Jessy Dressin's chapter 9 on sacred pilgrimage and community. Overall a fun piece of Phish culture, but not necessarily a must read.

[Rafi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it! And totally identified with it. This is the story of my life lol.