Phish Movies
- 2005
- NR
- Add Wetlands Preserved: The Story of an Activist Rock Club to QueueAdd Wetlands Preserved: The Story of an Activist Rock Club to top of Queue
A lot have people have opened rock clubs for a lot of different reasons, but Larry Bloch is one of the few to have opened a music venue as a medium for social change. In 1989, Bloch and a handful of friends, none of whom had experience running a nightclub, opened Wetlands in New York City's Tribeca district, and as part of their business plan, each month a percentage of the club's proceeded were to be donated to a nonprofit Center for Social and Environmental Justice, with the annual payout often exceeding 100,000 dollars. In addition to the club's success as an avenue for fundraising, Wetlands helped give a home to a new breed of bands whose music suited the hippie-esque vibe of the club while opening new territories in improvisational rock, and Phish, Dave Matthews Band, Blues Traveler, and Gov't Mule were among the acts who were regulars attractions at Wetlands before finding worldwide fame. Dean Budnick, a senior editor at Relix Magazine (a journal that frequently covers the jam band scene) makes his directorial debut with Wetlands Preserved: The Story of an Activist Rock Club, which examines both the music and the message behind this fabled venue. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- 311, Agnostic Front, (more)
- 2002
- 2000
ABC 2000 -- New Millennium Highlights documents historic turn-of-the-century New Year's Eve celebrations around the United States. Celebrity ABC news personalities host the video, which features a montage of American fireworks and festivities. Philadelphia's patriotic citywide extravaganza is one special highlight. Commentary emphasizes the poignancy of the end of the 20th century and the start of a brand-new day. ~ Betsy Boyd, All Movie Guide
In the 1990s, a number of young "jam bands" (modeled after the musical and social model of the Grateful Dead) began developing a nationwide following, such as Blues Traveler and the Spin Doctors, but none have achieved greater success than Phish. With little radio play or mainstream media coverage, Phish developed a grassroots following that's grown so large they can sell out multi-night arena stands overnight, and the group has staged several well-attended weekend-long festivals in which they are the only attraction, playing multiple sets over several days. Filmmaker Todd Phillips, who previously documented the career of crash-and-burn punk rocker G.G. Allin, spent several months with Phish in 1997 and 1998, chronicling their one-band festival "The Great Went," following them for several arena shows along the East Coast, and tagging along as they played a series of small venues in Europe. Bittersweet Motel was the result, capturing the band's on-stage chemistry, their interaction with their fans, and both the lighter and more serious sides of their lives off stage. Ironically, Bittersweet Motel clocks in at less than 90 minutes -- less than half the length of a typical Phish concert. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- 1997
This film documents a memorable 1997 show by Phish that stands out because of the powerful thunderstorm that rained down and the band and their fans as they played. The setlist includes "Water in the Sky," "Vultures," "Down With Disease," and "When the Circus Comes." ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Phish, Trey Anastasio, (more)
The concert film Phish: Live in Brooklyn captures the band kicking off what would prove to be their final tour. The June 17, 2004 event contains a typically diverse setlist that includes "Dinner and a Movie," "Sample in a Jar," "Frankenstein," "Birds of a Feather," and "I Am Hydrogen." The release includes footage from the soundcheck. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
