I’m am not a philosopher or Phish expert. I’m Phish fan and also a coach. I coach fathers on connection, presence, aliveness, and relationships. When I look at the influences in my life and people or ideas that have taught me how to live, Phish is at the top of my list. Philosophy classes and books have been written on some of the ideas that I present here, but that is not my aim. I want to show you how you can apply some of these principles in your life right now to have a greater impact. If some of it sounds “woo woo” it’s only because language is limited when speaking about connection, presence, and ecstatic experience. In this post, I want to focus on what we can learn and how we can grow even from a single performance that took place in 1997.
On August 16-17, 1997, the Phish played their second festival at Loring Air Force Base in Limestone, Maine. The festival was named “The Great Went.”
In the second song of the second set, Phish played “Bathtub Gin,” which has long been a concert staple and familiar to any Phish fan. This version later became known as “Went Gin.” Many argue that this was (and still is) the best version of the song that they ever played. I’ve read articles where fans have said that the “Went Gin” is what holds the planets together, changes lives, and was the moment that they decided what they wanted to do with their life. Whether or not it’s the best version of the song is not the purpose of this post and perhaps beside the point.
Why is this random version of this song that was performed more than 23 years ago so impactful for so many people? Why does it matter? Most importantly, what can we learn from it? And finally, why am I (a coach and Phish fan) writing about this?
I believe we can all glean so many lessons from this fascinating performance whether you’re a fan of the band or not. Here’s why the performance still matters:
1. It was out of the box (even for Phish). Phish is known as a creative, improvisational powerhouse, but this version sounded like nothing they had done before. It showed what was possible even for a band who constantly pushes what is possible. We all have a bottomless well of creativity, energy, and way of looking at familiar things.
2. The jam created an “ecstatic experience” in real-time, which many of us do not get to experience in our normal day to day lives. We need transcendent, ecstatic experiences. It is what makes us human. These experiences are important because they can guide our lives for years to come and show us what is possible. See No. 1.
3. Creativity can come at unexpected moments, but mastery will help you get there. The band tapped in to some universal energy in that moment that was unexpected. In other words, “the trick is to surrender to the flow.” However, before you get there, you have to master your art. Whether you are a plumber, a lawyer, or a guitar player, you need mastery because mastery will lead to freedom. Do the work day in and day out and the rest will take care of itself.
4. No. 1, 2, 3, can only be accomplished through presence. Presence is a moment to moment experience that can be accessed at any time. The only question is “how can I deepen this moment? “
5. Go for it. In those moments of deep presence, flow, and ecstatic mind, we are inspired to do our best, follow our hearts, and be who we are. Most importantly, you can usually trust that you are on the right path because everything is aligned and there is an intelligence that threads through the experience. (That is why I think some people decided “what do with their life” after this performance).
In our day to day lives, we can show up and do the work with presence, an open mind, and a deep commitment to practice. The paradox is that we can’t “will” the magic to happen. In other words, we won’t get “there” by trying to get “there.” (because actually you’re already there). You don’t have to be a rock star to create these moments in your life. We have the ability to inspire and create great impact whether we work at a grocery store or are a stay at home parent. Now go do it!
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