When it comes to cultural clout, Radiohead might have a leg-up on Phish, but according to the band’s guitarist Ed O’Brien, that might not always be the best thing. According to a new interview with Trey Anastasio, O’Brien once told him that Phish’s audiences are more engaged during concerts than Radiohead’s.
The comments came in Anastasio’s new interview with Rolling Stone (discussing Phish’s new album, Evolve). “Ed O’Brien from Radiohead came to one of our shows, and gave me one of the greatest compliments in between sets,” Anastasio began. “He watched the show from the audience, and then he came backstage and he said, ‘I spent a lot of the night facing backwards. I was watching the last row of the arena, in the way back, all the way at the top. Every single person in the room was completely involved in the concert.’”
Anastasio continued, “He was saying, ‘Sometimes at Radiohead shows I look back, and I think a lot of people are here because it’s cool to go see Radiohead, but they don’t necessarily know all the material, and they’re talking. And your fans are completely involved with, and informed about every detail, all the way to the back row.’ And I thought that was a really astute comment, being at his first Phish concert. That’s what you get by taking your time.”
For Phish fans — or anyone who follows the public comments of Drew Carey — this observation comes as no surprise. If you’d like a chance to go see the legendary jam band yourself, you’ll have several chances once their 2024 summer tour kicks off later this month. Check out their upcoming dates and grab tickets here. Last night, the band support their newly released album, Evolve, with a rare late-night television appearance on The Tonight Show.
As for Radiohead, there’s no indication of any performances in the foreseeable future. Earlier this year, though, bassist Colin Greenwood announced the upcoming release of a photo book titled How to Disappear: A Portrait of Radiohead, due on October 15th, 2024.