This video, looking like it was produced by MTV circa 1997, does a pretty good job of summing up the experience that our buddy Aaron took in down in LA.
PHISH 3D MOVIE ON 4/20 – FAN REVIEWS [YouTube]
Not everyone was immediately blown away, though…
I will be honest, I did expect a lot more from the 3D. I thought for sure we would see glowsticks jump out at us, lights up in our face and perhaps 8 shaped donuts fly at us? However, we just got mic stands that protruded and the occasional balloon. I had also hoped for more behind the scenes/phans/campground footage, but perhaps we will get those in the eventual DVD release. The film both looks and sounds great, and the fact I got to boogie down in a movie theatre to the music of my favorite band is an experience I won’t soon forget. So if you missed Festival 8, or perhaps just want to relive the weekend one more time, do not miss Phish 3D when it opens nationwide on April 30th.
Overall, I was very impressed with the movie. The 3D adds a great deal but isn’t so in-your-face obnoxious that it prevents you from appreciating the simple things. The music, while not up there among the best Phish has ever played, is certainly enjoyable. And for those of us who weren’t able to make it to Indio it was a nice snippet into the experience of the weekend. At times you could almost feel the sun beating down on the crowd. All while sitting in a movie theater in Brooklyn. Pretty damn cool.
Like any concert film, fans will have differing opinions on the songs that wound up on the cutting room floor. Many of the strongest musical moments of the weekend are not included, such as “Stash,” “Slave to the Traffic Light,” “Harry Hood” or covers of The Rolling Stones’ “I Just Wanna See His Face” and “Let it Loose.” But most noticeably absent are the band interviews, back stage humor and behind-the-scenes footage that are generally the most revealing portions in any concert film. That would have lent more depth to Phish than 3D ever could.
Did you go last night? What did you think? Was there a glowstick war during “Maze” and did the theater chant during “Wilson?” We wants to know.
