What Phish Wears & Why Anyone Cares [Interview]

Rock bands have lengthy served as trend tastemakers and arbiters of cool. Jam bands, not a lot. However when you frequent Phish Twitter, Fb, Phantasy Tour, or some other on-line Phish neighborhood—the Phish-net, if you’ll—then you will have observed a latest uptick in discussions of what Mike Gordon, Web page McConnell, Jon Fishman, and particularly Trey Anastasio are carrying, each on stage and off. Main the cost for that pattern is F Alex Johnson, a.ok.a. Phish Phashion, the would-be main authority on what Phish wears.

By his Twitter web page, @PhishPhashion, and extra just lately on Instagram, too, Johnson has been cataloging the outfits of the members of Phish for a few 12 months. With full breakdowns and hyperlinks to purchase totally different items of clothes worn by the band, his web page has grow to be the go-to useful resource for folks concerned with understanding precisely what pair of cargo pants Trey wore at Jones Seashore, whether or not Mike’s Vans had been Sk8-His or Sk8-Lows, who made Web page’s loopy shirt, or what colour Fish’s gown is in regular lighting.

One query some followers of the band have is, why does anybody even care? A Fishman in some other gown would groove as candy, proper? Dwell For Dwell Music scheduled a late-night name with Alex, who was simply getting his morning began in Kyoto, Japan, to get his perspective on the Phish Phashion phenomenon.

It’s not as if the dialog or curiosity round Phish’s garments got here out of nowhere. “Folks have all the time talked concerning the garments,” Alex was fast to remind. “Folks again within the ’90s would speak about how a jam was higher when Trey had the Pepe Le Pew shirt on versus the Marvin the Martian shirt, or, you understand—what are the opposite classics?—the Jah Volunteer shirt, proper? Like there’s some form of an aura about that shirt.”

Undoubtedly Marvin the Martian, however I used to be additionally obsessive about the Deset Patnact shirt after I had no concept what it meant. #yembconvo pic.twitter.com/2bA2Nxwx5w

— Greg Schwartz (@gregschwartz) January 14, 2022

Even in more moderen years, the band’s efficiency apparel has prompted response and hypothesis from its detail-oriented viewers. Again in 2016, the Gucci floral print duke shirt Trey wore on The Tonight Present Starring Jimmy Fallon prompted a cascade of amusing quips and memes on Phish message boards—a lot in order that Trey altered the lyrics of “Carini” to reference it later that month (“Everybody was screaming once they noticed the shirt”).

Alex defined that this newest surge in curiosity in Trey’s onstage apparel began when the guitarist started working with New York movie star stylist Sam Spector circa 2019, prompting dramatic adjustments to his wardrobe and sparking dialog amongst followers.

“Folks actually began taking be aware I believe round The Beacon Jams [in 2020] as a result of that’s type of when [Trey] began carrying the Thom Browne, like thousand greenback crewneck sweaters and all the flowery stuff.”

Spector, who additionally works with movie star fashion icons like Neil Patrick Harris, the Jonas Brothers, and Bowen Yang, styled Phish for 2018’s Kasvot Vaxt Halloween set and custom-designed the costumes for the band’s New Yr’s Eve present in 2019, together with all 50 of the band’s clones, however it might be simple to argue that his greatest impression on Phish has been as Trey’s stylist.

“I believe Trey and Sam are each having enjoyable with it,” Alex mentioned, “like, now that there’s this bizarre unique approach, you understand. It’s a brand new filter virtually, like each night time there’s the music, the situation, the venue, the setlist, and the clothes [laughs]. It’s only a type of neat new layer to take a look at.”

The t-shirts Trey donned in Phish’s early days had been a far cry from the posh linen tops and designer sneakers he has worn since teaming up with Spector, however Johnson feels the perform of the garments stays the identical. “As a result of they’re an improvisational band, the best way they appear interprets to how they really feel, and the way they really feel interprets to the best way they play. All of it goes from the outer layer to the inside layer again out once more to what they’re doing.”

“So, for instance, I noticed a few appears backwards and forwards when Web page and Mike had the identical shirt on [at Alpine Valley]. They had been taking a look at one another like, ‘That is fairly humorous.’ [laughs] So, it’s identical to just a little little bit of humor added, proper? So possibly that night time, these jams are just a little extra lighthearted or no matter.”

Fairly positive that is the second Web page realizes his spare shirt is lacking. #phish pic.twitter.com/aEDHQFn3wN

— Phish Phashion (@PhishPhashion) August 13, 2022

Earlier than Trey upgraded his wardrobe, Mike was the clear standout within the band so far as fashion was involved (besides maybe for the drummer within the gown, however we’ll get to him). He was featured in a 2014 Esquire profile about his newfound trend sense, and there was even a “Couture of Mike G” Twitter web page lengthy earlier than Phish Phashion existed, although it hasn’t posted since 2015.

“Mike’s an accessorizer,” Alex defined. “For those who might say one factor about Mike, it’s that he’s the one man the place there’ll be one thing additional. He’s simply additional. He went with the pocket sq. for a few exhibits, he’s acquired that dream catcher necklace, the squash blossom necklace, he’s acquired that monocle factor. He’s positively acquired that accessorizing factor that nobody else within the band does.”

Mike was additionally a little bit of sneakerhead earlier than it was cool: “Trey posted an image from when Bella [Anastasio] was a child, and Web page has her on his lap, and within the image, Mike’s hightops are prominently displayed and he’s like, ‘Mike already doing his sneaker factor,’ [laughs] so everybody’s conscious that the style factor is a factor.”

Let’s Lively!

Trey’s not the one one tripping out tonight. Test the Nike X Ambush kicks on Gordo in “Lively Fuchsia.”

🙏🏼 to @joejoejobe for the shout about it.

8/6/22, AC/NJ/N2#mikegordon #phish #phishphashion pic.twitter.com/vnpgRr9Kkr

— Phish Phashion (@PhishPhashion) August 7, 2022

Mike advised Esquire that he and Trey had been impressed to decorate nicer after a stylist introduced a big number of John Varvatos garments to a Phish picture shoot.

Trey and I acquired into Varvatos and mentioned, “Let’s go get extra stuff like this.” We’d have these purchasing sprees with a stylist and different pals to assist, to the purpose the place we had been carrying a lot Varvatos that we had been carrying the identical stuff. So therefore he’s carrying Rag & Bone and I’m doing G-Star, All Saints, no matter simply to get away.

These manufacturers helped outline Trey and Mike’s fashion all through Phish’s 3.0 period. Mike additionally talked about that he used to put on “a wig that appeared like my very own hair that raised my hair two inches greater,” and there was a interval when he wore make-up on stage.

It was solely on occasional nights and on the massive venues. You recognize, if there are twenty-two-thousand folks, it’s solely the entrance row who can see anyway. There was mascara that was purple and I don’t even know what all the opposite totally different sorts of make-up was referred to as. They had been simply globbing it on.

It doesn’t appear as if Mike has been influenced a lot by Sam Spector or Trey’s new style in tremendous high-end boutique designers. He continues to put on principally Varvatos and G-Star with an fascinating number of Nike hightops that avoids the mainstream hype beast traits. “I believe Mike type of seems like he’s a bit Mad Max-y,” Johnson mentioned, trying to characterize his fashion. “He’s type of acquired that, you understand, Thunder Dome high quality to him with the height lapel jackets and the distressed denim tops and all that form of stuff.”

In accordance with Johnson, Mike will get not less than some steering from Phish’s inventive director, Julia Mordaunt. “After I publish stuff that’s incorrect, and it’s normally about Mike, she is going to are available with the actual particulars and she or he’ll publish a hyperlink,” he mentioned.

Mordaunt as soon as advised him that the neon inexperienced Agnes B pants that Mike wore at Clifford Ball ended up at a Goodwill. “So, when you had been within the Burlington Goodwill [laughs] you might need purchased Mike’s pants,” he mentioned, “which is simply humorous for me to consider.”

Alex described Mike as extra of a collector than the opposite guys within the band as a result of he wears items he likes many instances in numerous contexts. “Mike simply posted a image of him on this loopy shiny inexperienced work jacket and these silver gloves. And he’s, like, carrying these G-Star uncooked stripes, these orange and silver stripe pants within the image. So, he’s simply doing yard work in his stage garments or who is aware of, he might need put them on for the image, however I don’t assume so [laughs]. I believe he’s simply strolling round in these garments at house.”

Useful Cactus

Love that Mike wears his G-Star RAW stage pants to do work round the home.

IG publish right here: https://t.co/w0Oa2xLYPe#mikegordon #phish #phishphashion pic.twitter.com/cjHzPfBClw

— Phish Phashion (@PhishPhashion) August 28, 2022

Mike indicated to Esquire that he does differentiate between stage garments and “civilian” garments however mentioned there’s not a giant distinction: “Sometimes after I’m within the civilian world I’ll placed on the stage stuff. It’s not radically totally different, however to me, I do know it’s considerably totally different. It’s just a little bit like placing on a fancy dress or a uniform to get within the temper.”

Trey, however, likes to maintain issues fairly recent, not often carrying the identical factor twice. “I’ve seen two repeats they usually freaked me out as a result of I do know he’s acquired clothes for every night time,” Johnson mentioned, including that the guitarist does typically repeat sneakers, and he’ll typically put on his stage garments from the night time earlier than at soundcheck the next day. “However he doesn’t actually repeat an excessive amount of, so I do know he’s acquired a sturdy closet. I must see a closet pic sometime, or a rundown just like the gear rundowns they do.”

Each Trey and Mike present an appreciation for various varieties of materials, development, and design. Trey has worn some bolder prints and show-stopping items just like the Bode Good Luck button-embellished linen shirt he wore on New Yr’s Eve 2021, however more often than not he sticks to a easy number of traditional menswear—henleys, button-down plaids, short-sleeve resort shirts, and sweaters with the occasional sport coat—weaving in nods to up to date avenue fashion with high-end hoodies and sneakers.

Trey has a message for us all: good luck shopping for my clothes.

Sporting Bode, 12/31/21

Carry that credit score stability into the brand new 12 months right here: https://t.co/lKtXeVcvpu#treyanastasio #phish #phishphashion pic.twitter.com/L3wYORdx3q

— Phish Phashion (@PhishPhashion) January 1, 2022

“It’s a plain look. You’ll be able to in all probability get that very same have a look at TJ Maxx for lots much less cash.” With regards to cloth and development, although, Trey and/or his stylist have refined style. “He’s like, ‘I need garment-dyed. I need natural if potential. If it may be made in Italy, I need it made in Italy.’ … You see him with a variety of the dip dyed, garment dyed, nubby linen. He likes that worn-in, lived-in look, however with loopy cranium print sneakers or these bizarre Wotherspoon sneakers with the threads hanging off. There’s all the time one thing that’s like, ‘Oh wow, what’s that?’”

Mike notably “by no means wears leather-based, and he tends to err on the facet of recyclable, post-consumer stuff.” Some examples are the Vollebak tee he just lately wore at Dick’s, which “is produced from plastic bottles and different bits of trash,” and his Nike “Area Hippie” kicks, that are “made from recycled trash as nicely.” Alex added, “He might not put on $1,200 sweatshirts, however he does drop financial institution when the piece warrants it—working example, the $650 Vollebak hoodie that’s made with Dyneema, which is 15 instances stronger than metal.”

Flashy Gordon.

Mike, refusing to not be seen in Vollebak’s “indestructible hoodie,” made with Dyneema, which is 15 X stronger than metal.

Can your pockets stand up to it? https://t.co/NtZ67ECwkW

9/3/22, Commerce Metropolis, CO#mikegordon #phish #phishphashion pic.twitter.com/tFmC9G3mLg

— Phish Phashion (@PhishPhashion) September 4, 2022

As for Web page, Johnson mentioned, “I’ve the sense that Web page buys his personal garments. I believe he has his personal form of fashion sense.” That fashion contains virtually solely brief sleeve button-down shirts, most of that are affordably priced, although he does have some standouts from higher-end designers, like his Kiss shirt by Robert Graham or prints by Ted Baker.

I hope I reside to see the day Web page exhibits off what’s underneath the hood.

Seen right here in his trusty Robert Graham Kiss s/s. 10/20/21, Eugene, OR. #pagemcconnell #phish #phishphashion pic.twitter.com/SrFDTVFQnx

— Phish Phashion (@PhishPhashion) October 21, 2021

“I used to assume that Web page had his shirts made for him as a result of I couldn’t discover the identical patterns wherever. I’ve despatched messages to Ben Sherman asking, ‘Are you able to please assist me discover this shirt as a result of I can’t do it.’ They usually had been like, ‘Nicely, we don’t know. So, we’re gonna ship it to our fashion division.’ After which they despatched me a factor like, ‘Nicely, that is one we haven’t had for years, nevertheless it’s referred to as so and so,’ and so I’ve been helped in that approach by some massive labels.”

That was a very long time in the past, although. Now, Johnson has sharpened his trend sleuthing expertise to the purpose the place he can determine completely generic-looking clothes by way of the LivePhish webcast and publish hyperlinks to purchase them earlier than set break.

“There was a black AMI Paris hoodie that Trey wore, and folks had been like, ‘There’s no approach you’re gonna discover that hoodie.’ However I waited and I waited and there was a shot the place I might see underneath the guitar strap, there was this little coronary heart emblem and that was it. I used to be like, ‘Oh, that’s AMI Paris.’ ‘Trigger they’re the one ones that use that coronary heart emblem. So, that solves that thriller. I went and located it, put it up, and anyone, some dude that night time, despatched me a message saying, ‘My spouse and I made a wager that you wouldn’t be capable to discover that hoodie and you probably did it so I needed to donate 100 {dollars} to Mockingbird Basis.’”

(Large) Crimson rocks.

We’ve lined the beanie. Right here’s the remaining—the low down, the leanie

5/22/22, Crimson Rocks. Because of @jcvalentine for the crispy snap of our favourite cat burglar.

Unusual world. I chase sneaker bust-outs now. 😂#treyanastasio #tab #phish #phishphashion pic.twitter.com/kiKWtTwDPc

— Phish Phashion (@PhishPhashion) Could 23, 2022

In fact, Jon Fishman continues to be probably the most iconic dresser in Phish, and his outfits are the best to determine. His authentic donut gown/mumuu got here from a Salvation Military free bin, however he just lately obtained a wardrobe refresh of his personal from Lisa Simpson, who made a closet-full of recent attire in recent colorways together with pink with blue donuts, yellow with inexperienced donuts, and the standard blue with pink donuts.

“She has been Fish’s dress-maker for all of three.0, since 2009. She makes all of his [stage] clothes, together with the swimsuit that he has. Mike posted an image of Fish’s wardrobe closet, and it was enjoyable to see that swimsuit. It’s acquired these loopy birds on it with the purple lapels and the donuts. It’s like a jacket and shorts combo. I believe he’s solely worn it as soon as, nevertheless it travels with him wherever he performs.”

“So, each night time he appears at his wardrobe and says, ‘All proper, what am I feeling like tonight?’ And he picks the colour, proper? I don’t know his course of, however understanding that he’s acquired his wardrobe as a result of Mike put that image up, he can choose no matter he desires. So, am I feeling inexperienced and yellow? You recognize, am I in Wisconsin? Is it gonna be a Inexperienced Bay factor? He will get to select the best way he’s feeling.”

This man!

Jon Fishman in {custom} Lisa Simpson gown, Allbirds, and the spirit of 37k phanners! #jonfishman #phish pic.twitter.com/8PhB9XXkGi

— Phish Phashion (@PhishPhashion) August 15, 2022

So, why observe Phish Phashion versus some other band? The brief reply is as a result of that’s what folks like. “My web page is far more related throughout [Phish] tour and for good purpose, proper? That’s when the garments come out. So, I attempt to preserve issues recent and I attempt to put up issues that folks care about.”

Johnson has dipped his toes into overlaying different artists throughout Phish’s low season, together with Billy Strings, Lifeless & Firm, and Goose. “But it surely looks as if folks, not less than the folks that observe me, don’t actually care a lot about that. And in order a lot as I’d like to do different bands … I’m type of sticking to Phish and an occasional posting of one other.”

Everybody is aware of Bobby is the undisputed king of the grandad collar, half-placket, roll-sleeve shirt.

However these clamdiggers (decrease proper) are re-defining Shakedown-chic. Gotta say, on him, I’m a fan. #bobweir #gratefuldead #shakedownchic pic.twitter.com/NErNIK9oV1

— Phish Phashion (@PhishPhashion) March 28, 2022

Johnson doesn’t earn any cash by way of Phish Phashion. Actually, he pays for the webcasts himself, although some appreciative followers have donated prior to now to assist cowl a few of that price. He and his spouse work in Kyoto, the place they moved just a few years in the past from their house state of Massachusetts. He noticed his first Phish present at Greenfield Armory Fort in 1991 and is a life-long musician, having toured on guitar with the Drunk Stuntmen for 15 years earlier than expatriating. He continues to create music in Japan. Take a look at his newest mission, aptly named Colorway, right here.

[Photo: Jodi – F Alex Johnson, a.k.a. Phish Phashion]