As a part of Jam On’s “Ask Trey” program on Sirius XM, Phish frontman Trey Anastasio recently gave fans a glimpse into the preparation he goes through for each and every show.
Part of Anastasio’s daily rituals includes reading the entire Phish songlist and chatting with his bandmates about potential songs for that evening. However, he’s quick to note that nothing is set in stone until showtime.
“We walk onstage without a songlist because I don’t think the decision can be made without the introduction of the audience energy,” he explains.
In a particularly vulnerable moment, Anastasio answers a question about the relationship between Phish shows and his own spiritual practice.
“Phish shows are completely wrapped up into my spiritual life at this point. Especially since becoming sober almost 12 years ago,” he says.
A bit later, the guitarist describes his moments of deep self-reflection before a show.
“I meditate and then I do my vocal warm-up and then I go in the bathroom and I always kind of kneel down in front of the toilet. And there’s a reason that I do that. Because I used to drink too much and it put me in front of that toilet and I like to remind myself how grateful I am that today I haven’t had to do that, in 12 years. That’s a powerful thing to me. And then, I do the St. Francis prayer. And then I try to do the ‘we’ version of the St. Francis prayer… I think of the town we’re in and I try to picture it from above and all the people in it and everybody who isn’t in the venue surrounding to try and get some perspective. And then I think about the venue from above so that I’m reminded that it’s really small. Even if it’s an arena or something, in the scheme of things it’s very, very, very, very small and it’s a gathering of people. And then I get up – the last thing I do before I walk on stage – and I open the door, and I let God out. And I walk out afterwards. I do that every night.”
The Phish frontman also notes that during this ritual he prefers to avoid mirrors. At first he laughs that it’s because he doesn’t want to overthink his wardrobe choice, but he also admits that his reasoning goes far deeper. “I don’t want to be the center of attention,” he says. “I want to be part of a group and part of a community.”
Anastasio says the final thing he does to center himself is think of the members of the audience.
“I also have to admit that I often think about whether there’s somebody in the audience who’s trying to get sober. I kind of try to tell myself that’s enough for me – to be in unity with that person in the back row. It doesn’t have to be a good show or a bad show, just standing there not behaving the way I used to 13 years ago is enough of a gift for me. And that usually gets me up to the middle of the stage in the right head space.”
Phish Radio on Jam On will stretch from Monday, Dec. 24 through the band’s New Year’s run at Madison Square Garden (Dec. 28-Dec. 31).
Tune in to Sirius XM channel 29 for more information.
58 Comments comments associated with this post
someone lalalalalalala
June 18, 2020 at 1:34 pmTrey was driving home from nyc with black tar prolly scored on the street in an Audi that very well didn’t have current tags or plates, with a drivers license expired 12 years previous, swerving down the road and was pulled over in the night 2-3 or-6 idk. still night and begged the officer to save his life. Then he had to live on his own with a bike and scrub toilets for months and months and months and daily check in to drug counseling/probation. then stand up there tell us drug court saved his life. Don’t let it happen to you. If you are going to do drugs do good drugs and get a delivery service
someone stoned
June 18, 2020 at 1:28 pmI always heard drugs were fun to do but whatever. its such a short life filled with meaning as it is. might as well party if you want. or don’t if you don’t want. love is all that matters. God is Love
someone drunk
June 18, 2020 at 1:25 pmits so simple. its the muse. Inspiration. Drugs are how you pass the time until you can perceive her. Good luck everybody and I agree with the above commenter that Garcia is God. For sure. I think what you are letting out first — which looks a little funny in print because I thought you were in the bathroom still but— God? does exist? what proof do you have? I swear on my life there is a God. but its my God. you got your own God. if its a she -God then its called the muse. That’s where to put your mind and find out drugs weren’t nearly as powerful as that. okay? peace and love. take care of one another. another one of you
DRock
May 8, 2020 at 4:19 pmDon’t remind us Kelly…. Fuck Phish Radio, bring back Jam ON!!
Kelly Gronau
January 21, 2020 at 6:21 pmI miss Jam On, it moved to a higher station that I don’t get in my car. So Phish is featured on both Jam-On and their new dedicated Phish station? How’s a girl gonna hear some Panic?
Rich
November 17, 2019 at 7:51 pmIf listening to Trey play guitar is like getting pissed on by a hooker, well g*ddamn… I wish someone had told me sooner. Now I’m headed out the door to the central part of town with a pocket full of cash and a raincoat on
Just one who understands
July 23, 2019 at 1:58 pmTrey’s done some serious human revolution. It’s a very good thing.
Taz
October 7, 2019 at 1:52 pmI am so thankful for Trey and all the energy positivity and love he puts into his part of the creation and moments we all share. I have been trying the sobriety thing and while I havent managed to stay completely off the herb or occasional psychedelic, I havent shot dope or even had the desire to since I went to a music based treatment center back in February. They have a picture of Trey’s ocelot guitar on the wall in the room where we had groups and meetings. Trey, you and the other guys have touched my soul since I was a teenager and you still put me in the same spiritual and grateful place at shows today as you did when I was seeing you back when I was a teenager in the 90’s. Its still the same feeling and I am so glad Trey is where he is now. I feel like he just keeps getting better every year since they came back around. So much love in this circle of energy between all of us. Phish and its fans have taught me patience, true kindness, and empathy, and I will be grateful for that as long as I am existing, in whatever form, human or otherwise.
Butterfly
July 19, 2019 at 5:39 pmYo I’m pretty sure Garcia ain’t hanging out waiting to be “let out”
As you say Trey. Sheesh
fred lord
June 24, 2019 at 4:06 pmDean should take a clue from his mundane collection of lyrics and Piss Up A Rope.
Mr. X
June 6, 2019 at 2:00 amCongrats Trey!
em
April 17, 2019 at 1:52 pmI pipe down, when the White House just wiped out
When I see that little Cheney dike get sniped out
Lights out, bitch adios, goodnight
Andry Rajoelina
March 14, 2019 at 11:00 pmRumor has it a top secret “Banana Hammock Set” is being prepared for summer tour.
Dave the Slave
March 11, 2019 at 4:54 pmAs much as I bang on Phish I have to wish Trey good luck and best wishes on your recovery.
4204PEACE
February 11, 2019 at 1:48 pmthe community could use a little of this:
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me bring love.
Where there is offense, let me bring pardon.
Where there is discord, let me bring union.
Where there is error, let me bring truth.
Where there is doubt, let me bring faith.
Where there is despair, let me bring hope.
Where there is darkness, let me bring your light.
Where there is sadness, let me bring joy.
O Master, let me not seek as much
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love,
for it is in giving that one receives,
it is in self-forgetting that one finds,
it is in pardoning that one is pardoned,
it is in dying that one is raised to eternal life.
AMEN
Paul-Leon Desaulniers
September 1, 2020 at 5:37 pmIm a huge fan of the St. Francis prayer, I printed it out, put it on my fridge, and read it daily. Its an incredible way to journey through the universe.
Greg
January 27, 2019 at 5:44 amI am trying to get sober here folks. WE can do this together.
John Mason
January 10, 2019 at 11:15 amGlad Trey is clean and happy about it…That said, is the recount of his ritual the definition of ‘TMI’? and might better be summed up in 25 words or less?…He sounds too much like Bono: terminally ambivalent about seeking attention.
Bradley Odom
January 1, 2019 at 3:48 pmWow, Trey makes everything seem so easy and it gives him a bratty vibe. I’m so happy he’s clean for 12 years now! I wish I could say the same. I’m never in the back row, but somewhere in the middle of most shows, I try to feel his sober energy and when they slow down and play Joy or Miss You (or Strange Design or Wading in the Velvet Seas), I take a moment and reflect on my own drug use. Hopefully he can feel my struggle too. Despite the struggle, when Fish puts on his mumu and sits behind his set, my troubles and pains disappear and all I can do is smile and dance. When Trey takes a breath, and looks up at the ceiling, I like to think he is communicating with his higher power, searching for the right notes that can somehow heal us all. So in those moments, I look up too. As an atheist I don’t believe in God, but I do believe we are all one, and together, we can achieve more than any god or devil.
Tom
December 20, 2018 at 4:53 pmDean Ween shut the fuck up. I know you’re a fraud. Only a completely childish scumbag would post on here like he’s a rock star. You’re an unoriginal net troll. No more, no less. God bless Trey and his sobriety.
mb
December 20, 2018 at 3:50 pmAh, it’s pretty doubtful that the actual Dean Ween is taking time to troll Phish phans here at jambands.com. Pretty sure I’ve read comments by the Ween guys praising Phish in the past. He couldn’t be that lame.
J
December 20, 2018 at 9:46 amNot sure I’m buying it’s actually Deaner making those comments. I’m a huge Ween fan and I’m sure he can be snotty just for the f-ck of it, but trolling Phish fans seems kind of a low bar. Unless he and Trey have a feud thing going. I’m just gonna assume it’s some random guy posting as Deaner and trying to piss people off.
Peace
December 19, 2018 at 5:27 pmYou cannot overcome hate with hate.
Only love can overcome hate.
Realize that people who are hating are secretly (maybe even to themselves) hurting. Pray for them and move on, spreading light. Lashing back with hate only makes you sound as ridiculous and hateful as the person who started the chain of negativity. Rise above, try and see a little further and a little deeper. Now more than ever we need the peacemakers. Being a peacemaker is not a sign of weakness, it doesn’t mean that you are not upset by the state of things and it doesn’t mean that you aren’t out there creating change. Put your good energy to good use and do t let people trick you into getting down into the pit that they are in. Peace my brothers and sisters.
Jenna
December 19, 2018 at 6:18 pmGonna spread a little love to Deaner too… love Ween. Love you Deaner. Love The Tonic Room. When I think of my last few months before getting clean and sober in Chicago – guess what album comes to mind… Quebec. Love that album. Always will. But you know what Deaner… seeing you guys in Denver a few years back at 1st Bank Center (7 or 8 years clean) was way more magical and “rock and roll” for me than when I was less interested in your loud, aggressive playing and more interested into my high.
Mark
December 21, 2018 at 1:07 pmthere is absolutely a 0% chance that that’s actually dean ween, please don’t tell you believe that
DRock
May 8, 2020 at 4:13 pmHello? It’s not really Dean Ween, love…
BobbyLuv
December 19, 2018 at 1:07 pmI respect Trey so much. Even in his recovery ritual, he thinks of the fans! Who else on earth in the music industry would do that?
NO ONE.
Be thankful fans
Dean Ween
December 19, 2018 at 3:06 pmCalm down everyone. I am happy that Trey is sober. The audience at my shows has tripled with “phans” that still enjoy loud, aggressive guitar solos played with a rock ‘n roll attitude. Sorry to throw shade on your messiah.
GEORGE M.
March 8, 2019 at 9:18 amHey Dean,
I googled you because I’ve never heard of the you. You’re a nobody. Laughable that your audience has tripled; not only your mother, but your brother and sister are showing up now. Trey has accomplished more than you could ever dream of. Go back to your fast food job.
Vaughn Chef
September 26, 2019 at 6:19 pmHey Dean, I know you get a chubby, albeit a small chubby, when you get people to reply, but go play in traffic d-bag.
Vincent H.
October 15, 2019 at 1:07 pmIm happy that Trey is healthy now. His answer here really moved me. But I’m gonna say something that’s gonna get me shit but I don’t care. I love their 2003-2004 sound even though Trey was at his worst then. Their best stuff was mid-late 90s and 2003 honestly. The shows aren’t as consistent on a daily basis as they used to be but the difference I noticed now is when they do pull out a huge 25+ min jam 90% of the time it’s fire. Full of invention and ideas. I’m just not a big fan of the modern style of more songs per show and less big jams. I miss those summer 04 shows where they’d open up with a 30 min Scents or Waves.
David Taybur
September 19, 2020 at 6:31 pmDean Ween I remember your music from when I was a kid and got stoned and thought damn I thought this shit was supposed to make music sound better. I’m pretty sure you sucked then and your must be a vacuum of straight suck now. Did Trey steal some licks from you? Lol. Nah I get tired of that fake second hand blah blah dead head stuff. But Trey has done some good shit in his life at least.
Butterfly
July 19, 2019 at 4:26 pmAre you for real? Garcia gave his life for his fans. And he real power. The kind that could connect with every single person in he place and heal you. I seen trey forever. He’s a man. Garcia was a God.
the Dude
September 10, 2019 at 11:55 amIf Trey cared about the fans he’d let Tom Marshall still write their songs and he’d practice his fucking guitar once in a while. Dude cares about Jesus and a pay check. That’s it.
Jenna
December 19, 2018 at 10:51 amI appreciate reading this. I’ve been clean and sober for 10.5 years. Loved seeing Phish before but I love seeing Phish more so in my own recovery. I’m so grateful for this gift. It is a spiritual experience for me.
Jim
December 19, 2018 at 11:15 amGood for YOU
BeBop Deluxe
December 19, 2018 at 9:25 amWow, you sound like you need a hug DW.
I’m praying for Dean Ween…
Dean Ween
December 18, 2018 at 8:27 pm“A clean Trey is a better Phish.” That’s rich. Seeing Trey play guitar in 2018 is like getting pissed on by a hooker, but you noobs just keep lapping it up. Doesn’t matter if he plays a good show, just needs to pray away the booze and drugs
me
December 19, 2018 at 12:01 pmSo cool you are… “noob”! Total douche comment… I’ve been around since 1991 and though the early years certainly were different, if you think Trey’s playing is like getting pissed on by a hooker, you either like to be pissed on by hookers quite a bit or you’re just fucking stupid… either way, seems like you are in quite a shitty (pissy?) place in life with a huge need to show everyone how cool you are. I’ll be waiting for another of your douche bag comments…
Jawn
December 18, 2018 at 6:56 pmDean Ween you’re a full-on piece of human feces incarnate.
Joshua
December 18, 2018 at 4:17 pmBeing in recovery and being able to do the things we love are a gift of recovery. I’m grateful to be on the journey myself. The fact that I get to join trey on the 30th and 31st is one of many gifts in my recovery. There were many years I said I was going to do this or that and it never came to fruition. This year I check that milestone off. All those in the struggle… keep hope alive.
5:15
December 18, 2018 at 3:39 pmYeah but is he on the marijuana maintenance program?
Jim
December 19, 2018 at 7:39 amweed better than booze booze or heroin he was doing
Daryll Fahy
June 12, 2020 at 7:38 amThat’s for damn sure Jim Jam
DREW
January 24, 2019 at 2:38 pmNo he said in a GQ interview he is out of the weed game as well
Trembles & Explodes
December 18, 2018 at 3:34 pmSometimes it feels very difficult to try to get sober and still go to shows. I can’t imagine trying to perform night after night without some sort of inspirational-aid. Maybe the ritual helps with that. Thanks for the article!
Jim
December 19, 2018 at 7:37 amprobably harder to be in the audience and not drink than being on stage and not drink or drug. HANG IN THERE
TCinNYC
December 18, 2018 at 2:16 pmProud of you Trey, and grateful for my 31 years on board this train. See you on Dec 30th!!
Dean Ween
December 18, 2018 at 2:15 pmWhat a fruitcake
Jake
December 18, 2018 at 2:47 pmDean Ween…whatever your name is, don’t be a hater. Go rain on someone else’s parade and maybe you need to look at yourself in the mirror to see where you are at in your life. For Phish fans, we are very grateful for Trey where he is nowadays. I’ve said many times since Phish came back in March 2009, “A Clean Trey Is A Better Phish”….
Mark
December 21, 2018 at 1:04 pmJake, why don’t you just not reply to trolls
Am
January 21, 2020 at 10:27 pmWell said
Jawn
December 18, 2018 at 6:57 pmDean Ween you’re a full-on piece of human feces incarnate.
Greg
January 27, 2019 at 5:37 amFruit cakes last a long time. Maybe you should be quiet.
Elicia
August 27, 2019 at 11:31 pmHaha 😂
bill
March 10, 2019 at 7:11 pmfeel bad for Dean, he is just like that
Steaming Bowl Choker
December 18, 2018 at 12:15 pmWhatever it takes to stay sober, I’m alll for it. Being grateful is key and I believe his sincerity.
Matt
June 2, 2020 at 9:05 pmWait wait wait wait…
I thought you said “It Doesn’t Matter” (what you think about God).
Just like I was telling your phans…
IT DOES VERY MUCH MATTER