Phish

We all have different ideas of what is and what is not progressive... but that's what makes these polls fun to me. Some will argue that the nature of the band doesn't matter, while others will argue that their opinions make the most sense. And though I can sometimes relate to those points being made, they don't do much for the overall conversation. 

If this poll can guarantee itself the attention that other similar polls have been getting, we can get at some personal approaches to the matter. Those are the most fun to read, and they're the best for the poll.

I understand that it doesn't make sense to brand them "prog" and yet they have prog elements such as composed instrumental sections, odd times, virtuosity, non-standard lyrics sometimes extending to the absurd but often suggesting another world (isn't that pretty prog?) - plus there is the whole Gamehenge song-cycle. These prog aspects were definitely a big part of their appeal for me, since I spent my high school years listening to Rush, Yes, ELP, Genesis, etc. Phish were "my" band, I could see them in pretty small places and watch them thrive and grow, and hunting down recordings helped one get deeper into the world they had created/were creating. 

I agree about Kanas not my thing---Kansas is an American band trying to be prog----Phish is an interesting band more in the Grateful Dead world --but better.

Woah, that's harsh. One of my friends is a big fan, and he has been to some of their concerts.

His reason for liking them is their awesome chord shapes, progressions, and in general, just their guitar jamming. Not a hippy, a skilled musician who loves their skilled playing.

Well your reason is valid. You don't like the way it sounds.

He said that all of their fans were hippies and that they were dead wannabes. That, my friend, is ridiculous...

Enough said.