Phish is phine

A blogger learns to love Trey and the gang. (Monitor Mix)

Why Phish, you ask? Well, as far as I'm concerned, Phish occupies a unique space in music: It is extremely popular with a large group of people, yet simultaneously misunderstood, judged and dismissed by another -- particularly self-identified music snobs, indie rockers and a whole slew of other folks. Unlike other frequently maligned bands that have an equally maligned fan base, such as The Grateful Dead (whom I love) or the Dave Matthews Band (whom I don't love), Phish has never had a radio hit for non-fans to use as fodder or evidence. In fact -- and this is the most shocking, and what makes the band a rare breed -- many Phish-phobes have never even heard Phish's music!