Overview

Phish has a diehard fan base and a dedicated community of enthusiasts—called Phishheads—who follow the band around the country, some fans attending every show. What may be surprising is that a significant percentage of Phishheads are Jewish. Two members of the band—bassist Mike Gordon and drummer Jonathan Fishman—were raised in Jewish households, and Phish has been known to play Hebrew songs in concert. At live shows, many attendees, some wearing T-shirts emblazoned with “Phish” written in Hebrew letters, express feeling something special—even distinctly Jewish—during their performances. As this book shows, Phish is one avenue through which many Jews find cultural and spiritual fulfillment outside the confines of traditional and institutional Jewish life. In effect, Phish fandom and the live Phish experience act as a microcosm through which we see American Jewish religious and cultural life manifest in unique and unexpected spaces. Featuring an interview with Mike Gordon and a collection of fascinating photographs, This Is Your Song Too is an in-depth look at Jewishness in the Phish universe that also provides a deeper understanding of how spirituality, ritual, and identity function in the world of rock and roll. In addition to the editors, the contributors include Evan S. Benn, Dean Budnick, Jacob A. Cohen, Benjamin David, Jessy Dressin, Josh Fleet, Mike Greenhaus, Joshua S. Ladon, Noah Munro Lehrman, Caroline Rothstein, and Isaac Kandall Slone.

Full Product Details

9780271095660

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Reviews

Readers of This Is Your Song Too will gain a more nuanced, appreciative understanding of both Jewish and Phish communities, with their deep histories, their varied constituencies, and their rich implications for identity formation-whether readers are insiders to these communities or outsiders looking in with interest. -Dr. Jnan A. Blau, Associate Professor of Communication Studies, California Polytechnic State University

“Readers of This Is Your Song Too will gain a more nuanced, appreciative understanding of both Jewish and Phish communities, with their deep histories, their varied constituencies, and their rich implications for identity formation—whether readers are insiders to these communities or outsiders looking in with interest.” —Dr. Jnan A. Blau, Associate Professor of Communication Studies, California Polytechnic State University

Author Information

Oren Kroll-Zeldin is Assistant Director of the Swig Program in Jewish Studies and Social Justice and Assistant Professor in the Department of Theology and Religious Studies at the University of San Francisco. Ariella Werden-Greenfield is Associate Director of the Feinstein Center for American Jewish History and Special Advisor on Antisemitism at Temple University.

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