Ooooh this is right up my alley!

Sweet deal! That is such a great idea!

My 2 cents (disclaimer, I'm old and crabby): The first time I saw the glow sticks launched in the air was Madison Square Garden on 12/30/97 during Hood. I had heard that they had done this thing in the summer where Chris had cut the lights and people threw glowsticks everywhere, but didn't think much of it. On that night at MSG it was pure magic. The lights went out, and they started shooting out of everywhere, creating a 3-D show that coordinated perfectly with the beautiful Hood. After a while, Trey started trying to catch them without stopping the jam, which was very entertaining. The whole thing was awesome. Fast forward to late 90's and I am at the Rosemont Horizon (maybe it was 2000, can't recall for sure). At this point in time, everytime the boys would sink into any jam that promised any length, out came the glowsticks. The novelty had worn out, which was fine, but now it was clear that people were throwing them on-stage more frequently (I will give them the benefit of the doubt that they weren't actually trying to hit one of the fab-four). I can recall the middle of Stash, which I figured was two or three tunes from the end of the set, that someone hit the drumkit which made an annoying noise and at that point the jam was pretty much just cut off. The boys left the stage and everyone around me agreed that the glowsticks had run their course and were actually detracting from the show. Obviously this is something that a lot of people love and I am not that guy who thinks Phish needs to play to please me and only me, but if we are going to continue to beat this dead horse further into the ground, can we please keep them off the stage?

Great post, Jackaroe! Couldn't have said it better myself, and I agree 100%.

Well said,
Jeff

I agree with Jackaroe completely. I was at the Went for the glowstick war during Hood and also 12/30/97. Both were magical, spontaneous events. Well, at least the one at the Went was spontaneous. Now I find myself getting anxious when most glowstick wars start because I keep hoping something doesn't wind up hitting one of the band members. I also think it distracts the band because they are worried about getting pelted. I distinctly remember this past Fall in Philly where one landed at Mike's feet and he was visibly taken out of the jam. He had been nodding his head along, clearly lost in the music but when the glowstick hit, you could see it distracted him and he shifted his position. I guess I don't really have a problem with them if everyone makes the effort to keep them from the stage, but a lot of times it looks like people throw some of them directly at the satge. It's interesting because they will usually start toward the back of the floor but inevitably creep forward toward the stage.
I guess I'm old and shitty, but I know I wouldn't want a bunch of stuff being hurled at me if I was standing in the middle of 20,000 people.

And anyone who doesn't agree with JACKAROE 100% (like Jeff and I) watch what happened in Camden last summer.

Trey gets flat out DRILLED in the head right at the beginning of Antelope. And don't tell me that this A$$hole wasn't throwing it directly at him.

You can see Trey flip the guy off too at about the :43

mark.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vx2yTJ0ayu0

Throwing anything at the band is mean. Throwing something directly at the guitarist is stupid, and potentially criminal. There's always a way to spoil a beautiful thing. But let's not toss out the proverbial baby w/ the bath water (glowing arcs still rock), or pretend that only complete spontaneity can have beauty (Divided Sky has many composed movements, but shines mostly in its variance).

I think the point is that love 'em or hate 'em, glow stick wars are happening and will continue to happen. From what I gather (can you tell by my handle that I'm biased?), the point is that the site only offers the thin safe(r) ones and it also donates a portion of proceeds to mockingbird. They also condemn throwing anything at the stage right on the homepage... I dunno, just my 2 cents, but this seems to be a better alternative than everyone buying them from sites that give nothing to charity and also offer the thick, dangerous glow rods.
Also, not sure how it all fits together, but there seems to be some sort of photo sharing element that has nothing to do with glowsticks...

I think this is a great idea if the band didn't think it was a good idea, they wouldn't have become involved with it. If only the kids on the floor would throw them, though. I always feel bad when people buy a whole bunch of them to try and create something awesome for the whole crowd and then people are too lame to spread the magic.

And yes, it's a douche move to throw glowsticks at the band, but it's also a douche move to sell gas in the lots and that's what I'm personally more concerned with.

I was at went, it was insane, and have seen many cool glow stick wars in the 90's and early aughts. I have enjoyed them and think it is another unique phish experience that can and has added another layer to the depth of the fan/band collabrative creativity (clapping during stash, wilson call, HEY! PYITE, etc.) however this summer glow stick wars were weak at best and it does seem to have run it's course. It would be cool to see it be bad ass like it used to be, and not detract from the bands flow but add to it as it has done in the past. I don't know we'll see what happens cuz it's gonna happen either way. But honestly it's an add on, and I won't miss it if it's lost....

I also agree that the worst thing on tour right now is gas. we need to call out tanks and police ourselves.

I am with you guys 100% on the nitrous. Keep that garbage out of the lots.

And yeah, don't throw glow sticks at the boys. That's super dumb.

GSW? Terrible acronym for the company.

Other than that, my thoughts are aligned with Jackaroe's...

@PerryHuh: There's no indication what the band thinks of the idea, and the band is not involved. This is a partnership with the Mockingbird Foundation, an entirely fan-founded and -managed effort, entirely volunteer, with no formal connection to or affiliation with the band.

@Lemuria- Thanks for clarifying. I was actually never sure if Phish was directly involved with Mockingbird or not. I also often get it mixed up with Waterwheel which Phish is involved with (right?).

I do still think glowstick wars are great and yet another thing that separates a show from a Phish show. I also think Phish probably recognizes this, I mean, they also thought the Burble at F8 was a good idea and they were right as hell. They want us to be HAPPY I'm all for the glowsticks living on and prospering, just so long as people keep it a crowd thang!

friends dont let friends yell hood. and they sue dont let them throw glowsticks. the GSW at the WENT was great now they are cliche

This vid is from 'roo last year. Honestly, are you telling me this is not amazing? Sure looks like everyone is having a pretty rockin' time: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zidumx2e0lk />
I could not agree more with the 'throwing at the band' comments (and the nitrous comments too...), but I'm sorry, a glowstick war at an opportune time enhances the show, imo. Come on haters, this video does nothing for you?!?

The "stop glowstick wars altogether" angle has been being played out for a while now, and yet more glowsticks are popping up all the time. Here's the new angle from GSW: If you're going to do it, use a safe stick and raise some money for mbird. Slamming GSW's isn't changing anything - maybe it's time to side with 'the lesser of two evils' if you are anti-glow stick wars at all costs??

I guess those are my sixth cents or something

saying gsw are cliche is cliche, or wait am I being cliche if I say the word Cliche? what if I yell balls instead of hood? is that cliche?

BWAH! I think it would be hysterical if everyone yelled "balls!" during Hood. Well, the first time it would be funny. Then it would just become cliche. ;-D

ok then, I think we can all agree. who cares about glow stick wars, the real point here is that people really need to yelling balls during hood. it's just the right thing to do.

blah..glowsicks

Remember what Les Claypool says. "Throwing things up on stage is a sign of small and insignificant genitalia."

Throwing single-use plastic tubes around is abhorrent. Does anybody recycle those things?

No. They end up clogging landfills.

Although the behavior isn't going to stop, I would hope that Phish.net had more sense than to promote an activity that generates so much unchecked waste.

Is it too uncouth to say, "FUCK SOME GLOWSTICKS"?

Agree with Rowjimmy, leave the un-recyclable, useless trash for other bands fans to throw away.

On a historical note, the first indoor glowstick war was Albany, 12/13/97.

Glow stick wars have become lame. Please let's end the nonsense of "glow stick wars" and focus on the jams. It's just becomes a huge environmental wast, and this doesn't reflect what the Phish community should be advocating.

http://glowstickwars.com/blog/?p=56 />
seems like they have heard what many of you are saying... let's have a conversation about their latest blog post..

if GSW wants to raise money sell grilled cheese in the lot. feed the hungry heads. or sell something besides glow sticks.

i just watched a Zappa vi torture never stops) and he thanks everyone for not throwing stuff on stage

"if GSW wants to raise money sell grilled cheese in the lot. feed the hungry heads. or sell something besides glow sticks."

Definitely.