When I started phishfork I started it mainly because I was receiving complaints from the few followers I have over at hip2besquare.net. I started hip2besquare in 2005 and it was during my post-Phish musical phase. The reality is my post-Phish musical phase started some where around 2000 / 2001 when the band went on their first hiatus. Like many fans and even some of the band members, Big Cypress was a bit of a pinnacle and since it seemed like Phish had hit their peak, I started to explore outside of the jam scene. It started with Wilco, Flaming Lips and Yo La Tengo and quickly spread to Malkmus (and Pavement) then to bands like Hot Chip and LCD Soundsystem. The next thing you knew I was surrounded by Brooklyn hipsters at just about every show I attended.

Outside the electronic music I was experimenting with (Hot Chip, LCD, Justice), many of the live shows never quite matched the energy of a good Phish show. But where Phish lacked in the studio, these bands exceled. Bands like Grizzly Bear and TV on the Radio blew me away with their studio craft. My obsession with finding new music was at an all time high when Phish decided to return to the live stage in 2009. I was skeptical that I would ever be able to return to the fan I once was (pre-Big Cypress). But after attending the Fenway show I knew that this band was back and ready to return to form. It may have taken a few years but that band is back in full force.

Since this scene is a bit more open minded then the indie folks, I thought it would be fun to start sprinkling in a few posts highlighting my favorite bands I discovered during this post-Phish breakup phase. 

Songs: Ohia and his Ghost

Songs: Ohia is the brainchild of Jason Molina, who unfortunately passed away earlier this year. Yet another tragic young death in the music community. His label, Secretly Canadian, just released a 10 year anniversary of the album The Magnolia Electric Co., which ironically would go on to be the name of Jason's band for the next ten years after this final album under the Songs: Ohia name.

What inspired me to share his music with you this week was the track "I've Been Riding With The Ghost". It came up on my Google Music shuffle and reminded me of just how awesome this guy was at making country rock music.

The erie, slow start segues effortlessly into a Neil Youngesque rock anthem. What more do you need from a country folk rock song then a guy at the crossroads wondering where to go next. The slide guitar lick in this tune gives me chills. 

Purchae the deluxe reissue of Magnolia Electric Co. from Amazon.