November

• Dear Mr.(s) Fishman, McConnell, Anastasio, and Gordon:

  I write you, as members of the outfit Phish, on behalf of my client(s), the community of Weekapaug, Rhode Island. Over the course of the last seven or more years, it has come to the attention of the community that you use the community's name in one of your songs. While this is flattering to the community, especially the younger folk, you are in violation.
  
  When you wrote this particular song, and later performed it, you did not receive proper permission. This is where legal matters start. Please understand that the community would like to have pressed this matter sooner, but they decided, by vote, to let the matter "slip" on account of your being so young and unpopular. But now, you are all about to push past thirty-years of age, and our secretary noticed you in People Magazine.
  
  Please understand the urgency of this particular matter. We at Palmer and Wilson are quite serious. Please have your lawyer contact us soon.

  Sincerely, C.S. Neely - Palmer and Wilson, Attorneys-at-Law
  :
• Dear Trey Mike, Page and Mr. Fizeek:

  Bored out of my skull and listening to your tunes the other day, I thought it would be fun to rearrange the letters in your names.
  
  The results:
  
  Trey Anastasio
  (the easy one):
  Yes, aorta stain
  Stationary sea
  Ian, say "TOASTER"
  I rotate any ass
  Arise, nasty oat!
  Ratio, stay sane
  O Saint Sanitary!
  
  Mike Gordon:
  Groomed ink
  Ore kingdom
  God moniker
  Go RINK MODE!
  
  Page McConnell
  (who has too many consonants in his name):
  CNN College Map
  GMC Pollen Cane
  MC Neon Cell Gap
  
  Jonathan Fishman:
  Jam of Nathan Shin
  
  Jonathan "Greasy Fizeek" Fishman:
  Ha! She enjoys amazing RAFT KNIFE!
  Zesty Oaken Giraffe Hash Jam Inn
  All together now: Alarmingly, I managed to soften Jack's one crimson hope.

  Christopher Neil Curtis (Sir, I lost the rich prune.)
  Dear Christopher::

  Let us not forget the popular respelling of my name: Jah! man shit on fan.
  - Jonathan Fishman
• Dear Phish:

  What's up w/ the new album cover? Hoist!?! A picture of a horse in such a contraption is quite offensive and disturbing to those of us concerned about animal abuse and animal rights. Is this necessary?
  

  Sincerely, Wendy
  Wendy:

  Let me start by saying that the horse, our friend Maggie, whom we've ridden many times on Amy's Farm, was hoisted by a vet and was in no way harassed. Hoisting is often done for medical reasons
  The image of a large grounded animal like a horse, rising into the sky, was a concept that came to our photographer, Michael Llewellyn, while listening to rough takes of the album. The idea appealed to my obsession with breaking free from gravity (listen to Esther, If I Could, Divided Sky or Glide..."we're glad that your aglide").
  In the end though, I have to agree with you. We should have called the album JUMP but then we'd probably get sued by Van Halen (or worse yet, Van Hagar).
  
  Thanks for Writing
  -Trey