Stream Phish’s New Basketball-Inspired Song, “The Line”

May 27th, 2014

Nina Corcoran

It’s been five years since Phish last released an album, but next month we’ll get a taste of their new sound. Fuego, the band’s 12th album, is the first since 2009’s Joy and will be released on June 24 via JEMP Records. Today, however, we get a peek at the record with single “The Line.”

“The Line” revolves around the basketball court, and more specifically Darius Washington, Jr. When Phish debuted the song on Halloween last year, the band explained that it’s in regard to Washington missing two free throws at the end of the Final Four Michigan State game. It’s written in the first-person perspective of the young basketball player because, as guitarist Trey Anastasio said, “We love him, and we can relate.”

According to a statement from drummer Jon Fishman, the album focuses more around the spirit of their live shows. “For years, there’s been a distinct difference between how we did things live and how we did them in the studio. But the way we go about things live, the way the musical ball is passed around, is now happening much more in the studio – not because we’re trying to duplicate how we play on stage, just because this is how we operate as a band, period.”

Give the song a listen over at Rolling Stone. Fuego is available for pre-order here.