Jerry Garcia was as important a figure in this country's music history as Bill Monroe or Elvis. Phish has learned a lot from them. They are an influence. But, that said, we are also very different. The most important lesson we learned from the Dead was how to be a live band.
Most bands use volume and speed to relate energy to an arena audience.
A quite, introspective moment is much more powerful. They were true to who they are, to their own experience. So the lesson I learned from Garcia was to be myself, not be like him. That's the point. They are all totally unique from one another, yet oddly similar.