Fish

The fact that Phish emerged from the college-rock era is vital to fully appreciating its unique legacy in the jam-band tradition.

After all, the group’s playful mashing of genres (including bluegrass, jazz, funk, and more) and loopy experimentation are more rooted in Gen X slacker mischief than hippie idealism.

This isn’t to downplay the formative influence of the Grateful Dead and Frank Zappa as the Vermont ensemble honed their improvisational skills and proggy songwriting in the late ’80s.