Members of The National also have roots in the world of Phish. One of the band's earliest predecessor, the Equinox-which featured future members of the National Aaron Dessner (guitar), Bryce Dessner (guitar) and Bryan Devendorf (drums) — closed The Allman Brothers and the Grateful Dead and has a voice that saxophonist Kevin seal is described as "Sorta jammy and products from listening to a lot of Phish and classic rock radio." Bryan Devendorf and his brother Scott, who played bass and guitar at The national, also take National frontman Matt Berninger-fans only non-hours in Deer Creek Phish show once. As Aaron Dessner remember in Jambands.com in 2009, "he listens to a song and then go and hide in the car. Matt can still do not understand at all how each of us can stomach Phish but pretty much everyone else in the band grew up in their music. "
Phish has played a number of indie rock songs over the years, including a TV on the Radio, "golden age" of pavement's "gold Soundz" and Neutral Milk Hotel's "in the Aeroplane over the sea." Anastasio and Bryce Dessner is also share a background in classical music and improvisation. Members of The National as well as work on Grateful Dead tribute album all-star benefit red hot organization.