One more from the vaults...

This article was also written for Wissahickon High School's Trojan Times:

Phish return to Philly

Phish have been working hard to reclaim their title as jam band kings, having both released a new album and finished a winter tour that is their first in over two years. The break was a temporary hiatus for the band, each member pursuing solo projects until they were ready to reenter the studio together once more. Now Phish have returned triumphantly, as evidenced by their stop at Philadelphia’s First Union Spectrum on Tuesday, February 25, in the middle of their two-week tour of the country.

The first set opened with the energized “Julius,” and also included particularly vibrant performances of the live favorites “Slave to the Traffic Light” and “Water in the Sky.” As is characteristic of the band, several songs were extended into lengthy jams, some exceeding fifteen minutes while never losing their pace or energy. Following an intermission, Phish returned for a second set, which would include “AC/DC Bag,” “Cities,” and “Runaway Jim,” among others. For three hours, the band played their unique mix of funk, jazz and rock.

Throughout the night, the band played a varied mix of songs, choosing tracks most often from Billy Breathes, as well as their most recent album Round Room. Noticeably absent from the set was anything from the 2000 release Farmhouse, arguably the band’s biggest hit to date. Instead, Phish opted to play for their long-time fans, with a set spanning their entire career. This focus on the band’s roots resulted in a far more rewarding concert, dedicated to the spontaneous jams the band is famous for.

Phish first formed in 1983, and has since steadily grown in popularity. Their following is even compared to that of the Grateful Dead by some. In fact, after the death of Jerry Garcia, it seemed as if Phish had claimed the jam band title that the Grateful Dead had left behind. It was this sudden burst of fame that eventually led to the band’s two-year breakup.

Guitarist and band leader Trey Anastasio, bassist Mike Gordon, drummer Jon Fishman (the band’s namesake), and keyboardist Page McConnell have regrouped, more dedicated to the music than ever. Instead of the usual antics and gimmicks that have become a staple of Phish’s live shows – flying hotdogs, amplified vacuum cleaners, on-stage trampolines, or thousands of colored balloons, just to name a few – the band played on a simple, well-lit stage at the Spectrum. The focus was on pleasing their fans with the music that has not been heard live in over two years. They succeeded.

Through two decades and twelve albums, Phish has become one of the hottest live performances in rock music. They did not disappoint on this latest tour. If you missed the show, or want to relive the experience again and again, you can check out phish.com, where each date from their winter tour is available for download as part of the Live Phish promotion. For only $9.95, you can download an entire concert to your computer; and while it may not exactly make you feel like you were there, it might be enough to get you excited about Phish’s next concert.