Phish In A Class By Itself December 4, 1992 - Wisconsin State Journal (Rhythm Pg. 6) by Jennie Punter For as long as drummer Jon Fishman can remember, critics have been comparing his gonzo rock band Phish to the Grateful Dead. "They've been saying that forever," Fishman said by telephone from Pittsburg this week. "But I don't think we sound anything like them. I guess it's the similarity of our crowds." Like the Dead, Phish draws a loyal following of tie-dye-clad fans to its shows, some of whom follow the band as it tours the country. Phish also has a reputation for extended, free-form instrumental jams, something Jerry Garcia and company introduced to rock audiences a quarter century ago. But, as Fishman insists, that's where the similarities end. The members of Phish may be modern-day hippies, but they're also musical virtuosos with an eclectic sound that's undeniably their own. The group consists of guitarist Trey Anastasio, bassist Mike Gordon, keyboardist Page McConnell and Fishman. Though complex in form, their music is nonetheless wonderfully quirky, inspired and usually danceable. It combines fusion jazz, funk rock, calypso and bluegrass with unpredictable rhythmic changes and energetic abandon. Occasionally, all four members of the group sing, which offers needed breaks to the band's onslaught of instrumentation. Unfortunately, their fantasy-fiction lyrics about forest and sorcery make little, if any, sense. But this minor distraction often goes unnoticed because of the band's nutty antics. As has become a Phish tradition, band members jump on minitrampolines during at least one song at every show. ''It does something to the groove of the song,'' Fishman says, ''especially when you turn on the strobe lights.'' The band also has been known to wear goggles, suspenders and/or polka-dot summer dresses during performances, while Fishman - for his part - likes to mouth the end of a vacuum cleaner and hum honking melodies through his microphone. ''It started as a joke,'' Fishman says, ''but I'm starting to get good at it. I can definitely do things with a vacuum that no one else can. It's all in how you shape your mouth.'' In January, Phish will release its fourth album, ''Rift,'' which will be the band's second release on a major record label. ''Somewhere along the line, just by default,'' Fishman says with a laugh, ''we've got to get something that will be good for the radio because we're always trying something different.'' Fishman says more Phish aficionados are turning out for the current tour than in the past. In Madison, that's true. Tuesday's show at the Barrymore is about 50 tickets shy of a sellout. But Fishman says he's not overly concerned with financial success, so long as he doesn't have to drive cabs or wash dishes anymore to support his music. ''As far as I'm concerned, when I quit my other jobs five years ago, I had made it. And now we've got our own bus. That's all I ever hoped for.'' Phish, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Barrymore Theatre, $ 14.75 in advance, $ 16.75 at the door, 241-8633.