Phish's focus on concerts not about to change August 20, 1993 - Denver Post By G. Brown NOBODY KNOWS THE TROUBLES PISCINE: Phish belongs to a loose assemblage that also includes Blues Traveler and Spin Doctors - younger bands inspired by and philosophically modeled after the Grateful Dead. Long before signing with a major label two years ago, the Vermont quartet became the darlings of the tie-dye set with virtually no radio or video exposure. The key was the nearly mystical bond between the band and its audience that prospers in concert. The scene at a Phish show is like passing through the '60s all over again. Phish will perform at Red Rocks Amphitheatre tonight in support of the new "Rift" album. "More and more, there's a line being drawn - you like Phish or you don't," keyboardist Page McConnell said recently. "One critic said we were ruining culture, how kids should be listening to music their parents wouldn't like. "There's a lot of this `retro' thing going on. You see it in fashion and videos. There are bands cashing in, using it as a style thing. "But if you're doing something you love and are really into, there are gonna be people who hate it. I'd rather be irking a few people and have other people love it than be middle-of-the-road. "We're not gonna change." Communal spontaneity is the great part about Phish's live act. The band creates an amalgamation of sounds, from improvisational jazz to barbershop harmonies and everything else in between. "We'll record our next album with producer Paul Fox. He's worked with XTC, Sugarcubes and 10,000 Maniacs," McConnell said. "We're going in with the attitude of catching more of our live show's improvisational focus - we've been going into uncharted territory on this tour." Article © 1993 Denver Post