Spirit of the Dead Lives On December 11, 1995 - The Plain Dealer by John Soeder The timing couldn't have been more perfect. The same day that the Grateful Dead announced it was breaking up, a Burlington, Vt., quartet that many have pegged as heir apparent to the Dead's throne rolled into town to fill the void. Phish's appearance Friday night at Cleveland State University's Convocation Center was more than a concert. It was a tribal gathering. The music was only half the story. Judging from the license plates outside, fans had flocked to the show from all over the Midwest and beyond. One ancient microbus with Colorado plates had a laundry basket strapped to its roof. The scene inside the arena resembled Woodstock without the mud. There were even a few '60s survivors on hand, one of whom could be overheard apparently scolding a younger concertgoer for going to college. "You wasted your money and your time," the grizzled, barefoot hippie insisted, "and your professors lied to you." But teens and twentysomethings made up the majority of the crowd. Dressed in knit hats, tie-dyed shirts and baggy pants, they basked in the good vibrations of Phish's music, a mishmash of styles that was as colorful as the audience's clothing. There was plenty in which to bask. All told, this extravaganza lasted three hours. Over the course of two full sets divided by a brief intermission, Phish shifted gears constantly, missing nary a lick or a beat while moving from the giddy rockabilly of "Poor Heart" to the bluegrass-tinged "Runaway Jim" to the psychedelic pop of "Fluffhead" and "The Squirming Coil." The band's propensity for improvisation and extended jamming stretched out many numbers, including "Tweezer," a fan favorite that went on for 25 minutes. The song started with guitarist Trey Anastasio, keyboardist Page McConnell and bassist Mike Gordon singing three-part harmonies. It went on to incorporate a boogie-woogie piano solo by McConnell as well as some jazzy riffing by Anastasio, who also used a bullhorn to pluck bursts of feedback out of thin air. Phish's well-received original material was rounded out with several covers, notably a spirited stab at Led Zeppelin's "Good Times, Bad Times" and over-the-top encores of the Beatles' "Come Together" and "A Day in the Life." The proceedings even included a vacuum cleaner solo by drummer Jon Fishman (who, incidentally, was resplendent in a dress with an oversized polka dot pattern). He "played" an Electrolux to produce a noise that sounded like a cross between a muted trumpet and bagpipes. The net effect was otherworldly, as was much of this fun, freewheeling performance. On a cold and snowy night, Phish's music seemed to transport most fans to a warm, happy place where they were free to dance the night away. The Grateful Dead will no doubt be missed, though perhaps a little less with bands like Phish.