Phish Schools Keil Center Crowd in Musicianship November 17, 1996 - St. Louis Post-Dispatch By Andrew BeDell First, we established that hand dancing was banned within at least 20 feet of our vantage point. In return we swore not to make any comparisons to a legendary San Francisco musical group. We were then able to take in the whole communal scene. Obviously, Phish - that popular little band from Vermont - really cooks. From their opening number, "Wilson," to a special encore, the band held the neighborhood in its sway for a good part of three hours Friday Night at the Kiel Center. Phish is beyond categorization. Folk, bluegrass, jazz, blues, classical, Bay-area psychedelia - it's all there. The guys have been together for more than 10 years and have a huge following that continues to grow. Phish built its reputation as a live band, and this tour, in conj unction with their new release, "Billy Breathes," will surely move them beyond their cult status. "Divided Sky" provided the first opportunity for the extended jams that Phish is known for. The guitar of Trey Anastasio weaves itself in and out of the Hammond and piano of Page McConnell and the solid bottom of bassist Mike Gordon and drummer Jon Fishman. The quartet played off each other effortlessly, weaving a dense pattern of rhythms and chord changes within a structure that was at the same time tight and freewheeling. And all four have gained confidence in their musicianship and went after the tunes with an ease that they didn't show even at their last appearance at Riverport. The songs exist basically as a framework for the extensive array of sol os and grooves the quartet effortlessly produces. And don't overlook the vocals. The three-part harmony of Anastasio, McConnell and Gordon is downright lilting. Not many groups, if any, sing like that these days. A memorable piece was "Prince Caspian," off "Billy Breathes." McConnell provided an elegant piano part that laid back and laid back until the band rose to an anthem-like crescendo. One of the highlights of the show came in the second half, a short and tasty country-flavored cover of Jimmie Dale Gilmore's "My Mind's Got a Mind of Its Own." But the defining moment, and every big show has one, was yet to come. The guys came back for their first encore and launched into the Beatles' "Mean Mr. Mustard." On its own merits, a great song choice. A large man in a greasy hat and overcoat dragged across the stage, only to be revealed as John Popper of Blues Traveler, which was scheduled to appear over the weekend at the American Theatre. Popper launched into a blistering harmonica solo with an equally powerful counterpoint provided by Anastasio. Riff after riff the virtuoso Popper and Anastasio took the song further and further out before bringing it back in. Special appearances such as this are a rare treat, especially in St. Louis. Popper dropping in on the Phish family was the perfect lagniappe to the evening. article © 1996 St. Louis Post-Dispatch