Members of Police, Phish, Primus November 17, 2001 - The Associated Press by Dominic Perella Members of Police, Phish, Primus put on intense show with their new band, Oysterhead Trey Anastasio had just wrapped up yet another howling, finger-flying guitar solo and the audience at Washington's Constitution Hall was still clearing its ears when bassist Les Claypool turned toward him from across the stage. "That was some fancy guitar playing, Trey," Claypool said as the audience roared. "You are a fancy man." How true. Anastasio, the longtime Phish guitarist, can lose focus during his sometimes long, meandering solos. Not so at Friday night's Oysterhead concert, a ripping affair that showed Anastasio, Claypool of Primus notoriety and drummer Stewart Copeland of Police fame - technical wizards all - in top form. It was the third-to-last date in the debut tour for Oysterhead, a band born in May 2000 when Claypool, Anastasio and Copeland came together for a night of jamming in New Orleans. It was meant to be a one-time gig, but the three were so pleased with the result that they got back together this spring to cut a studio album, "The Grand Pecking Order," released last month. For Police fans who showed up Friday hoping to hear melodic prog-rock or Phish enthusiasts seeking that band's airy jamming, the Oysterhead experience was no doubt a shock: The full-on rock show was complete with head-banging rhythms and ear-splitting decibels. Anastasio let fly with fast, complex riffs and heavy chords throughout and Copeland, who hadn't played drums in more than a decade, showed no rust, keeping things moving with powerhouse playing and lovely cymbal work. Anastasio and Copeland's intensity, combined with Claypool's always funky, dark bass lines, transformed non-standout album tracks like "Psuedo Suicide" and "Oz is Ever Floating" into loud, dirty, impressive rock and roll. The show's only slower points came when Anastasio and Claypool delved into the bizarre on-stage antics both so clearly enjoy. "Shadow of a Man" was perhaps the best example - woe to the concertgoer who arrived late to find Anastasio screeching on a guitar covered in enormous antlers and Claypool stalking slowly around the darkened stage, moaning about Vietnam and wearing bright lightbulbs on his face like 100-watt eyeballs. "Wield the Spade" also started oddly, with Copeland standing behind his drum kit, holding a mirror and screaming, "There are many fools who dare propose imposing limits on my power!" But even "Spade" picked up speed; turning into another arena-rock style tour de force, and the sold-out crowd was thrashing around like a Metallica audience. A Claypool electric bass-banjo solo and a pretty Anastasio acoustic tune, "Birthday Boys," also added variety to the nearly two-hour performance. When the trio came out for their encore, Claypool drew laughs by pointing out several people sitting down in their seats up front and offering them packets of herbal tea as a pick-me-up. But it was a tribute to Oysterhead's intensity that they were just about the only ones sitting - and by the time the reverb came down to close a fast, tight version of "Mr. Oysterhead," they were on their feet too.