Phish in concert sets fans free July 12, 2003 - Contra Costa Times By Tony Hicks THEY SAY either you get it or you don't. There is, however, another take on Phish, which returned to the Shoreline Amphitheatre on Wednesday to the delight of thousands of dancing Phish-heads. One can intellectually appreciate what Phish does during its 10-minute neo-jazzy, semi-muted rock jams without actually feeling much of the love. So maybe the saying for Phish should go: It either moves you, or it doesn't. If it didn't on Wednesday, you would have been in the minority. Rarely does a venue of that size shake the way it did for three-plus hours. The band returned to the last venue it played in 2000 before going on hiatus for three years, citing road burnout and the desire to do other things. So Thursday went above and beyond for Phish-heads. They celebrated not only seeing their favorite band in its natural habitat (the concert stage) but also had the extra release of seeing Phish play the venue they'd hoped for three years wouldn't be its last. Phish obviously doesn't have to play by the normal rules. Though the Grateful Dead comparisons will forever follow it, appropriately so, the band's heavy college-age demographic would suggest it is no longer simply inheriting the Dead's following. Also, the band's music has grown jazzier and more subtle. That's to say that the changes and dynamics are harder to follow for the uninitiated because they aren't as drastic. So unless you already know the material or keep your head and ears glued to the stage, it may not come across as well. Or you may just find yourself looking around the sea of bobbing faces and wonder what's really going on and why. One thing was perfectly clear, other than Phish having the most loyal and unaffected fan base in music: Frontman Trey Anastasio is a tremendous guitarist. At times he sounds like Clapton or Santana in their heydays; other times he's like a brave jazz guitarist not afraid to go wherever he wants. Everything Phish does hinges on him, despite the romantic jam-band myth that it's all free-form and everybody gets a chance by bouncing the vibe off one another onstage. They're all very capable musicians and adapt within the band's framework, but this band clearly belongs to the bespectacled, humble guy with the knowing half-grin out front. By third song, "Chalk Dust Torture," even the unbelievers were up from their seats (there was really no other way to see the stage). Though volume wasn't a major weapon most of the night, it definitely played a factor here. "Dust" morphed into fan favorite "Bathtub Gin," a 20-minute saloon-funk jam that seemed to run on autopilot for a while. Then again, that perception might just be a case of hard-to-detect subtle nuances. Much of what Anastasio did seemed to directly relate to what was happening in the first couple of rows, off which he didn't remove his eyes for minutes at a time. By the time the show's second half started with Stevie Wonder's "Boogie on Reggae Woman," it was clear that, though Phish is more than musically capable, they lack a certain fire that takes some bands waaaayy up, then waaaayy back down again. It's apparent in the drumming of Jon Fishman that Phish is more like the marathon runner, keeping pace with some minor variations, rather than some sweaty guy alternately sprinting and walking, which can be a more drastic, crazy and fun ride. For all the emotion Phish is supposed to bring to its jams, it wasn't very visible until near the end of the show, when they broke out one of the night's best in "Piper." It's also around the time noted Phish lighting guy Chris Kuroda, who many consider the fifth band member, turned up the vivid light show into a flying wash of purples and blues. Shortly after came the favorite Phish-head activity of throwing glow sticks high in the air at each other. On "Mike's Song," bassist Mike Gordon took over vocal duties, and the band morphed into a long effect-laden jam that moved well. Things got sleepy again before the band came back with a rousing cover of the Stones' "Loving Cup." Getting that part of the show was easy enough and a good way to wake up for the drive home. Article Copyright © 2003 Contra Costa Times