Phish Feeds an Audience Hungry for the Old Stuff July 11, 2003 - Daily Californian By Adam Blum As a black cloud left over from Tuesday's "Ozzfest" tour was still clearing off the stage, the Prince of Darkness and his entourage were replaced by what must be their spiritual nemeses, the four smiling, bouncing members of Phish, as they began their two-night engagement to sold-out crowds at the Shoreline Amphitheatre. As the quartet unleashed the opening licks of their boppy "You Enjoy Myself," there was little pretense in their postures or their movements. They knew they were among like-minded fans, among friends, for a Phish audience is perhaps one of the most upbeat, band-loving, life-loving crowds to be found in popular music today. But, as they are veterans, the fans bring a set of experiences and expectations that add a tone of monotony to the show that never could have been there earlier in Phish's career. "Finally!" exclaimed one couple as the band launched into "AC/DC Bag," a concert staple that had been "denied" to the touring crowd thus far in the tour. In fact, whenever the band was not mid-jam, the crowd was abuzz with aPhishionado commentary: "They played 'Limb by Limb,' and then 'Freezer,' and then some new song that nobody knew and nobody cared about," recounted one fanatic to a friend about the night before. Here lies a troubling prognosis for the band, which, while maintaining a near-perfect sense of musical integrity is being consumed by a populus that is slowly reducing them to a lifestyle, a set of habits, a catalogue of classics being delivered or denied over ther course of their touring months. No funny stuff, she seemed to say. Play the classics. The show, though, made an admirable effort to avoid such homogenization. One of the most refreshingly unusual strengths of the show was the lighting, which alternated between strobe-like shards of lightning during frenetic buildups and pools of neon pastels during long jams. And even when they looked disinterested (drummer Jon Fishman often stares as if perched comfortably on an old couch watching Sunday football), the extraordinary talent of each of the band's members was never in question or remission during the show. During the concert, guitarist and lead vocalist Trey Anastasio's shining moments were glorious, and his backdrop moments are subtle and appropriate. His writing, often goofy but rarely vapid, sustained attention and balance throughout both sets. One could also sense the degree to which these musicians have totally internalized their craft and their repertoire. Keyboardist Page McConnell chimed in on backing harmonies as if preternaturally, giddily glancing up from the keys as he began to sing his cheerfully absurd lyrics as if to answer a calling. Fishman and bassist Mike Gordon flowed in and out of time signatures like states of consciousness. The warmest and most heartening component to be found at the show, and possibly on the road all summer, was the airtight synchronization of positive energy between the four men playing music on stage. Nowhere in the saccherine world of pop glee is there a space for such visibly genuine satisfaction and gratification that is so unquestionably rooted in the music. As the four chime in unison "What a beautiful buzz!" during the encore, the honesty of their exclamation was obvious. Let's hope, for Phish's sake, that the fans subdue their Phishier-than-thou impulses and allow the energy of these men and their music to be shared by music and nonsense lovers everywhere. Article Copyright © 2003 Daily Californian