Phish Magic August 10, 2004 - Hampton Roads Daily Press By Joseph Atkinson Brendan Troutman is on a mission. With a camcorder dangling from his neck, the 23-year-old twists his way through a crowded Coliseum parking lot. Troutman, a Sunbury, Pa., native who's been following Phish for se ven years, is documenting the band's summer tour. "This is mostly for my friends and family who don't get to do this," he said. "It's hard for them to come to grips with this whole subculture." Troutman skipped school to see his first Phish show, a November 2003 date at Hampton Coliseum, which he considers one of the best places to see the band. "It was one of the best days of my life," he said, grinning. 'This place is magic." Phish played the Hampton Coliseum - aka The Mothership - for the last time Monday night, nearing the end of a tour that will culminate Aug. 14 and 15 in Coventry, Vt. Following the Coventry shows, Phish plans to disband. According to a statement on the Phish website by guitarist and vocalist Trey Anastasio, the members of Phish "realized that after almost 21 years together we were faced with the opportunity to graciously step away in unison, as a group, united in our friendship and our feelings of gratitude." Long-time fan Adam Cremeans says he isn't sad to see to see Phish go, although he did attend Monday's show, and planned to attend the shows in Coventry. Cremeans, 23, and friends Anna and Kelley, drove from Ohio to see the Hampton show. Not long after the parking lot opened at 3 p.m., they were staked out in the shade of a huge oak tree. Cremeans philosophized about the break up of Phish, pointing out problems within the band and within the band's deep fan base. "Honestly, I'm happy about it," he said, referring to the breakup. "It's supposed to be a community atmosphere, not a bunch of people coming from college, getting wasted. It's insulting. It's something I've dedicated a third of my life to. I get insulted by people who want to jump up and buy into it." At about 9 p.m. Hampton police had arrested 20 people who were in Hampton to attend the Phish concert, said Cpl. James West, a Hampton police spokesman. Most of the arrests were due to drug or alcohol offenses. Fans of many stripes crowded into the parking lot before the show. Men and women with dreadlocks and hemp necklaces rubbed elbows with guys in button-up shirts. Two young men cruised around on mini motorcycles, blasting Grateful Dead tunes through backpacks outfitted with speakers. Kids on skateboards wound through groups making their way toward the door. Vendors lined the sidewalk - Phish fans call this Shakedown Street - offering everything from veggie burritos to colorful glass pipes and enormous, elaborate water pipes, both commonly used to smoke marijuana. Chris Bell, a Hampton resident who's seen Phish every time they've played here, spent $140 buying a ticket on eBay. Waves of cheers beckoned the band to the stage as balloons flew through the air. Then at about 7:30 the lights went out and Phish launched into "Chalkdust Torture," a fast hard rock song. Then the band moved to the bouncy, playful "Bathtub Gin." The musicians followed that tune with a newer one, "Cave." The first set closed with the arena joyously singing "Oh, what a beautiful buzz!" to the song "Loving Cup." Article Copyright © 2004 Hampton Roads Daily Press