Phish farewell show is short but sweet June 26, 2004 - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel By Nathan Wallin The end is near. After more than 20 years making music together, countless concerts and 12 albums, the traveling musical-carnival from Vermont consisting of guitarist Trey Anastasio, bassist Mike Gordon, keyboardist Page McConnell and drummer Jon Fishman, better known by the devoted masses as "Phish," has decided to call it quits in mid-August. But not just yet. Friday night's show at Alpine Valley was the first of a two-night stint that concluded Saturday. And judging by Friday's one-song encore: "Sample in a Jar," one got the impression that the famously fan-friendly band was either saving its energy for its final night in Wisconsin on Saturday, or its seemingly limitless supply of energy was running out. The unshaven masses in attendance barely noticed the band's fading enthusiasm, however. Typical for a Phish show, there was joyous substance-fueled dancing in the aisles and enough clouds hovering above the concert-goers that passers-by would have thought a massive thunderstorm was developing. While their vigor and enthusiasm for touring may have waned, the Phish bandmates' masterful skill with their instruments was never in doubt. As was evident when guitarist Anastasio and bassist Gordon took to minitrampolines and synchro-hopped during the instrumental fan favorite "You Enjoy Myself" and, without missing a lick, reproduced the jam anthem note for note. The nomadic "Phish-heads" seemed to sense the impending finality of life without Phish as well. Many fans had brought their children along to the show, perhaps to let the next generation experience a Phish show before it was all over. Parents danced with their little ones on Alpine Valley's grass hill, and a father was spotted cradling his infant while happily swaying to the music. Phish first took the stage during daylight hours with the considerably up-tempo "Julius." Unfortunately, many fans missed out on the opening number and almost the entirety of the first half of the show, enduring a will-call window nightmare that had a meager four ticket windows catering to a mob of about 200 fans. The single-song encore, however, did give weight to the notion that Phish phinally had enough of their touring routine but were gracious enough to give their deadicated, loyal fans just one more good time with good tunes. Article Copyright © 2004 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel