Phish farewell is special August 10, 2004 - Richmond Times Dispatch By Leigh Buckley Fountian Their last indoor show. The last, nearly surprise visit to a venue that obviously holds a special place in the heart of a band that has played nearly all of them in its 22 years together. Hampton Coliseum, affectionately known as "The Mothership" to fans, played host to the first night of Phish's final six-night run Monday evening. And though the show was announced only two weeks ago through a hurried arrangement, it was sold out through the band's site and Ticketmaster within an average of 20 minutes. The faithful were all there, from all parts of the country, many of them heading all the way to Massachusetts right after the show for the next day's extravaganza. And though Phish shows nearly always sell out, these final ones were especially sought after. The band, of course, did not let us down. Though lead singer Trey Anastasio is calling it quits because he feels the group lacks the dedication it had in its younger years, there is no doubt the band wishes to go out on an extremely high note, if you'll pardon the pun. And even a slightly ailing Phish is significantly more interesting than most rock concerts. But this was far from typical "farewell tour" material. The first set was something truly special by any criterion. It showed some sparkling improvisation, from the opening rocker "Chalkdust Torture" to a 20-plus-minute "Bathtub Gin" that veered into some daring territory. From the fun older romp about a dog named "Runaway Jim" to a fully realized version of their new epic, "Walls of the Cave," the four regular guys from Vermont did not disappoint their legions. And though the second set lacked a bit of pep, highlighting newer ballads such as "All of These Dreams" and "Crowd Control," it did feature a "Limb by Limb" that went into some shadowy and new places, quite a feat for a band that prides itself on doing things differently each evening. The newer dark rocker, "Seven Below," was well-handled, including an improvised "Little Drummer Boy" ending, and featured the only words to the audience the entire evening. It was simply an introduction to Trey's guitar tech Brian Brown and a touching hug between the two old friends, but the emotion was there in spades. It is all soon to be over, and every moment is more special as a result. Even "Bug," a song that many have tired of, was poignant for mourning fans with its mantra, "It doesn't matter!" and the "Contact," with its now typical funk breakdown, was nice and groovy. There was the requisite "Character Zero" to end the set rockily, but it was the encore classic "David Bowie" that sealed the deal. This band is . . . was . . . truly something. And we will never see it perform again, except on video and in our memories. Thank you for adding Hampton and remembering Virginia, gentlemen. Thank you for a touching goodbye. Thanks for all the years past, and good luck with the years ahead. Article Copyright © 2004 Richmond Times Dispatch