Phish released 'warts and all' December 11, 1999 - Los Angeles Times by Roger Catlin Album Review - Hampton Comes Alive As one of the decade's top touring acts, Phish probably knew one day it would release a boxed set. But the members probably didn't think their six-disc box would consist solely of two consecutive shows, performed at one of their favourite venues. Hampton Comes Alive (Elektra) chronicles performances recorded Nov. 20 and 21, 1998, at the Hampton (Va.) Coliseum. Phish has released live albums before; indeed, recent concert recordings such as 1995's double-disc A Live One and 1997's Slip, Stitch and Pass have been far more popular than the studio recordings of the same period. But there was some thought over the years to presenting a whole show -- or better yet, two consecutive shows in the same location -- to better reflect the whole Phish experience. ''It was more sort of listening to different live sets, to see if we'd want to put it out. Those were shows that a lot of fans liked, and it turned out to be a two-night thing,'' Phish bassist Mike Gordon said. ''We wanted to put it out in its entirety without editing.'' Gordon says at the time, the Hampton shows last year didn't really stand out in his mind. ''I do remember at the time, when I was playing, that I was not thinking it was something special,'' he says. ''But I remember getting a lot of comments from papers and fans how much they liked those shows.'' It was guitarist Trey Anastasio who waded through a lot of the live tapes for suitable shows, although the result was agreed upon by the whole band, which is rounded out by keyboardist Page McConnell and drummer Jon Fishman. ''It's a warts and all kind of release,'' says Gordon, who, as chief singer, was a little dismayed with what he called, ''some bad notes and sour harmonies'' that crop up. Still, he had to admit ''it had a good, exciting vibe to it.'' Indeed, before Phish, Hampton was site of a number of memorable Grateful Dead shows