Last night was my 4th show since I started listening to Phish. I was never one to jump into a car and go to a show without tickets, and when I first started listening, and I mean REALLY listening, (1999) tickets were hard to come by. This was before craigslist made it possible to get any ticket you want, if you have the $$. I finally got my first show, after a couple years of relentless internet searching to see if theres any news on a return to performing together, in.Cincinatti 2/21/03 and the show was not great to say the least. I felt that something was off and it was there in most of the shows I heard from 03/04. Then they broke up. I found other bands, went to festivals and concerts and lived life. I still listend to 88-00 Phish, but was moving on. Then, In early 2009 I was informed of their reunion and tour. I was intrigued, but skeptical. I was worried it would be the same band from 03/04. But I would check them out if
they came to Los Angeles, where I am now living.
fast forward to 2011. I am imformed that Phish is playing the Hollywood Bowl in Aug, so I youtube some
recent shows and feel a sense of curiosity hit me.
This was clearly Phish, but they were tighter, more defined, they werent just some guys pissing in peoples ears, which was a quote I totally understood. The band had always experimented or noodled around too much at times. Now, they were still jamming, still improvising, but with much more intent and purpose. I immediately bought tickets through craigslist. That first
Hollywood Bowl show drove it in. Phish is playing their best music since 98. Long beach last year showed they can still type II anything, And Last night showed they have energy. 4th show in 4 days and we got treated to a rockin, fun, energetic, albeit crowd pleasingly safe, two sets. And Chris Kurodas new lights. Brilliant. Those giant shapes he drew all over the back wall was really an awesome visual treat, along with so much more. I am actually contemplating my first out of state Phishing trip. Ive heard many good things about Dicks.