Story by Allison Gaare
Photos by Terry Mayer
Last Friday the well known jam-band Phish performed the first of two shows
at the Alpine Valley Music Theater in East Troy, Wisconsin. As usual, the
band delivered a varied setlist of old and new material, while providing
great vibes for the thousands who flock to this grassy hill each year for
this perennial favorite.
Prior to the show, the parking lot was filled with its typical organic
atmosphere, including a colorful myriad of patchwork threads, tie-dye shirts
and nappy dreads. Everything from ganja food to hemp necklaces, not to
mention the many different styles of beer, could be found throughout. The
smell of hot grills and the occasional scent of patchouli filled the air
along with the various music spilling out of the many cars, buses and vans.
The lot quickly started to vacate as the theatre filled, and Phish soon
took to the stage. They opened with "Axilla," which created a lot of energy
between the band and their audience. They then went into "Rift" where the
momentum flowed straight into "Bathtub Gin," a number from their 1989 Lawn
Boy album. At one point singer / guitarist Trey Anastasio took a short break
practicing his chords, before the band leisurely strolled into "Roggae," as
well as a new number "Discern." During the song "I Didn't Know" Jon Fishman
then broke into a peculiar solo performed on a vacuum cleaner, as he was
accompanied by bandmembers Mike Gordon and Page McConnell to the tune of
Kansas' "Dust In The Wind." After the strange solo had ended, Phish jumped
right back into "I Didn't Know" before ending the first half of their show
with the song "David Bowie."
When the band started off their second set with "Down With Disease" the
crowd was up and ready to dance. Despite the fact that the two newer songs
"Secret Smile" and "Two Versions of Me" were a bit slow in places, when
"Twist" started up, so did the energy. "Character Zero," a favorite from
their 1996 album Billy Breathes, finished out the set, and, judging from the
audience response, was a great song to do so.
Once again, Phish delivered a superior performance with a broad setlist
for their faithful fans here in Southeast Wisconsin.
