Phish Heads feeling down in the mouth

Phish Phans or Phish Heads, whichever you prefer, are in mourning.

The band they follow across the country like lemmings has announced it will break up at the end of its upcoming summer tour.

Yes, that's right. Phish is phinished. It's heading out to sea. It's calling it a day. It's looking for the hook and getting ready for the chopping block.

The Vermont-based band — guitarist/vocalist Trey Anastasio, bassist Mike Gordon, drummer Jon Fishman and keyboardist Page McConnell — announced the breakup on the band's official Web site www.phish.com

"Last Friday night, I got together with Mike, Page and Fish to talk openly about the strong feelings I've been having that Phish has run its course and that we should end it now while it's still on a high note," wrote Anastasio.

That sentence was one of the saddest collections of words I've ever read. But I understand Anastasio's thoughts. It's better to break up now, rather than go out with a batch of mediocre tunes.

I just hope the band's new album "Undermind" is as good as "Billy Breathes."

At any rate, I'll miss the band, because Phish rocked.

Next to the Grateful Dead, Phish had the jam band thing down. Band members knew how to put on a show, and they knew that a few surprises in their sets could keep the audience hungry for more.

Phish has been known to play all sorts of covers. From Pink Floyd to War, the band had audiences dancing without a care.

The last time I saw Phish live was last summer at the USANA Amphitheater. From the kickoff of "AC/DC Bag" to "Theme from the Bottom" to "I Am Hydrogen" and "Slave to the Traffic Light," the band kept the party going.

Phish Phans from all over the country found their way to USANA for that magical night in July. The appearance marked the band's return to Utah after five years.

In 1999, Phish played the E Center, and to the adoration of the crowd, pumped out Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" in its entirety. And the band brought that spontaneity back last year with a bit of War's "Lowrider," played during the syncopated "Mr. Completely."

Back in 1995, Phish played the Delta Center. The show was originally scheduled to be at what was known at the time as Wolf Mountain, but the show moved to the Delta Center. It was there Phish played a song called "Prince Caspian." That was a historical event for Phish because that song had never been played in public. And to think it was debuted in good old Salt Lake City, Utah.

I remember Phish. I remember looking forward to hearing a great jam band at the top of its game. I remember going into the shows, not knowing what to expect. And I remember leaving the shows with a huge smile on my face.

I wish them luck. Even though they won't be together, I'll still have their albums to enjoy.

But nothing can compare to a live Phish show. Not even the band's own live albums.

I am happy to have been able to see Phish, and this weekend I'll gather all my CDs together and have a Phish Phest.

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E-mail: scott@desnews.com