Phish returns, is nothing less than great

PHISH, USANA Amphitheater, Tuesday.

A big welcome back to Phish.

The Vermont-bred jam band finally found its way back to Utah after a few years of solo projects.

Phish — with guitarist/vocalist Trey Anastasio, bassist/vocalist Mike Gordon, drummer/vocalist Jon Fishman and keyboardist/vocalist Page McConnell — last played in the Salt Lake City area five years ago with a rousing set at the E Center, which included a rendition of Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" played in its entirety.

While no Floyd cranked through the USANA Amphitheater speakers Tuesday night, the show was nothing less than great.

The band didn't flap around. Instead, it let the music do the talking. The audience caught on quickly and fed off the energy as Phish opened the show with "AC/DC Bag," "Ya Mar" and "Theme From the Bottom." Anastasio's mildly distorted guitar became a warm fuzzy when his fingers took off in euphoric leads that burst through the mix during "Two Versions of Me" and "Weekapaug Groove," also played during the first set.

Gordon's bass thunked and chunked during "Poor Heart," "Secret Smile" and "Mike's Song," which segued into "I Am Hydrogen" and the aforementioned "Weekapaug Groove."

Phish also gave the audience a taste of "Saw It Again" somewhere in between. And while die-heard Phish Phans — or Phish Heads, as they are affectionately known — could sing every word, others kept their vocal chords in check and danced in the aisles or on the general-admission grass.

The nearly sold-out amphitheater became a dance fest, with bodies moving, bouncing, shaking and rocking to the beats.

Fishman, trussed up in one of his trademark sun dresses, pounded and popped out groove-easy rhythms, especially the syncopated "Mr. Completely," which kicked off the second set.

Within "Mr. Completely," Phish segued into the signature licks of War's "Lowrider" and launched into the frantic "Big Black Furry Creature from Mars" and "Buried Alive."

The band returned to "Mars" and threw in "Ha Ha Ha" for good measure before a brief reprise of "Mr. Completely." Then, without a pause, the band leaped into "Spread It Round."

The psychedelic light show added to the climax during "Walls of the Cave," "Golgi Apparatus" and "Slave to the Traffic Light."

Phish wrapped it up with its encore, "Sleeping Monkey."

As in the past, Anastasio, Fishman, Gordon and McConnell kept a low-key profile onstage. The band didn't waste time with between-songs banter. Instead, band members smiled at their appreciative Phans and gave them what they wanted — a dynamic two-hour set filled with all sorts of goodies.

Here's hoping the band won't wait another five years to find its way back to Utah.

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E-MAIL: scott@desnews.com