Hampton return leaves Phish fans ecstatic

HAMPTON

On Friday night the happiest collective of people in America, or perhaps even the world, could be found in Hampton inside the city’s Coliseum.

Thousands of people poured in from points east, west and beyond to see Phish, the jam-band with an army of followers that hasn’t done a show in five years.

After tailgating for nearly four hours, revelers poured into the venue at 6 p.m., screaming and holding their arms in the air in triumph and hugging strangers as if they’d won a lottery. In fact, many of them had, using an online system to procure tickets. Fate had been on their sides. Fate or deep pockets: people were selling tickets for as much as $1,000.

Hampton’s Coliseum is a favorite venue for Phish and even a newbie could see why once he or she entered the dome. Of course, the structure itself, with its rainbow lights illuminating the stucco sides does resemble a UFO, which is why the psychedelic-friendly Phish dubbed the place “The Mothership.” But the group expanded on that idea with the indoor décor: more than 15 giant orbs hung from the ceiling, bathed in amber and saffron lights.

As people waited for Phish, waves of cheers went up at random and you somehow intuited that these weren’t ordinary concert cheers but wails loaded with a sense of disbelief and extreme giddiness. Then at about 8, the lights suddenly went dim and the show began.

Phish opened with “Fluffhead,” sending its audience into a euphoric daze. (Or was that the layer of smoke hovering throughout the entire building? Hmm.)

The band then, per custom, forayed into a meandering deviation that had to have lasted 10 or 12 minutes; you know because, after taking listeners down a rabbit hole of sonic dips, zips and plunges, they return back to the original groove - like a person who tells three stories within a story and returns back to the original point detours - that ultimately provide a thorough sense of understanding and depth.

Visual cues were just as important. Lights flickered and swayed in a seeming encyclopedia of colors and their dances matched the intensity of the music in perfect concert. Phish’s band members didn’t dance or offer traditional concert prattle (“Hello Hampton!”) because they didn’t have to: the music and the lights were the show.

“Fluffhead” was like subsequent songs, including “The Divided Sky” and “Stash” and “NICU” – they went all over the place, from jazz to funk to bluegrass. If you’re really paying attention to the guitar and the keys, the music is thrilling. It’s alive, shifting shape constantly, full of surprises and able to evoke all kinds of emotion.

By 10:30 the band was just really getting started but took an intermission; they went on until midnight. They’ll perform again for two more days; some lucky people will see all three shows. They have yet to announce more dates for their reunion tour.

For those of us who couldn’t make it to Hampton though, you can share the elation in the comfort of your home: full, free downloads of the show will be online each night.