If you’re after a truly unique concert experience and a throwback to when things were very, very different, then a Phish show is definitely a good option. The capacity crowd at the Comcast Center on June 7th was treated to a two set show with no opening acts, just a combined 3 hours of straight music. Phish was started originally as a Grateful Dead cover band and although they have since branched out to create many originals and covers of other artists, you can tell that the notorious band has had a huge influence on Phish’s sound. A Phish song starts out like most others, with the standard verses and choruses, it’s after around the 3 minute mark that sets them apart. Trey Anastasio, Mike Gordon, Jon Fishman, and  Page McConnell transform normal album tracks into 10 minute (more sometimes) jams that feature impressive solos and spectacular musicality.    One incredible aspect of a Phish show is the knowledge that you are seeing a truly unique “custom” setlist with songs that will never be played in the same order or even together again. Phish’s deep catalog of hundreds of tracks was on full display with an eclectic set of 18 songs that went from 7:45 to 11 PM. The crowd was not affected by the set’s length, they energetically responded to every track as if it was the first one of the night. Phish fans are extremely loyal and that was obvious by the mixed crowd of die hard hipsters and 40 somethings trying to relive their wild 80s youths. A fan I was sitting next too told me he had seen Phish over 60 times and had remarkably never felt any repetition. It takes a pretty special band to achieve such a blend of performances. One thing that helps Phish achieve such diversity is that all 4 band members are vocally talented and have the capacity to take leads. Fishman, Anastasio, Gordon, and McConnell all sang at least one lead over the course of the evening, and that allows for the monster set list.      The band took the stage nearly an hour after the scheduled start time of 7 PM, which is mostly likely attributed to the late arriving weeknight crowd. After appearing (to a rousing ovation) Phish made up for the lost time by being all business. There was no fancy intro or some radio personality on stage to introduce them. The band walked out on stage, picked up their instruments, exchanged a few words to each other (most likely to remind each other of the first song) and began to play. The first song was an upbeat and strong version of “Llama” which had the whole crowd (now at full capacity) dancing and bouncing around. It seems that as soon as Anastasio played the first chord on his guitar the joints began lighting up. I have never seen so much marijuana at a concert before, and never so early but I suppose that weed is something Phish’s fan base identifies with so it makes perfect sense. The first set was an hour and a half long, the major highlight was a cover of John Lennon’s “Instant Karma” which had everyone in attendance belting out the lyrics. Phish made it their own by adding some awesome harmonies in the chorus and jamming out the end of the track, which drove the audience wild and by the end of a song the amphitheater was at a fever pitch.   The ovation the band received when they took the stage for their 2nd set after a 30 minute intermission was even louder and longer than the first one. The band responded with some more classic jams and awesome musicality. A cover of Velvet Underground’s “Rock and Roll” got the crowd pumped up and involved after the break. Because this set was played after the sun had fully set, one of  strongest aspects of a Phish show, the dazzling lights, were on full display. The lights were somehow magically timed perfectly to the improvised solos and it’s obvious that just as much thought was put into the effects as the set list itself. The lights perfectly accented the music and added to the immense showmanship that Phish brings to the table. The crazy thing is the band’s focus. There was no talking to the crowd between number, or even introducing the band members to the crowd. At one point in the set a dozen balloons and beach balls accumulated on stage in front of Anastasio and he was so consumed in the music he would not kick them off the stage, so he was confined to a space around 3 feet wide for half the set. An obsession with music is what got the band this far, and a ravenous encore performance of “Suzy Greenberg” was a great final message to the audience about the band’s knowledge of music and their passion for what they do. The seven minute jam was a fitting conclusion to a great night of music, next time Phish comes to town it’s a must go-and you can guarantee I’ll be there.