Review: Reunited Phish makes triumphant return

Clear skies only lifted the already high spirits of the thousands of Phish-heads who on Thursday packed the soldout Post-Gazette Pavilion in Burgettstown.

It was a triumphant reunion tour return.

Phish's "live and let be" cult followers showed up ready for two things: mind-blowing improv instrumentals and trippy light effects.

And they got what they wanted.

From the opening of "Golgi Apparatus" to the 20-minute "Loving Cup" encore, the multi-genre, four-man jam band sent the smirking and ecstatic crowd on a four-and-a-half hour groove that carried on to just past midnight.

Trey Anastasio's electrifying guitar medleys and Page McConnell's Old West saloon piano scores sent listeners through a musical warp that touched base with blisteringly invigorating highs in singalongs like "Wilson" and blissfully radiant lows in soothing songs like "Alaska."

For the most part, it was a free-spirited jamboree that paved the way for nonstop flailing arm boogies, glowstick-tossing wars and frequent bromance hugs.

Phish's members never wasted time with mindless bantering and their lengthy, erratic songs never seemed forced or brash. Instead they invited their loyal followers to openly embrace the unpredictability of their polyrhythm jams -- and the crowd joyfully played along.

Like a snowflake, no two of their concerts are the same -- and this one definitely went down as a memorable day in Phish-story.

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