About 6,500 fans crowded into Alumni Arena Sunday night to hear Phish, that vacuum cleaner-playing, washboard scratching, sometimes-a cappella band from Vermont.
Yet another great concert brought to UB by the University Union Activities Board, Phish put on a show that lived up to this year's quality concerts sponsored by UUAB.
Although the show was scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m., it started 45 minutes late due to the lead guitarist, Trey Anastasio, having to be taken to the hospital after falling through a hoe in the stage during the sound check.
At 7:30 p.m. there was still a line stretching to Slee Hall. Although as the first Phish show ever at UB, such an enthusiastic turnout shouldn't be too surprising.
For sophomore Jennifer Hartnett, this was her first Phish concert.
"I really enjoyed it. I danced the whole time," she said. "It was a lot like a Dead show, but it was more upbeat."
Using a pair of crutches and a stool during the show to support himself, Anastasio was still able to perform flawlessly, although somewhat more mellow than usual.
Joined by Page McConnell's spectacular tickling of the ivory and Mike Gordon's heavy bass, the band more than made up for Anastasio's condition.
The two unheard of vacuum cleaner-solos by the band's drummer Matt Fishman gave the show that Phish-y feel.
Opening the first set with the tried and true "Runaway Jim" and then moving into "It's Ice," Phish had the crowd jumping. "Sparkle," "Split Open and Melt," "Esther," and "Chalk-dust Torture" were the meat of the first set.
"I Didn't Know," "Scent of a Mule," and "Down with Disease" closed the set.
Phish's new-and-improved light show that they brought with them was impressive for this band who is still more used to playing to 100 people at Nectar's than to thousands of people. Nevertheless, the band seems to be making the transition to the larger venues with little effort.
Phish opened the second set with "My Friend, My Friend" and went from there into "Yamar." With the crowd bouncing in anticipation, Phish jammed on "Antelope" and "Fluffhead."
Fishman, a master of all things musical, came to the forefront scratching a mean riff on the washboard for "Ginseng Sullivan" and then took over the lead vocals for the "Jungle Book Song."
Closing the second set with "Harry Hood," the crowd was still hungry for more.
Returning to the stage for a two-song encore, Phish played an energetic stomp your foot and slap your knees "Bouncing ‘Round the Room," segueing into the final song, "Golgi Apparatus."
"We were pleased to end the year with another successful show," said Kim Proefrock, director of UUAB. "More than two-thirds of the total ticket sales were to students."
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