Everything was right last night in Alpharetta, Ga as Phish made their triumphant return to Ameris Bank Ampitheatre for a sold out crowd, and brought the heat that they famously deliver. The Vermont based jam rockers were armed with a new light rig that made a larger appearance for the first time this tour, as the rig was augmented at the two prior shows.

What a return to live music. The atmosphere was electric. The venue, freshly expanded, and the band… they were dead on. This was Phish’s first-time playing Arkansas. Only 4 states remain that have yet to be graced by the greatness.

For the second time this year, the jam industry is rallying around Chris Friday, a Burlington-based music industry figure. Earlier this year, Friday received the devastating news that his 11-year-old son, Iggy, contracted Acute Lymphoid Leukemia. This week, several notable bands and artists once again donated a multitude of unique merchandise for auction. The auction runs from July 7th - 11th 5 PM ET.

Registration is open for the Sixth Annual Runaway Open charity golf tournament for Phish fans, to be held in Denver 9/4/21 (the morning of the second show of the upcoming Dick’s run, over Labor Day weekend.)

As the entire world is in the midst of a global pandemic that no living generation has experienced before, fans of the band Phish can at least take comfort in the absolute wealth of new music the band has been giving its fans over the last couple of years.

Some people attend church on Sunday. My church on Sunday was Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. The pastor: Phish. Sixteen years Uniondale, New York, has been waiting for the boys from Vermont to make a triumphant return to the arena. “Phans” braved the elements outside to see what the guys had in store for this Sunday evening in Long Island.

I was ten years old when the boys from Vermont unleashed what we know it as today…Island Tour ’98.  Four shows spanning two states in the northeast. Long Island in New York and Providence in Rhode Island. But I’m sure many of you already know that. As Phish wrapped up a raging summer tour, everyone was already in full throttle with New Year’s rumors and possible fall tour plans. As the time got near, my mission was clear, and a 6-night run of shows was announced. A 3.0 island tour if you will.

The conference, which will take place in Oregon State’s Memorial Union, will include more than 50 presentations from researchers from more than 20 states and Canada. Presentation titles include: “Phish’s Improvisation in Light of Talmudic Scholastic Practice,” “‘This Your First Show?’: White Racism and Subcultural Capital in the Phish Community” and “The Neuroscience of the Jam: A research paradigm to study brain inactivity underlying improvisation in Phish.”

On Wednesday night, Trey Anastasio brought his newest side project, Ghosts of the Forest, to the Orpheum Theatre in Boston. Promoting the band's self-titled album that would be released two days later, Anastasio performed 21 songs, most of them written after the passing of his dear friend Chris "CCott" Cottrell, who had passed away from cancer prior to the songs being written.

Jam band juggernauts Phish are in the midst of the West Coast leg of their extensive Summer 2018 tour. Fans have been wowed by the sheer diversity of setlists, unexpected arrangements, and intriguing chemistry. After the triumphant Bakers Dozen run at Madison Square Garden last summer, the quartet demonstrated their desire to explore far-off realms and keep their repertoire both expansive and tight.