Phish - You Enjoy Myself
10.7.00 - Shoreline Amphitheater, Mountain View, CA

The last song of 1.0.

Phish - Glide
10.7.00 - Shoreline Amphitheater, Mountain View, CA

Phish - Bathtub Gin
10.7.00 - Shoreline Amphitheater, Mountain View, CA

Eleven years ago today Phish played the final show in the first, longest, and undoubtedly most prolific part of their career. It was bittersweet, the culmination of seventeen years of hard work, nearly 1,200 shows, and joyous moments of improvisational euphoria that transcended time and space for not just throngs of fans, but the band as well.

It was also certainly a much needed break from non-stop touring that had created a machine that was beginning to move in a very unhealthy direction for many people, not least of all the guys themselves. In retrospect, the universal magnetism of Phish’s fans and the internal bonds that tied the band together would not let them rest for very long. In some respects, October 7, 2000 was the beginning of what would be an almost decade long struggle to right the ship and return to form. Younger fans may not appreciate the difference, but for good or bad, Phish will never be the same as they were.

When I listen to this Bathtub Gin, there’s still an intangible sense that they had something to prove, a hunger to keep going that they fought with and have in many ways finally let go. In that hunger lies an incredible amount of beauty, a deeply seeded connection between them and the crowd that will remain locked away in time. Eleven years ago tonight, Phish capped off one of the most incredible runs any live band has ever made, not just in their prolific number of performances across the country (and world), but in the wild imagination, humor and creativity that they brought to the stage each and every night.

And while that time may be over and done with, the memories remain, and so does the band. Alive. Well. Making us smile still. Remind yourself how lucky we all are to have them in our lives in 2011 and beyond!