by Jamie Callahan, Roosevelt, NJ

Phish rang in the New Year and the New Millenium from a stage located in the Florida Everglades, on the Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation. They played from a few minutes before midnight, until sunrise (a little over 7 hours), never leaving the stage (even taking their bathroom breaks in a portable toilet on the stage). A portion of the concert was recorded for ABC’s Millenium coverage.

The band played mostly original songs, but also covered the obligatory “Auld Lang Syne,” in addition to the Velvet Underground’s “Rock and Roll,” The Talking Heads’ “Crosseyed and Painless,” Ween’s “Roses are Free,” as well as playing the Who’s “Drowned” which spontaneously segued into a reprise of “After Midnight” which the band had played to close their daytime, almost 12 hours earlier. Many versions reached well past the 20-minute mark, some were even played for over 1/2 hour. The band chose not to play an encore and as fans exited the stage area, the only music heard was The Beatles’ “Here Comes the Sun” being played over the PA.

The 37-song, 7-hour plus set is considered by many fans and band members alike to be the pinacle of their career. The event is sometimes referred to only as “The Show.”

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