Fest fans: So long, and thanks for all the Phish
Bruce Fessier
The Desert Sun

The three-day West Coast experiment known as Phish Festival 8 was declared an overwhelming success by fans and Indio police Sunday as the host band called it a wrap.

Phish's publicist declined to say how the group felt about the event and a spokesman for their contracted concert promoter, the Los Angeles-based Goldenvoice, said it wouldn't have attendance figures until after the festival ended.

But fans who came from all over the world to the Empire Polo Club in Indio called it the best of Phish's eight festivals, which all ran just two days before this weekend. Band publicist Erin Cooney and Empire Polo Club owner Alex Haagen III both understood that at least 40,000 people a day came to Indio, leaving them with positive feelings about the band, the promoter and the area.

“It's been beautiful, a beautiful experience,” said Sean Kayode, an African artist living in Santa Barbara and attending his first Phish concert after designing some of the many art installations on the polo field. “It's a total expression of the American thing. People are chillin'. People are peaceful. They love the idea of peace. It's been the most amazing experience for me meeting Americans.”

One-year La Quinta resident Jennifer O., who said she's attended 30 or 40 Phish concerts, was pleased the first Phish festival west of the Mississippi River proved such a hit with Coachella Valley visitors.

“I haven't met anyone from the state of California,” she said. “It's a big East Coast turnout. I love it. Phish fans travel everywhere.”

East Coast residents weren't bothered by the dramatic temperature changes from Friday to Sunday, saying Friday night wasn't that cold and Sunday wasn't that hot by their standards.

“It's a dry heat,” said Mandi Callis, who recently moved to Lassen County from Mississippi. “My lips are chapped and my hands are dry, but it's not bad. Three (days) is better than two all the way around.”

Cathy L. of San Francisco said the festival was what diehard Phish fans, some of whom have been to as many as 150 Phish concerts, predicted it would be: a reunion of Phish “phrends.”

“We probably have 40 friends here,” she said. “There is a common bond. Everybody likes Phish.”

Most of the fans camped out three or four nights and many returned to their camp sites between sets.

But the fans said the diverse selection of songs performed by Phish is what made this festival so successful. They raved about the band's cover of the Rolling Stones' “Exile On Main St.” as its Halloween “musical costume,” its first-ever acoustic set on Sunday and praised other distinctively different sets in which the band never repeated a song.

“Yesterday was the best I've seen them in a decade,” said Matt L. of San Francisco.

“It was one of the best Halloweens I've ever experienced,” said Cathy L.

Sunday's electric sets ended the festival on a rocking note. The early evening showed featured such classic Phish tunes as “Reba” and “The Wedge,” and ended with a showcase of their musicianship, “Split Open and Melt.” Their final set started with “Tweezer,” a song that has often ended their shows during the past two decades.

“People are saying this is the best (Phish fest) ever,” said Chad Rosen of Oil City, Pa. “They just went all out.”

“This was just amazing,” said Greg Cerray of San Diego. “We've had a great time since we walked in the door.”

Indio Police Sgt. Ben Guitron said there were nine drug-related arrests Sunday and a little more traffic congestion than Saturday. But overall, he said, “It's worked out very well. Obviously, the arrests have been narcotics related, but it's been pretty good. The traffic has been really great.”

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