Live in Brooklyn

by Rob TheakstonDuring the time Live in Brooklyn was recorded, Vermont's fantastic four had decided to call it quits, again, after two decades playing together with a small "breakup" lodged in between. So there was more than a little melancholy surrounding what was to be the band's absolute, unquestionable, no-looking-back, there-will-never-be-a-summer-tour-ever-again final tour. Even lead singer/guitarist Trey Anastasio, during a lengthy interview with Guitar World, claimed that it would take a lot to get the group back together and move forward, simply because he doesn't want to turn into one of those nostalgic jam bands. Whatever the case may be, the group has since offered several archive releases to pacify the hordes of fans wanting to relive the magic, Live in Brooklyn among those releases. For anyone who followed the group throughout the tour (either online or in person), they already know Phish offered up some of their most expansive and energetic sets of the past ten years and the Brooklyn shows (featuring guest cameos not included in this three-CD set) were no exception. No member of the group is resting on his laurels, as the band plays with renewed energy and confidence and even brings out some of their oldest, rarely performed material (check the amazing version of "The Curtain With") for the long goodbye. So until that much speculated reunion and Phish 3.0 comes along, this will have to appease the die-hard fanatics looking for high-quality recordings. It does the job and does it well.