By Larry Nager
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Phish singer and guitarist Trey Anastasio (left) and bassist Mike Gordon perform in the opening set at U.S. Bank Arena Friday night. (Michael Snyder photos) | ZOOM |

It was a psychedelic tailgate party Friday afternoon, as hundreds of Phish Phaithful from around the country gathered in the shadow of Paul Brown Stadium.

Parking Lot D was transformed into the Village, the counter-cultural bazaar that sprouts like a mushroom in every city when the world's foremost jam band plays.

Dozens of dreadlocked, tie-dyed entrepreneurs worked under makeshift shelters, grilling sausages and vegetarian treats, selling microbrew beer, cigarettes and liquor. Others, more discreetly, dealt in less legal items, including brownies advertised as "not your mom's."

At the Village of Phish fans outside Paul Brown Stadium, R.J. (left) of Indianapolis, offers falafel wraps for sale Friday. | ZOOM |

Despite preshow warnings, there was no police presence in the Village and no reports of major arrests, as Phish Heads drank beer and sampled the food choices, happily discussing concerts they'd seen on the tour and debating the finer points of the set lists. Making the scene even more surreal, they shared the parking lot with middle-aged Republicans attending an event at Paul Brown.

Anne Davidson of Boulder, Colo., was following the tour with her boyfriend, Mike. To earn travel money, she was cooking $5 quesadillas on a makeshift camp stove sporting the bumper sticker, "Forget reality, I'm going on tour."

A veteran Dead Head, she first saw Phish on Valentine's Day, but she's quickly become a devoted Phan. "I love 'em," she said. "It's different every night. You never know what to expect, but it's always great."

READ THE REVIEW

• Phish delivers stretched-out jams

Others' merchants dealt in crafts, from elaborate hand-blown glass pipes and coffee mugs to silkscreen T-shirts to one table offering heavy-duty glass ornaments. "Dishwasher safe," promised "Patch" who also sells them on his Web site.

"This is how we earn our living," said "Julie," a glassblower from Asheville, N.C. She and her partner Bruce are following the Phish tour and used to do the same with the original jam band, the Grateful Dead.

"(Phish) play more in one song than a mediocre band does in its entire career," said one devoted Phan. | ZOOM |

"The energy is similar, and I think that's the most important part," she said.

Dozens of Phans wandered through the parking lot with their forefingers raised in the "miracle ticket" salute, searching for seats to the weekend's shows, which sold out in record time.

Laurie Hartlein, a flight attendant from Indianapolis, is following Phish on tour. "They play more in one song than a mediocre band does in its entire career," she said.

And while Phish Heads all talk about the community of Phans, ultimately, it comes down to the show.

When Phish took the stage at U.S. Bank Arena Friday, the entire crowd of 16,000-plus rose as one. Guitarist Trey Anastasio hit a series of low riffs, and the crowd shouted the response, "Wilson!" as the band kicked into the song of the same name and the entire audience - hippies, yuppies and frat boys of all ages - became one dancing, rubber-kneed, elbow-flapping mass.

The entire ritual repeats tonight.

E-mail lnager@enquirer.com