By Kyle Monson
WEST VALLEY CITY -- The USANA Amphitheater in West Valley City is surrounded by acres of farmland, and tucked behind a hill and a Frito-Lay factory, so concert-goers don''t see it until they''re literally on top of it.
The suddenness made the scene that greeted concert attendees Tuesday night, July 15, even more surreal: a veritable hippy encampment with tents, campers and all manner of automobiles.
It''s not every day that a 20,000-strong hippy army descends upon West Valley City, or comes to Utah at all. It only happens when Phish comes to town. The band is famous for its Grateful Dead-like following, and fans, known as Phish heads, follow the tour around the country in whatever transportation they can secure.
The jam band played a marathon three-hour set at the brand new amphitheater, one stop on their U.S. tour. The tour marks the return of Phish, which broke up in 2000 and only recently got back together.
'This band''s been on a break, and they just came back this year,' said Rob Dawkins, 21, who drove from Washington to attend the show. 'Everyone''s making a big fuss. Incredible band, incredible show.'
Pilgrimages ranged from 20 miles to the other side of the country, though Utahns made up a small percentage of the crowd.
'We drove and camped - we''ve been on the road for about a week,' said Brian Van Landingham, 20, from Leland, Miss. 'We''ve spent a lot of money, but it was worth it.'
Van Landingham seemed like the typical Phish fan: barefoot, with wild hair and a distinct odor. After a week of camping, Van Landingham was ready for a shower.
'I think we''re staying in a hotel tonight,' he said.
With such a wild following, the band members were clearly the most un-hippy people at the event, in tapered Levi 501 jeans and plain shirts. The exception was drummer Jon Fishman, who played in his usual stage costume - a housedress.
The stark concrete shell behind the stage and the conservative presence of the band was a sharp contrast to the audience, a colorful mass of motion. Despite the dancing and enthusiasm of the crowd, security had little problem with the group.
'They''re fairly mild,' said Jim Tarr, a security guard at the amphitheater who has been working at concerts for four years. 'The music was good, and it was better than rap concerts, obviously. This is nice because it''s outdoors and it''s a nice venue.'
The venue is in its second week of operation, but the show ran smoothly and the amphitheater allowed fans a unique feature: on-site camping. Ticket holders were permitted to camp on the premises for up to four nights for $10 a night.
Fans can see the concert for free in its entirety at www.livephish.com.