It wasn't until concertgoers arrived at the gates yesterday that they finally learned what classic album Phish would cover in its entirety during their "musical costume" set at Festival 8. Reviving a tradition that began in 1994 when Phish covered The Beatles' The White Album, last night the quartet staged an ambitious cover of the Rolling Stones' 18-song double LP, Exile on Main St. As in years past, the costume choice was a closely-guarded secret until the day of the show, when thousands of "Phishbill" programs (à la Playbill) were distributed, complete with bios of the "cast," which last night included Sharon Jones on vocals and members of the Dap Kings on horns. more ›

Tonight Vermont-based jam band Phish (LAist Review) will be concluding Festival 8, a three-day stint in Indio at the famed Empire Polo Club. Indie rock duo Black Gold are poised to take on the Troubadour with none other than all-female rock trio Girl In A Coma. And, lastly, Ohio-based lo-fi rock act Times New Viking will be performing at the Echo with San Franciscan noise-infused pop outfit Sic Alps for this week's edition of Part Time Punks. But we strongly suggest heading over to Amoeba Music in Hollywood to catch Los Angeles' own "Ambassador of Boogie Funk," Culver City-based DJ/selector DâM-FunK. more ›

Last night Phish tore through the first two of eight sets which the quartet's scheduled to play during their three day "Festival 8" in Indio, California. The Halloween-themed bacchanal, taking place at the astonishingly beautiful Empire Polo Grounds (also home to the Coachella music festival), is a homecoming of sorts for Phish, which invented a new rock festival model in 1996—even before disgruntled audience members rioted at Woodstock '99 over the rapacious price of water. Phish was the first contemporary band to organize multi-day rock festivals which treated attendees like guests, not numbers. This novel approach inspired Bonnaroo, where Phish performed for the first time in June. more ›