Phish [ tickets ]'s summer 2004 tour is regarded with mixed emotions by many "phans."

On one hand, it understandably brings back some sad memories, given that Phish would break up at tour's end. On the other hand, the Phish guys, fully aware that their time together was drawing to a close, made every show on this tour count. Listen to the tapes of the shows, all of which are available at livephish.com and you'll hear a band that is truly playing at the top of its game.

One of the best nights of the tour was its first--the June 17 gig at KeySpan Park in Coney Island. Roughly 16,000 Phish-heads turned out to the Brooklyn baseball field to dance in the rain to such favorites as "Maze," "Birds of a Feather" and "Moma Dance." The show was also simulcast live to some 30,000 viewers in movie theaters across the country.

"Live in Brooklyn," which is being sold separately in DVD and CD formats, is a wonderful document of the Phish concert experience. Opening up with a powerful rendition of "A Song I Heard the Ocean Sing," which made its live debut at this show, this three-CD set includes memorable versions of some of Phish's best-known songs.

The band members--guitarist-vocalist Trey Anastasio, bassist-vocalist Mike Gordon, pianist Page McConnell and drummer Jon Fishman--are clearly having a ball as they storm their way through such meaty selections as "Sample in a Jar," "Frankenstein" and "Possum." Their fun is as contagious as a cold at daycare, especially during the uproarious barroom-brawl-of-a-song "Suzy Greenberg." And, lest we forget that these guys can jam, disc three is primarily devoted to an epic run through "Mike's Song," "I Am Hydrogen" and "Weekapaug Groove." The show, as well as the record, closes with a great take on "The Divided Sky" that features some absolutely gorgeous guitar work by Anastasio.

Although "Brooklyn" is a great CD, it's not quite as terrific as the previous Phish concert CD to hit stores--"Live at Madison Square Garden New Year's Eve 1995." That earlier disc captured what many aficionados consider to be the finest Phish show of all time. It's recommended that you get "Garden" before you buy "Brooklyn."