Phish To Kick Off Coast-To-Coast Adventure On Valentine's Day

Absence, they say, makes the heart grow fonder. And after a two-year hiatus,

Phish are suddenly showing their fans a whole lot of love.

Phish will kick off their February tour on Valentine's Day in Los Angeles and

will finish up in Greensboro, North Carolina on March 1, according to

announcements by the band's publicist and Phish.com. The tour will hit 10

arenas in 22 days and will include two-night stands in both Las Vegas and

Cincinnati. Limited tickets will be available through Phish's Tickets by Mail

lottery system from November 21-24 and will go on sale to the public via

Ticketmaster December 13-15. Prices have not yet been announced.

The coast-to-coast adventure follows Phish's highly-anticipated return to New

York's Madison Square Garden on New Year's Eve. The group then moves to

Virginia's Hampton Coliseum — a favorite venue for the band and among

its fans — for three nights, January 2-4 (see "Phish End Hiatus,

four shows sold out within minutes of going on sale.

According to the announcement, Phish will be performing prior to New Year's

Eve as the musical guest on "Saturday Night Live" December 14, when Al Gore

is scheduled to host the show, and on "The Late Show With David Letterman"

December 19. Both appearances follow the release of their new album, Round

Room, due out on Elektra December 10 (see "Phish Wrap New Album In Four

Round Room was recorded in only four days when the bandmembers entered

the studio to rehearse for their upcoming winter shows.

Phish's February tour dates, according to the band's publicist: