Yeah it was great to know he was a fan. I always looked up to him just as a smart/literate head, long before I ever chatted with him. I was like look. The smartest head we know of agrees with me this band rules
Saw Phish at Wetlands, NYC, a very small club. Was in the Speed of Light Show and we were doing lights. We were Dead oriented in many ways, I'd guess and still doing liquid oils, films, moires, etc.
They very quickly moved on to controlling their own light show even the next they returned
light shows, and by the next year were playing MSG.
Respected their musicianship, never really got the vibe.
Did go see Trey solo acoustic at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. Really enjoyed that.
In that era you're talking about, the club era, I also wasn't totally sold. I enjoyed the shows but I can't say they were one of my very favorite bands in that era. I was coming from a deadhead background and in the 90s my taste was heading in eclectic directions & jam rock wasn't quite it for me