ESSEX JUNCTION, Vt. (AP) - Phish is coming to the aid of victims of Vermont flooding.
The Burlington-bred jam band, which formed in the early 1980s, played a benefit concert Wednesday for those affected by flooding from Tropical Storm Irene, which killed four people and damaged hundreds of roads, bridges and homes across Vermont.
The band drew about 12,000 fans - at $75 and up per ticket - to the Champlain Valley Exposition fairgrounds in Essex Junction, opening a three-hour set with "Chalk Dust Torture."
First, Gov. Peter Shumlin made a brief appearance on the stage, talking about how resilient Vermont residents have been through the disaster.
It was Phish's first show in Vermont since 2004, when its breakup show in Coventry was plagued by bad weather and traffic problems.