Phish settles back into the U.S. tour circuit

Phish, which recently ended its two-year hiatus from live performances with a sold-out New Year's Eve show at New York's Madison Square Garden, is set to open a U.S. arena tour in February.

The popular jam band is expected to book several other stints of U.S. dates for 2003, according to its official website.

Fans who can't make it to a show may be able to catch it online. The band announced the launch last month of a new official website--livephish.com--which will sell downloads of complete soundboard recordings of Phish's concerts. The unsecured MP3 files are priced at $9.45 for two-set shows and $14.95 for three-set shows. The band is also selling downloads of CD-quality files for $12.95 and $18.95.

Phish still allows fans to record its live performances, and sets up special taping sections at some shows.

A new Phish studio album--the band's first since 2000's "Farmhouse"--hit stores on Dec. 10. Titled "Round Room," the album grew from rehearsals for the New Year's shows. The album's 12 tracks, recorded in four days in October by producer Bryce Goggin (Pavement, The Ramones), clock in at more than 70 minutes.