20 Years Later, ‘JAM’ Documentary Chronicles Phish’s Coventry Festival
Nearly every longtime Phish fan–of the 1.0 and 2.0 eras–has their own story of the band’s then-final run in 2004 and Coventry, the festival that was to end the band’s two-decade run. From August 13-15, followers of the foundational jam band flocked by the carful to Newport State Airport in the small, wooded town of Coventry, Vt. in a show of collective devotion to the quartet; those that made the pilgrimage recall vividly, and often less than fondly, the experience that ensued.
Between unanticipated inclement weather, a heavily mournful atmosphere, and more listeners than the event could handle, Coventry became a symbol of collective resilience and mourning for the end of a truly great band, and today stands as a testament to the wonder of Phish’s revival and new renaissance. Now, fans who missed out on the formative memory can experience the story with new depth.
On Monday, Aug. 5, JAM was released to audiences everywhere. This new documentary, directed by lifetime fan Alex Daltas, chronicles what would have been the final days of Phish, with a focus on the unprecedented journey that fans braved to enter Coventry. Composed largely of Daltas’ incomparably thorough first-hand footage of the gridlock crisis that turned a four-hour drive into days of waiting in uncertainty, the film tells the story of the committed many–roughly 68,000 attendees–who turned Coventry into the most populous city in Vermont for a weekend.
Daltas contextualizes his handheld documentary film with narration and tactful editing, splicing in retrospective interviews and archival footage to tell the story in its entirety. Those featured onscreen include renowned outdoorsman Aron Ralston, concert promoter Dave Werlin, event spokesman Adam Lewis, Matt Maxwell of Maxwell’s Neighborhood Farm and retired Vermont State Police Sgt. Bruce Melendy–who led the crisis management as fans, directed to turn back, abandoned their vehicles on the packed interstate.
Through downpours, a full foot of mud, tears, doubts, and miles and miles of traffic, the fans who made it to Coventry witnessed an unforgettable chapter in Phish’s history. Thanks to the community forged in that experience, new listeners can continue to appreciate Phish and its legacy. Learn about that defining moment now through JAM.
