Phish's ``Bittersweet Motel'' Debuts in Las Vegas Sept. 29; Film Highlights a Year in the Life of Rock Phenomenon Phish

Business Wire, Sept 21, 2000

Entertainment Editors & Music/Film Writers

LAS VEGAS--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--Sept. 21, 2000

"Bittersweet Motel," produced and directed by Todd Phillips, is an engaging, loosely-woven cinema verite depiction of the on- and off-stage experiences of the rock band Phish, a group Rolling Stone Magazine has called "the most important band of the '90s."

Phish's appeal may be rootsy and down-to-earth, but their draw as a live act is out of this world -- the foursome has long been one of the most successful acts on the global touring circuit, and in 1999 alone, they sold more than 1 million tickets. "Bittersweet Motel's" 80-minute chronicling of a year the band spent playing both the United States and Europe is playing in theatrical release on multiple screens nationwide with its Las Vegas debut at the Village Square beginning Sept. 29.

Director Phillips was unschooled in the Phish phenomenon when he met the band. He remembers: "When I sat down and spent some time listening to the musicianship and heard how good these guys are, I became a fan. I have a real appreciation for what they do creatively: how they don't have a set list, they're playing something different every night, and you don't know what you're going to get when you show up. It's pretty original in this day and age."

"Bittersweet Motel's" incisive storytelling highlights Phish's originality via compelling live interviews and exclusive concert footage, including a gala New Year's Eve show at Madison Square Garden, and The Great Went, a two-day Phish festival that drew 70,000 fans to a town in Maine with a regular full-time population of only 2,000. Phish's popularity continues to grow, and they were recently featured on the cover of Entertainment Weekly, with four different collectible covers, one for each band member.

Director Todd Phillips gained early notoriety for his debut feature "Hated," which he made while still at New York University Film School. Phillips also won acclaim for the harrowing college expose "Frat House," which was awarded the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance in 1998. Most recently, Phillips helmed DreamWorks' summer blockbuster "Road Trip," which is poised to be one of the top-grossing films of the year. "Bittersweet Motel" is his third documentary.

Check local listings for times and updates; visit www.bittersweetmotel.com for further information.