Bowlive IV Night 6 Recap w/ John Medeski, Bill Evans, George Porter Jr & Shady Horns : Tonight Porter, Leo Nocentelli & Shady Horns
To many New Yorkers, Thursday signifies the start of the weekend. Music venues bulk up their staff and bands slated to perform anticipate an audience that is ready for a party. Last night was the sixth night of Soulive’s Brooklyn Bowl residency, Bowlive IV. The foundation was set for a rocking night of music with the Brooklyn Bowl stocked with staff and Soulive ready to throw it down.
With so many amazing musicians sitting in with Soulive over the past six nights, it has been challenging to ensure proper love is given to everyone. Especially during residencies, focus on special guests and their performances become the unexpected highlights of the articles and sometimes people forget to focus on the core members of the residency themselves. Credit must be given where credit is due.
Guitarist Eric Krasno, drummer Alan Evans and Neal Evans, along with the Brooklyn Bowl, have created something extremely special and unique for the New York music community. Since it’s inception in 2010, Bowlive has turned into a musical Superbowl that pushes the skills of the best of the best. For eight to ten nights, these three rock stars provide a fusion of styles that showcase numerous artist and instruments with Soulive’s distinct sound providing the base. The shared respect between musicians to musicians, and musicians to fans amps the frenetic creative energy that flows from the first downbeat to the final bow. Eric, Alan, and Neal are all at the top of their game and are now standing out among the greats, using the glory of Bowlive to cement their place as a musical dynasty. A dynasty that began in 1999. It speaks volumes that the trio can support an eight to ten night residency that packs the house every night and attracts some of the biggest names in live music. Last night continued the tradition of amazing collaborations with keyboardist John Medeski and saxophonist Bill Evans.
The power trio had to make a few changes to the musical formula last night. Due to a benefit concert earlier in the day, last night was the first and only night of the run where the power trio did not have a rocking opening band to set pace. Without an opening band, Soulive was tasked with pumping up the eager crowd that was filled up with party animals, packing the dance floor to the brim. By doing so, they completely reinforced to the fans why any of us were there in the first place. Soulive original, “Aladdin,” began the set, providing the first platform for Krasno to open up and slay his guitar. Jimi Hendrix’s “Manic Depression” followed, a song that everyone can geek out on, especially the musicians playing the tune. After six nights, the guys were thoroughly warmed up and just crushing solos left and right on The Beatles tune, “I Want You.”
Enter The Shady Horns, consisting of trumpeter Eric Bloom, saxophonist James Casey, and baritone saxophonist Ryan Zoidis, for “Backwards Jack.” These three horn players provide a platform for the trio to open up and rage. Over the run, Eric Bloom has been experimenting with a guitar Wa Wa pedal during his trumpet solos, while James Casey has broken out the flute and provided percussion on many songs.
Continuing his guest appearance from the fifth night, London Souls guitarist Tash O’Neal joined the stage for the Beatles, “Get Back” and a slow “PJs.” Quality choices off their 2010 album, Rubber Soulive, made up the bulk of the first set before the audience was hit with a special unannounced guest. Alan spoke to the crowd, “I am sorry for those of you who can’t come tomorrow night. You know, it’s a real shame that you won’t see George Porter, Jr. tomorrow. But it’s ok! Because you can see him now!!!” This was special.
Bassist George Porter, Jr. is an icon, legend and mentor, not only to the members of Soulive, but any true musician or music lover who loves funky, deep, in-the-pocket bass lines. A member of the legendary group, The Meters, Porter’s unique sound can be heard on recordings for Warren Haynes, Patti Labelle, Jimmy Buffett, David Byrne, Johnny Adams, Harry Connick Jr., Earl King, and Tori Amos, to name a few. Soulive is so well-versed on Porter’s catalog that the end of the set list simply read, “Whatever GPJ Wants!” They cranked out Meter’s covers “Check Your Mind” right into “Funky Bitch,” without missing a beat.
Soulive continued to descend upon us with new musicians, adding keyboardist John Medeski (Medeski, Martin and Wood) and saxophonist Bill Evans to their Bowlive IV roster for the second set. A set that is hard to describe in words. Let’s just start with knowing the fact that Bill Evans was in Miles Davis’s band at the age of 22 and John Medeski was asked to perform on Jaco Pastorius’s 1981 tour while still a teenager. Along with Soulive and the Shady Horns, Medeski and Evans played a mind-blowing set. Medeski’s avant-garde jazz quality added an incredible layer of sound to the stage, either filling every empty space with a melodic note, or simply striking one key and locking eyes with Neal. The set was filled with songs from Spark, a collaborative album with Karl Denson, released in March 2012. “Spark!,” the title track, kicked it off with Bill Evans crushing a sick solo on his soprano sax. Trombonist Natalie Cressman (Trey Anastasio Band) was the next unannounced sit-in who lent her sound on “Povo.” “Nubian Lady” and “Liquid” followed, sounding exactly like the names suggest. The musicians were so tight, fluid, and everyone on stage was cranking out their notes in improvisational ways, yet sounded as if they had been rehearsing the same songs for years. Unannounced drummer ?uestlove, who holds a standing DJ set on Thursdays for the Brooklyn Bowl, snuck in for “Nautilus” and proceeded to slam our heads into the beat of the song. It was inspiring. Soulive encored with an extended, jamming “Tuesday Night Squad.”
Tonight’s jam sessions will start at 8:30 with Leroy Justice opening. Special guests will include bassist George Porter, Jr., guitarist Leo Nocentelli and The Shady Horns will be back in full effect to give their fans one extreme night of funk and fury.
Friday’s show was a great start to the weekend. Click here for Friday’s Article….
Welcome to New Jersey!
The second of the three superb performances was upon us and the music and magic that we were in store for is difficult to explain. This was one of those nights where words will never do it justice. The soundboards do NOT do it justice. NOTHING but being there will ever substitute the awesomeness that we were delivered and that we FELT radiating through that theater for night two. I can honestly say that, for the first time, a Phish performance took my breath away and had me in tears.
We slept in, or rather I slept in, until about 1:30pm. The fluffy Borgata bed, devouring me in it’s blankets, made it hard for me to leave its comfort. Having spent yesterday running around like chickens with our heads cut off, it was nice to take it easy for the rest of the weekend.
We set up some ground rules and meet up times with our Youth Posse (YP) and let them on their way to enjoy the city. Having them in the back of my mind kept me on my toes the entire weekend. I would find myself wondering what they were up to, hoping they were raging and having fun together. Hoping they were safe and happy. Ultimately knowing they were! How could they not be. If I felt like a kid in a candy store, I could only imagine how they were feeling.
Our YP enjoyed their day raging around The Borgota, able to watch the members of Phish during sound check. These humble little ragers enjoy musical happenings in life you can only imagine. While they were entertained by their favorite band, Josh and I took off to see a few of our phamily.
Soundcheck: Whole Lotta Love (x2), Thank You, Billy Breathes, Can’t You See, Ramble On, Whole Lotta Love, Ginseng Sullivan, Rock Me Baby, Destiny Unbound [Unconfirmed and possibly incomplete]
After a $35 taxi ride, 10 minutes away and totally more expensive then NYC fees, we were at our friend’s house. If we had not chaperoned the YP this trip, this would have been our accommodations. A house that sleeps 12 and containing all my favorite people 🙂 We spent the afternoon talking about last night’s performance, what album Phish might play on Sunday, what everyone was planning on doing after the show. Marco Benevento was playing at the same place Karl Denson raged the previous night. There were mixed feelings throughout our crowd as to whether Marco would be fun or not. I was 110% set on going and I silently crossed my fingers that they would come to that conclusion later on as well.
We taxied back to Boardwalk Hall around 6pm. Our friend’s had secured a few rooms in hotels around the venue and so we made our way to The Bally’s for a quick hang with more friends, specifically my NYC/Jamily crew! I LOVE YOU ALL!! We kicked it there for another hour before deciding it was time to head into the venue.
Exiting onto the boardwalk, the front of the venue was packed to an even greater extent then the night before. There were substantially more people as well as more fingers up in the air for a lucky ticket into the venue. If we only knew then what we knew now, people might have paid $500 instead of $300 to get into this show…..oh man!
Again, we made sure all of our friend were taken care of before we took off for the nicer private entrance we used the whole weekend. Just look at that mess up there. We were in section 104 this time allowing for a slightly better view of the side-angled light show.
As I sit here writing, it has taken me me a minute to recall anything that happened before the bombs of rock hit us midway through the first set. As much as I want to just blast through the description of the Phish catalog that preceded the EPIC portion of this musical night, I will try to be patient and give ya the whole story!
As the members enter the stage, the audience completely flips their lid. The beauty of a Phish audience! They are SUCH diehards. Kill Devil Falls opened up the set with 8 minutes of high energy, hitting a nice Page jam around the 4 minute mark and bringing Trey in to shred close a wonderful opener.
The balloons and balls already making their way into the air from the ground level, I scanned my surroundings and my chest swelled a little bit. The scene in front of me, the energy surging through the hall…it was a bit overwhelming for me. I can hear yall now: “God! She is such a mushy female.” But what people need to realize is that these musical moments are my religion. Being in an audience, listening and feeling what the music does to me. That is my version of church. And when you stop, embrace your surroundings and look past the music and take it alllll in…..well, I swell up, and many times, I cry.
Music is my religion!
I swelled up at this moment because I can’t help but be touched by a MASSIVE space filled with 14,000 like-minded people, dancing and smiling and SCREAMING for a common goal. The passion these fans have for Phish. The dedication these fans have to getting into the shows. Here I am blessed to be rocking a laminate around my neck that others would pay me thousands of dollars for. It blows my mind.
Jesus ~ Phish
I feel so blessed to have fallen into the Phish world so deeply, so QUICKLY! Then, top that off with being surrounded by all your closest friends who are just the greatest people to know. I lose myself many times in these moments, throughout my show going experiences….and so I get emotional. I know I am not the only one who’s “life was saved by rock n’ roll” so, holla if ya hear me 🙂 That being said, if you ever see me weeping at a show or see tears rolling down my face, you can be sure they are tears of joy and I am probably in the middle of an inwardly religious musical moment.
Cavern kept the energy high with each instrument standing out on it’s own, every player sounding on point. The boys had brought more energy into the first two songs of this night then they had during the entire first set of Friday’s performance.
Mike‘s bass brought the jazzy Foam to our ears and brought Trey to his toes. A random collection of notes coming out of the instruments, the salsa dancer in me wanted to burst out and I wish I was on the floor during this song twirling. Not having mentioned Chris Kuroda‘s light show yet, can I just say I love him? Did yall know that 😉 But the stand out in this song is generally Page, and once again, he brought a little love to our ears during his rapid, airy, scaling keys jam.
Glowsticks are fun!
WHO LOVES GLOW STICK WARS?? I do! You know, I realized something during these shows, walking around the floor, checking people out. There are so many aspects to what make a Phish show great. Seriously, think about it. There are those people who play certain rolls in the community to ensure that the show, with all it’s traditions, stays alive and the audience stay pumped.
Right? So, perhaps I’m reaching here but at a Phish show, you have those people who’s sole dedication to the show is to rage the Glow sticks. They spend all their free moments collecting, ejecting, recollecting, throwing again and recollecting to ensure proper parts of the song/show are highlighted with these bursts of light and energy.
Trey and Mike Guelah Papyrus dance
There was a MASSIVE Glow Stick war during Guelah Papyrus. Best one of the weekend by far. Around 4 minutes into the song, the stage goes black and the band members freeze frame for what seems like forever but was only about 45 seconds. During this time, the audience begins cheering, the glowsticks start flying in the air, the crescendo of sound growing with every half-second. Single specks in the air turn into hundreds being tossed, some directed at Trey and the other band members who are trying to stand still but also needing to move from time to time as to not get hit right in the face.
I wondered how many people it was taking to create what those of us in the stands could see happening on the floor in front of us. One’s vision is immediately drawn away from the stage and into the crowd when these bursts happen.
Glowstick Specific Video
Photo by Dave Vann
And now…the moment they ripped the lid off Atlantic City. No one was prepared for what Phish was going to bust open next. Busting into a heady Chalk Dust Torture, everyone around me was dancing, smiling, same old, same old….and then we heard it. At first, it was interwoven into CDT, my friends catching it almost immediately. It was impossible not to recognize!
The Realization of Zeppelin
ZEPPELIN RAGE!!!
The Whole Lotta Love rift came out of Trey‘s guitar and HOLY SHIT!!!!!! I generally don’t curse in my articles but HOLY SHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIT!!! I can’t begin to tell you what the reactions were that occured around me. There will never be words to describe it. The videos don’t do it justice, even though the ones below attempt to as their best. My immediate reaction was a deep breath in and a cough from choking on my breath. Realizing my immediate crew was jumping sky high, falling forward into the chairs in front of them, one fell into their chair with a gaping mouth. Throughout the rest of the theater, men around me were screaming like school girls. Josh almost fell to his knees screaming at the top of his lungs. The entire floor elevated as a unit a few feet off the ground with fists in the air. Trey himself just dropping his head and we head banged in unison. All around me I heard: “HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT!!” and “OH MY GOOOOD” Trey vocals kinda sucked through the single verse he sang but who the hell was complaining. This was amazing.
When I heard the cords to Whole Lotta Love starting I felt like I would have to be peeled off of the roof of Boardwalk Hall, I jumped so high to high five Goldy and screamed out in joy. ~ Josh R.
OMG!!! And from there it was just wide open into a 2 minute Phish original Ha Ha Ha followed by a shredding James Gang‘s Walk Away. GO TREY!!!
I loved them and the nostalgia it gave me; the feelings & emotion it provided – and the energy that ensued. You can’t argue with 14,000 people bugging out in surprise and all that emotion. ~ Rob A.
And on and on it went like that all night from Heartbreaker to Ramble On to Thank You to Stairway (OMG HOLY COW) and finally to Good Times Bad Times with Tweezeresque jams painting the corners of the jams. HOLY SHIT!!!! Jimmy Page would definitely enjoy it. ~ Josh R.
Photo by Dave Vann
People around me were in tears. I wonder how many, if any, fainted? It was one of those musical moments where the Phish die-hards were just exploding to my left and right. High energy abounded and there was no stopping the four musicians on stage. Trey, always being one to feed off his audience, kept things 110% in the zone of RAGE as they continued with the ever vocal, funky Wolfman’s Brother into Undermind into Bathtub Gin.
Gosh, that song [Bathtub Gin] makes me so happy ~ Ali G.
Bathtub Gin was ridiculous. Got to love Page on the keys. Trey‘s guitar work is so tight. The Whole Lotta Love tease at the end was cute. Because at this point, we have no idea where things are going. The Squirming Coil concluded the first set with it’s swift heartbeat making our hips shake to the last note.
Photo by Dave Vann
SET II
The second set was fire. Tube into Possum blasted open the second set with Trey’s shredding guitar stylings and screams that encouraged us to get pumped. Chris Kuroda‘s lights mimicking the title, made me feel like I was at the circus for some reason. He continued helping elevate the music ever so gently in the most psychedelic way.
I love Possum. It breathes a bit of country into their repertoire. Bluesy, country-vibe with funky undertones with another Whole Lotta Love tease thrown in. Gets your toes moving. It also allows for Trey to open up and the glow-sticks burst are always visible.
Rumors about tomorrow’s music were squashed as Phish unloaded an arsenal of Zeppelin covers upon an unsuspecting, eager audience. Tweezer started it off. And then ZEPPLIN RAGE!!! Heartbreaker into Ramble On into Thank You into Stairway to Heaven. Some hellacious guitar jams by Trey, Mike‘s bass thumping in my ear, Kuroda‘s lights into Hearthbreaker was intense. Ramble On into Thank You. After Stairway to Heaven we hear a “Happy Halloween! See you all next year.” WHAT? But Trey was just enjoying this whole TRICK situation that was going on. Sadly, he got me! I turned to Josh who just smiled at me
The Led Zeppelin songs on the 30th were incredible to so many of us and in the moment, I was on the verge of so many emotions. The excitement was overwhelming. The Ramble On brought me back to Alpine ’98 when they opened the show with it. That opening line from “Thank You” where Trey said: “if mountains crumble to the sea, there still would be you and me”…made me think of my love and dedication to this incredible band that only gets more intense as the years roll by. Then the closing line of Stairway to Heaven was dream come true and the energy from the guitar jam at the end.” ~ Erika V.
Photo By Nick Nifia
Heartbreak, Thank You and Stairway to Heaven were all Phish debuts so I’ve heard. Not only was this AWESOME, but it blew the Musical Costume rumor of Led Zeppelin OUT OF THE WATER.
Every year on Halloween, Phish puts on a MUSICAL COSTUME by playing a full album of another band from beginning to end. I had never heard of this before. Apparently, phanatics theorize for months which album might be chosen by playing games or trying to figure out the clues sometimes dropped by Phish. So, this year, everyone and their mother was calling for Led Zeppelin, some were calling Genesis. If that is what it took to get Phish to play Zeppelin tonight AND basically telling us that we were not getting Zeppelin for Halloween, then hellz yeah! Sadly, this would be the final Musical Costume Phish would be putting on for at least a few years.
I agree with most phans when I say that Saturday night was the better of the three shows. They gave the crowd what they wanted and got the “led out”. They teased us, then laughed at us!!! (Ha, Ha, Ha) Then gave it to us good!! The crowd’s energy was at a peak that night. ~ Jessica B.
With every realization of the next Led Zeppelin rift/song, the crowd got more elevated. And then Phish brought back the old school jams with some new school tightness. Riding the energy of the Tweezeppelin rage, they tied into Halley’s Comet, another song I really like. I imagine this would be Bobby McFarrin‘s Phish song of choice.
2001/ Also Sprach Zarathustra & David Bowie followed with a sober bring down to start. I think everyone was still riding on the Zeppelin wave. I am trying so hard to remember anything after the Zeppelin rage. Man! My friend’s and I using this quiet time to rave about what just happened. David Bowie brought forth a pretty gnarly off-the grid jam from the boys. For a moment I thought I had missed a transition into another song…nope.
Show of Life, a newer song that has people split as to whether or not they like it due to it’s slower nature and poppy sound. I like it. I love it’s message. The lights WERE GORGEOUS!!!! Chris Kuroda, once again stealing the spot lights, as it were 🙂 This song may be a bit cheesy to some but it’s melody and notes bring a little tear to my eyes almost every time. It’s a bit spiritual for this little lady. I didn’t care for the sloppy ending of this version but it never ceases to lift my spirits and make me feel a bit closer to the people surrounding me.
Nothing could take the place in my heart of the darker Jones Beach version of Backwards Down the Number Line I was lucky enough to catch at the end of this last Summer tour. Here is yet another song that I notice my friends using to take time to use the rest room or sit and have a little chat with those next to them. It’s another song I love though. It’s pretty. I love the lyrics. I love Trey’s solo jams. A quirky little take on birthday love and friendship. Be sure to check out the lights in the video – I can’t pug Chris Kuroda enough it seems. He really does make the entire show for me. The use of his lights, his color choices, all delivered to enhance our experiences.
Happy happy oh my friend Blow out candles once again Leave the presents all inside Take my hand and let’s take a ride
Backwards Down The Number Line cascaded into Good Times Bad Times. YES!! Let’s end on a FREAKING ZEPPELIN RAGE ONCE AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!! Do I dare try to explain the rage that ensued? Let’s just say, no one could get enough of Phish playing Zeppelin on this night. People’s minds were blown. And the fact that my wonderful boyfriend sang these lovely lyrics directly to me almost on his knees was a personal wonderful touch to a wonderful evenings.
I don’t care what the neighbors say, I’m gonna love you each and every day. You can feel the beat within my heart. Realize, sweet babe, we ain’t ever gonna part.
People, this is why you go to all three nights and not just Halloween. You never know when Phish is going to bust out the crazy shit!” ~ Erika V.
Photo by Dave Vann
Saturday Setlist
Set 1: Kill Devil Falls, Cavern > Foam, Guelah Papyrus, Chalk Dust Torture > Whole Lotta Love > Chalk Dust Torture, Ha Ha Ha, Walk Away, Wolfman’s Brother > Undermind > Bathtub Gin, The Squirming Coil
Set 2: Tube > Possum > Tweezer > Heartbreaker > Ramble On > Thank You -> Tweezer > Stairway to Heaven, Halley’s Comet > Also Sprach Zarathustra > David Bowie, Show of Life, Backwards Down the Number Line > Good Times Bad Times
E: Sleeping Monkey > Tweezer Reprise
“With Phish it’s different. Phish is so amazing on so many levels. Phish to me is all the music of my life’s favorite music, Classic Jam Rock and Roll, done in a modern way but, totally grounded in the roots of the music I love. I love their originals very much, but a night of Zeppelin covers like that just wins for me.” ~ Josh R.
“Well, I guess they won’t be playing Zepp on Halloween”.
Lions, and Tigers and Bears!
Marco Benevento & Friends @ Trump Plaza
Jazz Swank at his best!
Being an ivory-aholic, I was all set for Marco Benevento & Friends once Phish was over. However, coming from such a guitar heavy performance, there were a lot of skeptics as to whether Marco Benevento would be able to keep the energy pumping until 4am.
The Bennovento set was a nice relaxing set to hang and chill with friends. He is very good, if only he would hire a jamming guitarist, it would really be awesome. ~ Josh R.
We took our time strolling through the Boardwalk, checking out all the posters and artwork along the way. The the show started at 11pm, costing $25 a pop. We arrived around 12:30-1am I believe. Who can really tell at this point, we were all in la la land!! It proved to be a wonderful night of mingling with our friends who had come in earlier that morning but that we couldn’t find in the sea of 14,000 a few hours earlier. These after parties truly were a great way to catch up with the masses.
Photo by J.R.
Walking into the venue, the scene was set for what appeared to be a pretty raging time. The lights were definitely more psychedelic then I had thought they would be. Marco Benevento, whose hair was all chopped off was sitting at his piano and going OFF!! Due to the hair cut and the fact that his back was too us, I actually asked someone if that was him. Why did he have to cut his hair 😦
Photo by J.R.
Bear = Marc Friedman
Along side Marco Benevento this evening was drummer Billy Martin of Martin, Medeski and Wood and Marc Friedman, currently of Surprise Me Mr. Davis but more known for The Slip rounded out the trio on electric bass. This was a hot trip here ladies and gentleman. And they gave us EXACTLY what we needed. Thrown in among the jazzy standards and Marco originals like Greenpoint they delivered covers by Elton John, Michael Jackson and more. This was not your typical Marco show IMHO and I was terribly sad to not see tapers in the venue.
Marco and his friends had embraced the holiday season with a cute twist to their costumes. Sitting at the base of Marco‘s piano was a stuffed Lion’s head. Resting inside Billy Martin‘s bass drum was a Tiger head and Marc Friedman himself was wearing a bear hat with fuzzy ears. Lions & Tigers’ and Bears. How dang cute!
***Currently awaiting a response from the band for thier setlist and or recordings…cross your fingers***
Goodnight/Good Morning?
The entire night, NO!!…The ENTIRE DAY was a high energy, completely addictive occurrence that makes one sit back and wonder who the HELL we are supposed to drop these amazing adventures and dare to go back to the “real world” of our 9 to 5. How do we go back to our daily lives of being teachers and doctors and lawyers and look our co workers in the eye knowing that their lives will never quite as exciting as ours. We live in a BEAUTIFUL world and what we were delivered tonight might be as close to Jam Cruise as many will obtain with the sense of community and layout of Atlantic City.
For others, well, I will let my dearest friend Josh spell it out for ya:
I love their originals very much, but a night of Zeppelin covers like that just wins for me. I heard a few folks talking about Saturday nights show and what it meant to them, and to me I might add. People were saying that while it was not at all the same as seeing Led Zeppelin, for some of us, it was as close as we could come, not because the music is played the same, but because of how well they play it, combined with how happy and high on life Phish just makes us.
Halloween is my favorite holiday! Hands down! The creativity, the energy, the raging, the musical performances, the underlying scary vibes. It’s an excellent excuse for a party and that is what most in the music industry believe as well.
Hallowrage Time!
Numerous bands and musicians rage their individual Halloween performances all over the nation and expectations are always high. For the past few years I have spent Halloween in the mecca of the holiday down in the East Village in New York City. However, this year I would be following only one band and it would take me out of one city and into another.
Phish. Halloween. Atlantic City. Four words that established one of the most amazing, unpredictable, energy-filled weekends in my musical history.
Atlantic City Skyline!
Let me just list a few things for ya here right quick!
I could barely sit still at work. I walked into the Arsenal by 7am just so I could put in a full day of work before leaving at 3pm for one of the greatest rages of the year. My crew (2 adults and the YOUTH POSSE = four raging HS juniors we were chaperoning for the weekend) gathered up our gear, headed out of our respective homes, jobs or schools and collected at 88th and Madison with fireworks coming out of our ears .
Yukon Denali
While most people were taking buses, trains or caravan-ing with their friends, we were riding in style in a big black Yukon Denali arranged through a car service. (THANKS MATTT!!) The ride to the show was a highlight of the weekend, I must say. Sitting in a car with our four raging high-school charges, listening to their hilarious conversations, participating in a few and being shocked by others.
It was (and always is) great spending time connecting with our favorite young ragers. It’s just so humbling to be around these wonderful young adults. They are smart, funny, well-mannered, sober, non-rebellious, beautifully spirited young adults. They are also members of THOR! Check it out! They truly give me hope for a future where so many kids their age are little bastards. I’m just saying, I live in NYC. Most of the kids I see/meet are seriously brats.
The Arrival
The Borgata in all it's purple glory!!
We debated constantly whether to go to The Borgata, our lovely accommodations for the weekend, first to drop off our belongings or head straight to Boardwalk Hall so we didn’t miss the opener. Luckily, we made it in plenty of time to check in, or so we thought. As we arrived at the giant purple glowing Borgata, the lines were horrendously long, there were Phish heads scattered around the lobby but not many. Our lodging would be a 5 minute taxi ride from the venue but almost everyone else we knew would be occupying casinos surrounding Boardwalk Hall.
So, we left all our things with the Concierge and would deal with it all after the show. This was a bit of a rush and, of course, we all left things behind. Most important thing I left: my camera. GRRRR!! Alas…so many of the pictures you see throughout this article will be from my friends, other websites, etc.
Will-Call/Entry
I lead the Youth Posse to Will Call to pick up our laminates and tickets for the weekend. Josh went to the flag poles, which would become the meeting point for everyone all weekend. While handling the ticket situations, which was quite unorganized, a security guard whispered in my ear about drugs.
“Hey! Ppsstt! You looking for some pot?”
“What? Huh? Nah, I’m sorry. I don’t have any.”
“Nah, Nah! I am looking to sell YOU some!”
“Seriously? You are a security guard and I am here with 3 kids. Back it up homie!”
And with that I turned my back and we were off to the flag poles. The entire exchange blew me away as I had just read the article about Atlantic City cops going undercover at Phish shows to see what they were up against earlier in the week. Here this guard was, trying to deal. Unreal!
Picture by David Vann (2010)
I am so thankful I never had to deal with the general population entrance to the show. The set-up was as disorganized like a five lane highway under construction merging into one, bottle-necking at the mouth of the gate where security guards yelled at everyone to hold up their tickets. To be clear on the disorganization, I had a friend, with a ticket, who made it in without his ticket being scanned or his person being searched. We miracle someone with it during intermission!! I later came to read about Phishheads crashing the show on Halloween dressing up as security guards and sneaking in as well.
Phish Atlantic City: Friday (10.29.10)
It was a sold-out show but people were pretty much giving their tickets away Friday night. The ticket situations are super intricate sometimes. People spending hundreds to get into certain shows, doing things I would never do to see a live performance of a band.
Boardwalk Hall Seating
Friday: SET I
Picture by David Vann (2010)
After helping/making sure every one of our friends were taken care of, we finally entered the building. We popped into our seats in Section 103 easily enough, the isles already getting packed. Within minutes of getting to our seats, the lights dimmed, the band walked out and the weekend had OFFICIALLY begun.
Without a beat, all four Phish members surround a microphone situated at the front of the stage and went into a barber shop quartet-style, acapella Star Spangled Banner. That is the first time that I had ever seen something of this sort at an event other than a sporting event. I looked to my right and a MASSIVE American flag was hanging at the end of the venue. I wondered if I would have ever noticed it if we hadn’t sung that song.
Having finally gotten to our seat, the show beginning and everyone situated, I collapsed into my seat. I was completely exhausted. The excitement of the week leading up to this adventure, the ride to Atlantic City and finally getting things into place for the weekend. Man oh man, the weight was lifted and I just collapsed. I took this time to reflect on the venue. It was gorgeous.
The inside of the gorgeous Boardwalk Hall
The bluesy My Soul started off the music, getting us into our dancing shoes. AC/DC Bag had me on my toes, thinking of my buddy who had been hoping for the song last weekend in Amherst, Mass. The playful, bouncy melody of Ocelot filled our ears as Trey gave us the usual guitar jam in the middle while Fishman slammed our ears with some high-style drumming. It all just brightened up the room a little bit more.
Photo by Dave Vann (2010)
Sample in a Jar, a personal favorite from my teenage years, played but the whole set was still lying a little flat for me. I was assuming it was because it was Friday and they were saving their energy for the next tw0 nights. But then, they released themselves upon us. The highlight of the set, IMHO, Light Up or Leave Me Alone, (a Steve Winwood/Traffic cover), rocked everyone’s heads OFF. AWESOME cover. With Page on vocals and Trey’s jams, they overly entice us to boogie on down. Page…oh Page! I just love you. The lights, as always, amazing.
Sugar Shack and Timber (Jerry) were just ok. I like Timber to a point, the chorus is fun to sing along with and roll your body along to the tune. It’s a decent song that my friend would call an Intermezzo Phish song, giving the audience time to run to the restroom or the beer tent.
Photo by Dave Vann (2010)
Axilla into Rift highlighted Page on his piano and rocked out Fishman on the drums. This is such a rager of a duo. The beginning of Axilla simply throws your body into gyrations and it was around this time I found myself starting to head bang in my seat. I needed to get out of the confines of these bleachers. Not a big fan of them singing during this song but I LOVE the chorus including the guitar rift and the drumming rages.
That super sped-up Axilla (for which I was front row center). Damn, that was hot. Headbanging at Phish shows isn’t usually the protocol, but I can’t resist Axilla! ~ Karina R.
It’s all about the Rhythm section folks. DAYUM! A funky unfinished The Moma Dance into Cities (a Talking Heads cover) had everyone dancing and singing along. The second highlight of the first set for sure. Tight, funky and fierce.
Continuing the flow from Cities, they took it right into 46 Days as the set closer. Great high-energy jamming continued on by Trey, Fishman ripping the drums apart, Page slamming down on the keys and Chris Kuroda‘s lights were SUPERB! It’s absolutely amazing watching a light tech do his job, flowing with the music as if he is an extension of the music himself. 110% love me some Chris Kuroda. This was a great ending to the first set. Some argue, the best jam of the weekend. I’ll let you decide on that one.
FRIDAY: SET II
I was officially hungry for more. The first set of seven for the weekend had ignited my energy. Where there was once a tired version of me, there was now a bouncing, giggling girl realizing what the hell was standing in front of her. This is what was surrounding….I mean, come on!
Photo by Dave Vann (2010)
The Magic Key to my Magic Weekend
I needed some air and to get away from all the smoke during intermission so Josh and I explored, using our laminates to find the best way outside as it was a non-reentry show. I was so thankful for these wonderful bits of magic around our necks for the weekend. I absolutely needed and was able to utilize the fresh air many times that weekend which enhanced my overall comfort throughout the shows. That was great.
As we returned from the cold night air, we walked around the venue to take in the sights. People were in costumes, running around like chickens with their heads cut off, standing in beer lines, bathrooms lines or just in piles leaning against the walls with friends escaping the hot, smoky inner belly of the venue.
Having missed most of the piano-heavy Punch You In The Eye, we heard the funk going down in Sand beginning to play, a gorgeous song about what it is like being a piece of sand in an hourglass. We ran into the closest tunnel that would take us to the song, ending up in the very back of the theater.
Slide and let the silicone Embrace you as you fall Then bounce and land you let Your brothers crush you to the wall
Photo by Dave Vann (2010)
The light show was spectacular from back there. The balls flying throughout the floor were so tiny but the whole scene looked so magnified, I was completely overwhelmed. Sitting closer to the stage, you loose an ability to fully take in the light show. You loose the magnitude of the venue because you are not looking behind you. Sometimes, people don’t get to experience the magnitude of the space, the energy backing up on all sides.
Photo by Dave Vann (2010)
Sand segued into an unfinished Carini, a little sloppily but the crowd was so pumped they didn’t seem to mind. It was a great light show but I felt like I have heard some cleaner, smoother versions of this song. The energy, however, was relentless. You’ll wanna check out the lights in the video! 🙂
I was walking down the steps towards the GA Friday night when Sand segued into Carini. It was MADNESS. Some guy through his Philly cheese steak up in the air, and I couldn’t move a foot, as everyone had stepped into the aisle to boogie down. I actually thought it was Zeppelin’s Kashmir for a second…interesting foreshadowing! ~ Karina R.
Photo by Dave Vann (2010)
Mike’s bass dominated my ears during Prince Caspian. Another favorite of mine albeit a little dull at times. There so many places this song could go in a jam. Where as Trey didn’t really bring it home, it was a high energy moment in the venue and it was laid out nicely enough. The lights, the balloons and balls floating over the audience were stunning. The taper of the videos I am using was in a great centralized location for this show, right? Great view! Great videos!
Then a song began that I was unsure of until my friends blasted it out before my mind had time to register it. “Los Lobos?” cried one. “No, it’s not!” cried the other. Coincidentally, both were right. The Taj Mahal cover Corinna was next but Trey teased When the Circus Comes before the count off that threw my musically knowledgeable friends for a tiny little loop. There were a lot of teases throughout the night which I could have written down but I was having too much fun dancing with my friends!
Corrina is a rarity that they’ve been busting out once a tour since New Years 2009. First night was a great warm-up for what was to come. ~ Erika V.
Piper. I am pretty sure this was my first Piper live and I LOVED it. The intro was fun and it got fast…quick. They were on it here. Chris Kuroda‘s lights once again stealing my eyes away from the band. They blast into hyper drive and Trey’s solo begins. Page’s keys driving it at times. One of my favorite songs of this set for sure. And it went into my second favorite song of the set…..
Right into Theme From the Bottom. Perhaps not the most well-played song of the night, but Chris Kuroda‘s light work on this song was phenomenal. Making the sea of people on the floor look like an ocean of fun I just wanted to jump into. Blue lights radiating off the walls like waves, I swear my face melted a little bit. The glow stick war that exploded during the crescendo was a favorite moment to top it all off! Just a great song that threw me back into the seat of any number of my friend’s car driving around in the 90’s in high school.
Photo by Dave Vann (2010)
The face melting continued during Golgi Apparatus. The energy was lifted up and glow sticks went everywhere during the “ticket stub” line. And then the slow jam that I was wishing would speed up to keep us raging hyper. Which eventually, it did. I loved this song mainly because of it’s lighting effects and the speed at which things can change up. And there is nothing better when the entire place erupts during a climatic point in the tune. I SAW YOU WITH A TICKET STUB IN YOUR HAND!!! Glow sticks everywhere. The lights catching them as they fly into the air. JOY KILL MOMENT: To the people who throw them UP into the stands…STOP! Unprofessional raging! Throwing them down is as dangerous as it needs to be. Projectiles coming AT our faces tend to cause more damage then a few sticks hitting you on the head coming from the stands. Saw a poor girl get one to the eye during this song. She was ok, albeit a few tears down, never fear 🙂 Tour kids are tough!
The first half of Slave to the Traffic Light was a bit slow for my taste but the second half…magic. Slow but lovely. I remember closing my eyes, taking in the energy around me, swaying in tune with my friends surrounding me, the lights slow and soft. I raised my hands in the air and it felt slightly like a spiritual moment. Uplifting music is all I ever ask for. Tinkling piano keys brightening up the bass sounds and Trey just raged the song…fully delivering it at the end.
Rocking Fluffhead, but when is it not rocking. I do feel like I have seen this song performed at every other show I have seen this year but I wasn’t going to complain because it’s fun. Lovin Cup (a Rolling Stones cover) was delivered as the encore. This high-impacting song blazed through the arena. Everyone singing along, jumping everywhere, the floor a massive earthquake.
I just remember hearing ‘loving cup’ for the first time on Friday. This has been one of my favorite Stones songs forever and hearing the guys play it couldn’t help but put a smile on my face. That encore reminded me that Phish is about more than an exploratory jam; a sense of love and happiness was in the air that night. What a beautiful buzz. ~ Matt L.
Photo by Dave Vann (2010)
Friday definitely got us warmed up for what was in store that weekend. That’s not to say that Axilla and Corinni wasn’t hot, hot, hot. I love a full sound with heavy beats and high energy! ~ J. Bach
Friday’s performance is being greatly over looked by many people I believe. Overall a slow start to a raging weekend, the show blasted us with one hell of set list that brought the energy up just enough to tease us and keep us on our toes for the following night. Of course we would want more energy tomorrow. Of course they would need to bring it tomorrow. Phish knew this and it was nice to see them withhold a few things because what we were about to be delivered the following two nights were beyond anyone’s imagination, predictions and dreams.
Friday started slow but eventually got quite jamming. At the end of the show I leaned over to Isaac and said, that was a tasty appetizer. ~ J. Raskin
Friday Setlist
Set 1: The Star Spangled Banner, My Soul, AC/DC Bag, Ocelot, Sample in a Jar, Light Up Or Leave Me Alone, Sugar Shack, Timber (Jerry) > Bouncing Around the Room, Axilla > Rift, The Moma Dance > Cities > 46 Days
Set 2: Punch You In the Eye > Sand -> Carini > Prince Caspian, Corinna, Piper > Theme From the Bottom > Golgi Apparatus > Slave to the Traffic Light > Fluffhead
E: Loving Cup
DOWNLAODING INFORMATION AS PER PHISH’S FACEBOOK PAGE
Included in the ticket price for each date on Phish’s Fall Tour, is a free MP3 download of the entire show (a fully mixed soundboard recording), redeemable at LivePhish.com. This includes all tickets purchased through Phish Tickets, Ticketmaster, Ticket Horse, and at the venue’s box office.
If you’ve got your tickets in hand, you may redeem your code now at http://www.livephish.com/redeem. Your “code” is the barcode that appears on the tickets. You may upgrade to CD or CD-Quality FLAC or 24 Bit FLAC-HD after you redeem.
Phish’s entire 2010 Fall Tour is available now for download, including their recent Halloween show – with the complete Waiting For Columbus second set – now at LivePhish.com. Included with all downloads is the original Phishbill that was handed out to fans at the begninning of the show.
After we were finally ejected from the venue we collected at the Flag poles and delivered the news of the Karl Denson show to anyone who would listen. No one was going to bed any time soon. The power of the show, even though this was no show stopper, the energy surrounding it, the people, knowing what was in store….We were kids in a candy store. High on life!
We still had not dealt with our luggage and checking into the hotel so we scooped up our Youth Posse and made way for The Borgata in two cabs. As my crew waited in The Borgata lobby for the second cab to arrive, tour buses began pulling up. The cute teen couple in my charge stood guessing who’s bus was who. “It can’t be Trey’s. Trey’s is (insert color here).” or “I think that is Mike’s?”
We ran up to the rooms. They were gorgeous. Totally jumped on the beds in each room! They were lovely rooms with beautiful views of the city. LOVED the shower! We all got ready for round two and met in the lobby.
Here comes a super highlight of my night. We reach the lobby and see a friend. Hugs ensue between everyone and is chatting. At some point Chris Kuroda has joined the group and we are introduced, again. Before I register who it is, I go in for the hug I normally give everyone I met and almost get stuck in place. I worship Chris Kuroda. I really do. He is my favorite member of the band. Pulling away was tough cause I knew I would have to make small talk which is hard for me when I’m standing in front of one of my musical idols. Pulling away was hard enough. I hardly gathered myself but we shared a few words about the light show that evening. My night was officially made.
We jumped back in the taxis and were off to….
Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe@ Trump Plaza
We walked all over Trump Plaza for some tasty Karl Denson, running through casinos, through bars with people in costumes dancing to various styles of music…
OK! This is where I make my first Jam Cruise reference. I always make one right? Floating around Atlantic City was as close to Jam Cruise as I have found this year aside from Wook the…I mean Rock The Resort. Running through casinos, restaurants, going from one show to another, stopping in friend’s suites along the way in the various hotels that were pretty much connected, costumes everywhere…the list goes one.
The AC setting is as close to a festival as you can get without actually having a festival. Anything and everything was available to us 24 hours a day. Everywhere I walked, I saw show goers and smiling faces. I can’t stress enough how special it is when so many wonderful, same goal-minded people get together. ~ J. Bach
KDTU! (Picture by I. Sloane)
Karl D! (Photo by J. Raskin)
We got to the show around 1:15 I would say. It was more empty then I thought it would be. But, the show had clearly started. I saw a few tapers in the room and knew I didn’t have to worry anything. I could just enjoy the company of my friends who were, just a few hours earlier, spread out amongst 14,000 people and who were now all roaming a MUCH smaller space. It was one reunion after the other.
At this point I had been up since 5am Friday morning and was exhausted. I just let the night flow, not worrying about notes or set lists. Sadly, the tapers have not loaded their recordings to the web. BOO!! It was a great show though 🙂
Mellow after such a high energy performance but towards the end Karl had us back on our toes by the time Mighty Rebel was played. Here are a few videos! Thank you to the person taking the time to record!!!
Karl Denson’s AfterParty Setlist
Set 1: Turnips, Front Money, Bag O Funk, Look Out, The Answer, Because Of Her Beauty, Soul Driftin’ > Manic Depression, Brother’s Keeper pt.1 > Brother’s Keeper pt.2
Set 2: The Mighty Rebel > reggae jam > Walking On The Moon (one verse), Grenadiers , Chance With You > Hey Jude jam > Chance With You, How Fine Is That, Funky Song, Satisfied, The Bunny Playa
Only seven days earlier I was treated to my first Phish show (Phish @ Hartford, CT (06.18.10)) and miracled into the two that followed (Phish @ SPAC, NY (06.19.10) & Phish @ SPAC, NY (06.20.10). Now, only a week later, I was totally feeling the itch of withdrawal from the party I was introduced to; another wonderful extension of the party that is my life.
New Jersey Transit
Getting on the New Jersey Transit train on Friday afternoon, I had no idea I was about to be handed an opportunity that many would pay tens of thousands of dollars to experience. Somewhere between NYC and Camden, NJ, a member of our teenage posse produced an extra All Access Pass laminate and placed it around my neck. I was later told that this had been planned out and discussed prior to me arriving to meet the group. Heavy 🙂 At the time, however, it seemed excited and immediate. That is because it was supposed to go down with my friend handing it over to me but instead our member of the teenage posse was so excited she couldn’t wait. How cute is that? There were many of us, but only one extra pass. I felt honored, I truly did. To be entrusted with such a heavy responsibility. Because that is exactly what it is, a responsibility. Raging responsibility was a must now, not just a choice. If I had learned one thing during the first few shows, discretion and commanding a ghostly nature were the only way to rage backstage with Phish. It is dry and sober backstage. Fully.
~ Initial Backstage Rage! ~
The Pearly White gate to backstage...
Susquahana Bank Center, Camden, NJ
We walked through the gate, our bags weighing us down but our spirits lifted so high we were floating. Walking in, I spotted Trey Anastasio out of the corner of my eye but continued to walk. “Trey’s outside.” I say to Jay. “Really? Excellent,” says Jay. He takes me back outside and Jay gives Trey the biggest smile. Trey’s face in recognition of Jay got so wide and bright, smiles abounded and they hugged. Then Trey turns to me, as Jay introduces me, and gave me the same giant hug. Finally, he turns to Josh, holding up a stack of papers and says, “I am doing my homework.” And walks inside.
Tour buses just outside Backstage
The Dressing Rooms
We followed in search for a place to lie down our bags and passed Trey in the Catering Lounge. He was holding up the papers to the teenage posse saying, “Look at all the tapestries this guys has! Anyone with that many tapestries, I wanna make a record with.” Laughter. (This was the only time that I felt comfortable taking a picture with Trey and I kind of froze up instead. Just the hug would have to suffice. )
My Favorite Poster backstage.
We find a spot to lay down our bags out of the way of everything past the dressing rooms. There were amazing framed concert posters along the walls in the hall. Once again, the dressing room doors were open and there were scattered childrens toys everywhere. I imagined what this scene looked like 10 years ago. I imagined it would be just where I wanted to be, in the life of the most raging backstage party there ever has been. Jay was there, I have heard the stories.
We head back to the Catering area to say Hi to some friends and grab a bite to eat. The spread was delicious. There were meat, cheese and fruit platters, all kinds of cake and cookies, pork chops and casseroles. Hot and cold. Sweet and savory. I bet the wives LOVE not having to cook 🙂 It also made me wonder what the demands of the band might be in terms of things they want in their dressing rooms and for their children.
~ !! Happy Birthday Richard!! ~
Happy Birthday to Richard!
The Set List Birthday cake!
I wasn’t eating because I was too excited. I was anxiously waiting to get back to the parking lot to hang with our krewe. After a few minutes, I noticed the traffic in the Catering Hall get a bit busy. There seemed to be a bustling. A large cake was brought in and all of a sudden Trey, Page, Mike and John were all in the same room together. People were all crowded around Richard, Phish’s manager. It was his birthday. Everyone sang Happy Birthday to him and he let Mike Gordon’s daughter blow out the candles as Mike bent her over the cake.
Trey is always Smiling!
~ Sound Board vs. Sound Room ~
So, this was cool. While we were backstage at SPAC, there was a room I noticed while using the restrooms where there was a TV with a video of Trey, wonderful sound coming from the room and what appeared to be soundboards. I took a pic from afar and wondered. During the first night of Camden, Jay made friends with the gentlemen who was in the room. His name was John. Today, I was taken to the room and got a breakdown on what it all meant.
John's Sound Room
Basically, when a show is taking place, there is a sound engineer who maintains the sound board inside the venue. It is his/her job to make sure the audience is hearing the best quality sound that the venue can produce for that performance. Now, this special room backstage was for a whole different beast of the same nature. It is John’s job is to mix and master the quality of sound coming from the stage for the RECORDINGS that will be produced for sale after the performance.
John's Sound Room
Having researched Phish site after writing the previous articles, I found that the Phish website updates the set list every 30 seconds while a show is occurring. Then, only a few hours later, the recordings for each song are posted as well. So, this was just one of those musical wonderland facts that I never knew.
~ Stage Rage #1: Prior to Show ~
Phish's Stage! (Sorry so dark)
Fully raging!
After we put our things down, we were walking to head back to our friends when we spotted the door open to the stage. I walked out. Not too far at first. And then a little further and a littler further until I was right behind Fishman’s drum kit and just kinda froze. I was standing on Phish’s stage.
Fishman's Drum Set
The power that resonated through me as I imagined the place full of ADORING fans in front of me, the lights flying around behind me and the jamming having commenced. Insanity. INSANITY. For those of your who watch Trey, you see his face…you know what he is feeling. You have watched the documentaries of him basically saying that he gets completely off on his performances. Musical orgasm after musical orgasm. It’s written all over his face, in his lyrics and comes out of his fingers. Standing there, I just couldn’t even put myself in their place. I couldn’t fathom the hugeness of it all. I remember dancing on stage to Dumpstaphunk back in April, recalling the feeling of sickness and excitement I felt after exiting the stage. It was overwhelming. I remember it distinctly as I shook like a leaf. This was too much for me to imagine. Not sure what the rules were or how far I was able to venture, I stuck towards the stage door and shot a few pictures from that area.
Waiting patiently...
The part I loved the VERY MOST…the lights. Chris Kurodas’ canvas. They were all placed facing in their upright positions…waiting patiently. I love seeing instruments/equipment on an empty stage because their energy resonates with me. I can feel them wanting to be played. I could FEEL these lights itching to be manipulated.
The lawn prior to the show!
~ !!Parking Lot Rage!! ~
As we left the birthday celebration, Jay, who is just excited as I was, proceeds to tell me how wonderful and rare that moment just was. Apparently, since a family atmosphere has replaced the partying, it is rare that all four members of the band are in the same room at one time like that. In addition, Trey is rarely out of his dressing room. He hides away most of the time…so I was told.
Parking Lot rage!!
Lot Rage!
We walked back through the gates to meet up with our krewe. Tonight’s group was massive. So many people I knew were at these shows. Phish really does have a death grip on people in the JamBand Community. For some,Phish is the end-all-be-all of our music community. And for New Yorkers, well, we are truly blessed to be in the epicenter of all things surrounding music. We have the majority of Phish shows on our coast and NYC is in the middle of them all. Wonderful. Even more wonderful, I now had this little bit of power around my neck that would allow me to rage all over the venue tonight with all my friends without any hassle.
I used this time to play catch up, pre-game and set up various plans as far as knowing where people were initially seated and where I can grab them when the time came to get everyone together in our seats. The cops rolled through the lots frequently and yet my friend was selling beer out of his truck which promoted so many lovely conversations. A large percentage of folks asked us how we got our laminates while the others just started offering us money for them. It was so bizarre to me. While I appreciated the pass around my neck, I felt that many of these folks deserved it so much more then I did. The super fans. I was not taking it for granted, but I also wasn’t flipping my lid over it.
An hour later = venue packed!
Stage prior to Show!
Everyone walked in separately but pretty soon we would all be together. Jay and I walked into the show through the backstage entrance. After a quick bathroom break, I peeked into the Catering Hall and there was Trey again. Surrounded by his teenage superfan base (Members of The Leadheads and THOR) Trey was playing a mandolin for them. Just strumming and coming up with things on the spot. The teenage posse comprised mainly of teenage boys all smiling adoringly and giggling. “We are just getting started,” I heard Trey say as I left for our seats. Neil Diamond was playing as we found our seats for the night. That was funny to me. We had five in a row that would magically expand in a matter of songs.
Let the games begin...
~ !! Let The Show Begin !! ~
The kicked off the show with Alumni Blues into Letter To Jimmy Page back into Alumni Blues. Phun Fact #421: This was the first Alumni Blues since July 24, 1999 (222 shows ago). Phun fact #567: This was the first Letter to Jimmy Page since July 15, 1994 (587 shows ago). I didn’t really pay much attention to the first few songs as I used this time to gather up my people. The venue grounds were now my playing field and Lauren and Meredith were first to be grabbed. Somewhere behind the soundboard, I ran into Zegs as I was looking for my girls. The seats in the stadium were so odd behind the soundboard and to get to the middle of a row was strangely impossible. So, here come the girls, climbing over all the rows to get to me. So silly but they were on a mission.
Dancing on the Soundboard 🙂
~ !! DANCING ON SOUNDBOARD!! ~
Soundboard rage!
As if having an All Access Backstage Pass for this show wasn’t the pinnacle of my music going adventures, the next few songs would stick in my head forever. They will possibly hold the top spot for me as a very special time in my music-going adventures.
Towards the beginning of Big Black Furry Creature from Mars, Jay and I took off for the soundboard. AHHHHHHH!!!! This was it. I was about to watch Chris Kuroda LIVE from only a few feet, no, inches away!! If I have said it once, I have said it a million times: Chris Kuroda is my personal favorite member of Phish.
Dancing on the Soundboard!
Chris Kuroda during Runaway Jim
Kuroda is the IT guy when it comes to lighting effects. I am a huge fan of lighting and in my personal opinion, along with millions of others, he is the greatest at what he does. For a while, while Phish was on hiatus, Kuroda did lights for The Black Crowes. I can only imagine his happiness when Phish decided to get back together. Without missing a beat, I am sure Kuroda put in his two weeks notice to The Black Crowes the day he found out.
And so I stared. I stared at Kuroda‘s hands and face during the rest of Big Black Furry Creature from Mars. I would stare at him and then stare at the lights on stage in front of me. It was BRILLIANT. I wish I knew how he manipulated all of that. What an art form. I would have loved to ask but I didn’t want to interrupt his work.
We love you Chris Kuroda
Chris Kuroda and Sue Anastasio!
During Runaway Jim, Trey Anastasio’s wife, Sue, joined us on the soundboard. It was also at this time that I shared a wonderfully romantic moment with my friend Jay. A long time coming and wonderfully romantic. Our teenage posse was hanging out on the soundboard as well and everyone hugged in approval of the moment. At the end of Runaway Jim, Chris Kuroda turns around and, spotting us in his sight line, he mouths: “WOW!!” Even Chris Kuroda surprises himself.
Phish @ Camden, NJ (06.24.10)
We all swayed together in a large embrace for a lot of Army of One as it was mellow and calm. There was a lovely piano solo by Page. Trey’s solo was simple and sweet. The song itself didn’t hold my attention and I found myself losing myself in my own thoughts while watching Chris Kuroda work his magic on the boards. Free Man In Paris was a new debut Jonie Mitchell cover. It was a bit faster but still just a little mellow for my taste. I really wanted the music to rip my head off to coincide with the energy level raging through my body grouped with the excitement of what was going on with the Pass and with my friends. Oh man…the lights were more energetic then the music during this set I felt like.
Phish @ Camden, NJ (06.24.10)
Summer of 69 was lovely. It was hard not to be dragged into the chicky little tune. I walked up towards the front slowly during this song, taking it all in again. Loving that no one was stopping me. I had heard the debut of this song in Hartford a week earlier. They carried this tune for close to 10 minutes, repeating the lyrics: “And we danced all night” for what felt like a million times.
Phish @ Camden, NJ (06.25.10)
Kuroda Rage!
And then there silence for a good minute before Mike broke out a fat bass line and the playful keys of Page ushered in Split Open and Melt. We got a bit of a jam session during this song but it still felt forced from Trey. I felt Page was just ripping it up…like, I am here ready to rage, yall ready yet? Like they were still warming up. But, not sure if I mentioned this earlier…Phish had a RIDICULOUS opener at Camden the night previous. People were saying it was the greatest show of the tour so far. So, it was no wonder Phish was so mellow and kinda just not bringing the fire during this set. They literally were gearing up. And this certainly wasn’t a bad show but I have high expectations no matter what.
Phish @ Camden, NJ (06.25.10)
The FUNK and HEAVY was brought in for The Sloth and then the energy was there. The song forced it up and out in my opinion. Page continued his rage on the keys and Trey had to scream to get that energy up and the entire venue was risen up with the band. Mike’s great funky bass behind Trey’s guitar was pretty great.
Phish @ Camden, NJ (06.25.10)
The fun and bouncy vibe continued on into Time Turns Elastic. This song was all over the place with a pretty melody behind it. For almost 20 minutes the guys on stage just raged their instruments. Jammin’, slammin’, beating, hitting, strumming, screeching, jazz and rock and funk all together. Menacing and bubbly at the same time.
Phish @ Camden, NJ (06.25.10)
And during Golgi Apparatus, when they sang the lyrics: “I saw you with a ticket stub in your hand,” I giggled inwardly at how I had yet, after four shows, been asked to produce a ticket.
Full Moon over the show!
Prep work...
During intermission, the lot of us went to the lawn to decompress and just hang. New perspectives. I was very pleased to hear from others that they found that the first set was a little mellow for their taste. It was definitely too mellow for me. I am very aware that I don’t recall much from the first set. The music didn’t hold my attention for the most part.
View of stage from lawn, with screens
We lounged on the lawn until the music started again. Chatting about anything and everything. Everyone smiling wide. And doing exactly what we had hoped and figured, PHISH RIPPED OPEN the second set with Chalk Dust Torture. I sat on the lawn and watched how the party unfolded. Because it was ON after this song.
View of stage from Lawn
During Prince Caspian, I made my way down to our seats, snapping the above and below pictures as I walked. The lights were gorgeous. The sound was uplifting and fun. I love this song. Always a crowd pleaser. There were 8 friends left in our area as the rest had remained on the lawn for dancing room. With a few having stepped away, the remaining friends jumped and danced and raged all over those seats. The people around us were singing along, dancing with us, hugging. Every time someone we knew would come or go there was always a commotion of love.
View of Show from Lawn
John's Sound Room in action...
Heavy Things was next and it was during this time that I had another backstage rage. We took over the seats in the sound room and were as quiet as a mouse. John was watching the screen while manipulating the levels and whatnot on the board in front of him. My camera died at this point and Jay went to plug it into the plus that was on the wall. John reminded us very seriously of the fact that the main device was to our left. Of course, we were more then careful. I felt like I was near irreplaceable glass while I was in the room. I was scared to breath. But it was really cool to see how these people work. To learn of what things go on behind the scenes that you might not have known before. That has been the greatest part of this musical adventure I have been on the past few weeks with PHISH.
John's Sound Room in action...
The funky, bluesy Alaska called us back to the pavilion. A nice, slower jam after the raging first three that finally brought the heat to the Bank Center. But it was 2001 that got me jumping again.
Fishman!
When they busted out 2001, all I could think about is the spectacle I witnessed in Saratoga Springs days earlier when they unleashed it upon us during the second set. It was out of control. The scene was no different here. The Glow sticks erupted everywhere, people were screaming, the dancing in the isles seemed to have gotten a bit thicket as well. Luckily, at this point, we remained up front for the remaining of the set and there was plenty of room to get funky.
I would say that this was my favorite song of the night. Mainly because during the jam, the guys broke out into a few Michael Jackson Tribute songs in recognition of the one year anniversary of MJ’s death. The song consisted of Billie Jean containing a Thriller tease from Trey. They continued to tease it later on in the song as well. Phun fact #215: This was the debut of Billie Jean 🙂
Front row ragin'
During Light, I grabbed my friend and took her to the front during the piano song. I didn’t really know what I was doing at first and we got a little heckled trying to find a good place to stand out of the way. At first we walked right up middle and there was no way to reach front row. The guard told me: ” you will never get up there. Don’t bother trying to get closer.” So, of course, I grabbed Mer’s hand and we got closer.
Front row ragin'
There was a pretty sick glow stick war during Possum but nothing compared to the glow stick was in Saragtoga a few days earlier. Trey also brought the heat here with his solo. YUMMY!
Trey in all his glory!
For the encore, Jay ran back and got my camera charger allowing me to take the pictures you see above of Trey and the gang. I danced in front of Fishman for the entire encore of Shine A Light and it raged. All my friends had gathered back together in our seat. After a final head count, there were 18 of us raging those few rows and it was spectacular to me. I had never been with so many fans who were literally SUPER FANS. I am normally the super fan of these smaller groups who I love. But it’s rare that I am the one on the outside looking in at the party. That is what was going on all these years.
Set I: Alumni Blues > Letter To Jimmy Page > Alumni Blues, Big Black Furry Creature from Mars, Runaway Jim, Army of One, Free Man In Paris, Summer of 69, Split Open And Melt, The Sloth, Time Turns Elastic, Golgi Apparatus (1:14) Set II: Chalk Dust Torture >, Prince Caspian >, Heavy Things, Alaska, 2001, Light >, Possum, Character Zero (1:17)
After the show, we checked back in with our krewe, made plans to meet up in the parking lot and Jay and I took off backstage to grab our things. In the middle of it all, I walked through the stage and just stopped. Overwhelmed.
Time to pack it up...
To my left, there were numerous trucks with their backs dropped over as if they were ready to load cattle. Some men waiting to load it in, while others were packing it up on stage and still others were transporting the equipment on wheels between the stage and trucks. Quite the machine. Especially since we had only been hanging around for a few minutes before making the move to return backstage. Look at this efficiency…
Game over...
To my left was the stage, I could see all the people leaving the pavilion and lawn. It was intense to stand where I was standing and try to feel the massive energy from all those people.
A small portion of my fellow ragers...
That night, as I lay in a cuddle puddle with my friends, Jay exclaimed, ” You saw them all. I have been backstage a million times and I have never seen them all in one place.” “Never?,” I ask. “Maybe 1/ in 40 shows,” he said. And sometimes you never see them at all, especially Trey.” Yet again, I silently thanked the show karma Gods for making these superior, exciting adventures happen to me.
I just want to leave you all with a few words from Trey himself that will make you all very happy: He said: “…but this is where I belong. This is where I am supposed to be…and I am never leaving you allagain.” Keep Trey sober and Phish won’t be going anywhere 🙂
You know when you fall in love with something all over again? Something that you had slightly begun taking for granted? I woke up in this most comfortable bed, surrounded by lovely friends, in this gorgeous hotel, feeling the first few days of events course energy through my veins and all I could do was start tearing up. I always get so emotional when I am at my happiest. In that moment, as I closed my eyes and relived the last few days, I feel in love with the scene all over again. I fell in love with my life all over again. I fell in love with my people all over again. And so, I teared up, overwhelmed with happiness and knowing that this world existed for me to retreat to when I needed it.
Isaac, Wayan, And Mat jammin!
Today, my third day of tour, was going to be my last before I had to return to the real world. I was dreading it but at the same time , felt rejuvenated and safe. Rejuvenated through the love, the dancing, the music. Safe, because in our wonderful music world you always get what you need. Even safer still because I knew I could always find our little piece of music heaven anytime I needed it.
Happy Father's Day ~ If they only knew...
The real world had crept into our lives as today was Father’s Day. (I LOVE YOU DADDY!!!) The restaurant in the hotel was over flowing with Father Day’s reservations. Since I was not with my father I got a glass of champagne in his honor. That sparked the party and by noon, everyone was awake and by that I mean all sprawled out over the Golf green where I had birdied the hole only six hours earlier. Members of The Lead Heads and some other friends combined to play us Phish and Dead tunes as we relaxed into the afternoon. It was lovely to see random families walk through and little children watch the musicians with amazement. These families had no idea why we were there without our parents jamming out on the green. Yet once again, music had drawn different worlds together on a special day.
Unfortunately, I was running around meeting up with our ride home for the night and talking to my father and connecting with others to hear all of the jam. I invited the Zegs family to join us at our hotel which ended with them having a lovely brunch before they enjoyed their daughter’s first Phish show as a family. Love! I heard that they ended the jam session with a KILLER Tweezer Reprise. Even more Love! 🙂
View from the "Ho Chi Mhin Trail" @ SPAC
View from the "Ho Chi Mhin Trail" @ SPAC
The day literally consisted of connecting with people arriving for the day and just relaxing. The show was slated to start again at 7pm. The night prior, the scene at The Shakedown was grimy and wooked-out, having turned into Tank City. Never a place I want to be. So, we decided to check out The Shakedown by way of the Ho Ci Mhin Trail, now that it was light out. Remember how I told you about us tackling that bad boy last night in the pitch dark? Just hundreds of hippies praying they find the other end!?
Tapestries on Shakedown
Unsure of the real name, it’s a trail/path that goes around the outside of the venue and takes you to the other side. We could have all easily gone THROUGH the venue but where is the fun in that? It was here where my suspicions were confirmed of the danger it presented and again, I was thankful that no one fell down or tripped last night. And then beauty of the scene quickly flooded my mind. Why do I live in a city again?
View of Shakedown from Bridge
Find this shirt for me and I'll pay you $1 Million dollars!
I love a good Shakedown Street. It’s a completely different monster when it inhales a parking lot vs. setting up in the middle of a music festival. Like a traveling circus on acid. This Shakedown consisted mainly of food like hummus wraps, pizza, grilled cheese…your typical hippie grub. There were cops riding horses trampling through the sea of wooks as far as the eye could see. There was beautiful jewelry and lovely handmade clothing. We walked to the other end and not one place had incense to sell me. CAN YOU IMAGINE? I was shocked, to say the least and there we lunched for another hour or so.
Venue prior to rage time!
TTAM's Digs
Tonight we would end up having enough spots for 18 of us to roll together, around and behind us. It was nuts how this night worked out in terms of getting everyone together. A ton of friends had come in from the city to join us and we would all be returning home to wake up at 8 for our nine-to-fives. UGH! We all walked in. I still never had a ticket and never needed one. We walked around and said howdy to Tiny Truck Apartment guy near the tour buses. Our seats were a bit closer for this show and for that I was grateful. The closer the better, IMO. But this was just far enough away
Saratoga Performing Arts Center ~ Saratoga Springs, NY (06.20.10)
Oh man, what a GREAT beginning into the show for Father’s Day. Phish started out playing Brother. The lyrics spouting:
Whoa!whoa!whoa!
Somebody’s jumping in the tub with your brother
Half way through the song, they slow down the chorus and out came a large tin washtub brought to the front middle of the stage. The song continued as one by one, each of the band member’s,to include Chris Kuroda‘s daughter, got into the bathtub 🙂 And then Phish jammed out their song for a few more minutes, the whole while, the children crammed into the tub. Trey then introduced them as each exited the stage, pointing out “One boy, one boy!” HAHA! It was SO CUTE!!! HAPPY FATHER’S DAY TO PHISH and all the other father’s out there!!!!
The vocals were a little shot on both Brother and AC/DC Bag. I don’t expect it to be great but AC/DC Bag lost me to the crowd and friends. I don’t even remember that song being played till I looked at my notes to be honest. They were definitely warming up. Back on the Train brought me and all of us back UP! Trey’s jam during this song finally solidified that the night had begun. It was time to Party! The sun was going down and I took my first of a million trips to the pavilion bathrooms and caught some AMAZING shots with my dinky little camera!
One of my favs shots of the run...
Amazing. Felt so Massive.
Phish @ SPAC ~ Night II
And so I continued to walk around the venue. This being my third show, I was beginning to relax from the high of it all. The music fading into the background as I became glued to the lights. I am completely addicted to Chris Kuroda’s talent. His lights made me wander around the building the entire show on this night. I was becoming much more aware of my surroundings. Not to say I hadn’t been already, but now I was focusing around me on purpose. The two prior articles were purely from a ridiculous memory recall ability I was granted for three days. I normally forget things that happened earlier in the day but because everything was so intense it has been seared into my brain. I never took a single note. As well, I didn’t take any this night either but I did see things in new lights and wanted to explore the venue. Wanted to see what everyone else was seeing. The lights were intoxicating.
Phish @ SPAC ~ Night II
It was still light out during Undermind so I ran around the lawn and the pavilion, saying hi to friends. The song providing a nice background music for our conversations. Certainly didn’t hold the attention of my dancing feet. It was during Cities when the sun finally set and the lights were able to take full hold of our eyes.
Phish @ SPAC ~ Night II
I finally started paying attention again when Trey spoke:
“We’re going to do something that we’re really excited about now that I hope you” enjoy as much as we. Let me just tell you a quick story here!”
And so, Trey proceeds to describe this lovely friend of Phish. During Trey’s first night EVER in Vermont, he went to see Big Joe Burrell and the Unknown Blues Band. And the man on stage, Tony Markellis, was playing bass in that band. They became friends and have been ever since. Tony Markellis played at Trey’s wedding and is also in the Trey Anastasio Band. Back to the front
Tony Markellis joined the stage
And so back to the front it was to see just what this Tony guy was all about. The song was Gotta Jibboo, written by Tony. Phun fact #43: This was the first time ever that Phish has played with Trey and Mike both on guitar. The song was jumpy, a simple pretty tune with minimal lyrics allowing for room to really rage, which they all did.
Tony Markellis joined the stage
See that portal of light? It bugged us out haha
The heavy bass in Roggae was great. Once again. Mike’s sound soaking into my ears on top of the other instruments. The singing was kinda horrible again and I was not really diggin’ it other then the bass. The song comes with some great lyrics though. “If life were easy /and not so fast/ I wouldn’t dream about the past.” Ouch, but the vocals. Ouch! But I didn’t care. The light show that Chris Kuroda put on for us during this song was gorgeous. Each light striking with the hit of each key by Page. Each beam moving with every strum of Trey’s guitar like they were reading each others mind. It was talent at its best.
Phish @ SPAC ~ Night II
Phish @ SPAC ~ Night II
Such a chill first set in my opinion. I was running around a lot, not being held in place by the music. I didn’t mind. It was lovely music, I just wanted my face ripped off as I always do. I wanted to see the lights from every angle and level. Sleep Again was another slow jam with beautiful piano by Page towards the end.
Phish @ SPAC ~ Night II
Phish @ SPAC ~ Night II
Lawn Boy was next. A song that reminds me of a whiskey bar, slightly jazzy mixed with lounge-y vibe through the sound of Mike’s bass and Trey’s strumming. Run Like An Antelope brought the full rage finally IMO. Glow sticks were flying everywhere. You got to be careful not to look up in these type of situations. Balls and balloons were everywhere. I was stuck in place watching the light show. My jaw on the ground more for Chris Kuroda then anything but the music at this point was tight, jamming and gearing up for a ridiculous ending. I could feel it build for minutes until Trey’s guitar just screamed into his fast strumming, Page’s keys were pounding a mile a minute and the bass was thumping all over the stage. It was on-point chaos. Everyone was jumping around, the wind was blowing, the balls and balloons were flying around. It was MASSIVE! And the glowstick war over my shoulder was huge. “You’ve got to run like an antelope, out of control!!” Pretty much what was going on…
Phish @ SPAC ~ Night II
Carini Had a Lumpy Head continued the fire from the ending of the first set with the heady rock strum of Trey’s guitar which he manipulated to space out with Page and Mike at times throughout the song. Transitioning the space jam right into the The Mango Song, Mike’s bass thumped behind the guitar and plunking keys. I don’t remember much but I know I was having a great time.
Phish @ SPAC ~ Night II
Phish @ SPAC ~ Night II
A classic and always a crowd pleaser, and I say this having listened to tons of live Phish shows even though this was only my third live one in person, Wilson just brought it. Everyone loves this song so everyone was singing and screaming the lyrics. Kuroda’s lights were out of control ,as was the band as they were clearly having so much fun. Trey and the members of Phish truly do feed off the energy of their audience. There is nothing more awesome. When I can FEEL that shit coming off the stage and hitting me…that is my version of church. I don’t judge the music. I evaluate how it makes me feel. Music is music is beautiful music. But how it makes me feel is totally different. Everyone was singing, Trey was smiling so wide. A genuinely nice and happy guy. “Can you still have fuuuuuun Wilson?!?!” Trey teased Dixie at the end of Wilson beforeheading right into Drowned. Made me think of all my friends down south who were going to be raging with the band soon enough.
Drowned kept the vibe up considerably as Trey physically bounced throughout the whole song. Page’s key rage on this song was ridiculous and the lights matched tempo. This was one of my favorites of the night just because it was a pure, tight jam. That is what I LOVE from Phish besides Kuroda. Sure, they have cute stories within lyrics and are actually pretty good singers when they want to be, but when they just let loose and fade into their jams….oh man. I fade away with them.
View From Second Level!
View From Second Level!
Jay and I ran up to the second level for a few songs. It was so hard to keep still with this much space to run around and this music lifting me up. I am pretty sure it was during Swept Away that we crept away because we were antsy and it was a slow jam. We got to the bridge and it was just us and the ticket guy. We danced all over it before moving into the second level for a look down. I liked this view. Swept Away is one of those songs that shows you that the band can hold a round, hold a tune, hold a melody. I am thankful they did so. Steep continued the slow vibe into Makisupa Policeman which raged it up with its total reggae-vibe.
Phish @ SPAC ~ Night II
The intro to Piper was interesting as they inserted words from MakisupaPiper, which to me sounded like a round. I didn’t realize what was going on at first so I just bounced around. I snapped the picture below during this whole ball rage being passed around the crowd. There were many more but this shot came out the best. (I really need to stop buying concert tickets and upgrade my camera). The lights strobed and spun out of control on stage and over the audience as Trey just went to town on his jamming. It was all over the place and hard to find a beat to dance to one way to but that is why I loved this guitar player. He really was one of the greatest. Where and when Trey changed things up, the band followed so tightly.
Phish @ SPAC ~ Night II
I ran to the restroom at this point, Piper having kind of lost me. While I was washing my hands I heard it. THE MOST FUN PART OF THE WHOLE NIGHT!!!! THEY WERE PLAYING THE FUUUUUUNK! Also Sprach Zarathustra!! As I came FLYYYING up the stairs, I saw the most amazing things. The video below is clearly taken from someone on the top level. I was standing directly under them on the first as the scene was unfolding. It was the great. The funky version of 2001’s A Space Odyssey was ringing through the rafters and the funk was killing us. The vibe totally changed and people’s dancing shifted into a deeper grind. The glow stick wars were everywhere, the pavilion wars were specifically brutal, blasting up constantly, people barely waiting for the major beats. Balls and balloons were flying everywhere . And finally, Chris Kuroda’s lights. Once again, reading each others mind the band put on a KILLER 2001 rage. I wanted to stand there the entire timewatching it unfold from above but knowing it was my friends favorite song, I had to get back down in that mess to dance with them.
You Enjoy Myself was a great closer to the set. Such an upbeat tune which Trey rips into after a semi-slow start to the build. The colors Kuroda threw at us went from brilliant and bright into chaos of raging reds and purples… the reds and purples enforcing the chaos until Trey would again touch his guitar bringing out the bright colors again.
For the encore, they all re-entered with Page coming to the front of the stage on a Keytar. And then it was into a 5 minute rendition of Edgar Winter’s Frankenstein. The Keytar made an odd synth-y sound and the rocking cover sounded great. Spacey. It was raging rock-n-roll and we were head banging and throwing up our rock fists. Why not. They closed it out with someone everyone knew. I would have loved them to close it out with 2001. And I am happy that didn’t try adding anymore Tweezer Reprise in the mix. Again, they know what they are doing 🙂 And they do it well!
Page raged a Keytar during Encore
Page raged a Keytar during Encore
Page raged a Keytar during Encore
Set 1: Brother, AC/DC Bag >, Back on the Train, Undermind, Cities, Gotta Jibboo, Roggae, Sleep Again, Lawn Boy, Run Like an Antelope
Set 2: Carini >, The Mango Song, Wilson >, Drowned >, Swept Away >, Steep, Makisupa Policeman, Piper >, Also Sprach Zarathustra >, You Enjoy Myself
Almost immediately, we were packed into a car almost heading back to New York for Monday’s workday. These three nights with Phish solidified my mental insertion into Phish Land. Or perhaps I should say, solidified my insertion into the touring world. Just like Jam Cruise, it doesn’t matter who’s playing, get on the damn boat. Am I right?
I only went a few hours in different directions and crossed a few states lines but the tiny little taste I got of what ” going on tour” might entail. Watch out now. I am thinking about becoming a teacher to have my summers off and just go to every festival, every show. I have the energy. I just need the time. The gears working in my brains right now are ridiculous. I sit here and wonder who else I would want to follow so intently as this community follows Phish. What other community of followers would be this fun, dedicated and genuine? Personally, side from the obvious, I can’t think of many more communities like this one touring the world with a raging jam band. I miss Jerry.
Musical Musings of a Tiny Rager 