I didn't forget about you, dear blog!! I'm sorry I have been away; these past two weeks have been a crazy rush for me to get a job and go back and forth from NYC so I have just been unavailable. I'm so very behind on my 365 reasons, but trust me, kids, you'll get a reason for every day of the year. This is like a little daily calendar I'm building, so you can turn the page and get a new reason. But these things take time and energy and focus, of which I have very little these last few days.
So for you today, I have a few little plugs. Later in the day, hopefully, I will do my first Phormal Phriday, in honor of yesterday. And perhaps tomorrow, a Thanksgiving blog to show my appreciation for the boys. Anyway, on with it.
The reason I love Phish today is because of the amazing amount of creativity they inspire. I don't mean this just in all the little McLovin's trying on their guitars and pokin' at their keyboards again, or even young musicians writing Phish inspired music, which I am obviously all for. But beyond that, Phish has inspired several very high quality blogs, this one clearly being among them (justtt kidding, my two readers haha..). Mr. Miners Phish Thoughts (phishthoughts.com) are read by thousands every day. He posts just about every day, and his depth of knowledge about the band and music is really quite impressive. He digs down to the core of every jam, the meaning behind each indecipherable line, and critiques like no other. His criticisms aren't bad by any means, they're very understanding of the fact that Trey, Mike, Page, Phish, and Koruda are human beings.
Side note, and maybe a topic for another post: We tend to forget these guys are just people. Albiet, very talented and well known people, which is often a bad combination. But still, people. They make mistakes, they have off days, they wake up on the wrong side of the bed, and believe it or not, sometimes they don't wanna go to work. They have the pressure of millions of phans motivating them every day; I am personally thankful that our love is enough to get them out of bed and on the road. And thankful also to their families, who tolerate being without their husbands and daddys for so long. We all really appreciate the hard work it takes to satisfy us.
But back to Mr. Miner- he does highlight exactly the feelings a lot of us get as we listen to recordings or experience new shows. He can understand where we feel the energy really come in, where someone trips up, where the jam is coming back to life, or back to the root song. He can put into words feelings that we just know are there. I'm not trying to turn this blogger into a philospher, but the man knows his Phish. And he's a damn good writer.
Other blogs, like Joy's Jam, YEMblog, Andy Geidel's Phish Page, phasinated.com, Online Phish Tour, Live Music Blog, and a ton others, all do a very similar thing; opinion articles, show reviews, polls, links to other content and blogs. It's a huge network of Phish Phans and inphormation (...too much?), all working together to create and inspire even more.
Another great example of this is the new book that just came out, PhanFood: From the Kitchen Pot to the Tour Lot, by Taraleigh Weathers (The Healthy Hippie) and Pete Mason (PhanArt) http://www.jambands.com/news/2010/11/24/phanfood-from-the-kitchen-pot-to-the-tour-lot.
This shit is fucking cool right here. Definitely check it out, I will be congratulating Miss Taraleigh in a moment here, but do you see what I mean, folks?!!??!? Look what ELSE this amazing band has inspired, how can you not love it.
To think, I haven't even gotten to the reason for this post. SURRENDER TO THE FLOW MAGAZINE! I think this is one of the greatest inventions ever, thanks very much to one creative and motivated Editor in Chief, Christy Articola. Every time a new tour comes around, she gets a group of people together and starts handing out articles. A whole handful of people await her assignments. Not only does this magazine feature show reviews of the past tours, but it is a present tour guide- full and complete. Each show in the upcoming tour has a page dedicated to it, including Phish's history with the venue, directions and distance from the last show, critical info about the show, and everryyyything you need to know about each city/state. Hotels, campgrounds, grocery stores, liquor stores, drug/ liquor/ cell phone laws, emergency numbers, and more! The list is extensive, and there is nothing more that you could possible need to know about the shows. Then on top of that, there's the reviews, alumni news, stats, book review, joke articles, op ed pieces, recipes, rad libs and other games, and that's not all!!!! I won't give away the rest of the amazing articles and Phish stuff Surrender to the Flow has to offer- be sureeee to pick up your FREE (if you can believe it- yes, STTF is totally free if you get it on lot) copy on lot during this New Years Run. Or buy a subscription to get back issues! I'm not trying to advertise for them here, but honestly, if you love Phish this little, less than 50 page paper magazine is something you will want to read. Find Surrender to the Flow on Facebook and take their survey from Fall Tour, it's really interesting to see what the results are and how they compare to your answers.
I'm rambling here- the point is, STTF, Mr. Miner and other blogs, PhanFood, this is all the result of Phish. They have inspired creative venues by which their phans can pour out their love and devotion, and seriously make it a large part of their productive life. It's a most beautiful thing in the face of such judgement from the general public. But that's a whole separate issue.
It's taken me all day to write this...Til next time! phunkyTela
November 27, 2010
November 15, 2010
Reason #10: Guilt Phree Monday Vol. 1- Chalkdust Torture
Welcome to the first (of a long running, hopefully) installment of Guilt Phree Monday. Admit it, we don't loooveee every Phish song. We shake our heads at some performances, shy away from certain albums all together, certainly never like the studio version more than the live performance, heavens no. As an example, who wants to admit to enjoying any part of Coventry? Well, for one day a week, lets just say it: there are parts of the Phish sound, culture, and movement that we are a little embarrassed to like. Here is my first, and really it's many guilts wrapped into one, but no! Guilt Phree is the theme, so here is your time and my time to confess those guilty pleasure. Heck, it's Phish. No one here will judge you, right?
My first guilt phree confession is Chalkdust Torture, and I'll tell you why. In many more ways than one, CDT opened the door to Phish for me. My first show was in 2004, when I went to the city with a boy I had a crush on to see them for free on top of the Letterman Building. It was a rushed and overdone Chalkdust, clearly cut for TV and performed for kids like me; a pop song for the newbies. But I was hooked; hearing every kid in New York City scream out every word for blocks, the cheers that greeted the boys as the tension grew and grew; it took me by storm, and I was singing that song for weeks after. Eventually I forgot about it, Phish broke up again, and I left the chalk dust collect on my tounge.
I saw them again at Bonnaroo in 2009 (yes- guilty!) and LOVED IT (guiltier...). Listening to the show back, I can hear how it was a very straightforward performance with them, taking no risks, going into few interesting jams, and still very much on their climb back to the top. It was their first festival since the reunion, not even their own; I can imagine the nerves and discomfort. And I'm sure they felt the rediculousness that was Bonnaroo. (Suffice it to say, neither of us will be back.) In any event, they opened the show with a classic CDT; "Can I live while I'm young?!?!" they shout at at least 70,000 young kids, a lot of whom just finished a school year. It's all a very good way to kick off a Bonnaroo performance, and heck, they got me for good after that.
Then I saw Chalk Dusts at Charlottesville, SPAC, Camden, Charlotte (also ironic because that's my name), and Jones Beach. Five out of 16 in the last year, I think it wouldn't be hard to fall for a staple like that.
Finally, another guilty pleasure, UMASS 2 was an incredible show for me. I just felt so in the moment and in touch with the band. I spent most of the first set watching from the front, Page side and pretty much digging it, but when I found my friends behind Page, almost on top of him, I was kind of in heaven. I'm typically a Fish side chica, with my Fishman dress and all, but this fall, it was Page side rage side all day! Earlier in October, the Quinn, Chalk Dust encore, though not incredible in any particular way, felt so good for me. It kind of solidified this whole year of falling in love with Phish, and I just knew I had a perfect Phish show. I'll never forget so many moments of each set, so many reasons that manifested themselves why I love this band so much. I was kind of stunned for days. It was the night I decided to start this blog.
Then, like icing on a chocolate jam cupcake of rockin' Phish delight, a Whole Lotta Chalk Dust the night before Halloween. A spot on, mid-first set Chalk Dust lead seamlessly into Whole Lotta Love, where we got about two minutes of Zeppelin glory, like an intro to the TweeZep, which blew me out of the water. This was it, Halloween was really the moment, this Chalk Dust Love was the opening line and the closing sentence to the first chapter of my story with Phish. It opened the door, held my hand as we walked together excitedly into the unknown. It found me again in a new season and a new setting and we embraced like old phiends. Guilty or not, Chalk Dust Torture is magical song for me.
From Phish.net, here are some notable versions that you should definitely check out:
1991-05-17, 1993-03-08, 1993-07-23, 1993-08-09, 1994-07-16, 1994-11-16, 1995-06-20, 1996-10-23, 1997-07-25, 1998-11-27, 1999-07-10, 2003-08-03, 2004-06-18, 2004-08-09, 2010-06-25, 2010-10-30
PS- I finally got my Fire Wire super crazy external hard drive so I can finally free up some space on my vintage computer! This means I can download, download, download! Woo!! Maybe my computer will even be capable enough for me to use picture here! Be back soon!
My first guilt phree confession is Chalkdust Torture, and I'll tell you why. In many more ways than one, CDT opened the door to Phish for me. My first show was in 2004, when I went to the city with a boy I had a crush on to see them for free on top of the Letterman Building. It was a rushed and overdone Chalkdust, clearly cut for TV and performed for kids like me; a pop song for the newbies. But I was hooked; hearing every kid in New York City scream out every word for blocks, the cheers that greeted the boys as the tension grew and grew; it took me by storm, and I was singing that song for weeks after. Eventually I forgot about it, Phish broke up again, and I left the chalk dust collect on my tounge.
I saw them again at Bonnaroo in 2009 (yes- guilty!) and LOVED IT (guiltier...). Listening to the show back, I can hear how it was a very straightforward performance with them, taking no risks, going into few interesting jams, and still very much on their climb back to the top. It was their first festival since the reunion, not even their own; I can imagine the nerves and discomfort. And I'm sure they felt the rediculousness that was Bonnaroo. (Suffice it to say, neither of us will be back.) In any event, they opened the show with a classic CDT; "Can I live while I'm young?!?!" they shout at at least 70,000 young kids, a lot of whom just finished a school year. It's all a very good way to kick off a Bonnaroo performance, and heck, they got me for good after that.
Then I saw Chalk Dusts at Charlottesville, SPAC, Camden, Charlotte (also ironic because that's my name), and Jones Beach. Five out of 16 in the last year, I think it wouldn't be hard to fall for a staple like that.
Finally, another guilty pleasure, UMASS 2 was an incredible show for me. I just felt so in the moment and in touch with the band. I spent most of the first set watching from the front, Page side and pretty much digging it, but when I found my friends behind Page, almost on top of him, I was kind of in heaven. I'm typically a Fish side chica, with my Fishman dress and all, but this fall, it was Page side rage side all day! Earlier in October, the Quinn, Chalk Dust encore, though not incredible in any particular way, felt so good for me. It kind of solidified this whole year of falling in love with Phish, and I just knew I had a perfect Phish show. I'll never forget so many moments of each set, so many reasons that manifested themselves why I love this band so much. I was kind of stunned for days. It was the night I decided to start this blog.
Then, like icing on a chocolate jam cupcake of rockin' Phish delight, a Whole Lotta Chalk Dust the night before Halloween. A spot on, mid-first set Chalk Dust lead seamlessly into Whole Lotta Love, where we got about two minutes of Zeppelin glory, like an intro to the TweeZep, which blew me out of the water. This was it, Halloween was really the moment, this Chalk Dust Love was the opening line and the closing sentence to the first chapter of my story with Phish. It opened the door, held my hand as we walked together excitedly into the unknown. It found me again in a new season and a new setting and we embraced like old phiends. Guilty or not, Chalk Dust Torture is magical song for me.
From Phish.net, here are some notable versions that you should definitely check out:
1991-05-17, 1993-03-08, 1993-07-23, 1993-08-09, 1994-07-16, 1994-11-16, 1995-06-20, 1996-10-23, 1997-07-25, 1998-11-27, 1999-07-10, 2003-08-03, 2004-06-18, 2004-08-09, 2010-06-25, 2010-10-30
PS- I finally got my Fire Wire super crazy external hard drive so I can finally free up some space on my vintage computer! This means I can download, download, download! Woo!! Maybe my computer will even be capable enough for me to use picture here! Be back soon!
November 11, 2010
Reason #9: Dancing shamelessly anywhere!
I love Phish today because when I'm rockin' out with my head phones, I can dance anywhere totally shamelessly! This is not to say I dance all crazy and show style everywhere I go, but when I'm in public, I have no problem nodding my head and bouncing my knees. I love dancing, I love the music, why hide it?
I go into New York City at least once a week and do a lot of walking around and riding the subway solo. Sometimes I like to listen to the sounds of the city; it can be very calming in a weird, My Cousin Vinny way. But most times, I listen to the boys; lately I've been choosing shows from '97-'98 and listening to Providence '10 on repeat. Here's my routine: around 930 a.m. I grab the train into Grand Central. Sometimes I have time for a coffee, sometimes I don't, but either way I usually fall asleep around Chappaqua, with my music for the trip on. I wake up to check around 125th st., and finally stand up about a song later. I do wear my sunglasses, even on the train, because it allows me to be freer.
Side story: I have spent a very good many of my prime years being far too self conscious. I really have to thank Phish for allowing me to find a part of myself I love so much who can do everything she is inclined to do, without criticism. I'm working with this fly, confident chica, and soon she will be all I am. Still, I have things to worry about and silly people thoughts clouding my mind that I need to learn to deal with before she can really take over. Phish is helping me, we're workin' on it together, and it's the best project I've ever worked on!
ANYWAY. Sorry- I'm going to focus. So I'm on the train, I wake up and try to move it and groove it a little to get my blood going, wake up my mind a bit, start my day with a positive attitude. I like to listen to a nice Mike's Song or a long, spacey Piper- something I can think about and follow, something I can run to the subway with, and something that doesn't need all my attention so I can focus on my surroundings, too.
I usually keep on a set until I arrive at my destination, but should it end, or my mood changes, subway mode for me tends to be a story song. When I'm listening to the tale of a song, like anything Gamehendge, I pay closer attention to the music and do less overt people watching. And I'm a phan of people watching. I'm a Suzy Gr-- I mean, Sociologist, and people watching is merely my data collecting. I'm more than happy to admit that the fascinating culture we're all a part of astonishes me. I don't understand how it happens or functions, forms and dissolves nightly, and goes completely unnoticed in the mainstream media. And truly, I am not looking to expose it. Half the beauty is the private little world we make for ourselves. The pain is shared equally when someone has to deal with real world in Phish world. In my career, I hope to merge the two, but for now, it is a world in which I only have one foot. Oh sorry, back to focusing.
The point is that all my traveling alone, I don't care who sees me dancing or singing along. I know they don't think I'm crazy. They probably just really want to know what I'm listening to.
The best part is what happened last night. I went to a great show, an act called Jonsi, very artsy, very cool, I did have a great time. But after, all I needed was some Phish. I didn't pick a classic or a hit, just a jammy,22 minute Light from earlier this summer. It took me from Grand Central exactly to my friend's apartment a block away from Astor. I had to do a bit of walking and it was dark. This jam kept me walking fast, staying aware, smiling and nodding, absorbing a song I'm still not all that familiar with. I mean, I love it, I think Light is a great composition; I just need more time to learn its intricacies, its most secret details. And on this walk, since it was dark and there were only a few people on the street, I rocked it. I was movin' and groovin' and I felt really good; got me back to basics after a night of exploring the musically unknown.
Getting on the train this morning, I felt groggy and haggard looking, so what did I do? Slapped on my aviators, put on Live Phish 9, and danced all the way from 8th St to GCT. It was a great morning, and today is going to be another phabulous day. =) Hope you all pheel the same!!
More next week- up to visit my cousins in college this weekend.
I go into New York City at least once a week and do a lot of walking around and riding the subway solo. Sometimes I like to listen to the sounds of the city; it can be very calming in a weird, My Cousin Vinny way. But most times, I listen to the boys; lately I've been choosing shows from '97-'98 and listening to Providence '10 on repeat. Here's my routine: around 930 a.m. I grab the train into Grand Central. Sometimes I have time for a coffee, sometimes I don't, but either way I usually fall asleep around Chappaqua, with my music for the trip on. I wake up to check around 125th st., and finally stand up about a song later. I do wear my sunglasses, even on the train, because it allows me to be freer.
Side story: I have spent a very good many of my prime years being far too self conscious. I really have to thank Phish for allowing me to find a part of myself I love so much who can do everything she is inclined to do, without criticism. I'm working with this fly, confident chica, and soon she will be all I am. Still, I have things to worry about and silly people thoughts clouding my mind that I need to learn to deal with before she can really take over. Phish is helping me, we're workin' on it together, and it's the best project I've ever worked on!
ANYWAY. Sorry- I'm going to focus. So I'm on the train, I wake up and try to move it and groove it a little to get my blood going, wake up my mind a bit, start my day with a positive attitude. I like to listen to a nice Mike's Song or a long, spacey Piper- something I can think about and follow, something I can run to the subway with, and something that doesn't need all my attention so I can focus on my surroundings, too.
I usually keep on a set until I arrive at my destination, but should it end, or my mood changes, subway mode for me tends to be a story song. When I'm listening to the tale of a song, like anything Gamehendge, I pay closer attention to the music and do less overt people watching. And I'm a phan of people watching. I'm a Suzy Gr-- I mean, Sociologist, and people watching is merely my data collecting. I'm more than happy to admit that the fascinating culture we're all a part of astonishes me. I don't understand how it happens or functions, forms and dissolves nightly, and goes completely unnoticed in the mainstream media. And truly, I am not looking to expose it. Half the beauty is the private little world we make for ourselves. The pain is shared equally when someone has to deal with real world in Phish world. In my career, I hope to merge the two, but for now, it is a world in which I only have one foot. Oh sorry, back to focusing.
The point is that all my traveling alone, I don't care who sees me dancing or singing along. I know they don't think I'm crazy. They probably just really want to know what I'm listening to.
The best part is what happened last night. I went to a great show, an act called Jonsi, very artsy, very cool, I did have a great time. But after, all I needed was some Phish. I didn't pick a classic or a hit, just a jammy,22 minute Light from earlier this summer. It took me from Grand Central exactly to my friend's apartment a block away from Astor. I had to do a bit of walking and it was dark. This jam kept me walking fast, staying aware, smiling and nodding, absorbing a song I'm still not all that familiar with. I mean, I love it, I think Light is a great composition; I just need more time to learn its intricacies, its most secret details. And on this walk, since it was dark and there were only a few people on the street, I rocked it. I was movin' and groovin' and I felt really good; got me back to basics after a night of exploring the musically unknown.
Getting on the train this morning, I felt groggy and haggard looking, so what did I do? Slapped on my aviators, put on Live Phish 9, and danced all the way from 8th St to GCT. It was a great morning, and today is going to be another phabulous day. =) Hope you all pheel the same!!
More next week- up to visit my cousins in college this weekend.
November 8, 2010
Reason #8: LITTLE PHEAT!!!
I LOVE PHISH TODAY because of the Little Feat set one week ago! Here you go, kids; your Halloween show review!
I had a GREAT time during this show, it was everything they hyped it up to be and more. And the ticket was a bitch to get- pardon my french. Reason #4 explains what I did during the hours before my first Halloween show: I had to walk the boardwalk aimlessly, finger in the air, to find a ticket for my buddy, which of course didn't happen. Don't worry, we all got in no problems and were able to rock the show together. First show, I rocked Fish side, mostly, second show Page side rage side all day, H'weenie dead center for my boys, with my closest phriends around.
First set I was actually down on the floor, and it was incredible. I got some amazing pictures of Page keytar-ing up for the Frankenstein opener (how appropriate). I've been so lucky as to have seen this before (SPAC 6/20/10, encore), but Frankenstein is just not the same without it. So a very special moment and good, solid opener indeed. BBFCFM followed, a tune that used to be a bust out but now has been heard far too often (four times in 2010, and I happened to be at all those shows.. I'm over it, sowwy.), and then, so appropriately but earlier than expected, Story of a Ghost! Everyone was waiting for it, and the hall erupted with cheers and balloons and bouncy balls at those first few funky notes. They kept up the theme with a Spooky (first since April '93) into The Divided Sky. (You know what's comin' next, but I had to wait for it, so you'll wait and read my side story: in this years Phishbill, they wrote a legal disclaimer requesting- jokingly, no doubt- to have the name of The Divided Sky changed legally to Divided Sky. They said since it never said 'the' in the lyrics, it didn't make sense to have it in the title. They also wanted to make an addendum to the title Gotta Jibboo. Proposed alternative: No, Seriously, I Really Gotta Jibboo. =) ) THEN THEY PLAYED ROSES ARE FREEEEE!!!!!! Sorry, that's just how I felt about that whole situation. MY FRIST ROSES!! Oh, it's like falling in love, or getting your first apartment. Freeing and fulfilling and luscious and enviable, all at the same time. Carve out a pumpkin and rely on your destiny.... it was so so wonderful for me. I kiss the Phish gods above. Then, to close the set, a funky Funky Bitch into Boogie (which got super down and dirty), then Stash and Character Zero. Standard. Gettin' ready. Savin' energy. I hear you boys.
During the set break, they played over the PA the first track off Little Feat's 1978 live double album "Waiting for Columbus," called Join the Band. Though we all already knew what cover they were going to do (if we didn't know from Saturday's giveaway), the crowd burst into recognition and applause. When the lights went down on the stage (God- everything about this weekend was so special for me) I was finally part of some Secret Language business!! I have studied Phish's secret language to better understand how they communicate with one another and improvise so successfully, but I kind of thought they were done with it. Well, I suppose they mostly are but on Sunday night, those of us who took care of our Phishbills and didn't throw the flyers out took part in a call and response to get the boys to start playing. Before the second track of the double album, first live of the set, an announcer came on stage to tell us what an extraordinary event this was (as if we didn't know that!). "Let's just get to it folks, help me bring 'em out. Gimme an F!" Crowd: PH! "Gimme an E!" I! "Gimme an A!" S! "Gimme a T!" H!! "Please welcome, Little Feat!" PHHISHHHHHHHH!!! If only good for one thing, that will be great to hear when I can finally download the show. So they started the Waiting for Columbus set exactly as Little Feat would have played it. The horns section added such a profound second level to the music for me; at times, I just stood and absorbed the volume that was being blasted at me. And other times, I stood in awe at the world-renown percussionist Giovanni Hidalgo and his immense drumming talents. I thought Fish was good... shiii.
Every song was a debut (except Time Loves a Hero), and since at least 50% of Phish phans weren't old enough or born by '78, the appreciation level wasn't quite where it was for, say, The Beatles set or The Who set. It was way up there, don't get me wrong. This is certainly the hardest musical costume the boys have donned, and they certainly pulled it off beautifully. And we phans just love the boys! Not to say that anything they spew at us we accept; we're rather a judgmental bunch, especially when it comes to our deities. But they were trying real hard, and doing a pretty great job, covering some pretty hard rockin' jam sandwich kinda melodies. What I'm trying to say is that even for the phans who didn't know Little Feat, or who didn't realize Time Loves a Hero wasn't a Phish original, the set was pretty great. High energy, only a few noticeable flubs, and super entertaining, to say the least. For one track, Willin', the horns section stepped back and the boys mixed it up- Mike on keys, Fish on vocals, Page on bass and Trey on drums, which was awesome. (I had seen Trey on drums the week before, when Fish broke out the Elextrolux, but I thought it was still pretty cool, Ernie's alright.) For the next track, Don't Bogart That Joint, was sung acapella, which I found amazing, I LOVEE when four men who don't consider themselves singers can bust out an acapella or two. (In my reading I have found that Phish spent a lot of time going to barber shop quartet classes and working on their voices blending.) This was my Surrender to the Flow vote for song to be kept in rotation, as lame as that may be. They closed the second set just as a strong as it began, and treated us phans to a special H'ween treat- the boys and their guests took small drums and danced single file around the general admission floor area. I got a nice wink from the red-head!
People were blown away and tired at this point. We train for two sets each night, and sometimes barely muster enough strength for a multi-song encore. But tonight, we had about another hour-hour and a half left of music. This is not to say we weren't excited- believe me, when those underwater, spacey noises broke the surface for DWD, people were hype to have their boys back. Fish flubbed the beginning and it had to be restarted, prompting him to declare, "Sorry- this ones off our album." But then it got rowdy, for sure. A high energy Back on the Train to re-ignite our souls followed by a funky, frankly badass version of Jibboo, never heard it quite so... uh uh, ya know? Then came a Camel Walk which livened the crowed, and a strangely placed Suzy Greenberg, for the slot machines of Atlantic City. Wilson was a given, we had all been waiting for it to go, and I rocked it alone as I was transitioning from floor level to up a bit for a better sound. But it really wasn't that incredible, and it seemed to stick out just like Suzy did, which disappointed me a little. After Wilson, the show was coming to a close but it wouldn't be any sweet goodbye or quite bidding farewell. Harry Hood started this closing run, followed by The Horse>Silent (soft spot... made me cry... like it usually does), and, clearly, YEEEMMMMMMM. It was fantastic, absolutely wonderful, as many times as I hear that epic jam I will never, ever, be sick of it. It keeps me guessing, tho I could sing each part in my sleep. The jam keeps me interested, following and anticipating every note. The lyrics keep me laughing, actually laughing out loud with- not at- a musical composition. You Enjoy Myself is easily one of Phish's best songs, best jams, highest energy, most loved. Easily. And it made a wonderful Halloween set 3 closer. Admittedly, Julius almost blew it out of the water, featuring the horn section and Hildago back on the stage. Can you imagine a Julius so full of energy and sound and passion. That's what we got- best Julius I've seen to date, and I know that song will never be the same again. (Suzy is pretty much not the same since I heard the version from Festival 8.)
So there you have it, two hours later and a crap ton of text. But I hope you are enjoying my blog so far, hope I've done a decent job keeping up with it and that you will continue to read! Please feel free to share any stories or anything with me, via email, comment, or on my fbook page: facebook.com/phunkyTela.
Happy Halloween yall, much lovee <3 oh ps IT SNOWED IN NY TODAY. Welcome to winter, what are we about 50 days from Worcester? =D
I had a GREAT time during this show, it was everything they hyped it up to be and more. And the ticket was a bitch to get- pardon my french. Reason #4 explains what I did during the hours before my first Halloween show: I had to walk the boardwalk aimlessly, finger in the air, to find a ticket for my buddy, which of course didn't happen. Don't worry, we all got in no problems and were able to rock the show together. First show, I rocked Fish side, mostly, second show Page side rage side all day, H'weenie dead center for my boys, with my closest phriends around.
First set I was actually down on the floor, and it was incredible. I got some amazing pictures of Page keytar-ing up for the Frankenstein opener (how appropriate). I've been so lucky as to have seen this before (SPAC 6/20/10, encore), but Frankenstein is just not the same without it. So a very special moment and good, solid opener indeed. BBFCFM followed, a tune that used to be a bust out but now has been heard far too often (four times in 2010, and I happened to be at all those shows.. I'm over it, sowwy.), and then, so appropriately but earlier than expected, Story of a Ghost! Everyone was waiting for it, and the hall erupted with cheers and balloons and bouncy balls at those first few funky notes. They kept up the theme with a Spooky (first since April '93) into The Divided Sky. (You know what's comin' next, but I had to wait for it, so you'll wait and read my side story: in this years Phishbill, they wrote a legal disclaimer requesting- jokingly, no doubt- to have the name of The Divided Sky changed legally to Divided Sky. They said since it never said 'the' in the lyrics, it didn't make sense to have it in the title. They also wanted to make an addendum to the title Gotta Jibboo. Proposed alternative: No, Seriously, I Really Gotta Jibboo. =) ) THEN THEY PLAYED ROSES ARE FREEEEE!!!!!! Sorry, that's just how I felt about that whole situation. MY FRIST ROSES!! Oh, it's like falling in love, or getting your first apartment. Freeing and fulfilling and luscious and enviable, all at the same time. Carve out a pumpkin and rely on your destiny.... it was so so wonderful for me. I kiss the Phish gods above. Then, to close the set, a funky Funky Bitch into Boogie (which got super down and dirty), then Stash and Character Zero. Standard. Gettin' ready. Savin' energy. I hear you boys.
During the set break, they played over the PA the first track off Little Feat's 1978 live double album "Waiting for Columbus," called Join the Band. Though we all already knew what cover they were going to do (if we didn't know from Saturday's giveaway), the crowd burst into recognition and applause. When the lights went down on the stage (God- everything about this weekend was so special for me) I was finally part of some Secret Language business!! I have studied Phish's secret language to better understand how they communicate with one another and improvise so successfully, but I kind of thought they were done with it. Well, I suppose they mostly are but on Sunday night, those of us who took care of our Phishbills and didn't throw the flyers out took part in a call and response to get the boys to start playing. Before the second track of the double album, first live of the set, an announcer came on stage to tell us what an extraordinary event this was (as if we didn't know that!). "Let's just get to it folks, help me bring 'em out. Gimme an F!" Crowd: PH! "Gimme an E!" I! "Gimme an A!" S! "Gimme a T!" H!! "Please welcome, Little Feat!" PHHISHHHHHHHH!!! If only good for one thing, that will be great to hear when I can finally download the show. So they started the Waiting for Columbus set exactly as Little Feat would have played it. The horns section added such a profound second level to the music for me; at times, I just stood and absorbed the volume that was being blasted at me. And other times, I stood in awe at the world-renown percussionist Giovanni Hidalgo and his immense drumming talents. I thought Fish was good... shiii.
Every song was a debut (except Time Loves a Hero), and since at least 50% of Phish phans weren't old enough or born by '78, the appreciation level wasn't quite where it was for, say, The Beatles set or The Who set. It was way up there, don't get me wrong. This is certainly the hardest musical costume the boys have donned, and they certainly pulled it off beautifully. And we phans just love the boys! Not to say that anything they spew at us we accept; we're rather a judgmental bunch, especially when it comes to our deities. But they were trying real hard, and doing a pretty great job, covering some pretty hard rockin' jam sandwich kinda melodies. What I'm trying to say is that even for the phans who didn't know Little Feat, or who didn't realize Time Loves a Hero wasn't a Phish original, the set was pretty great. High energy, only a few noticeable flubs, and super entertaining, to say the least. For one track, Willin', the horns section stepped back and the boys mixed it up- Mike on keys, Fish on vocals, Page on bass and Trey on drums, which was awesome. (I had seen Trey on drums the week before, when Fish broke out the Elextrolux, but I thought it was still pretty cool, Ernie's alright.) For the next track, Don't Bogart That Joint, was sung acapella, which I found amazing, I LOVEE when four men who don't consider themselves singers can bust out an acapella or two. (In my reading I have found that Phish spent a lot of time going to barber shop quartet classes and working on their voices blending.) This was my Surrender to the Flow vote for song to be kept in rotation, as lame as that may be. They closed the second set just as a strong as it began, and treated us phans to a special H'ween treat- the boys and their guests took small drums and danced single file around the general admission floor area. I got a nice wink from the red-head!
People were blown away and tired at this point. We train for two sets each night, and sometimes barely muster enough strength for a multi-song encore. But tonight, we had about another hour-hour and a half left of music. This is not to say we weren't excited- believe me, when those underwater, spacey noises broke the surface for DWD, people were hype to have their boys back. Fish flubbed the beginning and it had to be restarted, prompting him to declare, "Sorry- this ones off our album." But then it got rowdy, for sure. A high energy Back on the Train to re-ignite our souls followed by a funky, frankly badass version of Jibboo, never heard it quite so... uh uh, ya know? Then came a Camel Walk which livened the crowed, and a strangely placed Suzy Greenberg, for the slot machines of Atlantic City. Wilson was a given, we had all been waiting for it to go, and I rocked it alone as I was transitioning from floor level to up a bit for a better sound. But it really wasn't that incredible, and it seemed to stick out just like Suzy did, which disappointed me a little. After Wilson, the show was coming to a close but it wouldn't be any sweet goodbye or quite bidding farewell. Harry Hood started this closing run, followed by The Horse>Silent (soft spot... made me cry... like it usually does), and, clearly, YEEEMMMMMMM. It was fantastic, absolutely wonderful, as many times as I hear that epic jam I will never, ever, be sick of it. It keeps me guessing, tho I could sing each part in my sleep. The jam keeps me interested, following and anticipating every note. The lyrics keep me laughing, actually laughing out loud with- not at- a musical composition. You Enjoy Myself is easily one of Phish's best songs, best jams, highest energy, most loved. Easily. And it made a wonderful Halloween set 3 closer. Admittedly, Julius almost blew it out of the water, featuring the horn section and Hildago back on the stage. Can you imagine a Julius so full of energy and sound and passion. That's what we got- best Julius I've seen to date, and I know that song will never be the same again. (Suzy is pretty much not the same since I heard the version from Festival 8.)
So there you have it, two hours later and a crap ton of text. But I hope you are enjoying my blog so far, hope I've done a decent job keeping up with it and that you will continue to read! Please feel free to share any stories or anything with me, via email, comment, or on my fbook page: facebook.com/phunkyTela.
Happy Halloween yall, much lovee <3 oh ps IT SNOWED IN NY TODAY. Welcome to winter, what are we about 50 days from Worcester? =D
November 6, 2010
Reason #7: HALLOWEEN!!!!
I know you guys have been waiting for a Halloween weekend review. Sorry it has taken me this long to deliver; I was waiting to solve the problem with my hard drive so I could download H'ween night, but I think I'll just start the review. It'll be good practice for THE EDITORIAL I'M WRITING FOR MY RADIO STATION!!! They have finally caught the bait and are letting me do something Phishy. Yay! So anyway, Halloween weekend...
Started off rough for me, the Tropicana (which was a fabulous resort in the end) was giving me a tough time trying to check in and use my mothers credit card. So I was rushing to my room, to change into my dress and get my stuff ready for the show. I had forgotten my ticket, but of course my buddy's buddy had a GA for me at face value. That was super nice, except that walking down the boardwalk to the show, people were trying to get ride of their extras for anything. $20, $10, $5, I didn't hear and free tickets but I'm sure it happened. Anyway, as I'm walking in to the show alone, I see a familiar face from college, and my new friend Frank and I rock the whole show together (he was on the floor alone too). They started with an awesome Star-Spangled Banner (for the massive flag that hangs in the back of Boardwalk Hall) and a rockin' My Soul to kick off the set. I have a real sore spot for Sample in a Jar and was able to dance through the crowd to get up front and see my boys for the first time of the weekend. I love seeing their smiling faces, even when playing something as straightforward as Sample. Besides a few standard breathers, like Sugar Shack, Bouncing, and 46 Days, every song was killer. In the first set, we got a pretty perfect Timber, then an Axilla>Rift>Moma Dance>Cities which made me feel like I was floating on air. It was my first Moma Dance, surprisingly, and it was awesome. Second set is so epic, I just have to list it all the way through: Punch, Sand, Carini, Caspian, Corinna (a Taj Mahal cover not heard since New Years 09), Piper> Theme, Golgi, Slave (!!!!!), Fluffhead closer and Loving Cup encore (hey, why do pirates love Trey? cuz he plays a bad guitaarrrr... hehe). So.. yeah, need I say more? It was redonkulously awesome. Naturally, I thought it wouldn't get better than that. Oh how wrong I was.
I can't hold it in any long- TWEEZEP!!!! Saturday was the night of the Tweezep and a bit of my soul happily stayed behind at Boardwalk Hall. The night started off fairly average, opening with a Kill Devil Falls into Cavern (would have been nice to see those switch) and then a Foam! Thank God they played Foam, it was so quircky and Phishy, that's how I found my headz. Looking around at the kids who were still rockin' compared to the kids who were like "What is that crap, can they play Time Turns Elastic?" (haha, that's for Jimmy D). No TTE, boys, keep it kosher. They played Guelah- hot stuff there indeed- and then tricked us with a fairly straightforward Chalkdust. (I've got a good side story about Chalkdust.. check back for a later post on it). Oh but wait.. there is nothing standard about a WHOLE LOTTA LOVE Dust!!!! CD into Whole Lotta Love back into CD. EPIC, flawless, spot on, and without warning whatsoever. Gah, I LOVE PHISH. Then- a major bustout- my first Ha ha ha, with WLL teases weaved all the way through. Then Walk Away, always riproarin, Wolfman's > Undermind, nice breather and bathroom break without rolling my eyes, into a sick Bathtub Gin that had WLL teases as well! Closed the set with a pretty average Squirming Coil, if that song can be average at all. Second set got duuurrrtyyyy. They opened with a Tube that was kinndaaa outta this world > Possum> Tweezer, both with WLL teases (I was just dying laughing at this point..) but it gets better. Just try to absorb this: Tweezer> HEARTBREAKER> Tweezer> RAMBLE ON> THANK YOU> Tweezer> STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN. I'm sorry, maybe you need to read that again, I'll give you a sec.............. see what I mean?!?!?!? I try not to curse in my posts, but FUCKING EPIC RIGHT? I know you feel me. So then, it was like the show could end, and Trey joked that it would. He said "Happy Halloween everyone, have a good night!" Then admitted that it was a bad joke after the booing started. They played Halley's Comet >2001> Bowie> Show of Life and BDTNL which, both I think, totally kill the energy and mood. Show of Life had a really good thing going for it this night, I was into it in a new way but it still didn't maintain the energy that was reverberating from 2001>Bowie, nevermind the Tweezep epicness energy that had faltered a little. They closed the set with a great Good Times, Bad Times (I always love to hear this, and to end with a cover after such a mindblowing show of covers, I was pleased). The encore was amazing as well, Sleeping Monkey into Tweprise with WLL teases, but after the second set I was ready to get my party face on. Saturday was the ragin' night for sure, and my phamily tore up the Boardwalk and Casino. It was really truly something special.
Now, unfortunately, I have to move on with my day. I'm going to get my computer all fixed up so I can download Halloween night and relive every moment in my head. Then I'll be back with a comprehensive analysis of the best damn show ever.
Speaking of best shows, since I got an external hard drive I'm trying to download as much epic Phish shows as possible. Leave your favorite sets in the comments and I'll check em out!!
Started off rough for me, the Tropicana (which was a fabulous resort in the end) was giving me a tough time trying to check in and use my mothers credit card. So I was rushing to my room, to change into my dress and get my stuff ready for the show. I had forgotten my ticket, but of course my buddy's buddy had a GA for me at face value. That was super nice, except that walking down the boardwalk to the show, people were trying to get ride of their extras for anything. $20, $10, $5, I didn't hear and free tickets but I'm sure it happened. Anyway, as I'm walking in to the show alone, I see a familiar face from college, and my new friend Frank and I rock the whole show together (he was on the floor alone too). They started with an awesome Star-Spangled Banner (for the massive flag that hangs in the back of Boardwalk Hall) and a rockin' My Soul to kick off the set. I have a real sore spot for Sample in a Jar and was able to dance through the crowd to get up front and see my boys for the first time of the weekend. I love seeing their smiling faces, even when playing something as straightforward as Sample. Besides a few standard breathers, like Sugar Shack, Bouncing, and 46 Days, every song was killer. In the first set, we got a pretty perfect Timber, then an Axilla>Rift>Moma Dance>Cities which made me feel like I was floating on air. It was my first Moma Dance, surprisingly, and it was awesome. Second set is so epic, I just have to list it all the way through: Punch, Sand, Carini, Caspian, Corinna (a Taj Mahal cover not heard since New Years 09), Piper> Theme, Golgi, Slave (!!!!!), Fluffhead closer and Loving Cup encore (hey, why do pirates love Trey? cuz he plays a bad guitaarrrr... hehe). So.. yeah, need I say more? It was redonkulously awesome. Naturally, I thought it wouldn't get better than that. Oh how wrong I was.
I can't hold it in any long- TWEEZEP!!!! Saturday was the night of the Tweezep and a bit of my soul happily stayed behind at Boardwalk Hall. The night started off fairly average, opening with a Kill Devil Falls into Cavern (would have been nice to see those switch) and then a Foam! Thank God they played Foam, it was so quircky and Phishy, that's how I found my headz. Looking around at the kids who were still rockin' compared to the kids who were like "What is that crap, can they play Time Turns Elastic?" (haha, that's for Jimmy D). No TTE, boys, keep it kosher. They played Guelah- hot stuff there indeed- and then tricked us with a fairly straightforward Chalkdust. (I've got a good side story about Chalkdust.. check back for a later post on it). Oh but wait.. there is nothing standard about a WHOLE LOTTA LOVE Dust!!!! CD into Whole Lotta Love back into CD. EPIC, flawless, spot on, and without warning whatsoever. Gah, I LOVE PHISH. Then- a major bustout- my first Ha ha ha, with WLL teases weaved all the way through. Then Walk Away, always riproarin, Wolfman's > Undermind, nice breather and bathroom break without rolling my eyes, into a sick Bathtub Gin that had WLL teases as well! Closed the set with a pretty average Squirming Coil, if that song can be average at all. Second set got duuurrrtyyyy. They opened with a Tube that was kinndaaa outta this world > Possum> Tweezer, both with WLL teases (I was just dying laughing at this point..) but it gets better. Just try to absorb this: Tweezer> HEARTBREAKER> Tweezer> RAMBLE ON> THANK YOU> Tweezer> STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN. I'm sorry, maybe you need to read that again, I'll give you a sec.............. see what I mean?!?!?!? I try not to curse in my posts, but FUCKING EPIC RIGHT? I know you feel me. So then, it was like the show could end, and Trey joked that it would. He said "Happy Halloween everyone, have a good night!" Then admitted that it was a bad joke after the booing started. They played Halley's Comet >2001> Bowie> Show of Life and BDTNL which, both I think, totally kill the energy and mood. Show of Life had a really good thing going for it this night, I was into it in a new way but it still didn't maintain the energy that was reverberating from 2001>Bowie, nevermind the Tweezep epicness energy that had faltered a little. They closed the set with a great Good Times, Bad Times (I always love to hear this, and to end with a cover after such a mindblowing show of covers, I was pleased). The encore was amazing as well, Sleeping Monkey into Tweprise with WLL teases, but after the second set I was ready to get my party face on. Saturday was the ragin' night for sure, and my phamily tore up the Boardwalk and Casino. It was really truly something special.
Now, unfortunately, I have to move on with my day. I'm going to get my computer all fixed up so I can download Halloween night and relive every moment in my head. Then I'll be back with a comprehensive analysis of the best damn show ever.
Speaking of best shows, since I got an external hard drive I'm trying to download as much epic Phish shows as possible. Leave your favorite sets in the comments and I'll check em out!!
November 4, 2010
Reason #6: Chris Koruda
I love Chris Koruda. He is amazing. Hooked? Good; tomorrow I'll talk about Halloween, I promise, because I know all one of my readers wants to hear how I feel about those epic shows. But I have to download H'ween night and don't have enough room on my computer right now. Workin' on it...
Back to CK. Koruda is the lighting director for Phish, and he has been called the best in business. This is certainly an understatement. He has massive light set ups: multiple columns of lights that can go every which way with effects and colors and sparkles. He bounces them off three massive sheets spread in circles above them, making shapes and waves and even words! (You may have seen his recent PHISH across the sheets, we got Jack-o-Lanterns over Halloween weekend!) His light board is just as epic; he must have over 1,000 buttons, knobs, switches, and flips, sliding his hands over all of them gracefully.
Not only is his equipment impressive (I know, I know..), but he is so talented that he has become part of the band. Koruda is such an integral part of this team that he needs to be as on top of his game as everyone else. And it's a whole different art form. When you watch him work, you can see how he watches the boys, moves with them, pays attention to Trey's nods, never missing a beat with the lights. Waves of red, blue, green, yellow, purple, white hot light rise and fall with the groove, moving in and out, accenting the music in the just the right way. He can do all this seamlessly, even during the longest jams. He is as spot on for every Heavy Things as he is for your first Fluffhead.
It's wonderful to be up close, showered in the lights as Koruda uses the audience for a canvas. But when you take yourself back a little, you see how he creates this world of light. The boys themselves are swimming with their instruments and melodies among an ocean of light. This bubble is floating on the audience, held still by the surrounding thousands. And what you love so much looks so so small. You could grab in your hand, toss it in the air like a ball, roll it over to feel its energy and radiance. It's something amazing to witness, different from you average highlights at a concert.
People don't say CK5 lightly; he is the official unofficial fifth member of the band, they really should make it official. But you could say the same for Tom Marshall who writes a great deal of Phish's lyrics. In any case, Koruda's daughter, Alexandra, was on stage with the rest of their children during the Father's Day show this past summer. They were jumping in the tubs with their one bother, Little Jack Fishmnan (the only boy among Trey's 2, Gordon's 2, Page's 2, and Koruda's 1). So at the very least that says to me he is considered a member of the band. Really, Phish is a huge organization, comprised of thousands of people we should thank every day.
Koruda does amazing work, weaving in and out of each song just like any of our boys. And there is no doubt that a show would not be the same without him. Chris Koruda makes Phish as much as Trey or Mike or Page or Fish. And we love him just as much.
Halloween review tomorrow, I promise!!
Back to CK. Koruda is the lighting director for Phish, and he has been called the best in business. This is certainly an understatement. He has massive light set ups: multiple columns of lights that can go every which way with effects and colors and sparkles. He bounces them off three massive sheets spread in circles above them, making shapes and waves and even words! (You may have seen his recent PHISH across the sheets, we got Jack-o-Lanterns over Halloween weekend!) His light board is just as epic; he must have over 1,000 buttons, knobs, switches, and flips, sliding his hands over all of them gracefully.
Not only is his equipment impressive (I know, I know..), but he is so talented that he has become part of the band. Koruda is such an integral part of this team that he needs to be as on top of his game as everyone else. And it's a whole different art form. When you watch him work, you can see how he watches the boys, moves with them, pays attention to Trey's nods, never missing a beat with the lights. Waves of red, blue, green, yellow, purple, white hot light rise and fall with the groove, moving in and out, accenting the music in the just the right way. He can do all this seamlessly, even during the longest jams. He is as spot on for every Heavy Things as he is for your first Fluffhead.
It's wonderful to be up close, showered in the lights as Koruda uses the audience for a canvas. But when you take yourself back a little, you see how he creates this world of light. The boys themselves are swimming with their instruments and melodies among an ocean of light. This bubble is floating on the audience, held still by the surrounding thousands. And what you love so much looks so so small. You could grab in your hand, toss it in the air like a ball, roll it over to feel its energy and radiance. It's something amazing to witness, different from you average highlights at a concert.
People don't say CK5 lightly; he is the official unofficial fifth member of the band, they really should make it official. But you could say the same for Tom Marshall who writes a great deal of Phish's lyrics. In any case, Koruda's daughter, Alexandra, was on stage with the rest of their children during the Father's Day show this past summer. They were jumping in the tubs with their one bother, Little Jack Fishmnan (the only boy among Trey's 2, Gordon's 2, Page's 2, and Koruda's 1). So at the very least that says to me he is considered a member of the band. Really, Phish is a huge organization, comprised of thousands of people we should thank every day.
Koruda does amazing work, weaving in and out of each song just like any of our boys. And there is no doubt that a show would not be the same without him. Chris Koruda makes Phish as much as Trey or Mike or Page or Fish. And we love him just as much.
Halloween review tomorrow, I promise!!
November 2, 2010
Reason #5: Phan on Phan Love
I can still hardly breathe from the wildness and awesomeness of this past weekends performances. Little Feat?! Shut up, Phish. Just stop it with your incredible talents and jamming skills. I have many many things that became my phavorite this weekend, and I know I owe you at least 3 reasons to love Phish everyday, but I'm at the end of my work day, won't be at a computer until tomorrow (again!) and so I just really want to share this story with you. Many of my reasons to love Phish will be repeated, especially any regarding the Phans, so bear with me as I explain to you how much Phans love one another.
My friend Nick organized a room for all of us to come up to AC for Halloween. He put it on his credit card, made sure we all paid him back, and it was basically because of Nick that my group of friends was able to attend the show and sleep comfortably and have as amazing of a time as we did. Everything seemed to be going smoothly until the person who was supposed to trade Nick a Halloween ticket backed out. We got a call from the girl at 11 am on Sunday morning informing us that she had to trade it for a Saturday night ticket, so no longer had an extra ticket for that nights show (easily the hardest ticket of the weekend, and for a very good reason.)
Side story: DO NOT EVER DO THIS TO A PHAN. Come on, you should really know better. If you are talking to a person for over a month about trading tickets, how absolutely heartless of you to wait until the last minute to back out. That is just so so rude; I was truly appalled. If you're out there, chica... shame on you. Thank heavens things always work out with Phish, I tell ya.
Anyway, Nick was beside himself upset. He gave up the thought of going to the Halloween show almost immediately, and didn't waste his time walking the boardwalk or casinos with his finger in the air. Myself and a few friends of mine did; we spent precious drinking time walking the boardwalk and around the Trop to no avail, finger stuck worthlessly in the air among the other hopefuls. We sent out mass texts, posted to craigslist, phantasytour, phish.net, everywhere. We really did what we could, and come show time, Nick didn't have a ticket. His bags were packed, he was ready to go. He had school, a paper due, didn't want to drive through the dark. All sorts of reasons to give it up. Something in his heart just wouldn't let him, and my poor friend was physically disturbed to the core.
Then a Phish miracle occurred that doesn't come in the form a free ticket. Our wonderful friend Nate came out to the hallway where we were trying to find a solution for Nick and he said to us, "Guys, I'm gonna give Nick my ticket, someone just has to convince him to take it. I'll find a way in, I know I will; there's just no way I'll sleep comfortably knowing he didn't go to the show. I'll be as upset as him if we don't get him in somehow."
Hearing this, and knowing, of course, Nick wouldn't take the ticket, I went back into the room to do some convincing.
"Nick," I said. "You're the reason we're here. If not for you, none of this would be possible, you have to go to the show tonight. I know you've seen Phish and I know there will be more shows (in response to his protests), and I know you have school, but you're here now and you should be in there in half hour. Take Nate's ticket, he needs you to have it. He's not going to the show without you, and you have to take that ticket or it will be wasted. This is how Phish karma works, he'll get in. He'll get a miracle or sneak in or slip the guard a bill or two, you've got to take that ticket. And you know what, since there are so many more shows, and this is our Phish crew, you know you can hit Nate back next time. Don't turn this down. Come to Phish tonight, please," I begged with him. It was almost selfish of me, I love going to shows with Nick.
I don't know if it was my girlie charm, or my genius speech, or if Nick just realized it would be worthless for him to go home, but he took the ticket. We all rejoiced. Even Nate, who was losing a ticket, was thrilled to give it away. And you better believe, Nate got into the show no problem at all. We enjoyed the whole thing together. And I will never, ever, ever, forget the love that Nate showed for Nick, all because of Phish. It was a most beautiful experience for me, embedded in something so powerful and special, I won't ever forget either.
More about Halloween later, I'm sorry yall. But isn't that a great story? I love my phamily <3
My friend Nick organized a room for all of us to come up to AC for Halloween. He put it on his credit card, made sure we all paid him back, and it was basically because of Nick that my group of friends was able to attend the show and sleep comfortably and have as amazing of a time as we did. Everything seemed to be going smoothly until the person who was supposed to trade Nick a Halloween ticket backed out. We got a call from the girl at 11 am on Sunday morning informing us that she had to trade it for a Saturday night ticket, so no longer had an extra ticket for that nights show (easily the hardest ticket of the weekend, and for a very good reason.)
Side story: DO NOT EVER DO THIS TO A PHAN. Come on, you should really know better. If you are talking to a person for over a month about trading tickets, how absolutely heartless of you to wait until the last minute to back out. That is just so so rude; I was truly appalled. If you're out there, chica... shame on you. Thank heavens things always work out with Phish, I tell ya.
Anyway, Nick was beside himself upset. He gave up the thought of going to the Halloween show almost immediately, and didn't waste his time walking the boardwalk or casinos with his finger in the air. Myself and a few friends of mine did; we spent precious drinking time walking the boardwalk and around the Trop to no avail, finger stuck worthlessly in the air among the other hopefuls. We sent out mass texts, posted to craigslist, phantasytour, phish.net, everywhere. We really did what we could, and come show time, Nick didn't have a ticket. His bags were packed, he was ready to go. He had school, a paper due, didn't want to drive through the dark. All sorts of reasons to give it up. Something in his heart just wouldn't let him, and my poor friend was physically disturbed to the core.
Then a Phish miracle occurred that doesn't come in the form a free ticket. Our wonderful friend Nate came out to the hallway where we were trying to find a solution for Nick and he said to us, "Guys, I'm gonna give Nick my ticket, someone just has to convince him to take it. I'll find a way in, I know I will; there's just no way I'll sleep comfortably knowing he didn't go to the show. I'll be as upset as him if we don't get him in somehow."
Hearing this, and knowing, of course, Nick wouldn't take the ticket, I went back into the room to do some convincing.
"Nick," I said. "You're the reason we're here. If not for you, none of this would be possible, you have to go to the show tonight. I know you've seen Phish and I know there will be more shows (in response to his protests), and I know you have school, but you're here now and you should be in there in half hour. Take Nate's ticket, he needs you to have it. He's not going to the show without you, and you have to take that ticket or it will be wasted. This is how Phish karma works, he'll get in. He'll get a miracle or sneak in or slip the guard a bill or two, you've got to take that ticket. And you know what, since there are so many more shows, and this is our Phish crew, you know you can hit Nate back next time. Don't turn this down. Come to Phish tonight, please," I begged with him. It was almost selfish of me, I love going to shows with Nick.
I don't know if it was my girlie charm, or my genius speech, or if Nick just realized it would be worthless for him to go home, but he took the ticket. We all rejoiced. Even Nate, who was losing a ticket, was thrilled to give it away. And you better believe, Nate got into the show no problem at all. We enjoyed the whole thing together. And I will never, ever, ever, forget the love that Nate showed for Nick, all because of Phish. It was a most beautiful experience for me, embedded in something so powerful and special, I won't ever forget either.
More about Halloween later, I'm sorry yall. But isn't that a great story? I love my phamily <3
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