Some Random Phish Thoughts

This is the section where I'll post some of my, or anyone's, random Phish thoughts. If you'd like a thought posted here, email me at andy@gadiel.com and if I like it, I'll post it.

I'm sitting here listening to VA Beach '98 and it finally comes to me why the cops in that town were more assholish than any I've ever seen: they're beach
cops.  Redneck beach cops.  Typical city cops spend more time directing traffic at football games and leading funeral processions than they do breaking up
parties.  Cops in beach towns, however (and particularly in a vacation spot as popular as Va Beach) are going into parties and cracking heads all the time: 
high school and college spring breaks for example.  And when the cops come into a party like that (some of you can probably testify to this) they come in
quick, tough, and not ready to take any shit.  They want to scare you shitless in order to make you easier to deal with; how else could anyone convince a
houseful of drunks to pour out all of their liquor?   So, that's their preferred mode of operation (let's assume); now check this:  one Sunday early in August
Phish comes to town.  This should be a peacefully chaotic evening, lots of people checking out and checking in, a day of rest for a law enforcement office
that is tired and moody after a long weekend at the height of the season.  Instead, there's a raging party brewing at the Ampitheater:  freaky looking kids
engaging in lots of suspicious-looking if not exactly illegal activities.  The cops can handle this, they know parties...the vendors are shut down, beer is
poured out, a couple of cars get searched.  But that's at 4 in the afternoon, and the crowd isn't getting any smaller, it's growing...any Johnny Law can see that
from horseback...and the trouble with these damn kids is (Officer Barbrady thinks), they don't fear me.  My presence isn't enough to cow them, my badge
doesn't make them knuckle under; in fact they seem to enjoy taunting me.  So Ponch and John start to get a little sweaty, it's humid as hell and everywhere
they look no one gives a shit about the authority that their fragile egos need so preciously; no one seems to care that they are the Star-Belly Sneeches who
get to carry guns around.  Not knowing what else to do, Lenny and Carl decide that it's time to start making these fucked up kids understand who wears the
pants in this world.....
...And that's how we arrive at the horrifying gestapo tactics that were seen at Virginia beach.  Does this make sense?  I think anyone who was there will agree
that Terrapin or no Phish should never return to that forsaken pisshole, the good jam to bad Karma ratio just isn't high enough.  Eric Keselr -
drtjeckleburg@hotmail.com

well, this thought is more about andy gadiel than about phish, but i had
this very strange dream that i was in this room, in a college i think, but
not the college i'm actually in, and andy gadiel was there.  he was a
really cool guy (in real life as well as my dream i'm sure), in the dream
he had about chin-length frizzy brown hair and was wearing a striped long
sleeve t-shirt.  we were talking about random stuff and phish of course and
some of our favorite shows and then there was a fire drill and we were
forced to leave the building.  random.  just thought you might be amused.
-jon
jr443@columbia.edu     

  Interstate 95
 How things doin.....this here is my story from the summer tour.  "The
Road To Raleigh".  I left my home in Richmond, Va with my friend Ben at
12:00pm, to head down for Raleigh, Nc.  A three hour drive(sounds like
Gilligan already!).  We stopped at the best barbecue shop in town before
leaving, 'Big Daddy's BBQ'.  The service took about an hour, but the BBQ
was very tasty..it's an order-up shop.  WE left for Raleigh, again.  One
hour into the trip, driving along Interstate 95, we hit THE big traffic
jam of Emporia, Va.  Emporia is 1 hr south of Richmond, but it had
already been over 2, when the traffic reached a standstill.  Here we
exchanged grapes for raisins with some nice phans in a red Jetta.
Thanks.  Motionless for 15 minutes, Ben got out and walked.  "I'll go
about a mile up the road" ben remarked, before he embarked.  I slowly
moved behind in my car.  Ben was nowhere in sight.  Left lane traffic
was moving faster, so I jumped into it.  One mile passes...still no Ben
to be seen.  2 miles...no Ben.  "he must be going faster than I thought"
I thought to myself.  3 miles...no ben...I'm going 40 mph...no ben.  "he
must have run!" I reasoned.."ben likes to run!"  4 miles...no ben.  "I
can't stop and turn back...he's got to be in front of me!  Just one more
mile!"  5 miles...no ben in sight.  Approaching 6 miles, still in slow
traffic, an hour after him getting out, I decide to pull over and ask
the guys in the red Jetta if they have seen him.  "I don't think so
man"  they reply.  With my car on the side of the road, I begin my
journey south on I95 on foot.  Equipped with sandals, shorts and t
shirt.  I search the traffic for phans on their way, but they are few
and far between.  Most are coming north from Atlanta.  TO my joy, I see
a white VW bus approaching with a long haired, shirtless passenger
hanging out the open window.  He shouts, "DUde, your friend is like five
fucking miles down the road!!!"  I thank him, and realize my only
option.  I began to run.  Expecting Ben to walk towards my direction, or
to hitchike, I continue with a positive attitude.  So I run...1 mile...2
miles(I'm walking by now...I'm no athlete)...3 miles...My feet blister
open from sandal chaffing...4 miles...I ask several construction workers
for rides on machinery to find ben...they speak no english...I really
hurt..I'm sunburnt...blistered..bleeding...asphalt covered...bad
shape...I move on....5 miles...curious, I try to ask passers by if they
have seen guy on side of the road....dobody wantsd to talk to crazy man
on highway....I reach the place where I left ben
off...limping..exhausted...crazed..dizzy....There he sits..on the
guardrail..head between arms...obviously distressed with the incident.
Over traffic I yell repeatedly..he eventually hears, anbd I laugh.  It
was crazy..I had my words with him...but we still had another mission to
accomplish...get back to my car!!  Hitchike..the only option..it was
4:30, and we still had 2 hours to raleigh, but there was still traffic.
I could no longer walk!  After several rejected attempts, a large brown
70's model pontiac pulls over.  Inside are two old, porch monkeys.  We
accept, and get in.  The car smells bad, and we can't understand porch
monkey language.  Unable to decipher, we say yes alot, and "just a
couple more miles."  Porch monkey car begins to smoke..they don't
niotice at first, but pull over befor anything explodes.  We thank them,
offer assistance, and move on looking for another car.  We get a ride in
a nice new nissan.  young man driving.  introduces himself, "Hi I'm
Romeo"  Yes this was his real name.  Romeo.  WE get to my sweltering hot
car, and proceed to raleigh...out of traffic by 5:30, still two hours to
go, I push 90mph all the way.  WE arrive, parking 1 mile away in a
baseball field.  Ticketmaster screwed us over again, so we had to run to
will call before it closed.  It was 7:15pm.  Iin pain, we ran and ran
and ran..blisters getting worse...then..the sky ripped open and it began
to pour.  My feet loved it, and it capped off one hell of a day!  The
show bagan while we were in line...we entered, the sky cleared up, and
you all know how it went after that..."...It was a full moon night just
like this one when Col. Forbin climbed the mountain..."  It was the best
of times, it was the worst of times.  Looking back, it was one of the
best days of my life.  Really made the show that much better.  I danced
till I fell.
     Have a great Day
  Brad Ricks     ricksbk@jmu.edu

Special thanks to:
    -Guys in the red jetta..those were great raisins, hope you liked the
grapes!
    -White VW bus...gave me direction, gave ben some friends, offered
more than plenty for the boy without a ride.
    -Girls in the green car...ben appreciated the pepsi.
    -Porch monkeys.
    -Romeo.
    -North Carolina construction people for not making driving suck like
Va construction does.
   -Phish-----you guys are the best!-


Harry Hood. Madison, WI. The Kohl Center. It should have been one of the
apexes of an excellent 2nd set and all-around tight show. Unfortunately,
when the glowsticks started flying, all I could do was cringe every time
one got near a band member or their equipment. For Pete's sake, one hit
the top of Page's baby grand with a loud *thwack* that will definitely be
audible on the tapes. Please, please, please if you want to throw
glowsticks, do NOT do it in the direction of the band. I'm sure it's cool
to try and get one up on stage, but it would not be cool to destroy
equipment, or worse yet, damage one of the finely-tuned band members. I
would suggest sending out informational flyers with mail order tickets in
the future, or maybe do some kind of service message before each show a la
Mickey Hart's "please don't crash the gates" announcements. I don't know
how to stop the madness. I'm not against glowsticks, I'm just for making
sure the band and their equipment is safe and sound for the next show
coming up.

Tom

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

"Phish is a litmus test, a musical mirror of listener's
 tastes and prejudices; and if the existential thrill of
 improvised music doesn't appeal to you, look elsewhere."
                                - Richard Gehr

"What we're doing now is really more about groove than funk. Good funk,
real funk, is not played by four white guys from Vermont. If anything, you
could call what we're doing now cow funk or something."
                                - Trey Anastasio

Tom Pinit
tpinit@gladstone.uoregon.edu

Hey all,
I'll start by adding the requisite line about how I love phish, and that
I'm not trying to bash them, I go to shows, I collect tapes, etc.  Now
the meat of my story.  I am troubled by what I perceive to be an
increase (or at least an increase in the focus upon) of cover tunes.
Don't get me wrong, I am not against all cover tunes, especially those
that Phish have made their own (ie 2001, Cities come readily to mind).
However, I would rather hear original phish tunes than hear phish play
note-perfect renditions of other people's songs.  For example, while I
was blown away by the Sabatoge cover at Lemonwheel, I was disappointed
by the closing tune as "while my guitar gently weeps".  The only thing
that gets reported about these sort of shows is then how "phish covered
song x by band y, song y by band x..."  There is so much more to phish
than ripping off other people's tunes, and I think the band should focus
more on their own songs, and those songs they chose to cover would be
more entertaining if they were "phishified" (ex. 2001).  That's why
"Remain in Light" was the best cover album--they built upon the work of
the Talking Heads instead of just playing rote renditions of the tunes.
This is a rather qualified position I am arguing for (less cover tunes
in favor of original material, not a complete doing away with cover
tunes, dig?).  So if you have anything to contribute to this music-based
discussion, please email me.  Don't tell me I don't "know" the band or
I'm not down with the scene, 'cuz then you'll just be talking out of
your ass and you can spare me the trouble.  But if you've noticed this
trend too, please let me know your thoughts.
peace
andrew
02atm_2@williams.edu




so im at the guitar store i go to everyday at lunch, just got back...
I will be buying a sick acoustic after vegas...

and I'm telling the guy just that,  so he asks why im going to vegas

so i tell him whats up

and he says he has in fact heard of the band (i wasn't sure b/c he speaks with a heavy italian accent and seemed like a bit of a foreigner)

yes, i heard of them, the red haired one was in here this morning (as he points over to the really nice guitar room) 
Trey? Trey ? I said

I don't know he said- I said The Italian- Trey Anastasio?

Yes, his name was Anastasio he said

He told me to go upstairs and ask Nick, who helped Trey, if i didn't believe him

Well Nick told me Trey bought an old acoustic (some weird type made of fiberglass instead of wood- Nick said they are cheap, but a cool item to check out, funky sounding)  and a practice amp. Mike G was in there last night- and they were both phenomenally cool and nice.  another guy in the room said he worked for them at a concert last summer and they were the sweetest people in the world- just vermont boys like you'd expect

he told me to tell him all about halloween when I get back

they're doing letterman, signing books, and guitar shopping

what a life



Here is a somewhat interesting story..

Me and some friends were hanging arounf Freetown Christiana, Coppenhagen
a few hours before Phish was to go on doing the usual.  As the munchies
et in, we decided to go grab a falafel sandwhich at a local booth.  Sure
enougn, Mike was in line with us (No big deal...I mean who hasn't seen
Mike hanging out in the crowds about a million times.)  After exchanging
a few words with him, we walked back through the town and met up with
Trey, Page and Fish.  Here is where it get good!  Page introduced
himself to me and my friends and we started talking.  After a few
minutes, someone put their are on my back.  I turned and it was Trey!!!
He stuck out his hand and said to me "Hi.  I'm Trey but you probably
know that"  No shit I knew that..anyways, we chated for a bit and I can
honestly say that these guys are some doen-to-earth motherfuckers.  I
mean, Trey made a complete smartass remark to me, but it was so funny
the way that it came out, it was so sincere and harmless...

Slamgrass@aol.com



This is the band that was small then big, then bigger and all the
while we danced together. Anyone that wanted to. We could go get our
hand stamped the day of the show back then when they would play in
non-air  conditioned places. We used to hold  up our ticket stubs
when they would play Golgi and the traditions are ever changing, like
the music, it's what keeps us coming back for more. It's the chills
you get when you hear someone describe them, the first notes of your
favorite song, the smile when you make eye contact with another at a
show. This is the place where we dance together and forget about all
the other things for a little while. Hugging neighbors, meeting
friends and again half way around the U.S. and for some the world.
Phish bring me back, memories, sights, sounds. I remember thinking a
2000 person show was huge but how if we all love it so much and tell
everyone so, can we expect them not to grow. It's not a secret I
could keep from anyone. It's me dancing around my living room, its
you driving in your car, its us on the road to the same destination,
the expectation, embellished elation, and knowing that you will be
around wonderfully beautiful people very soon. It's beautiful ladies,
glitter, boys in cords and kakhies, the smell of grilled cheese,
patchouli, fleece wearing baseball caped boys, busses, stickers on
cars, dreddies, homemade clothes, shaggy hair, trading, miracles, all
 kinds of kids from all backgrounds, from all over, a wonderful
kaleidoscope of humans traveling across the folds of the land. So if
you don't mind I will sit and smile in my contentness that I know I
may not be there tonight but again I will be there, and again we will
be there.
Forever in the bond Kelly
KPHILLIP@TNRCC.state.tx.us



i had the thought today, considering some talk i had encountered about a 
crowd prank on halloween, that it might be cool, when the lights go down 
before the first set, for the crowd to boo. just until they appear on 
stage. i think that they would be totally startled by this for a moment 
and i think that it would just create an interesting vibe for which the 
show to build upon. think about it. how would it be to hear the arena 
filled with incessant booing, welcoming phish onto the stage? run it 
through your mind, if you will, and decide if it might be interesting. 

Thanks,

Jay


 Earlier today I was hanging out at a friends house and his 17 year old
sister asked me if I had gotten my tickets for Hampton. I told her yes and she
said that she, too was planning on going. Now, this really made me mad. First,
this brings up this issue of the crowd scene at shows. It seems that more and
more kids are showing up for the scene and not for the music. Well, I asked
the girl why she was going and she looked at me and awe and said cuz she
wanted to. Now, I'm a firm believer in helping people reach out and experience
phish, but I knew that this girl didn't like them. This girl is a girl that
listens to rap and dresses in really short shorts and midriff-baring shirts
and lots and lots of make-up. I told her that live phish sounds nothing like
the cd's and she said it didn't matter. So, again, I asked her why she was
going and she responded the way I was expecting. She said, and I quote, "for
the scene." That just got me really ticked off. Here was this girl who
practically never listens to phish and doesn't give a rats ass about the band
and she was all ready to go to a 2 day show in hampton. Like I said earlier,
I'm all for people experiencing the music of phish, but not the way she wanted
too. In my opinion, she was a waste of a ticket. She has no right to go and no
right to own a ticket. The good news is that I just saw that the Hampton shows
already sold out, so there is no way that she can get a ticket and go. That
makes me very happy. Phish shows are for people who go for the music, not for
the scene. Peace. 

        -PhishyAndy




I was listening to 3/31/93 Roseland Ballroom in Portland OR the other
night when in between tunes, Trey talks about "barrels" that have been
placed near the door. These were for canned goods in support of a food
drive for the local homeless shelters and missions, etc. So I thought to
myself, "Hey, why doesn't Phish bring back this sort of canned goods
drive??". Imagine--if each fan brought one can to a show like Lemonwheel,
or even MSG, you would have tens of thousands of canned goods!!! Of
course, I think that this sort of canned goods drive would be best
accomplished on a multi-night run in one town, that way the band could
remind people to bring cans to the next night's show. What do you think???
Are there any organizations affiliated with the band that already do
something like this, that I'm not aware of? How can I get this idea to the
band management?

Thanks for reading, Tom

Hello,
I have tried to get in touch with the folks from the Pharmer's almanac, but it
seems they rarely answer thier phones or check thier email, so I would like to
share my story with you.  On summer tour, I met Fishman's Dad at the Vernon
Downs show.  He was a really cute old man that amazingly enough (because
Fishman is adopted) looked a lot like Jon.  He was real short and cute.
Anyway, I was dancing in the crowd about 20 yards or so from the stage on
Page's side and I noticed him.  I never knew what he looked like, but I put
two and two together seeing as he was a 60 year old guy amongst all of us.
So, when Trey asked the crowd the trivia question of "what was the name of
Fishman's high school band", I listened in on his conversation with the older
(40 or so) lady in front of me.  --He said he couldn't remember.  I noticed he
had a backstage pass around his neck and knew it was definitely him.  So, I
introduced myself in between sets and asked him if he was going backstage
after the show.  I knew that even though I had tried to get to the after party
for most of the tour, I wouldn't be able to ask Fishman's Dad to get me there,
so I had to be discrete and do something else.  So, I asked Daddy Fishman if
he could give Jon a note after the show when he saw him.  He said sure!  So I
scribbled down a few words on the back of my setlist and gave it to him.  He
was so nice, he even asked me if it was okay to fold the note! ---it was on
the back of my setlist, and he treated it with the utmost respect.  I told him
he could do anything he wanted with it, as long as he was going to give it to
Jon.  He said he'd be glad too and I thanked him and continued with polite
conversation throughout the rest of the set break.  The note that I gave him
read:

Dear Jon,
Play Sanity up at the Lemonwheel
Pretty Please

The rest as they say...is history
Fishman cares!

I was hoping that the Pharmer's people would put my story in the next almanac,
but they are so slack about getting back to me.  If you could maybe post this
or something it would be cool.  A lot of people love Phish, but don't know
that they really do care and I would like to let them know how much Phish
really cares about us too.

Thank you
Jeni Enck
Athens, Ga
Jenivirgo@aol.com

So here I sit on Sunday morning, about a half hour before Madison tix go
on sale, and I am still bothered by yesterday's events. My friend is in
Madison and went to TM yesterday to get UIC tickets. Unfortunately, the
tickets were on a 15 minute delay everywhere except the Chicago area, and
well the show sold out in 8 MINUTES!! Is that a new record?? How quickly
did Vegas sell out?? Anyhow, the floor seats were apparently _gone_ in 1
minute. It's amazing how quickly Phish can sell out a 9500 person venue,
even with mail order tickets making up some significant percentage of
that. So, needless to say, I am worried about even getting Madison tix,
even with my friend currently in line at the Kohl Center box office. Do
you think Phish can continue to play 3,4 night runs at these smallish
places like UIC and the Greek if it's almost impossible to get a ticket? I
mean I checked yesterday and there's still tickets for the McNichols show!
Does no one want to attend that show or something?

Thanks, Tom

This is going to be short. Please read the well articulated artical in
Jam Bands by Jeff Waful. This is what forces me to say that we dont
deserve phish. isn't that rediculous that i could say that? well its
true. hopefully not everyone is like these "glow stick tossers", but i
ask you who was standing next to these losers? if i saw them doing that
and they didnt stop after they were asked id at least try to divert them
from the scene. And finally the rumor about phish having the newyears
concert in Hawaii, i hope  its true!

                                    Thanks
                                                Blake

I don't know if anyone picked up on this or if everyone picked up on this,
but, at the 'Wheel, when the elephant started spraying water on the phans,
I took that as a reference to Carlos Santana's remarks about how Phish's
phans are like flowers that get hosed by their music.  We were hosed,
literally!  Make Sense??

                                     ~Jason~
                               axilla@interlog.com





Some guys down the hall from my apartment building are Phish fans, as am I.  We both knew that one another would be mail
ordering tickets for the L.A. and Vegas shows, but we didn't order together.  We had planned to road trip together for the shows.  We
both ended up having our orders filled (joy).  When we went to compare tickets, we were totally psyched to see that they got Section
A, row H seats 121 & 122, while I ended up getting seats 123 & 124 at the Greek.  Pretty cool, huh?  


How about for a mass crowd prank we all go wild yelling and screaming and
clapping when the lights go down and the band comes out on stage.  It might
be tough to convince everyone to do it at the same time, but you know how
spontaneous things happen at Phish shows.  I think all we need to do is
organize a critical mass.       


Actually Katie, Trey's pun actually had a third conotation.  He said "burning
down" in his traditional dank reference, but I believe he used that phrase
beacuse it sounds very similar to "Vernon Downs".  Trey's wit also worked as
forshadowing for the encore of "Burning Down the House".  But, then again, it's
also very likely that after saying "burning down" Trey was reminded of the song
and decided to play it.  (They've been learning most of their covers during set
break).  But who knows.  -Jeff Waful         

 I went to the Vernon Downs show the other night, and I have an interesting tidbit.  During 'Makisupa', Trey hinted at the encore
cover piece, 'Burning Down the House'.  He actually said "burning down" during the part where he throws in a random line!  I just thought that
was interesting, and that you might think it was too!  
 
I'm attaching a picture of me with Trey (the small version so it doesn't take you forever to download).  I saw him at the beach in Barcelona this
summer, and asked him for a picture.  He was a little annoyed at first, but then he was really nice.  It was the single most exciting moment of my
Europe trip, so I thought I would share it with you!  I saw all of the shows except the Midtfyns Festival and the first night at Barcelona, due to
travel complications.  If the photo is hard to see, and you're really interested, I can send you a larger, clearer version.  I didn't want to tie up your
line because you probably get a million messages from insignificant folks like me.  Tee hee!
 
Thanks for letting me share!  
 
Katie Cook
Fayetteville, NY  





Just got back from the MD->ME run with some of my friends.  All of us
have been catching every phish show we can since 91.  I have around
900hrs on tape or so.  This my friends, was a KILLER phish show!!!  I
was really surprised to see negative reviews about this show.  To each
his own I guess, but let me offer our review.

We had trouble finding the amptheater, and was a little late getting
there.  However, when we got up to the entrance they waved us into the
VIP lot.  We parked, and walked about 500ft to the entrance to the show,
down behind stage left.  There was *NO* line, and the smiling  usher
barely checked our tickets as we walked in.  Once inside we got a couple
beers and some killer lemonade.  The weather was PERFECT, and the crowd
was real mellow.

The show ripped.  The band was extra tight, and the jams were really
interesting.  The songs flowed in and out and everyone was dancin and
having a great time.  The security was asking people not to smoke
(cigarettes) which is cool with me-they're just doing their job.  If you
were discreet about it, they didn't bother you.  One of the ushers by us
was bobbing and weaving his head during the show.  He looked like a
miniature Mike Tyson.  Anyway, the setlist doesn't really do this show
justice.  The evening had the feeling of an older  phish show - it was
mixed up, yet blended together at the same time.  They were very relaxed
on stage, and you can tell that they love playing there.  The
Punch-Bathtub-Lizards-MOMA-Birds was incredible.  Punch grooved, the
Bathtub jam was like the Clifford Ball one turned up a few notches -
Trey was on fire.  And if that wasn't enough a PHAT bowie to close the
long set. This was one of the best Phish sets I've seen EVER.  The sound
was PERFECT.  I could hear everyone crisp and clean-including everything
in Fish's kit.  Trey wasn't all jacked up in the mix.

The second set continued the great jams especially Antelope, Waste jam
was cool, and then some old time Phish goofiness.  YEM wasn't the best
version, but the vocal jam was actually cool.  By the time they started
Chalkdust, nobody cared that it was Chalkdust yet again, and Phish just
ripped it.  Same with Frankenstein-we didn't care what they played by
that point.  Ragtime was entertaining.  And then the encore...I don't
even need to comment on that!  All I know is that we were in the
Orchestra Pit for it :):):)

This was the best show I've seen since 12.30.93 and 7.14.94 by far.
This is a MUST HAVE on tape!!!  To all of you who didn't like it, I'm
really sorry that you don't "get it".  After the show, EVERYONE we ran
into had smiles and laughs and thought "WOW what a show!".  This was a
show for the seasoned phishhead, not all you whiney little teenagers who
bitch because you can't drink beer in the lot.  When I was your age, we
just put the beer in a cup and never had a problem.  DUH!  We also
didn't think the thrill of Phish was drinking or smoking, we went cuz
they are the best fucking band in the world.  And we still do!





In response to the person who suggested a mass-crowd prank for Halloween, I think it's a great idea, except the band would know it was coming.  There's just no way to surprise them.  That's what makes them so special:  they always know what's up with their fans.  They read this website, no doubt about it.  Hello Trey!   A flyering effort could work, if done at the last minute once the band was back stage, or possibly during set break.  Whatever you do, don't try and organize it over the internet.  Anyone remember last year when everyone was planning  to get a My Sweet One chant going   during set break at MSG?  Remember what happened?  The boys busted it out in the first set.    I think it would be great to surprise the band in some way, but it's going to be a challenge.....good luck.




Just a thought, why don't we have a little fun with the band this
halloween and keep them guessing as to what WE (the fans in the
audience) are up to.  We could do something that totally contradicts the
normal band/audience social dynamics.  What if we play off the cult
"thang"  and all dress for the occassion in ceremonial garb, like
wedding gowns for instance (all white of course!).  Or as they take to
the stage instead of a greeting of jubilant applause they find everyone
to be sitting down, meditating in stone cold silence.  Hell, that might
even prompt a first set gamehenge narration!  These are just a couple of
random examples of what we could do if we unite together and take part
in co-creating this amazing ritual that is a Halloween Phish show.  I
believe we could actually do it.  I mean, I witnessed what a few
thousand well distributed flyers accomplished at Red Rocks in '96.
We've got plenty of time to think this through.  I just think it is
about time for us to have the upper hand at a halloween ahow.  Put the
ball in their court so to speak.  WE do outnumber them, but they are so
tight and focused.  Our greatest weakness is in our sheer numbers.  It's
a logistical nightmare to get even half of the audience unified in a
common goal, but not as hard as you might think.  Just imagine the
creative force we could manifest if we did!  I firmly believe in the
spirit of the lyrics to AC/DC BAG when Trey sings, "I'll show you mine,
if you show me yours", or something to that effect.  All we've got to do
is show 'em that we mean business, show 'em that we are ready, yet don't
show 'em until SHOW-TIME, if you catch my drift.  So if we as a
community decide to pursue this random thought, we got to keep it on the
down low.  BTW, I don't wanna jinx the chances of this occurence, but i
personally feel a "We Sold Our Soul For Rock'n'Roll" cover coming on.
>>>just a thought<<<





Didn't make it to Lemonwheel although I should have. My girlfriend Emily
predicted that I would meet Trey way back in June she said I had to
go....due to circumstances I couldn't but she did and took along my
meditation beads to give to Trey as I asked her to. Well sure enough she
ran into him and threw the beads around his head and that was that. Hearing
her tell me that story made me so happy. It was like I was there in spirit
and Trey now knows what an important influence on my life he and the band
has had. Sounds like a much better vibe than the Went, thats good news too.
Now the trick is to maintain these good vibes and energy until fall tour
(and even after). Hope everybody had a blast and I would love to get copies
of the shows....I'll see you all in Vegas and Worcester and get ready for
an extremely sick Halloween run! Peace and Happiness- Phil



A Little Story From Alpine Valley, August 1st, 1998:
  
I am pleased to say that I had a chance to be at Alpine Valley this 
summer, my third time in the past three years of great shows in East 
Troy. This year's show found itself a week earlier in August than the 
two previous highlight of tour shows, '96 & '97. Once again it was a 
highlight of the tour, a truly amazing show. I was far away from Phish 
and the tour for the entire summer, working at a summer camp as a 
counselor, given the opportunity to work with children, a job more 
rewarding than anything on earth. I was far removed, I had but my tape 
collection and discs, which can satisfy one's soul, but not nearly 
akin to a show, which fills one up to the breaking point time and 
again throughout the course of the night. My frined Dave Taus and I 
had been getting ready for Alpine the entire summer, from June 11th we 
would listen to tapes and talk in the ways only phisheads can 
understand. Then began the countdown as the end of July rolled around 
and August 1st came around. Phish was well into a tour that we had 
only seen through the computer, not doing the amazing shows justice. 
Phish truly seemed at their peak. It was an agonizing week. Finally 
the glorious day arrived and we found ourselves at the lot at Alpine 
Valley, only a few hours to go, FINALLY it was upon us. We decided to 
go for a walk, to puruse the vendors, maybe buy a shirt, some munchies 
or toss some disc. We found ourselves about two hundred feet from the 
entrance at about 2:30 in the afternoon and I thought I recognized the 
thundering bass that only belongs to Phish, I looked at Dave and he 
looked at me and we REALLY picked up the pace. We were right against 
the fence and I picked up Black-Eyed Katy, I hadn't known that they 
had reworked it and renamed it Moma Dance but the chorus soon gave it 
away. So Dave and I after a month and a half had stumbled upon Phish, 
soundchecking. What happened next is the stuff dreams are made of. I 
walked around the side to a delivery entrance and ran into a security 
guard and two phans on scaffolding listening as well, we talked and 
the guy showed me setlists from the tour and I was estatic to see what 
Phish was doing, the tour looked GOOD, and Alpine was shaping up to be 
a show!! I ran and got Dave so we could be closer to the soundcheck. 
They ended Moma Dance and Trey played the intro to Tela and stopped 
abruptly and it seemed that the band left the stage. The four of us, 
Dave, myself and our two new friends, whose names I never caught, were 
heartbroken, done already? We walked through a delivery door and ended 
up behind the beer gardens on a balcony overlooking the expansive lawn 
of Alpine Valley with the ski hills as a backdrop, a beautiful sight 
in the early summer afternoon. The four of us stood on the balcnoy 
watching the crew test lights, beer and food vendors set up shop, and 
we stared at the stage with a faint glimmer of hope that the band 
would retake the stage. Eventually Mike came on and strapped on his 
bass, then Page at the keyboards, and Trey on drums, oddly no Fish. 
They started a song that we identified as Albequrque, with the help of 
our tourhead friend. It was Trey and Page on vocals and they were 
having fun, especially Trey. Then Page left the stage and came back 
with his hands out, shaking his head and with a frustrated look on his 
face and from the mics we could pick up, "I can't find him" Obvioulsy 
Fish had taken off and found himself some beer and forgot to finish 
the soundcheck. He later returned with jeans and a t-shirt and sat at 
his kit. They began just playing, nothing distinct, just jamming it 
sounded alot like My Soul, in that fast bluesy sort of vein. After 
about ten minutes Trey started talking about cigars, making up a song 
and they jammed for about ten more minutes and he started up again and 
started talking about beer and how much it cost the night before and 
how it was more expensive here and how the song started out about 
cigars, then he started making fun of Fish and they jammed for about 
ten more minutes. They were having FUN!! Alpine was most defintely 
going to be a SHOW!!! They ended the Cigar/Beer jam (as I labled on my 
setlist) and then went into Albeqerque, this time with a full band. 
THey close out the soundcheck with an energetic Ginsengh Sullivan that 
had the four of us in the beer garden dancing. A great way to start a 
show! Close to two hours of Phish, before the show even started!! They 
had such a good time at the soundcheck and show itself that made it 
great to be back at show after such a long absence. Phish really is 
clicking on all cylinders and hopefully it won't stop for some time! I 
won't even mention how incredible the show was, hands down the best 
I've seen. Phish really turns it up in East Troy. I'm itching for the 
fall tour. Thank you Andy for a page full of such wealth and devotion, 
thank you to whoever read this long-winded mini essay, thank to my two 
new friends who I shared the soundcheck with, and of course thank you 
to Phish.

-andy matragna 
matranga@interaccess.com
ajmatran@syr.edu



This is really random, and don't think I would ever plan to watch Buffy 
the Vampire Slayer, but I was cleaning my room the other day and the TV 
was on.  I sat down when I was done and just kind of watched this show. 
 The scene was something about the stuidents at this high school taking 
a test and checking the grades on a billboard.  they had a closeup of 
the billboard and on the side was an interesting flyer.  You guessed it, 
it was a small Phish flyer, almost looked like those ones that they send 
out with mail-order tickets.  My guess is that some guy who was in 
charge of the scenery is a phishhead and thought it'd be a kick to put 
phish up there.  Anyway, thought you'd like to know.

Dan from MD


what is up up with people and their ability to breath the names of blues
traveller, rusted root and dave mattehews in the same breath as phish or
the dead? every time ive seen blues traveller it has been a
dissapointment.their a bar band at best! as for dave matthews, use some
other words in your songs other than crash, and write about something valid
other than chicks. and rusted root sucks to, please.




I just got back from a 2-show stint (Merriweather and Va Beach), and I
wanted to thank the band and the phans for making it a beautiful
experience.  There was a real sense of community and friendliness
there that had been lacking for the last couple years.  To those who
hooked me up with food, drink, and nug, thanks a bunch -- I didn't
forget to give back.  

After the Went last year, I was feeling pretty low -- for the first
time, I felt old.  Not because nearly everyone there was younger than
me, but because the kids had this idea that since I didn't have dreds
and was out of school, I didn't fit in.  I saw people there getting
into fights, and just being rude as hell.  That really infuriated me
-- I missed the sense of community; a feeling that I only got with
Phish.  I'd seen the Dead, and the people were, for the most part,
extremely cool; but it "wasn't my bag".  Phish was.  

A lot of older people like to ramble on about Phish's "glory days",
when they were playing places that held 4,000 people, and not even
filling them up -- which was cool, but to constantly talk about this
is just as elitist as the kids at the Went.  

Just remember: the music is for everyone, and unless you get a
backstage pass from the band, you're only equally as welcome as anyone
else.  Remember that everyone there is there to see Phish, and seeing
Phish because they feel the same connections that you do.  Remember
that we're all "family".

Thanks for keeping the scene a beautiful one.  Peace.



As I spent a relaxing Sunday remembering and rejoicing in the happiness the
Grateful Dead and Jerry Garcia have brought to my life, I was unaware of the
shock that tonight's setlist would bring.

TERRAPIN STATION!!!

As a big dead and phish fan, this just brings chills to my body.  I'm not
sure if the average phish fan realizes the significance and underlying
meaning of this Dead masterpiece.   I'm not about to explain it now.  I just
will retire to my bedroom, knowing that on the anniversary of a great
musician's death, special energies were released into the cosmos, and
something special happened.

Its moments like these that make me feel just happy to be alive....

Peace-In-Music,

Mark L.

a quick thought:

When I was just getting into phish a friend gave me a tape containg the
entire gamehendge narration.  I liked the band, but this moment defined
how I now feel about them.  I put the tape in and lay down for a nap.  I
tried to coerce myself to sleep, and as the music played, I got
relaxed.  But, I found myself sinking into the songs and the words
instead of sleep.  In fact I couldn't sleep, it was so good I was sucked
in, I listened to the whole tape and reflected on it.  I remeber
thinking to myself, no music had ever made me completely go into a zone
before.  It may sound silly, but it really did, and I can't thank jimmy
b enough for giving me that tape, cause it put me there, got me into the
band.  So, thanks jimmy.----

--Wigs, NJ




Dreaming of Lemonwheel...

I hope that Lemowheel is even more PHATTY and MEGA than last year!  I
can't have too many PHATTY and MEGA things in my life.  Listen...it's
calling to you softly..."Meeeegaaa Buuuurrrgerrr, Meeeegaaa
Buuuurrrgerrr."  When I get into the lot, I'm going to crack open a
PHATTY cold one.

Me an my boys are riding up in a PHATTY MEGA RV.  Search this!

I 'm imagining that they finally got that dang hot-air balloon up and
they flew over the crowd showering down glowstick-like "snow" during
"Bliss".  Can someone arrange that for me?  That would be too f*cking
cool.

KMC
Blacksburg, VA  7/27/98




My thoughts on Meeting Phish this summer:

I saw my 1st Phish show in May of 1994 at Montezuma Hall located at San
Diego State University.  I had seen the Dead a few times, and was
planning on doing the west coast Dead tour that summer (which I did).  I
kind of went on a whim, just killing time til the jerry shows 3 days
later.  I was literally knocked off my feet when they opened the show
with Llama (I had eaten something that was making me feel really weird
and had to sit down, right in the middle of the floor of a GA show =D).
I've seen every Phish show I could make it to since the 1st notes of
that Llama rang out.  I was impressed at how tight and big these guys
could sound in such a small venue, and then take advantage of the
venue's size by playing "unplugged" (I hate that mtv-ized term).  It was
like they were still small time down home guys at heart, but could blow
the roof off the place at any moment.

Fast forward to 4 years later.  I'm SICK of my job, and I need some time
off and the west coast leg of the summer tour is calling my name.  At
the last minute before we leave my friend asks if this girl can come
along, oh by the way she knows Fishman.  I talk to this girl and she
seems cool so she's on the bus with us.  I wasn't sure if she was
telling the truth about knowing the band, not until she handed me my
aftershow pass for the Portland show.  So the show is smokin', and the
2nd set comes to an end, and I try to find where I'm supposed to go.
Left of the stage up front has a small line of people wearing their
aftershow stickers on their shirts so I know I'm in the right place.  I
meet the SWEEEETEST girl from Massachussets who randomly recieved her
pass from one of the guys in the crew (it's
1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 times easier to get backstage if
you're a girl by the way).  She hadn't ever met the band before either
and was really hoping to meet Page.  We didn't get our hopes up too high
though because we heard that the band sometimes doesn't even come out to
the aftershow party.  Well, this is what a Phish aftershow party is
like: there's tables and chairs set up with chips and salsa, and beers
in the fridge, and you sit there and hang out and wonder "what the
hell?  how did I get here?".  So I'm getting to know this girl a little
better when out of nowhere Fishman is talking to the girl that got me
backstage about 10 feet away.  I get up, walk on over to Fish, shake his
hand, he laughs at my shirt (a fluffhead shirt with buckwheat on it
saying "O-TREY!"), and he goes right back to talking to that girl.
Hmm...not exactly the life changing experience I was hoping for.  So
we're kickin it and the girl that got me backstage runs up to Trey and
hugs him...I'm really starting to believe that she knows the band here
=D.  Trey kind of walks off, playing with Eliza.  Then Page comes out.
The girl I had just met was kind of scared to walk up to him but I
talked her into it and we walked on over.  As you've probably heard he's
a really cool cat.  We talked about Europe and that last show in
Barcelona where the speakers blew up.  He said it was a great show
despite what happened.  Then comes a surreal experience.  I'm standing 2
feet from Page as he's talking to my new friend Melissa, I'm introduced
to Trey, Fishman is like 20 feet away, and Mike pulls up on his golf
cart.  I couldn't believe this was really happening.  I mentioned "hey,
there's mike" to my friend.  Page heard me, and told Brad Sands "Mike's
Here".  They had been waiting for Mike.  Basically I made the band leave
cuz I noticed Mike was there  =D.  Page says, "Dave it was nice meeting
you"...wow...he remembered my name.

Jeez, this is turning into quite a story.  Anyways...

Fast forward to the 2nd day of the Gorge.  We're trying to beat the heat
when Lo and Behold Mr. Jon Fishman walks by.  He recognizes this girl
that's in my little posse, and ends up hanging out with us for like 15
minutes.  I gave him and this HOT girl Eden, carrier of the backstage
pass list, a ganja brownie each...from what I hear he ate it between the
gorge and shoreline and was ripped.  Jon blended right into the crowd,
wearing a Phish hat and everything.  Nobody noticed it was him!  People
were walking by left and right selling doses etc. and they didn't see
that we were kickin it with the drummer of Phish.

Fast forward one last time to Ventura:  The girl that got me backstage
at portland hooks me up again, as thanks for driving to all the shows.
This aftershow party is way more hectic.  There were only about 50
people at the peak of the Portland aftershow party, and there were more
like 30 when the band members were actually out and about.  There were a
good 200 people backstage at ventura.  We got into the line for the keg
and got a beer and kicked back.  I hadn't met Mike yet so that was my
mission.  I walked up to him, said "thanks for playing drowned tonight
Mike", he didnt' acknowledge me, and drove off in his golf cart.  Cest
la Vie.  I talked to Page again for like 2 seconds, and thanked him for
playing sea and sand, which was a song I never thought I'd see them play
live.  I saw a huge cluster of people surrounding a person with that
signature mop of orange hair so I decided against joining the mob around
trey.

The best part of the whole experience of meeting the band was that I
felt a lot closer to them, and the concerts felt more like watching your
friend's band at a keg party than being at a "Major Rock Concert
Event".  Page was really cool for remembering my name, and Jon was
really cool for taking the time out to hang out with us at the Gorge,
Trey looked tired in Portland so I didn't bother bugging him past "nice
to meet you", and Mike...well Mike's a unique guy.  I'll talk to him
someday.

I'm not name dropping here...not a one of them remembers who I am now.
Meeting Phish was something that was bound to happen, and at the very
least it gives me a good story to tell my kids before they head out on
summer tour 2016

Here's my thought:
I was driving listening to makisupa, so of course my thoughts were on 
contraband items. I pulled up to a stop sign and noticed something 
interesting: 
There were two stop signs facing me, one to my left and one two my 
right. Since I was stopped, I took the opportunity to indulge in my 
one-hitter, and when I was done I  scrutinized he stop signs and 
realized that two stop signs side-by-side, when read backwards, spell 
"POTSPOTS"- pronounced "Pot Spots", which is exactly what it was, a pot 
spot! Get it?
Billy
N.C.->Wheel! Oh yeah

Now this is the silly product of a dream I had last night in which I saw the
Shoreline show again in retrospect.  So anyhow I sure am sorry to take up your
time as its pretty long.  Here are me thoughts:
Now at Shoreline, I was on the lawn and so was having quite a good time just
digging the new funk sound without actually seeing the band, but sometine
before the opening of the first set YEM the giant video screens lit up.  And
by
the time YEM had begun, the skies had grown dark enough to actually see what
was being projected onto the screens(Thank the Lord for contrast).  In my
opinion, this exceptional YEM with a nice funk groove that reminded me of the
new Black Eyed Katy-style was enhanced by the video screen showing closeups of
Trey, Page and Mike actually playing their instruments(we got to see their
hands!!--Fish was behind  his kit so no closeups of the brother in the
sundress
who would be our own private dancer with a rendition of Sexual Healing the
following night).  Anyhow, during the nutty funked section before the vocal
jam(which was way funkier than usual), the camera hung on Trey just as he
stepped up to his wah-wah pedal and began to scratch out the deep funk rythms
high up on the fretboard.  There I was watching Trey with his eyes closed
behind his thick
glasses and with a gaping smile as his head covered in red hair bobbed from
left to
right with the beat. 
   This image of Trey in such a state of bliss under the red lights(supplied
by Chris, of course) found its way back into the fore of my thoughts last
night as I slept.  And as I woke up I thought back to the dream and realized
that Trey looks an awful lot like that Red Dancing Dead Bear that we have all
seen on Happy Vans on the road going from show to show or parked in the lots
selling the cold vegetarian pasta.  Let me no what you think.  I think Trey is
actually channeling the spirit of this Dancing Bear during the really intense
funk jams that we are witnessing nowadays because, as we all know, red is the
color of funk and bears are the funkiest animals in these parts.  And yes
drawings do have spirits...Trust me, I know.
Dylan <' } } {

now, i realize what i have thought of may be a bit far fetched and i may be
stretching it just a little bit,  but one day, i cannot remember the exact day
or anything, but over a year ago, i was listening to harpua. i cannot remember
which show it was, but that does not matter, for it is irrelevent to what i
have come up with.  i have tried explaining my theory on harpua to many
people.  they refuse to see what i see and call me crazy. if anything, im just
wrong! not crazy!  so, getting down to the point-  when jimmy's kitty, poster
nutbag, dies, his father suggests jimmy gets himself a goldfish. jimmy refuses
to get a goldfish, he simply says- i want a dog.   so one day i began
thinking- is this foreshadowing?  maybe jimmy saying that he wants a dog is
hinting that this next dog could be another harpua.  see- harpua is a mean old
dog cause his master got pissed off at all the towns people for lets say-
sending them into exile...so harpua gets mean and seeks revenge! if he cant be
happy- no one can!  so he either kills poster, or contributes to the death of
poster....so when jimmy says he wants a dog...is he saying he's pissed? is he
saying he wants to seek revenge for poster's death?  will this dog be the next
harpua?    
   well, i am not saying that its a foreshadow of the making of another harpua
song- like harpua 2...or some shit like that, im just saying that maybe jimmy
wants revenge.....now does this theory seem that crazy to you?  gee....i hope
not..maybe im thinking too much, but cant you kind of see what i am saying? =)
     if you can even remotely see where im coming from- support me please! let
me know what you think.  :o)
~~jacie     eliza44@aol.com

In reference to JaminL's post -
Is it a feeling that there's something you need to do?  Like you have
something in your pocket, but you're not quite sure what its for or what
to do with it.  I experienced a strong feeling like that at the end of
the Albany show.  I kept feeling like Page wanted to play Squirming
Coil.  It was a child-like voice (which I associated with Page) that was
asking the powerful sound of Trey and Mike to come out and play a nice
game.  During the encore of My Soul, I had to leave.  I couldn't stay in
my seat anymore.  I didn't know what I had to do, but I left.  I missed
the Coil that I knew was coming. 
        So, I don't know how it ties in with what you are feeling.
Maybe there is something guiding us and it directed the Coil at the end
of the show.  But, "it got away, yea.  It got away."  I link Coil's
lyrics to missed opportunity.  Maybe the enlightened state is the one
where something is under your skin, the knowledge of our own mortality.
Is the mind that is aware of its limited existence an enlightened mind?
We get a feeling that there is something to do because we know that time
is limited.  Is the feeling of love mixed up with regret in some way.
We love things because we know that they are temporal.  We want to hold
them close because we know deep down that they will cease to be.  Maybe
that feeling isn't a cause of grief, but the key to how we love in the
first place.  If everythng was eternal, could we find love?  
        Is there some connection between the lyrics or the inspiration
for Design that fits into this idea?  I don't know.  Just thoughts.
                                                Big Daddy Lamar


Brian and Robert is slow but a good song.  Almost like a sTREYnge design or
something of that nature.  Meat is cool.  Gordon is great on the vocals and
the funk is deep and varied with nice stops and starts.   I Ficus needs
another listen on  my part to be reviewed.  Alot of words and a little
mumbly from the first take.  Does not mean it is not special live.  Shafty
i sby far mt favorite Phish song right now.  I got the tapes of 4-5-98 and
wow was it awesome that night.  It is so funky and gordon's bass riff is
awesome.  The lyrics are cool too and can actually be understood which is a
rarity with most phish lyrics.
JYW
Peoria IL

A friend of mine just told me about this website and I have been getting my
fill the last couple of weeks, checking out the Europe setlists, rumors,
and other good stuff.   I have seen a few shows a year since 94' and I know
in the eyes of major phish fans that is not all that much but to me they
are far and away the best live act there is.   I just saw the shows at
Portland, the Gorge, and had to stop after Shoreline and report to work on
Monday.   What a bite in the ass that is.   The reason I wrote was mainly
to say that the 2001 into Mike's Song>Weekapaug to start the second set at
the Gorge on Friday was the best hour of Phish that I've been lucky enough
to witness.   I'm not gonna say it changed my life but it sure made me feel
a whole lot better about it.  In a nut shell that is the power of music and
the beauty of Phish.   Of course with a little funk and heavy metal thrown
in for good clean phun.     Rock on,  Ryan.

Story from Albany fall tour 1997

The first set opened in classic fashion with funky bitch > 2001 which
was sick and funk-filled cities.  So as expected, we were groovin'. 
However, in the midst of this nice beginning we noticed the couple in
front of us.  Now let me preface, this, because I don't want to cause
any turmoil, I do understand people who zone into their own world at
shows, but these people were beyond anything comprable.  it's one thing
to be involved in the music but...these people were nothing short of
hilarious.  The man: 45 years of age, gray pony tail.  The woman:
sitting the entire show quietly writing away trying desperately to
record the setlist.  Anyway, the man would slowly spin 360 degrees
throughout the whole show.  So slow that he would be staring at us for
periods, with eyes closed however.  But, what got us was his odd
movements, they were harsh, not flowing or fluid, sharp punching motions
some directed up toward the sky ithers straight out.  We thought that
this was a tough one.  During the set break we asked to see their
setlist and of course it was wrong, so we suggested that it might not be
correct and the man awoke from his state to have debate with us, in
which he was clearly wrong, as he claimed that the set did not open w/
funky bitch.  Any, second set, he is back in motion punching left and
right.  near the end of the show, i managed to drop my cigarette right
in the woman's hair! this was completely by accident, but they had been
so rude to us during the break that we said nothing.  She accosted us
after the show saying that we had burned her hair, which was a gross
lie, it wasn't even on her hair for more than a second.
        The funny thing was that their antics made the show a little more
interesting, coupled with an antelope encore that left me joyful for
days.  Without the punching man and his wife, I would not have as phond
memories of the show, guess it has to be that way.  See you at
merriweather.



Strange Design from albany 12-13-97 embodied my recurring dream, I don't know
why, but I have a dream where I have something to do, something important,and
I have no idea what it is, it's not just a dream though, it's the feeling that
the dream gives me, sort of incompleteness, something lingering, but it's not
a bad feeling, almost an enlightening one.  As i try to put it down on paper I
realize that it is impossible to explain.  the dream is not concrete, it's not
always me and it's not always something to do, it's basically a feeling that
kind of shows me that there's some fated force guiding people's lives, not
just themselves.  Anyway in my car I was listening to that tape and all of a
sudden had that feeling, it was the first time I wasn't sleeping(or half
sleeping) when I experienced it, I had to pull over and let the feeling pass,
before I could continue driving.  I have listened to Strange Design from that
show and others since, and never again have I felt it, but I do know it's
real.  

JaminL@aol.com

This might take awhile...but I call this one "Thank you long haired Dave and
your magic van"

It was Santa Barbara, California sometime in the morning of 5-17-94, and the
phone rang.  On the other end was a friend who was more than just a bit
excited. He had won four free tix to that night's Phish show at a little
theater on State Street. Normally they show movies there so I thought this
quite strange. Now at this moment in my life I had yet to see a Phish show, in
fact I had yet to even hear a single note; radio, boot, cd or otherwise. I
wasn't planning on watching TV that night and it was free and friends had
compared them to my musical love (dead) and so I said "sure why not." We
walked to the show from our home and immediately I saw why there were the
comparisons. There was a girl first off, walking back and forth in front of
the theater holding a finger in the air, asking for her "miracle". I remember
mocking her. I thought to myself "Don't expect one sister, even if you do get
in, this ain't the dead" 

Now the Arlington is a killer place to see a movie, it's got a balconey and
all, but the real treat of the venue is the setting. It's kind of like being
transported back a century to a scene right out of Spain or Mexico. The walls
aren't walls at all, instead there are these facades of villas, so that if you
are down in the regular seats on the floor, it's like you're sitting in the
street and you would expect children running barefoot among the cobblestones,
mothers doing the wash and a donkey tied up to a post. The villas have windows
and roofs, balconies and vines running up the adobe walls. The lanterns
flicker with candle light and the wooden doors ask to be opened, maybe leading
you into a family's home where some killer sangria might be waiting for you.

1st set: Suzie, Maze, Mound, If I Could, Scent, Ginsing, Dog Faced Boy, SOAM,
Coil

The scene was insane with dancing, people were literally climbing up the
walls, up onto the balconies of the villas and the lanterns backlit their
grooving bodies. Smoke everywhere. As it was May 17, it was Page's Birthday
and in the middle of his solo for Coil, Trey brought out a birthday cake,
candles aflame. Some might take the time to say here that it was
unbelieveable, well more so was the idea that I just wanted to go home, second
set I could do without, in fact I could have done without the first one. 

Well my friends talked me into staying, insulting me with words to do so. So I
stayed and immediately regretted it, it was not what I wanted, but they kept
passing me the green hit as a way to keep me in my seat ( I sat down in
protest of the show)  I have no idea what I was thinking, some of it probably
had to do with the fact I was a serious deadhead and felt the comparison was
not fair and because they weren't ANYTHING like the dead I held it against
them. I wont list the second set but at the time it finished, none too soon, I
prayed there wouldn't be an encore. I was bummed to see the band take their
places, but the minute they tore into AC/DC's Highway to Hell a little
something clicked and I appreciated what they did with the song, I mean even
by the standards I had at the time it ROCKED, and lord did I get up. Even so I
was still not ready.

2 1/2 years would go by before I went to my next show. Jerry was gone to us
now and the missing thing in my life was the music that had died with him. It
was my birthday and yet another phone call from another excited friend. He had
gone out and gotten tix for the Cow Palace show 11-29-96 and was determined to
take me.  I hemmed and I hawed trying to come up with excuses for not being
able to go, after all I thought, they wont play just AC/DC covers all night.
But my reasons were lame and it's rude to turn down a birthday present so I
begrudgingly got into the magic van and made the trek north with three friends
to the show. 

The lights came down, the fun guy inside me came up and Frankenstein was on.
Like the monster it is, it took over. The something in me that clicked during
the Highway to Hell encore that had been laying dormant awakened as well and I
was OFF. NICU, Cars Trucks Buses, Zero, Divided Sky, Bathtub Gin, Life on
MArs, Maze, and Suzie followed and there wasn't a moment my body stopped
throughout it. I didn't know I could be moved like that, I didn't know I
wanted to, but there it was, and all I could do was grin and say "DAMN!!!!"
over and over. Somewhere in the middle of the 2nd set closer of one Mr. Harry
Hood I discovered many more things, like pouring water over your head and
stripping down to your levis is a good thing, and as we were thanking Mr.
Minor and my balled up T-shirt was in my hand, soaked with sweat and water
another thing crossed my silly stained mind. The emptiness was gone, I was
full and I let go of that t-shirt, throwing it out over the railing of the
second level and down to the floor below. This shirt was a special one to me,
not only was it the only thing i was wearing, but it was a shirt i had got
from the last dead show I attended, a Phil shirt, the one that that says;
Bass great, Lesh Philling. It felt good to let it go, to see it drift out over
the moving horde and disappear into memory, never mind that it was almost
December in San Francisco and I'd soon be outside dripping with the remnants
of my dancing in the chill of the air, pneumonia is curable right? 

The boys gave us Sample in a Jar as a good night and I cried for it to keep
going, tears of too many things to list. We picked up our stuff, as we had
lost it all and made our way to the magic van. I did San Diego a few days
later, and got on a Greyhound Bus Christmas night to travel 3 days so as to
make the Philly shows. The Magic van has delivered us to a few more since then
and my friend who had taken me for my birthday and I have a pledge to see at
least two shows every year. I am doing the west coast leg from Portland to
Ventura, and will once again get on that DOG for another 3 day trip to make
lemonwheel even though i have no idea how i'll get to the venue once i get off
the bus (help? Baykiddead@aol.com if you have any ideas)  Needless to say, I
thank the boys; Page, Trey, Mike and Jon for philling me with their music.

Some ask me why and I tell them the story of the t shirt which ends like this.
The minute we got outside of the Cow Palace there was a guy selling t-shirts
for 5 bucks, and I had just one Lincoln left. I didn't really even look to see
what it said cause i was too cold to care, until I had paid him and was
walking away. On the front it simply said... Free.  

And in a minute I will be.

Hey everyone! Can' wait til summer tour. Just a few positive words. What
is so special about Phish is that we ARE all different. Wouldn't it suck
if we were all the same? Dressed the same, thought the same. Phish is an
identity to most, something that seperates us from the rest of the joe
average world. I am proud to have short hair and have an education and a
career. But that does not make me better or worse than the person who
tours and learns about life through traveling and meeting people and
sells grilled cheese to make a living. We just happen to have different
backgrounds. Let's enjoy each other this summer no matter what we look
like. If we don't, we are resorting to all the crappy racism that exists
in the "real world". I love Phish and the phans because I can walk down
the street and see someone with a Phish shirt and 5 minutes later feel
like that person is my best friend. That is the beauty of our "common
interest". Lets learn from each other, meet each other. If we surround
ourselves with our little groups that we feel comfortable in, we will
never learn or grow! Expand your minds, smile at someone you never met,
start up a conversation with someone you don't know and you will see how
much more fulfilling your life can be. On the subject of tape trading, I
am trying to be as positive as I can without upsetting John Whitler who
posted about tape traders holding out on tapes. I will admit my page
states I am a busy person and I have limited time to spin. But the fact
is I would never deny a person from obtaining a tape they needed. A
little story by a newbie about why they want a tape makes me excited and
want to pass that show along. But most people who ask for tapes say
"will you spin some tape?" and don't even leave a name or a show they
are interested in. Let this be a lesson to newbies and fellow traders, a
little communication goes a long way. Now I know John was probably not
referring to me and there are some jerks out there, so I feel your pain
bro. But I guess I just wanted to say it is important to EMPHASIZE why a
particular tape is important to you and most people i know will
sympathize if you are not being greedy (asking for 8 or 10 tapes). Look
for me on summer tour, I will be the one passing out free tapes for lots
of people. Smile, be happy, like someone said earlier "this will not
last forever and if we spend the time complaing and analyzing people, we
will miss all the fun". Peace,

Rob
darkstar@acronet.net


Hey there Phish Phans.  Man, I just gotta say I love you all, and
all you have written on this page.  Both the negative and the positive
are great because it shows we are a real community of caring people,
twisting, thriving, and spinning with different opinions.  For all
those worried about the "scene," let it ride, we're doing ok.
  But the "scene" is not what I want to talk about, well not exactly
what I want to talk about.  See I have been in France studying the
last six months.  In fact, today is my last day!  I leave tomorrow to
return to good ol' Kalamazoo Michigan (ironically just as my favorite
band is pulling in to Europe) but man, I couldn't be happier.  Sure,
it would have been great to see the boys up close in a little room
grooving it out with about four hundred people, but I have my sites
set on Deer Creek. I miss all you guys and I'm ready for you in full
dose.  I miss the "scene", I miss the smell, the feeling, the smiles,
the beautiful girls in dresses and dreads.  I miss dirty feet and
dirty dogs, and veggie burritos, and grilled cheese sandwiches and
Samuel Smith's Bombers!  
  It's all so great, and it all only goes down in America.  It is the
one thing that is uniquely American, and that no European (though true
many Americans as well) can never understand. Now sure, our country
has a lot wrong with it, sure the police force has been given enough
power that they balance on the beam of suppresion.  But our country,
man, our country is where Phish plays, and where we can follow them. 
And the cops never seem to catch all of us, and the cops can't
suppress love.  I guess after all I just want to say that after six
months in Europe, though it is a great place, and has wonderful things
to offer, we still have the best country in the world with the coolest
people in the world.  I thank God that I live there, and I thank Phish
and all you phans out there that help make living there great! 
  I'm coming home baby, I'm coming home!  See you all at Deer Creek! 
If you see me around, say hi and give me a hug, I'll be the one
smiling with sweet contentment from ear to ear.  

 Dominic Siciliano
 dsiciliano@yahoo.com



        Today I wanted to write down my random thoughts about Phish. I'm 16
and many of my friends (who are slightly above Bouncin'-heads) ask me why I
get so many tapes. The only way I can think to describe it is that I've
gotten 'it' and they haven't. 'It' where you realize that besides the fact
that Phish is such a great band, there's so much great music they've played
and you're missing out if you haven't heard it. I got 'it' the 29th at MSG.
I can remember the moment. It was during Theme. I mean I had been pumped the
whole day about going to the show, it was my first time in Manhatten, it was
awesome that they opened with NICU, Crossroads was raging and the doses were
great, but from the opening piano notes to the end there was just this flow
completely seperate from but also coming internally from the band that
filled every space in the room. Every note Trey played would just add to it,
encircle it, and come from it. Listening back it might not have been such a
hose jam, but from Fluffhead on I felt it. I remember it being a dark yet
light blue during Theme, and a reddish orange during DwD. It was this crazy
purple during Antelope, and I can't even describe it during YEM. I was
pissed when my friends insisted we leave to make the train after set II, it
turns out we were 20 minutes early and could've caught a train 20 minutes
after that. But I was happy.
        I went to 4/4 at Providence and got seperated from the kids I went
up with, and I'm glad. I had to split a scalped ticket so the frat-boy in
the making who drove could have his friend go, on the way home he boasted
about hitting Trey with a glowstick. Another kid who went with us ripped me
off for my Sunday ticket after I couldn't find a ride. He said he couldn't
get more that $25 for it and therefore didn't sell it, but I saw the
ticketless hoardes on Saturday and all I wanted was face even if he made
$40. These are the unkind people we must avoid. Anyway I know I enjoyed the
show much more high on Page's side by myself than they did sneaking down to
the floor and trying to get as close to the stage as possible. And to the
guy next to me who passed me his bowl and then I spaced on passing mine
back, I owe you one. The second set was great, but the Hood encore sent me
off thoroughly satisfied. I've loved that song ever since I heard it on a CD
of Santa Cruz 10/19/91 (I'd spread it but some scratches would ruin the
tapes). The encore was the last place I'd expect to hear it, and while not
the most stellar version, the sight of the people dancing in the rafters
summed it all up for me.
        Speaking of tapes, look for possibly a mini-tree or at least a b+p
deal from some of the Europe DAUD/1s I'll be getting (thanks in advance Jon
McLennand!) There are so many kind people out there that it would be awesome
if everyone who gets 1st gens did a b+p deal. Do it for that warm fuzzy
feeling you get when you spread the music with no personal gain. If you
really love the music I can't see how you wouldn't want to as it only
involves the push of a few buttons. I try to do more than necessary to help
out newbies or traders in general because I wish there was someone out there
doing it for me. Spreading the music is what gives me the most joy. And to
those of you out there who didn't see you're first show at Hartford 97' but
in some small club or building, I envy you! Don't be pissed at younger
phans, we're the ones who should be pissed at you for getting to see shows
when we were running around playing youth soccer or going through a
Metallica phase (which I humbly admit). I'll only be going to Lemonwheel
this summer because my parents think Plattsburgh and Vernon Downs are 'too
far' (for what? I say), but I'll be listening to everyone having the time of
their lives on tape. Because where would you rather be than a Phish show? If
you've read this far thanks a lot. Think of how good this band will be in 10
years, how many awesome shows you'll see between now and then, and smile!
                
                Bryan Gilstein  calvin@iconn.net


Hello every one! I am so overjoyed that everyone is expressing their
opinion whether good or bad! It is imperative that we as PHiSH Phans make
the scene work. In order for it to work, we have to embrace each brother
and sister with open arms whether or not it is their first show or even if
they've been a permanent since like the 80's! The reason why groups like
the Dead and PHiSH have the scene they do is becuase the Phans make it that
way! It is you the consumate phan who collects tapes, goes to shows and
spreads vibes and lives PHiSH that is important. But, remember you are not
any more important than the youngin' next to you, askin' his buddies when
bouncin' or fee is supposed to be played! You the Phan who is Phishin'
every day, is important because you are educated in the ways of the scene
and can spread POSITIVE VIBES and inturn, you will make or break the
newbies opinion on the scene!!!!!!!!! If you act BUNK, then that newbie
will say PHiSH sucks and the scene sucks! So it is so very important for us
to be responsible and think about our actions. You the youngin' who is
looking forward to your first show, (look for me at shoreline for your
MIRACLE TICKET!) or even if it is your 50th show, it is important because
you are the Phuture of the PHiSH scene!!!! KEEP IT POSITIVE ON ALL LEVELS.
I'm not trying to preach even though it definately sounds like I am, I am
simply trying to provoke some thought about the state of the scene. I was
at 11-22-97 Hampton Col. and the lot scene was reminiscent of ' 94, very
laid back and way cool!! I was proud of what it had become. In my humble
opinion, it is just a matter of time before PHiSH is playing spots like
Soldier Field, Sam Boyd Silver Bowl, RFK Stadium and others!! These places
hold upwards of 60,000 people! So figure that the scene at the WENT will be
the norm at a two day run in a stadium environment! If we start now with
positivity, we will make a HUGE impact when PHiSH does start playing
stadiums! Remember, it is just a matter of time before this happens. To
qoute one of my fav Hip-Hop groups,      A Tribe Called Quest " We Need
Positivity, Not Negativity, Because We Gotta Strive For Longevity!"  Also,
to quote PHiSH lyrics, 

" RELAX, THE WORLD WILL SPIN BESIDE ITSELF AND SUCK YOU IN, WITH THREATS
AND HOPES BEYOND COMPARE!"------------- New Tune, Relax/Roget


Christopher Cassata------- A.K.A------ Bobby Shortcut
Shows!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Greetings phellow Phish phanatics!!
   Just a plea to all pet owners: Please, please do not bring your pets to
Lemonwheel or any other Phish shows this summer. I was reading the info for
Lemonwheel and it states very firmly that your pets will not be allowed inside
the grounds. This includes the parking lot. I understand that many of you tour
with your pets and while I know that you probably love them more than life
itself, it's just not fair to them to bring them to shows. I can't  tell you
how many times I've been at Phish or Dead concerts and have seen pets tied to
car bumpers while their owners are out in the lot partying. Or someone loses
their pet and the poor thing ends up wandering around with no place to go,
probably forgotten and now homeless. This really saddens me. Just last summer
this guy I know brought his dogs to a show and left them in the car while he
was walking around the parking lot. He came back after the show and found that
they had died from the heat. They were so desperate for something to drink
that they ripped open a bottle of anti-freeze and drank it in an effort to
stay alive. When I heard about this I almost punched the stupid s**thead
a**hole (and I'm definitely not a violent person, but this was so stupid and
cruel that I almost blew it). For some reason, some people think it's cool and
hip to own a pet and bring it on tour. It makes them feel more kind or
something. Well I don't think it's kind at all. That incident was not an
isolated on, I'm sure. Your pets do not have a choice, but you do. Please
leave them at home or at a kennel or something. And if you can't afford a
kennel and feel you have to bring them with you, then you are definitely not
responsible enough to own a pet in the first place. This is a life you are
playing with, not a fashion statement. If you really love them, show them some
kindness and leave them at home. If you don't have a home because are on tour
all the time, then you shouldn't own a pet. It's that simple. I feel very
strongly about this as you can see. To all those who read this and bring their
pets to the show anyway, be warned: If I see your dog or cat and you are not
around to take care of it, I will take it away and bring it to security for
transport to the nearest animal shelter, to be placed in a loving home with
responsible people. I'm serious.
   Anyway, I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels this way. Please be smart
and leave pets at home. See you at the shows. Peace.
                                                                             A
.T.



Well i hope i am not writng this for only my friend John to read and
understand but that it will be at least entertaining for others.  My
thoughts today are of course about tour. Specifically "phish heads"
whose find the need to bitch and moan about every little thing that
doesn't go there respective way. Many times after reading a thoughts
section on Andy's fine page i am near tears. I feel the need to weep
when i read all the hatred and bitterness so called "heads" are sending
toward each other and toward the band. I have to say it is bullshit. I
know people don't like the "Dead comparision" but the Dead paved the way
for Phish no matter how hard one tries to deny it. The Dead had a very
similar following as phish, and when their fans got mad at them or
started fights or gate crashed the band sent out a resounding message.
They told them to stop acting like children to start to love each other
again and have respect for the music because THAT is what it is all
about. Then they said words that haunt me as far as the phish scene
goes, they said to those people who respond to their statement as "fuck
it, we'll do what we want" the Dead replied: "SO CAN WE." Remeber that
people none of this is eternal take every minute to appreciate what
phish does and how they make your life better. What if they weren't
around, i'd like to think that no one could take their place in my life.
So i only get to see 4 shows this summer at least i get to see those 4.
And if you think of yourself as a true "head" then you would go to the
ends of the earth to see them not complain that they aren't playing in
"your backyard." So be kind. And be thankful. To Cactus and the boys
thank you from me and please don;t let these people take you from us.
Andy Kahn- cactus@ocslink.com


Today I sat in the park and wrote down my thoughts about the Phish scene.
I am one of the kids who "trashed" the scene before.  I didn't trash it
for the hell of it.  I "trashed" it because Phish and its' community are
something I really love and enjoy.  I can always go to shows and cut loose
and have a good time.I really can't describe the feelings that circulate
through my body.  Or the wide range of emotion I feel during every note.
Those four amazing musicians give me a high that no drug ever could.  The
music is special all on its own and thats the reason we go to shows but the
scene just adds to the music.  THe scene is just so diverse and wonderful
that you couldnt go anywhere else and find that.  BUt I feel that its
changing for the bad. I am sure everyone will agree that its changed.  And
change is inevitable.  I just dont like how people go to shows for the
drugs or b/c Phish is big now.  Its all about the music.  Just think about
all the things you own, all the things you say, and all the things you do
for Phish.  Why do you do it? If "I do it  for the most incredible music"
isnt your answer then I dont know what is(or something like that).  I have
made some very good phriends b/c of Phish.  I have changed the way I think
and dress and do things for Phish.  And I do it b/c there is nothing I
would rather do than be at a show sharin in the groove.  I have really
given this some thought and I am sure most people that read this understand
what I am talking about.  I just want everyone to appreciate Phish for who
they are and especially for what they do.  They make me glad to be
alive....In my last thought( about the kid writing the setlist trying to
write the setlist down) I really didnt describe right what I wanted to say.
 It just didnt come out the way I wanted to.  I apologize for this and hope
it didnt cause any1 problems.  My main point in that thought was for people
to acknowledge the change in scene and the fact that people arent there for
the music.  That just aggravates me.  At Nassau two kids near my brother
were trying to pick up a girl.  SHe was all into the music and they were
distracting her from having a good time. IS that right? I dont think so.
They are ruining some1 elses good time. If any1 has a prob about what I
have said, drop me a line at phishy1@erols.com. Thanks....tim

Just wanted to drop a few thoughts.  First off, I feel that life is what you
make of it
-and it turn, so is a Phish show.  I know that the "scene" has changed
drastically since say 94, but the music is still good.  Don't waste your time
at your next show trying to anaylize each and every person around you.  There
will be innumerable amounts of different people around, and it can be a
positive thing if we want it to be.  Diversity is the spice of life, isn't it?
I don't know why I let it get to me, but it seems as if most of the people who
post thoughts on Andy's page are professional scene analysists.  If your main
concern is the scene, turn your energy into a positive thing.  Don't worry
about what people look like, but think of ways to help the scene to have a
positive impact on the communities that play host to us.  I can remember going
to shows in the early nineties, and wishing that they would sell out so there
would be more energy in the venue.  Now that shows are selling out, some of
you only want certain types of people there.  That is the wrong attitude to
have. Live and let live.


This message is directed to all people who get crispy low gen tapes.  I
have had some good and some not so good experiences in my 3 years of tape
trading.  Over all it has been great but the one thing that really honks me
off is people who do not share tapes.  You know the people who say i am too
busy or my girlfriend takes too much of my time.  That is a buch of crap. 
If i can find their tapelist and it has a rare low gen tape i need then
they need to help that person out.  Why would a person keep their list on
the net if they are not going to trade?  And if they do not want to trade
why would they not be willing to do a blanks and postage deal.  I have spun
at least 1000 tapes through blanks and postage deals probably in this year
yeah the last 5 months.  Phish and other bands play great live music.  As
many peopel as possible need to hear their music and that can not be done
without people sharing tapes any way they can.  Please be like Kyle
Hanefeld.  Share the tapes.  Be generous and do a favor for someone.  Keep
good karma and stay kind.   Everyone will be so much more happier.  Thanks
to all who have ever helped me in searching for tapes and hooked me up. You
are all the best.
John Whitler


With regard to the 'scene', the growing divisions, the negativity, 
whatever, I don't get it. Anyone ever heard this: "He told me that the 
lizards were a group of people practically extinct from doing things 
smart people don't do" and "their clumsy end was perilously near". 
Anyone draw any connections here? "The lizards would be saved if they 
could be enlightened by the writings of the Helping friendly Book" "THE 
TRICK IS TO SURRENDER TO THE FLOW!" Does anyone else see? 
We are the lizards, the negativity brewing so thick is Wilson, the only 
liberation lies in the Helping PHriendly Book-the band. The tensions 
result from those unwilling or unable to surrender to the flow, which is 
certainly a way to listen to their music, but consider the further 
extension of that. Consider the people who come to shows, the cops (I'm 
fighting the bitter taste in my mouth here), the venues, the 
campgrounds, the ticketless, the Sammy's 4 sale, everything is 
encompassed by this flow. People want to pick what they like from it and 
complain about the rest. Picture a river flowing, if you're going to 
swim in it, you're going to get wet, if you don't want to get your hair 
wet don't dangle your feet and bitch when someone splashes you. 
I had never seen the band truly put off by a weird vibe at a show and 
tensions jagged in the air untill 4/2 Nassau. Trey seemed overwhelmed, 
almost Roger Waterish, and after all of this time to think about it, I 
hope he realizes how much pressure is on him. I'm sure he does, and I 
hope he expresses to everyone where Gamehendge truly is. 
If anyone dosen't believe me, consider when this negativity was inflated 
to such a horrible leviathin. Right after Spring Tour. I attribute a 
good part of this to New York (sorry to those kind who live there, but 
if you lived somewhere else you'd know what I mean)
very strong vibrations around that city.
Well sorry for rambling on so, hope this helped atleast shed some 
positive light. 
"so he led me through the forest, to the edge of a lagoon, by which we 
wandered till we reached a bubbly spring..." let's keep this summer's 
pilgrimage kind and in tune. 
Dan nowtt@hotmail.com 

We will not change anyone by trying. We can only live our life as an example
to others and they will follow.  We can love the music but we must love the
message.  The music is not there for us to abuse it with a drug induced
attitude every show.  I would like to travel parts of this tour this summer
and see les phans on the road who will not talk to me about the music but
only talk to me about the opium-mushroom combination they had.  But there
will be shows , there will be shows were we will all meet together sometime
and share an unbelievible groove that will be unprecedented before.  Hope to
see you there!


To everyone telling everyone else how to act-shut up.The scene is what
it is, and as far as I'm concerned, the music is just getting
better.There will always be people at the lots screwing stuff up-do your
part and have fun.See you in Walnut Creek...:

Wassup kids, 
i gotta say ive read alot of these posts and ive found alot of truth in what
people seem to say about phish crowd. But these dont, and never will
constitute reasons why Phish crowd is a negative thing (to me). Sure if you go
to a show and pick apart the personas, the actions and the appearences of all
its wonderously diverse denizens your gonna come up with some loose ends. I
wanna know why cant we stop trodding through reasons why shit is so bad and
just groove? 
I aint sayin to stop caring, not at all, but to me the key to a kind community
is simplicity and unity. Lotsa kids dress different, lotsa kids got sticks up
there asses, lotsa kids try to generalize and hold others down because of
their outsides, but thats not cus the scenes got a problem, its cus too many
people are tryin to change up the flow and make issues out of things that
arent worth lookin twice at. Keep it simple kids, be happy, be open. Cus I'm
sure everyone of us drivin home or buggin up the highway with some friends
after a show has realized the simple truth: ITS ALL GOOD
Isnt that the only thing that matters? Why weigh?

Keep it real kids
Peacevonspence (LunarEye@aol.com)



 I have been checking Andy's page on a daily basis for about a year 
now, and I have decided that it's finally time I post my random 
thoughts.  To say the least, I get really worried when I see what is 
becomming of the Phish Community.  When I saw my first Phish Show in 94, 
I thought I had finally found the part of my life that had been missing 
for so many years (and I had).  But in the past four years, it saddens 
me to say that Phish tour has gone progressively downhill, not Phish, 
but Phish Tour.  There are several things I would like to address in 
this "random thought", but I will try to touch on only a few of them.  I 
will begin by addressing the whole Dead/Phish thing, as much as some 
people think that the words "Dead" and "Phish" should never be used in 
the same sentence.  Let me begin by saying that I am more of a Phishhead 
than I ever was a Deadhead.  But this does not change the fact that I 
love and respect the Dead for what they did.  Lets face it, without the 
Dead we would not have Phish as we know them today.  Sure, Phish would 
still exist, and they would still play the same great music that we have 
come to know and love today (even though their style of improvisational 
rock was greatly influenced by the Dead), but the Phish experience would 
not be the same.  We cannot possibly believe that in the mid 80s, a 
group of people (hippies) would have evolved, and began following this 
incredibly great group aroung the country, making the Phish experience 
what we know it as today.  If you don't like the Dead, thats fine; thats 
your opinion and you are entitled to hold it.  But there's really no 
need to put them down, just as there is no need for anyone to do the 
same to Phish.
        Let me continue by addressing the actual Phish tour.  Unfortunately, 
there will inevitably always be people at Phish shows who don't belong 
(those who are there for anything but the music).  But those of us who 
are there because we love what these four guys do for us, need to try to 
make Phish tour what it was at one time - a peace loving utopian 
community who was moved by the music of Phish.  We can once again create 
this community by doing only a few things.  First, don't complain about 
the people at Phish shows if you don't know why they're there and don't 
stereotype.  Sure, there may be alot of youngsters at shows, but who's 
to say that some of those kids don't actually like Phish?  I only wish 
that I knew half the stuff when I was 14 that I know now, or that I 
could say I say my first Phish show at age 14.  As far as the people go 
who are there for anything but the music, just ignore them, as if they 
don't exist.  Talking negatively about them only adds negative energy to 
the scene.  And for the people who post negative thoughts here on Andy's 
page, just skip right over them.  If you don't read or listen to these 
negative thoughts, they won't affect you.       
        Also, treat the venues as well as the cops with respect.  I know that 
some cops can be assholes, but by shouting out "pig" when there is a cop 
nearby does not make the situation any better, it only encourages them 
to dislike Phishheads more and to fuck with them more. If we all treat 
cops respectfully, perhaps they will not see all Phishheads the way they 
see us now.  Respect the rules of the venue.  By rushing the floor, we 
are only jepordizing our chances of seeing Phish at that venue again.  
And please people, CLEAN UP AFTER YOURSELVES!!!  We as Phishheads have 
an obligation to keep mother earth clean, not to polute her by leaving 
out shit all over the parking lots of her venues.  Make a committment to 
clean up the area around your car before you leave, even if it isn't 
your shit that you're cleaning up.      
        Finally, BE KIND to all.  Next time you're at a show, randomly hug 
someone, or spark up a conversation with the phriendly phishhead sitting 
next to you.  These are the kinds of things we need to see happening 
more on Phish Tour.  I could continue going on for hours, but this is 
already becoming lengthy.  If what I have written here affects even one 
person, I will feel like I have accomplished something.
        I'll see you all on summer tour.  If you have any comments or opinions 
about what I've written, feel free to email me.  Also, email Andy and 
tell him what a terrific page he has, without him some of us would be in 
the dark about our community.

Peace,
Mike

mikev3@hotmail.com   

I've been reading the stories about the scene surrounding Phish 
turning into a completely negative thing.  I think this is absolutely 
correct, but what many of the posts don't say(or don't say directly anyway) 
is that the scene is what WE make it.  It is not the band's job to control 
the scene, it's not the venue's, it's not corporate America's.  It's ours.  
I have to agree, the scene is going down the pipes, but don't start blaming 
it on anyone who's different than you.  Guess what?  I'm a fourteen year old 
DEADHEAD!  I saw my first Dead show when I was six(That was 1989 for the 
math impaired), and I had to watch them fall down the toilet.  Maybe instead 
of blaming other "groups", maybe we(And I say we because I am, as of about 
1993, more into Phish than the Dead) need to listen up to the other groups.  
I can give you an idea of what they'll say right here:  The kids will talk 
about how they are discriminated against.  At the Shoreline I went to buy a 
burrito and the guy had the nerve to say:  "Isn't this show going to go to 
late for your mom to pick you up?"  I was more than a thousand fucking miles 
away from my home, all of a sudden my mommy's going to come rescue her 
little child?  As a younger fan, who's friends are mostly younger fans, I 
can tell you we're sick and tired of this treatment.  Next, ask the old 
Deadheads.  Depending on how old they are(And how long they watched the 
scene spiral off) they'll say different things.  But say they're truly OLD 
Heads like '69.  They saw the line get drawn between audiences and bands.  
They saw their band move into stadiums(Like many of us have); they saw some 
amazing increases in their population(ie right around '77 first, then around 
the release of In The Dark); and they saw some of their favorite musicians 
die along the way.  These older fans can tell us exactly where things went 
wrong.  And you know what?  There isn't shit that you can do about 
population increases or death.  All you can do is take it in stride and try 
to make the best of it.  That is where the Deadhead community went wrong.  
They alienated each other into groups, just like we're doing now.  That put 
immense pressure on the band, the venues, the government, the police, and 
most importantly, THEMSELVES.  The riots happening were due to the scene not 
accepting itself for what it had become.  We have already seen the 
beginnings of this happen to us.  Red Rocks, Nassau and most likely other, 
less published incidents.  I have news for all of you:  You may not like how 
cops act, but KICKING THEM IN THE FACE WILL DO NOTHING!!  They're only doing 
their jobs.  Let me repeat that:  They're only doing their jobs.  Their job 
is to keep peace and we're making that fucking hard on them.  Finally, you 
want to ask the "tour scum" what they think.  They'll say that they're 
persecuted for their lack of funds.  They have no money, many times no 
family, and often times Phish is their only light.  We need to accept them 
and bring them into the community.  COMMUNITY.  We need to remember that 
word, because ours is falling apart.

                                     Forever,                                   
                                        Ryan

        PS-Picture a bright ball spinning pretty.  A closer look reveals the 
human race.  Full of hope, full of grace...



Just wanted to say that I think that the Phish vs. Dave Matthews Band poll
that Rolling Stone magazine is conducting is rather foolish.  First of all, I
don't know why it matters who has more fans (or more fans that would go to the
trouble of voting in a Rolling Stone poll).  Secondly, why the competition
between two great bands?  I would personally much rather see Phish if I had to
pick between the two, but I have had some great experiences at DMB shows (when
I went with people that intended to dance and frolic).  Sure, Dave Matthews
appeals to pop culture and many phans condemn him for that, but really, what's
not to like about his music?  Just a thought.  BTW, DMB's new CD, which came
out today, is quite a treat - Bela Fleck on 3 tracks and Tim Reynolds on the
whole thing.  Check it out.  Widespread also has a new one out if you don't
have it yet - Light Fuse Get Away, a double-CD live production which is a
must-have for anyone who has or has not seen them perform live.  

Peace, 
John

I'll try to be short....the tomes people submit are understandable (I could
write for hours about the band myself) but it's a little hard to filter the
chaff from the wheat (or whatever).  I just wanted to tell you about a trip
through time I recently took with the help of the SugarMegs gang.  
I'm new to the 'net and was eager to find Phishy findings.  I made my way to
the SugarMegs page by way of AndyGadiel's (which is too good for words) and
started poking around.  I must say here that while I am a longtime fan I don't
go much for the whole meta-community that has formed.  I'm a solitary kind of
guy and find that my enjoyment of the band does not require too much input
from others (that's just me).....if it weren't for the concert I wouldn't go
to the show if you know what I mean.
ANYway....so I'm psyched to find all this music at SugarMegs.....I check out
the "Emotional Rescue" that almost stopped my heart at Hampton last
fall....then the "Julius" from Winston-Salem.....Trey was staring (a cliche I
know....he was staring at the general area I'm sure but.....) right at me
while they took the jam around again....and again...and again.....
So I'm hearing this stuff for the first time (introversion has it's
disadvantages....no trading in a long time) and so I decide to look around a
bit more closely.  I see some "historic" shows listed but keep moving back
through time 'till......wait...can it be?....W.O.W. Hall???? Eugene???? MY
FIRST SHOW!!!!!  I just about died.
So I click on the first set thingy and I'm right there in Eugene on a spring
night (4-4-91) and Jason (aka Critter) Miller (aka 2Legit2Crit) is introducing
Phish and Trey is bending up into OhKeePah behind him.   Critter promoted
concerts for the University, he'd bring Phish back a few more times including
EarthDay '92 when his inflate-able earth beach-balls planted the seeds for
many a BBJ (imho).   My roommate was good friends with Critter and we had
gotten free passes and would pass backstage freely throughout the night (SO
not a big thing then obviously). 
I'm sitting alone in a room and dancing my ass off 7 years earlier at the same
time.  Pure time travel.  I'm going long so I'll try to wrap
up................It was just too much.  I could see Trey's sneakers tapping
the two Tube Screamers....the watch face on his speaker cabinet....Boogie on
top of Page's Hammond......Page looking goofy and super suave all at
once....Mike just looking goofy but head-bobbing-out a goove that wouldn't
quit.....two decals Yin-Yanged on Fishman's bass drum....The show belongs in
the underrated file.....nothing special in the list but the music was so on
the entire night....(after Portland the next night came the real
treat....Evergreen with MAYBE 100 people and the boys celebrating the end of
their first trip to the great pacific northwest.....I couldn't even begin to
describe what happened that night ....PURE MAGIC)   It's been 7 years since
Eugene and while I haven't seen as many shows as I would like I haven't passed
up a single opportunity to see them since (32 and counting).
We got tapes a few weeks later and I must have listened to them more times
than I can recall 'cos as the music came over the phone line to my computer I
knew when every jam-shift was coming...it was like I had seen the show
yesterday.  I lost the tapes long ago but my first was burned into my brain.
A very special night, then and now.
                                                         thanx for the
memories Andy & SugarMegs,
                                                                     LumpBlock
(Clod)@aol.com     (drop the Clod for e-mail)  
                       
                     (I see I went long...so much for my plea for brevity at
the top)

Please take your time and read this it's a very cool story!

Well I am going to tell you all about my Hampton Col. 11-22-97 experience!
It was cosmic and spiritual to say the least! Here goes, well it started in
Bowling Green,Ohio at about 4:30 AM. My friends and I were chillin' in our
dorm room (as usual) We were all really psyched to see what Phish would play
because the setlists were so killer out west! So my friend Todd said " If
the setlist was killer for tonights show we're goin' " We all laughed being
that Hampton is 13.5 Hours away! Of course as college students we were very
broke and ticketless! Hampton = sold out! So when we uploaded the setlist we
were like WOW!! gyute encore 4 song set 2 plus encore nice! jammin' must
have been unreal! (*I have the tapes it was!). So we all are sittin' there
trying to convince eachother that we could go!  So after some serious
ponderance we decided we can go but we're broke! Then appears Jake, my
friend listener of the master BOB DYLAN and old school-bluegrass!Not really
a Phan (YET!! MIND YOU) Apreciates them and all just never got around to
bein' a phan!Jake says " let's go I have 500$," we all say yea let's do it!
We promise to pay him back and then we start to pack up! We grap tapes by
the handful, sacks<--you know! pieces, and we head out! Well it of course
being Northern Ohio had just started the first major snow storm of the
winter! Well we walked all the way across the entire campus! We got to the
parking lot and Dan (the owner of the car) tries to start her up, well he
left the lights on and she's got a drained battery:( SHIT
The problem in cracking the egg is, of course, the total lack of 
abrasive elements in a severed neck. I found it far more workable if the 
wire was pulled out of the neck through the spinal column. Then, the 
separated vertebrae can be used to crush the egg. The drawback is that 
one must have a friend close by to help with the placement of the egg, 
as ones arms (and legs) tend to go to sleep after the spine is severed. 
What does this tell you about electricity? Well, for my part, it taught 
me to unplug the wire before trying to push it in.
Kerruisb@mail.ci.tlh.fl.us.     ........come waste some time with me, 
you beautiful people. Love B.

 Hey,  we just wanted to write in a little plug for our 
friend J Willis Pratt.  Some people may have seen him open up for 
Phish in Albany this past fall.  We saw him play last night at Toast 
in Burlington with his band and with Jon Fishman sitting in on drums 
for part of the night.  Seeing Willis play always makes us happy, he 
was truly born to be a rock star.  He writes some really kick ass 
lyrics if you're listening.  His newest CD,  "Bleeding in a Sharks 
Tank" is available through Phish Dry Goods,  he's got another coming 
out soon.  You might want to check out his webpage 
http://www.goddard.edu/wgdr/willis/pratt.htm it has sound bites from 
his album on it too.  Wiilis seems a bit rough when you first meet 
him,  he can be a bit rough around the edges.  He is truly one of the 
most tender hearted,  good willed people I have ever met though. It's 
hard for some people to see around those edges,  but if you get a 
chance you'll meet one of the most purest of good people you ever 
will.  It's hard to try to put words to the man,  he's one of a kind. 
 I hold willis very close and doubt I will ever meet anyone quite so 
pure again.  His greatest dream is to be a rock star,  like his 
friend Jon.  He doesn't by any means follow in Jon's footsteps,  his 
musical style certianly can clash with the musical style of Phish,  I 
understand,  his music isn't for everyone in the phish community.  
But,  check it out on his webpage,  get his CD if you like it.  
Support him if he ever gets the wonderful opportunity of opening up 
for Phish again.  We consider it a true priveledge to be part of 
Willis' life.  That's it really...                                    
    Jen and Dan  


I've been coasting through reading these random thoughts, (randomly, I
might add), and think I might be able to add something enlightening.  I'm
nearly thirty-three years old and have seen twenty-one shows since '93, 37
Dead shows, blah, blah, blah.  I dress basically like a yuppie with a new
tie-dye, wear expensive sunglasses, have short hair and shower daily. 
Phish regularly penetrate my very soul with their music and just the
overall vibe of their shows.  How could this be possible when I'm not
dressed in a full hippie costume?  Music fans come in all shapes and sizes,
folks, and the fact that many of you actually worry about whether the
person next to you "deserves" to be at the show would be comical if it
wasn't so pathetic.  Indeed, if that's what you're thinking about,
(excepting someone screaming in your ear during amazing grace, or something
like that), perhaps YOU are the one that doesn't "get it".  I think the
entire preoccupation with this issue of "show-attendee worthiness"
illustrates that the average age of the Phish community is pretty young,
i.e. immature!   I might also suggest that there are probably more posers
dressed with the dreds and ragged clothes than you think.  Losers shirking
life's responsibilities by touring with Phish who don't "feel" the music,
either.  The bottom line is, when the lights go down, the only thing in the
world that matters is those four on stage and to waste any energy on silly
complaints is foolish.  Speaking of that, why the almost universal bashing
of "bouncing" and "sample"?  You phans celebrate Phish's versatility, yet
whine when they play the utterly soothing, beautifully arranged "bouncing"
as a nice change of pace; who cares if little kids love it?  The very
popish "sample" isn't their best song, but it beats, at last count,
5,345,232,967 songs played live by other bands, for God's sakes!  I think
it just goes to show that even when you have an experience like Phish,
you've got to bitch about something---it's only human!  In closing, my
description of a Phish show:  "They're either 'on', or they're 'fucking
unbelievable'"!   
P.S. The band should furnish Andy with front-row for every show for his
efforts!


I am a relative newbie in the Phish Community.  I have been listening to
the band since 93-94, but have only been to 9 concerts in that time.  To
tell you the truth, I have enjoyed every minute of every show I have been
to.  There were numerous occasions where I might have been introduced to
Phish earlier in my life, if I had made this or that HORDE show, but I
eventually got to my first concert at Hershey Park, 1996.  While many
people decided not to go to this venue because of its location, I felt that
I had an amazing first show.  Since then I have been to Alpine Valley,
Tinley Park (good show, bad acoustics), Detroit, Champaign and the New
Years Run of 1997.  In that time I have experienced the most mind blowing
music in my life.  There are ups and downs in the music, times when you are
just listening, and times where you are so intensely focused that the music
transcends everything.  While the latter is always an amazing experience,
you just can't stay there all the time, you're brain would burn out.  I was
never really a member of the pre-show scene until I got together with my
current girlfriend, and after a couple of bouts with some hallucinogenics,
I have retired from the drug-using scene (hello to phellowship members).  I
am not going to preach about drugs, it is not my place.  All I will say is
be careful.
As for the scene, as many people have said, the scene is what we make it.
It is sad to see kids trying to imitate the sometimes awful things we do to
ourselves.  They may be old enough to attend a show, but they look to the
older phans for guidance in how things go at the show.  We need to give
them a good example.  I don't claim to be better than anyone, but I have a
degree in Biology and extensive knowledge of the chemistry of drugs.  The
nitrous just has to go.  While this stuff does have practical applications,
the amounts being consumed at shows is a tragedy.  We are allowing a whole
generation of kids grow up thinking it is ok to blow their minds out and
become individuals who contribute nothing to society.  I have heard a lot
of people in the community complain about the American society.  Wake up
folks, if we didn't have this society, we wouldn't have a band like Phish
to listen to.  Like it or not, we live in this country.  We may not like
other individuals, but according to the laws of this country, we have to
live with them, provided that their opinions and actions do not harm
others.  We need to wake up and take responsibility for our actions.  If we
choose to do something, like a drug, we have to be willing to pay the
consequences.  I found it out the hard way.  The reason I am now drug free
is that I did a large dose of acid at the Alpine show last year.  I had a
great time.  Two weeks later, I was curled up in a fetal position on my
coach, ready to kill myself.  The acid unlocked all sorts of repressed
memories (that is why it was once used as an anti-depressant), and I was
unaware of why I felt like such s**t.  I just knew that everything I was
doing was negative.  All of the energy in my life was negative.  I entered
therapy.  Now, 8 months later, I am getting ready to return to school for a
second degree, and am applying to Medical school next fall.  My life is so
positive, and Phish is still a part of it.  I am still a big fan, although
some of you would disagree, due to my lack or concert attendance.  I fell
into the dark side, but have reemerged with such a positive light that the
only way I can describe myself is happy.  I made my choices freely, and
accepted the consequences.  These consequences have cost me time and money
in therapy.   I am not holier than thou, but each of us has to realize that
Phish is only a band.  They are the best, but they are still just a band.
We can use our free time to pursue our interest in them, but we have to be
our own individual.  I believe in the collective unconscious mind.   This
is that we are all connected, but we are not aware of this connection, it
is in our subconscious mind.  In our conscious mind we each need to be an
individual.  This will allow us to express ourselves.  When we allow
actions to just happen, instead of being decisive, we lose a part of our
individuality.  That is what makes each one of us different.  We can each
like the band, but if we devote 100% of ourselves to it, we are going to
come out disappointed many times.
I realize that a lot of what I am saying here is along the lines of a
Dennis Miller Rant, but I feel that I have so much to offer, and am willing
to share it with anyone seeking the way of peace, tranquility, and a full
life.  We don't all have to be rocket scientists, but each of us has to
express their individuality.
I am going to leave my email address, and hope that you will respond if you
have any questions or concerns.  Please don't spam me, that is one of the
reasons that I don't generally post to bulletin boards.  If you care to
talk at all, harpuaphan@aol.com is my home account.  My name is Ed, and I
hope you all have a funky day.

Ed - Harpuaphan@aol.com

"Thank you Mr. Hood"

Next time someone asks you how a Phish show was your response should be....

For some moments in life there are no words.

Its from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. I think its the perfect way
to describe a show.BTW I got my tix for summer.....cant wait.....later on
Tim---phishy1@erols.com

This thought is to all phans that think every kid at a show is a
"Buncing Head" or whatever. I just turned 14 and first started liking
Phish when I was in third grade. At my camp all the counselors
influenced everyone. (The same year I wrote home to my parents telling
them about this "great new band callled the Grateful Dead"). Anyway, yes
I'm short and have braces, but I'm NOT a teeny bopper. My favorite bands
at this time are Phish, Leftover Salmon, and Miracle Orchestra (great
funk/jazz band from Boston). I've gone to shows with friends (most of
them hate Bouncing anyway) and people are like, "Get away - you don't
belong here". Just because I'm not old enough to go on tour or even go
to 18+ shows doesn't mean I can't enjoy the music just as much as
someone who's seen 154 shows. I do have over 100 tapes of many good
bands though, and I'm just saying Get Rid Of Your Sterotypes about
younger phans. Most are cool. - Casper

In a summer 1992 or 1993 Interview of Trey and Mike
conducted by Tabitha Sorren of MTV  backstage at the
H.O.R.D.E. festival Trey says,

" . . . So it becomes an obsession with certain people. Because it's
different every night and always changing, and then when they
come to a concert, and something genuine happens, they're a
part - the fan's a part - of a genuine event that's happening at that
moment and that feeling, I don't think they ever shake it.

When they come to a concert, something spur of the moment,
incredible, exciting thing happens, and they're a part of it
because we're feeding off of the same energy. They're sitting
- we're all in one room - doing the thing together, whatever it
may be - and that stays with you forever.

You're kind of hooked, to use a Phish pun."

I did not attend the spring shows because I didn't
have the money(I'm a lowely college boy). But I would
guess that most of the people reading this think I'm
not a true fan. Those kind sentiments and elitist
atittudes are what bring the scene down. The band is
playing great, and they've never really falled off at
any piont, they just change directions. We are so
spoiled as fans of this band, they give us greatness
nightly.
I love phish because it's real music that isn't
driven by any corporate machine, it's driven by our
dedication to keep this fabulous band working, and
thier dedication to give us a entetaining&transcedant
show. Let's keep it that simple, and get away from
these politics. Republicans vs. Democrats,IRA
vs.British Government,Racists vs. EVERYONE NOT LIKE
THEM, Newbies vs. Frats vs. OLD-DEAD-NEW-PHISH-HEAD
vs. Old school phishhead? That's where it's heading
people...just love each other or ignore each other,
okay? 
                   TAKE CARE OF YOURSELVES,AND EACH  
                  OTHER(SOUND FIMILIAR?)
                          braman420@rocketmail.com




Right on To andy carver and the guy below him.  I totally feel the same
way.
I guess the word for the day to both of them was jonesin.  I like the word.
 Hey let people be themselves at the show.  We have all had a first show
and it is a new experience.  It is not like something is going to come
natural the first time.  Also please stop with the people in the shows.  I
am sick of the strait druggies who come to the lots to feed their habit. 
It is the MUSIC and if someone chooses to do drugs well hopefully that is
an afterthought.  PLease focus on enjoying the boys.  John Whitler



Sounds like Fishman needs Carnini at his home when this Brian Molloy
character decides to show up.

what's up everybody and props to all who went to the providence shows.
anybody who got in knows they got their moneys worth.  I'm not down with
this complaining bullshit. You got to keep that vibe alive. Personally, my
ass was rocked and my head was humming from every aspect of the band. I
just love how my boy Trey does this rock star moves. Like bangin'  his  
head (I swear that guy is gonna break his neck one day during antelope ),
raising that elbow to emphasise a lick or during cavern he was so funked
out that it looked like he wanted to make love to that guitar That's the
stuff that makes me laugh and keeps me coming back for more.  
and then there's Jon sitting back there swinging those circled jazz beats,
with his perfect posture.  You got to give the guy credit for his perfect
posture.  And how many of you out there had Birds of a feather stuck in
your heads for days after the show?  As for sundays show we all know it
was the BOMB.   These guys were'nt gonna fuck around from the get go.
They knew what we were starving for.  Everyone was jonesin' for that YEM
and Tadow! they swing it right to us first set.  I was in the hallway at
the time and every kid freaked and the hot mommas just started shaking
that ass.  Hey,  hope I opened an eye or two and fired up someone out
there.  There's more to come from this frisky writer so peace out and 
remember my motto  "Boogie till you puke!"  and "Keep on truckin" 
       Andy Carver



I've been reading the many random thoughts on this page and am 
concerned about what WE have become.  I won't briar beat anyone with my 
ideas and ideals about the band and the scene, but I will give insight as 
to why I have so much fun.
    I've seen 9 shows.  No big deal.  However, in the time it took me to 
catch those shows (fall '95 - fall '97) I've learned a great deal about 
the band, the songs, and the scene.  Looking back over the first tapes I 
ever had, I find it a window into my ignorance of years past:  I have 
songs labeled  WeekaPANG Groove, Time Time Time (Mound), PYITE->the 
Landlady->PYITE.  Yeah, as far as Phish was concerned I was ignorant as 
hell.  We all had to start somewhere.  At my first 2 shows I couldn't 
make a complete setlist ("What the hell is 'Life on Mars'?"), but I 
persevered.  If I didn't enjoy it, I wouldn't have stuck with it.  The 
young'uns we see at the shows these days deserve the same benefit of the 
doubt.  At the Winston-Salem show last Fall there were more teeny boppers 
than I could have imagined.  I saw two kids with braces just from where I 
was sitting.  There were two young girls in front of us that would 
attempt to dance to the groove, but would give it up after a few minutes. 
 It must be a difficult adjustment to go from shaking it to Matchbox 20 
to about a half hour long Bathtub Gin.  It didn't upset me that these 
kids were there, quite frankly it amused me.  If they didn't have a good 
time, then chances are they won't be back.  Everyone gets the fair shake 
they deserve, and it's up to the dedicated fans to accomodate them 
(unless they truly are jerks).  So the next time you see the Sample and 
Bouncin' heads, just chuckle to yourself and let them hope for their 5 
minute songs while you jones for the RUNAWAY JAM!!

Hello everyone- O.K., I hope everyone enjoyed themselves in Providence
and Nassau! In response to ALL the comments recently posted on Andy's
wonderful page and elsewhere, I want to offer my thoughts and a plea of
sorts to everyone who really cares and has a passion for anything, not
just Phish . PLEASE EVERYONE RE-EVALUATE WHAT PHISH, MUSIC, THE "SCENE"
AND KINDNESS MEAN TO YOU. I say this because I think that it is time
within the phish community (and without) that people breathe deep and
put into perspective what this all means in their hearts. I've seen
phish since '93 and have seen the band and scene evolve along the way. I
hope that everyone understands that they are just like you and me and
that they also are aware of what is happening within the scene. Although
you don't see Trey posting on the net about what happend at Nassau
thrusday night, he knows...furthermore I'm starting to feel that having
one of the band members say something is the only way that things will
get changed for the better. But you all know as well as I that WE MAKE
THE SCENE WHAT IT IS. When you go to phish don't be jaded about
ANYTHING. Go there with an open mind and for the music. So what if there
are frat-people, old-deadheads, teenys, etc. How do you know they're not
their for the music? Exacty. you don't. Music is different things for
different people. Be respectful. Don't carry assumptions.  You can't
change other people but you can have an impact (even a small one) on
peoples lives.  During Sunday's show a girl came up to me all tweaked
out(obviously on psychadellics) who was not your "run of the mill" phish
fan. I could see that this was all new to her and she was bugging out
but I did just ignore the problem and say "she's not a Head, or here for
the jamming so fuck her.", as I have seen done before. Instead, I talked
with her and calmed her down, got her some water, and in a little while
she was really really into the playing. That girl might never see phish
again but at least she knows that there are human beings there who are
willing to help out others. 
         It is unfair of us in the phish community to be elitest or judgmental.
What makes us so much better than people who go see MMW or Hanson, or
Metallica? In life, we are all equals. And so what if you didn't get to
hear Destiny Unbound, or Rift or whatever. What the setlist turns out to
be is so irrelevant to the larger issue here. Phish plays what they feel
like playing and we should appreciate whatever they throw at us. Yes,
they make mistakes(i.e. Lizards on Saturady was flubbed abit) but who
cares? They played Lizards. that's the gist of it. Also I'd like to
point out that many of us put phish on a higher platform than other
bands. That should not be. People, you have to be open to all kinds of
music because that fact is its all good. There is so much good stuff out
there why limit yourselves?  
        The negativity that is occuring right now comes from ourselves just as
much as from "other" people who come to see the shows. It is just an
issue of common sense. I'm seeing things that look like the last years
at Dead shows. People getting hurt, bumrushing the floor, etc. That
flatly stated is NOT COOL. We hype ourselves up so much it's not funny.
Phish is this and that and I've been to 50 shows, and we are this huge
community of people that love everybody, blah blah blah. Honestly I feel
that the phish community is really becoming very hypocrtical. I'm sorry
if this offends, but its true. Phish is just phish. A great band. A show
is just a show( yes its different for everybody, but in the end its
true) We love everybody. But do we? If we make comments like "the
asshole in front of me wouldn't stop singing to Bouncin" than I would
have to say no.  If we want to live up to the expectations we have set
for ourselves than things have to change. If you are a kind person than
show it. Give someone a miracle, clean up after the show, be
responsible  and look out for the brothers and sisters around you (even
if you don't think they are there for phish) It doesn't matter. This
might sound like I'm a jadded fan but I'm not. I'm just concerned that
I'm seeing people and music and vibes and energy and love all go down
the tubes. We are part of something bigger people. And so is phish. They
create energy but so do alot of other bands and people. Just think about
the energy that is present when you're in a room with four of your
friends having a really good conversation. Now, multiply that by a
zillion and you have some idea of the enormus energy that exsists at a
show. Within this energy is contained so much potential. Why waste it
with negative vibes and bitching and groaning? Everything is connected.
All your actions have consequences that are far reaching. You might not
know it but the water bottle that you left on the ground at the show
might affect hundreds of people in different ways. It sounds far fetched
but it is true. People go see phish shows for different reasons, none of
which should be considered better than others. If you see someone doing
something stupid at a show politely tell them that what they are doing
is stupid but don't lose your shit and blame everybody for the actions
of one person.
        What I'm trying to say here is that phish is a big spiritual,
emotional, and fun part of my life as it is to many others. We all have
to realize however that no one has the right to bitch and groan, and no
one else has the right to bitch and groan about that person's bitching.
We are the solution to our problem. Yes, everyone is free to think their
own thoughts, but just consider for a minute the words and actio