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 gadielan@pilot.msu.edu and if I like it, I'll post it.

I was in Paris in early May, on the Champs-Elyses, and went into one of the
biggest music stores in the world- The Virgin Megastore. The basement is
devoted entirely to promoting upcoming shows and selling tickets. I was
checking out this huge billboard with all kinds of bands on it, and was looking
to see if Phish was going to be around anytime soon. Well, this is what I saw:
"FISH- La Laiterie, Strasbourg, 24.6.97" I tried for like 15 minutes to tell
the guy behind the counter that it was P-H-ISH, not F-ISH. He didn't believe
me! He thought I was just a snobby American tourist! Oh well. I'll be seeing
Poisson (that's Phish in French) many times this summer- Rock on! --Patrick

-Patrick Schubel

i will keep this brief and concise.  i just finished my "mini-tour" with
phish; two nights in dublin and then the albert hall... unbelievable...
these new songs are smokin' particularly "ghost" and "linn by linn".
"velvet sea" will be one of my favorite slow ones to come.  i love this
band.  CITIES!
riles

Came back to Phish as dulldrums of mother's death passed by.  Got sucked into
stupid angry alternative for a few months after her death.
  Went to Hersey and Plattsburgh and it all came back so quick.  Phish is the
best thing that has happened to me.
  There are very few bands in this world who play such uplifting music with
such good intent. 
Found Phish at Kutztown University, Pa, back in 91' but didn't become a
full-fledged Phish head until a couple year's later.  Went to 4 or 5 shows,
  then my mother's passing.  Fell into slight depression for a year or so until
I cleared my head and got back on the right track.  Now I look forward
to every Schvice, every new tourdate, and every show that I can make it to.
Nothing in life except mountain biking has affected me so much.
Every show is like a breath of fresh air and man do I love to breathe.  Looking
forward to summer tour although I can only make it to 3 or 4 shows.
Hoping the Went will be as good as the Clifford Ball but not saturated with the
media or any other mainstream BS!
After seeing set-lists for the first two shows in Europe, I have a feeling this
year is going to be full of surprises.
 

-Peter Bulkley

Halloween suggestion: Bowie's "Man who sold the earth"

-cortland coleman

Touring through Europe for the first 5 shows of the Feb.'97 tour.  Oh what fun.


-Bill Gardner

I'd love to see a new live album with at least two CDs.  I'd rather see three
or four though.  Who wouldn't buy a four CD set for 32 dollars?

Also, when in concert and there's a Tweezer, pleas SCREAM!!! WE ARE SUPPOSED TO
SCREAM AFTER EBENEEZER.

I'd also like to see Phish do longer runs in smaller venues, but places where
they have always been welcome:  Flynn Theater in VT, Fox Theater in GA, etc.
It pisses the hell out of me when the only show sold out the fall tour (95) was
the three in my hometown (Fox Theater, Atlanta).

later

dan

'the life you compose is the beauty you chose' - gord downie

just a taste of an inspirational artist. peace.

ABOUT A NEW LIVE ALBUM:  Although I agree that it would be excellent to 
put one whole show on album, i have a few reservations abou this.  There 
certain songs played in a show that simply aren't worthy of being put
down on disc and sold to the public.  some becasue they are too good for
the public, some becasue they are worthless and filler material.  I 
strongly feel that certain songs need to be on a live album that may not 
be in the context of a given show.  MAZE would be amazing on a live album.
Can you imagine the sweltering jam's climax (tumescence then 
detumescence)?  Also, RUN LIKE AN ANTELOPE needs, has to be, must be on a 
new live album.  I know that 06/11/94, which many think is a top condender
for the album is a great choice.  So do I.  But when I listen to that 
show's MAZE after a 96 MAZE, Frankly, I am a bit dissapointed.  Phish is 
Constantly growing and their songs get better with time.  I do l;ike the 
vault idea, but when we are right in the middle of Phish's biggest growth
period, and we are craving some updated, fresh sounding Phish, can't we
at least use a show from 1995 and on?  A Live on is from basically 94 which
had some crazy shows, but 1994 was merely a stepping stione for today.
it was those TWEEZERS and ANTELOPES in 94 that laid the foundation for 
96 SIMPLES, ect.  how about a vault show of something recent.  whatever 
happens in the end, i know that i will love it!

I don't think that i will ever fully understand or be able to put into
words exactly what it is that makes me feel the way that i do at a
show.  music, friends, atmosphere, substances... whatever it is, phish
is a drug in itself.  i love life when i am at a show and i find myself
never wanting to leave.  only a band like phish would think of having a
mime field at a mini- festival.
riles

Random thoughts about Euro summer tour (larry king style)...

1. First show of the tour on Friday the 13th.  Hmmmmmmm.....

2. The Royal Albet Hall is a beautiful venue.

3. If WDR in Germany can broadcast 2 Phishows in a year, why can't we
get any pro video here in the US?  

4. I hope some of the rumored new songs have a lot of composed parts.
Seems like quite a long time since there was a new epic tune.....

-jon

Now the excitement of recieving my mail order tickets has worn off, and 
it is easier to see a more serious hitch in my summer tour plans: I have 
no ride!  I'm from State College, PA and will be starting at Starlake 
and ending at the Went (all right, so I only have time for three shows).  
Anyone out there going my way?  I have plenty of money to chip in on Gas 
Food and Lodging.  Please Email me at - 

gwhayduke@hotmail.com

if you might be able to give me a ride.  I hope to see you all over here 
in Europe this summer!

Mike

I have only been to one Phish show so far.  But what I experienced in Buffalo
10/19/96 was one that I would call a life highlight.  This summer I will be
attending The Great Went.  With roughly two and a half months away, I'm already
in high gear. See ya there.

-Character Zer0

I was in a bar in NYC over the new year and me and a bunch of friends decided 
to start drinking.  I happen to glance around the table area where we were
sitting and noticed someone around a table wit some people.  i thought in the
back of my mind that this person was Page McConnel but not sure.  I glanced
over to my friend mike and we both had that exact same thought in our own
minds.
We asked this girl to go up tohim and ask in which she did and he responded
with an affirmative yes.  
        It finally took me about 5 more beers to have the guts to go up and
ask him for his autograph, but I did.  I had an old MSG ticket stub in my
wallet
and said Page "I have been a big fan ever since I first saw you guys with 
widespread panic at the first HORDE tour back in 1992.  He thanked me signed
it and I shook his hand.  Not bad
        By the way he drank Rolling Rock

                                bubs

Ok, it's almost time for dublin.  i have been waiting soo long for
this.  can't wiat.  maybe there will be a kick ass Harpua on friday the
13th.  i smell a scary show in the making.
riles

I have to say that Phish is one of THE most relaxing, 
phreethinking, natural kind of funky jammin music bands I have ever 
laid my ears on. I have been in love with Phish for about 2 years now 
and I just keep gettin more in more engrossed in the peace thy really 
bring to me. Out of 2 yrs, I've never been able to go to a show,
 but I have tickets to July 23rd in Atlanta and I absolutely can NOT 
wait. I just know this is going to be the most peace flowing,
 magical pheeling I will ever intake. To be dancing in 
peace n harmony with tonz of other happy phish phreaks beside me 
makes me smile whenever I think about it. I can't wait :)
Have phun this summer guyz, dance to a tune fer me :)
Keep sharin the groove.

peacenluvin

brooke :)

eyedust@aol.com

I must say that their newest album...Billy Breathes, is some sweet
tunes.  Today me and a bunch of people were just chillin' at my friend's
pool, tanning and listening to some phat phish tunes. We were blasting
the music and it was an amazing feeling.  All I have to say is... Down
with disease 3 weeks in my bed, trying to stop these demons that keep...
DANCING IN MY HEAD, DANCING IN MY HEAD. Oh ya and I LUV U TREY- KEEP ON
BOUNCING!!!- VIVS.

Phish are toying with a new live album.  I feel, as do many others, that
instead of splicing songs together from several shows they should release a set
or whole show.  This would be a welcome addition to all and will hopefully
become an annually released project.  As to what show to release that should be
left to the band. However, I hope and pray that it comes from mid-eighties
shows and features songs previously unreleased.

-eric m.

Phish is one of the PHATTEST bands ever and I'd just like to say that I 
will be going to my phirst PHISH show @ Darien Lake on AUGUST 14th BABY!!!
Maybe Maine as well???  Lates.                             
                                                   -Aviva

07-01-95
Great Woods   Mansfield, MA

This is an example of your classic Phish Show.  7/1/95 has some great
Phish Phavorites such as a Ya Mar opener, Split Open, Wilson, H. Hood, and 
to top it all off, a Funky Bitch encore.  This is a kick ass show!!

 -Paul C.

I heard alot about phish a few years ago but never really payed any attention
to it. 
Now I LOVE IT!!! It's one of the greatest bands ever and if you're not hooked
on them... 
*NO WORRIES* cause u will be as soon as u pick up one of their cds or tapes!!!
It's so weird cause they're always on my mind. When I was in science class the
other day, 
I was anwsering some questions about biology (worms, grassshoppers, fish) 
and by accident I wrote "PHISH" instead of "FISH". Neways, to some everything
up, 
PHISH IS PHAT AND ROCKS MY WORLD!!! KEEP UP THE GR8 WORK. 

Guyute makes me cry...

as does weekapaug.

corey

how about a live european tour album or possibly a few more free concerts 

-kevin friedlander

I love Phish so much.  But if there is someone that i love more than Phish it
would have to be Jewel!!  I LOVE JEWEL!!!

-Joe

first trip-Lexington, Kentucky 96'

-Cory Dewald

i would have to agree with Zac...Phish certainly iz good fun... although too
many a time it hasn't been "clean" for me, but that always enhances my fun
mark

the first time I ever heard about Phish I was on an airplane and a friend
of mine let me borrow his CD for "Junta".  Ironically, as I was listening
to the CD I was flipping through Time Magazine (Aug. 9, 1996, or something
around there), and there was a large (two/three page) article about Phish,
as the writer was trying to compare them to the Grateful Dead, drawing 
parallels about the two groups.  It was really cool to listen to "You
Myself" and look out the left window of aplane and see the small little
farm animals below...

-Michael Schwartz

Fishman's primary snare drum is a Ludwig Black Beauty 14" x 6 1/2". (I think
it's 6 1/2")


-Jake Hall

I started listening to Phish about four years ago and have been a very dedi
cated phan ever since.  I have seen about ten shows, my phirst being 
Lakewood Amphitheatre in Atlanta in 1995.  I was miracled at my phirst show.
Some really cool cat just walked up and handed me eleventh row seats and 
made me promise not to sale them.  Sale them? Was he crazy?  The whole show
really 
rocked.  I even shared my good fortune with friends who only had lawn
seats.  We traded off during the second set.  I have been miracled two 
other times since then.  Once more at a Phish show and once at a Widespread
Panic show.  I am also a huge Widespread fan.  Some people say you can't be
a true Phish phan if you love WSP the way I do.  I totally disagree, the 
two bands are completely different types of music.  If anyone shares my view
please e-mail me at sdav2944@Mercury.GC.PeachNet.EDU Talk to you soon!  
 
                                            "Millie"   

Anticipation of a new album is chompin' at the bit... Billy Breathes was pretty
damn good in my opinion!  Nice and Tight... I can't wait to see what the WENT
will offer or what the boys have in store for us this year... I'm starting in
Chicago and ending in Maine... I'm solo... ANYONE NEED A RIDE UP NORTH (OR OUT
EAST FOR THAT MATTER)?

-Ken Manship

Phish is good clean fun.

-Zac Altheimer

Everyone is on their own journey, and everyone exists differently. Since we can
never climb anyone else's mountain, we can and must only accept their reality
as being as valid as our own.
-Andrew Gadiel

Been to some Phish shows and everyone was pretty sweet, awesome jams and
atmosphere

-Brad Toomey

First set make s you happy to be a Phish Phan
Second set makes you Happy to be ALIVE!!

Right on!!!!
Love it!

Hey there?
        Well I only have seven days left of school and all my phriends and I
can ever talk about, are the up and coming shows!  As I read on the this page
before...Phish is truly a drug.  Everytime I pop in a tape, all it does is make
me want to be at a show soooooooo bad that I begin having, what crack addicts
refer to as, withdrawal symptoms.  I am so glad that the tour opener is on my
side of the country.  I have never been to a tour opener and let me tell you
that I Am looking foward to it like nothing else!  I have a little story that I
would like to share with my phellow phish pholks...it goes a little something
like this...last year me and three of my good phriends decided to make the trip
to the phabulous deer creek amp and check out some phishy music.  We were so
excited because everyone knows how incredibly dank deer creek is.  So anyways,
during this time I had become quite fond of "David Bowie," in fact you could
say it was my favorite song at that time.  We had all kinds!
 of different "Bowie's" that we kept playing on the trek up to Indy.  Well,
before we knew it, it was the night of the first show and then the second show.
The whole day before the second show all I could think about was good ole David
Bowie.  My good phriend Jason Stevens kept telling me that tonight they were
going to play it.  Well the first set past and I was way above cloud nine...I
was soooo unbelievably impressed with the show.  Second set they opened with
AC/DC Bag and then went into one of the longest Lizards I have ever indulged my
ears with.  After a couple more diggity dank songs they brought out the
mini-acoustic set and just kept indulging us (as always).  After they finished
that, and I was in another world (maybe Gamehendge???), Jason looked over at me
and said "Bro, here's your David Bowie!"  Sure enough, Fishman began playing
his hi-hat and if I could only explain that pheeling...it truly was one of
those things that I will never, ever forget!  Hope you enjo!
yed that little story...Be sure to give me a yell this summer at VA, NC, GA,
and once again DEER CREEK!!! Just look for the three scooter boys flying around
on some old school scooters!!!

 u know im kinda sad, this mornin i picked 2 listen 2 the tape of Halloween
95 and i was listenin 2 yem, and i started thinkin bout how i was offered 2
go 2 that show, and ive only seen one(11/8/96), and i think, wow theyve
changed and then im listenin and i think bout y i didnt go.  my mom said i
was 2 young, what does that mean??????  i love QUADROPHENIA,tis my favorite
alltime album, now given i didnt know they would play it, but doesnt that
suck????  instead i saw what i would and others say was a better than
average show, and thats bad.  does anyone else have this situation, like
missin a legendary show, well actually any show 4 a lame reason by
way2overprotective parents or anything?????

       email me    vmccaffrey@kiwi.dep.anl.gov

  doesnt that suck i just feel bad about that, and i live like 30 minutes
from the HORIZON with traffic.

  also they havent come here since then, Y? that bites but theyll b at the
world this  summer, but i mean the world has worse sound than the horizon,
if u can imagine that, can u?  listen 2 the tapes, the horizon sucks.  at
the world the security is bad, they give u a body cavity, frisk, go thru ur
bag, but i might c um at ALPINE, whichll b a highlight of the tour, if u
dont know y think of the date.  well i hope alpines good.  but i got a test
back 2day, now my grade in maths a C+,from an   87  to  a
78?!?!?!??!?!?!?!?!?!?  if i get that my parentsll never let me c PHISH,
theyre so obcessed with grades, nothing else counts in life, b unoriginal,
do whatever ur teacher says and all that bullshit.  anyone with a similar
situation, ill listen, just email u got the address.

                              ANdrew

                    ps whats the best set of halloween 96?

  ppspspspsppspsps    i think phishll play in Colorado for halloween this year,
                        any1 think so 2?

Hello!
I am a Phish fan, and I think that Phish is excellent! They jam all around the
room.  Sometimes I can hear them jamming at me.  Oh sure they throw a lot of
things at me, but I can catch it all.  I think big ball jam.  Yes I was dancing
with Eleahu up on Leemor's bed. Now that I'm Hydrogen, Maybe I should shower
myself with bathtub gin.  That would be a good idea.  I also really liked when
the Dave Matthews Band came out and jammed with Phish and did All Along The
Watchtower.  It ROCKED!  Rock and Roll will live forever.  Make sure you eat
right.
Love you all,

Rob Reiter

We need a couple more live albums.  Full shows.

-Scott O'Brien

At the San Diego show fall '96, I got hooked up with aftershow passes
by Mike.  It was pretty crazy, because I had had a dream about talking to
Mike and hanging out with the boys that morning.  I think the energy of the 
whole day was right on.  Anyhow, Mike walked right up to me when he came out
eventually.  We ended up chating for about an hour.  He was a cool brother,
very laid back and pretty shy.  It was a really great night.

-Amy Rose

New Album idea:

I think Phish needs to come out with a new live album which features 
many songs which are not on any other of their albums (punch you in 
the eye, mikes song, sleeping monkey, lizards, ...).  I think many people 
will appreciate hearing many of the great unreleased songs they hear at 
concerts on official album. Thanks.

-Justin Bollinger

i am going to see phish in dublin, ireland on june 13, may be 14 of june. June
16 in london, in new amsterdam on july 1 and 2, and the free show in italy. If
anyone wants to travel with us please e-mail me back at
j9105@mail.earthlink.net before may 30 that is when we are leaving for europe.
thanks. Jason Kitten.

I've judged bands on four things.  First is the amount of talent of which
they possess.  Second is the originatly of the groups music.  Third would 
be the caliber of the live preformance.  Last of all, yet most importantly
would be the emotion that they drag out from inside themselves along with
the listner, through the song or jam.  As I've listened at witnessed phish
playing over the last two years, I've come to a conclusion that Phish scores
way above anything I thought was possible, in all 4 catagories.  Amazing, 
completly amzing.

-kris kurzawa

In reference to the new Phish live album: I think that they will release a
complete show, rather than a compilation of great performances. They have
realized that each show gives a unique feeling that can only be reproduced upon
listening to it completion. (See the Completionism vs. Perfectionism entry in
Skeleton Key.) It is for this reason that the band has broadcasted many shows
on the radio. Also, they will probably realease a show which they felt was was
important to them, not us. This is why we might as well stop hoping for
12/30/93 and 10/31/94, and start getting psyched for 6/11/94 or 11/02/96.
Notice how Mike's Journal talks about how great they were plaing on 11/2 and
remember the feelings Trey had about 6/11/94? BTW, these were both broadcasted
on the FM, and both are AMAZING and less popular shows. YEM from Red Rocks is
glorious, and the Crosseyed Antelope and Bitch are excellent versions. I can't
wait for the arrival of this album and it will be awesome. I trust P!
hish to make us all happy. Andy has the best Phish page!!!! Keep up the good
work!

-Matt Goldstein

I would just like to say that Phish is the band that will take us into the
 next millenium(hopefully) and will do it with style. I am glad that the
majority of comments in here are positive.  Phish has already given us more
than we deserve.  In a world were music is truly going downhill quickly,
Phish has provided us with the most inspirational music since Miles Davis
or the Beatles. Unfortunately I read a comment written by some asshole who
said that after the Flynn show he would stop attending shows.  Why? Becasue
they didn't play Cities or Dog Log or Skippy or what the fuck ever. What a
stupid reason to stop seeing this band.  Why would Phish want to play songs
that are truly inferior to their newer, more mature material.  this dude
is of course one of those "I've been seeing Phish for years and they have
changed," guys.  That is what Phish is about.  Change, movement,
experimentation.  Do you really want to hear Phish put out album after album
without changing formats to some extent? if you want that, listen to a band
that is radio friendly because that's what they are all about. The reason
that Phish is so popular is not because they sold out, it's becasue the
secret is out. This guy also claimed to know what the band was thinking,
claiming that Mike and Fishman are not happy with the music and that Trey
and Page are egomaniacs.  What an asshole!  I'm sorry, but I have been seeing
Phish for nine years and have noticed that they are constantly getting better.
Phish are human beings who have lives too and deserve to take time off if they
want to(although I wish that they wouldn't). So let's be respectful to them
and keep this motto in mind.  PHISH FOR THE FUTURE!!! By the way, excellent
page Andrew, you deserve praise.

Pete Conway

 Though not a huge Phish fan(I like em, I'm just more of a Widespread
Panic fan), I visit your page often.  I check setlists mainly, but I
also enjoy everything you've added to your site in the past 6-8 months. 
Looking good!  
        Now to the matter at hand.  Sunday night I was in New Orleans.  After
WSP at JazzFest, we went to a house party at Michael Ray's house to se
the Cosmic Crew.  THEN, we walked down the street to the Mermaid Lounge
for more music.  GALACTIC was playing.  This was my first time seeing
this acid-jazz funksters in action, and actually my first time hearing
any of their work.  At around 2 am(they played til like 4 am), Jon
Fishman replaced Galactic's drummer for a little jam session.  I don't
know if they were playing any certain song with Fish(sounded like it was
just some jamming), but they were rockin'!!  Fish just sat in for one
song, but they weren't done yet.  These guys were still funking it up as
I passed out in the truck.  JazzFest was a little disappointing
considering we got there in time for WSP & Radiators only.  It was a
little short, but the after partying was worth the trip to the Big Easy.

Just thought you might like to know.

Be easy,
 Ballard
 panic420@ebicom.net

school is getting out this week, and yet all i can think about is
august!!!!!!!!! 
i don't know if i can get enough in just 5 shows, st. louis through deer
creeek, might have to make the journey to the went!!!!!!!!!!!!!!ÊÊÊ 
oh yea, chicago area phans, check out bela fleck at the skline stage, navy pier
i think he's there on the 19th of August, should be cool 

Who believes in Maracules in the Olympic center. All of us know what a great
opener that was to a Fall tour. Fall tour was INTENSE SPECIALY ON THE eAST
COAST


-William D webster

Is there an insect that could bite a mosquito?  If so, what would it be 
called?  I would call it a hippopotamus.  No, wait, that's already 
taken.  Oh well.  

Kevin Smith
KMS1325@aol.com
smitk6m0@numen.elon.edu

Detroit had the best grilled cheese sandwhichs out of the whole tour!!

-Paco Cerventes

Read in the book The Phishing Manual that Trey wants to put out an album
with 15 different versions of Dog Log including "a raggae version, a lounge
lizard offering, and a funkier interpretation." 

-Dustin Leddy

Trampolines and lights galore in Minneapolis.  I felt great. (it mushed have
been something I ate.)

-Tim Hull

Phish is one of my loved bands. Their musi Lurcs into your Lung And Heart..
you laugh and laugh and fall apart.....

-Matt

i think Phish should go back to the older school, excuse the expression 
and go towards more of the cool tunes like peaches and reagallia and 
Lizards. When i listen to that stuff i sort of think of it as laughing
music, then you listen to BILLY BREATHES and i dont really like it that
much, is this a sign of things to come?? I just think it would be cool
if they went back to the funkier, more loose, tunes, but then again
that is just me. thanks for the oppurtunity, 
Later
Dave

 For there new album they could always take some of the new unreleased stuff
like "Rockawilliam" and "Walfredo" and take some of the older songs that people
that don't get to go to alot of shows do not get to here like "Mike's Song" and
put live versions of them together on like a double CD type album!!! ADAM
LANGOLf(See you at DEER CREEK(the best!!),East Troy, Tinley Park, and oh yes,
the Great Went)  

-Adam Langolf

I was just listening to the song Ya Mar 10/23/96 and thinking that 
Trey's guitar solo sounds like raindrops falling in a sunshower.
      -Simon

As for a new album idea: release an entire show. St. Louis from fall '96
comes to mind.


-Gareth Hughes

i listen to phish on a daily basis.  they make me feel good, and that's 
what i think their motive of their music is.  i have never been to any phish 
shows, but i have been a long time fan.  and i will be for even longer.
i also like how they are so philosophical in their music.  the way they
present themselves, makes me have a lot of respect, and love for thier
gruvin jams!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
                                  Karen Redmond---97'

i would like to hear a revival of NICU on this summers tour. also a phat
scarlet>fire would be the kindest!

-tony pirri

New Year's show was a blast. Thousands upon
thousands of balloons fell from the sky.

Waiting for the time when I can finally say,
that this has all been wonderful,
but now I'm on my way.

-Steve Charnoubi

Just want to quickly warn all you traders that you don't want to trade with
anyone who asks you to send tapes to this address----514 East Fifth St. - New
Albany, IL 47150  ------he's atotal scam, and he'll be very excited about
ripping off your tapes

-Jeremy Schneider

Shelly isn't lucky, she's smart.

-Erin Bacon

At 4:20 today, we'll celebrate; you'll see, for it is the twentieth
anniversary. Can you guess what I'm talking about? Today is 05/08/97, and the
town is Ithaca, NY. 

-Matt Goldstein

I recently watched the home video of the band in the studio recording Hoist and
I thought Fishman was hillarious when he was playing his new drum.

-Michael Sczuka

This summer I was blessed with opportunity to attend the Clifford Ball in
Plattsburge NY., so a group of friends and I loaded up into my car and made the
trek from Baltimore MD. up to the show.  The show was incredible, but on the
second day I was dosed with a large amount of PCP.  At the time I had no idea
that I was under the effect of PCP, because of other judgement inhibitors.
Well to make an incredibly long story short, I then proceeded to completely wig
out at the time the experience was a number of black outs, but later I would
recall some of the Completely insane things that I did durring that Pyschotic
break.  It happened like this After the first set on the second day I flipped
began asaulting women, and then a large group of NY state police officers
attempted to detain me.  I am 5'6'' and I wiegh 130 lbs., but when I was under
the influence of PCP it took 5 peace officers to even hold me in a set position
let alone take me away.  I know that I am fairly strong for !
my size but that was super human seeing as how durring all of this I broke away
three times, and inflicted some serious pain on these men.  At about the middle
of the third set I came back into the real world and felt as though my soal had
been ripped clear from my body.  I have been a completely changed person since
then, but it is in a good way.  The one good thing that came from all of this
was that I did not get into any trouble with the law.  The moral to this story
is be carful when at shows no matter how much you love and trust everyone at
the shows you never realy can tell what is going on in their mind off by
yourself in a croud of 167,000 people.

-Anon Y. Mous

Phish is the world's most wonderful band!

-Julie Hughes


I just read the "thoughts" by Alexis, and HAD to comment.  I'll admit, when
I first started going to shows...i was "in a great state of mind", but
c'mon.... to be telling everyone that they have to trip to get the most out
of the show???  Alexis....you couldn't even remember what went on during
YEM at one of the best shows of Fall 96!!  Think about it.  The past 4-5
shows i went to, I was completely sober.... and it was Great!  It was much
easier to keep setlists, and to this day, I can really remember the entire
show!  Yeah...imagine that :)
Anyway...I just wanted to say that tripping is NOT the key to an Incredible
Phish sho......sharin' the groove, and knowing what's going on IS.  You're
supposed to be there to enjoy the music (not saying that you can't on
'cid)....if you wanna trip, go out in the woods with your favorite tape and
enoy nature :)
By the way...I'm doing the whole summer tour, and would like to hook up
with some people to caravan with :))
McGrupp                     mcgrupp@city-online.com

I remember hearing the debut of Guyute at Stabler Arena, 
Lehigh University, Pa. on 10/7/94.  During the show, no 
one knew what they were playing, but we knew an epic song 
was in the making.  After the show, people thought that it 
was The Irish Jig.   
Later Lis...
Kevin M. Smith

I don't think I've ever has as much fun as I did at Sugarbush.  Mountains,
ecstasy, good mates and phish are a perfect combination.

-Marty Kroll

i'm doing this for a guy on the nesgroup who just left for india.  
he talked about how everyone who is going to dublin on the second night
should yell their f*^$ing asses off for DESTINY UNBOUND when they come out
for the second set.  (supposedly) according to the band , this is the only
way we'll hear it.  i'll be there.  anybody else? thanx
  riles
ps hey andy, cool changes to the page

marreill@holycross.edu

My favorite show was the last Red Rocks show last year.  It was incredible.
The band had the power to take you to another world (so it seemed).  I was
completely sober.To me, that is the best way to experience a show.  
You have so much powerful energy surronding you, you honestly don't need 
any kind of drug to boost your energy.  Being sober lets you experience 
everything going on as it is actually happening.  Plus you can remember 
all the little details that may have slipped your mind if you were in an
altered state.  I guess my point is, if you have never experienced a show
sober, give it a try. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against any form 
of drugs.  I've done my fair share.  I made a promise to myself that I 
would never see another show all done up after i experienced jail last
summer in Alpine Valley.  Take my word for it, it sucks!! Plus it's a lot
cheaper this way!  So if you're seeing any shows this summer, try one sober 
and see how you like it, and hopefully I'll see you there!  Have fun!

-mandy morgan

Who believes in Maracules in the Olympic center. All of us know what a great
opener that was to a Fall tour. Fall tour was INTENSE SPECIALY ON THE eAST
COAST

-William D webster

 Hey everybody.  Just thought I'd share my piece in this little thoughts page.
This is my first time here.  I have only been to one Phish show, but I have
been a phan as long as I can remember.  The show I went to was the Halloween
show in Atlant Georgia in '96.  I have to admit, when I saw the Phishbill and
saw it was talking heads they were covering this year, I was surprised.  I have
always like Talking Heads, especially the Remain in Light Album, but I was
expecting something like Pink Floyd or Bob Marley..(you know how the rumors go)
My advice to future showgoers is to eat whatever psychadelic shit you're going
to eat when you have about an hour on the road before you get to the show.  By
the middle of the first set you will be in a pleasant state of mind.  I just
had two hits of normal blotter, but it made the experience something to
remember.  The music in combination with the acid was an experience absolutely
orgasmic.  The person I was with had to keep putting my c!
lothes back on because I couldn't stop stripping and playing with myself.  When
they played You Enjoy Myself it was like mixed with several other songs.  You
would think it was over and another song was happening, but then ten minutes
later, there it is agaIN.  OR MAYBE THATwas just the acid.  Anyway it was
extremely cool.  Since then I have been waiting and waiting to get the bootleg,
and finally my friend that I went with said he had gotten ahold of a 4th
generation and could get me a fifth genration.  I knew it wouldn't be all that
good quality, but I would have to settle for it.  But then I was in Columbia SC
for Spring Break and this store called Loose Lucy's has some tapers that go to
shows anywhere in the south and they tape bootlegs for people for free and it's
allways second generation.  The only limit is that you can only bring in two
blank tapes per person per month, but the first two sets were the best anyway
because I was coming down hard during the last set so I !
idon't really remember it.Anyway, now I am jonesin so bad because I have to
wait almost and entire two months before the tickets go on sale for my next
show.(Atlanta 7/23).  Anybody going??  Am I the onlyone or has anybody else
heard that they are going to do next year's Halloween show iin Death Valley,
California?  I hear it's supposed to be a festival maybve even bigger than the
Clifford Ball.  If anyone next year will be in the Universtiy of Georgia area
next year and feels like embarking on a cross country trek with a lot of
people, and you happen to have a van, (or not), find me.  I don't know what my
e-mail address will be then, but my snail mail address now is  105 Wimbish East
Perry, Georgia  31069.  If you want to get in touch before classes start, we
can definitely talk about this trip.  Address mail to Phellow Phish Phan.  Love
to hear from somebody!!!

-Alexis Nikitopoulos

phish is great,,the great went is going to rule,,see ya there!!!!
-stout-

Not that many weeks from now, all phans will be once again reunited for the
annual summer tour. But for some reason, I have this gut feeling that this tour
will be the most amazing summer ever. I wake up in the middle of the night with
a feeling that something crazy is going to happen this year!!! 

-Sara Thompson

The greatest band currently playing together

-shawn yount

How about another live album? 12/30/95 or 6/11/94 or something somewhat common
but amazing nonetheless, you know? Just an idea. Definately no more of this A
Live One stuff with random songs from different shows.

-Adam Gutterman

The lyrics to Mike's Song ring clear and true at this point in time to 
me as it is one problem after another, "trapped in time and don't know 
what to do, these friends of mine I can see right through." Anyway 
great page Andy and see you all on the summer tour (if the bloody mail 
order ever comes) and thank you Phish for being the greatest band on 
the face of the planet, please keep having fun because that is what 
you seem to do best, don't let annoying fans stop you from doing that 
and keep the jams coming in Europe and the U.S. on your upcoming 
tours.

-Andy (matranga@interaccess.com)

Now, If Icculus really had all of the power Trey says he had, why did 
have to wait for Forbin to climb the mountain to call on the Mockingbird. 
 I mean if he already saw what Wilson was doing to the Lizard people, Why 
didn't he put and end to it long ago?  

Mike Mathews

I like to start off by once again thanking Andy phor having the PHattest PHISH
page on the net!!!!.....Next I'd like to share a little story of my own.....A
PHew months ago some PHriends of mine ask me what it was like to see a PHISH
show? After pondering this thought phor a phew moments I could think of only
one reply......A PHISH show is nothing less than a musical
orgasm!!!....Needless to say they've been PHANS ever since..... 

-Brian C. Jackson

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!!  I would just like to thank the 
powers that be, phish-tix-by-mail, Icculus, whatever...I just got mail 
order for all the shows I ordered!!!!  (Alpine Valley through the 
Went).  It's been almost a month and some of my friends got their tix 
as early as April 10th!  So I was worried, but I got all my tickets.  
Keep the faith if yours haven't come yet.  I"M ON CLOUD NINE!!!!!!!  
SUMMER TOUR!!!  - Jeff Waful

i, mark reilly, volunteer to direct The Man Who Stepped Into Yesterday
if JB will let. i would also like to star as the flagpole in Prussia.
thank you very much

i think that shelly is one of the luckiest women/people of all
time....

On their little ABC special, U2's Bono said that he thought that they
(U2!) are the most interesting band around today. I tend to have a
different opinion, ya know.
Dan

I have been listening to Phish phor about phour years now.  But I will
never phorget my phirst show.  It was New Year's 95 at MSG NYC.  Me,
my sister's boyphriend and two of his phriends went to the show via
the LIRR.  It was packed.  As we piled into the Garden I was
overwhelmed with the amount of Phish Phans there were.  My seats were,
are you ready for this, Front Row Center.  It was the phattest show.
They opened with Punch you in the eye.  But the part I will never
Phorget, is when we rang in the New Year.  At 12:00 and Jon was
bursting out of his box and they began to play Auld Lange Syne, the
entire crowd was one giant hug.  People turned and hugged people they
didn't know and that made me realize that we are all one big phamily.
But aside from that my next show was the Clifford Ball.  I met so many
people there.  On the way we stopped at a rest stop and it was philled
with phish heads.  We all talked and started a caravan to the show.  I
just wanted to share those th!
oughts with my phellow Phisherpeople.  Thanx phor everything.  -Keymo

More left coast shows. Maybe a Halloween is San Francisco, Or a Clifford Ball
type festival in Lake Tahoe or the Sierra Nevada's

-MIKE HOOD

I was watching the sitcom after Seinfeld on Thursday April 24 and a 
Volkswagon commericial comes on. A road sign appears with the top board 
reading, "GEORGE'S GORGE."  Meanwhile a car pulls up to the intersection
with the sign, while "Funkytown" is blaring from the car's 
speakers.  The car makes a fast circle and returns to the same intersection
The camera moves in the car and who are the passangers but ALIENS.  
Lost Aliens.  So whatever that means?

-Eric Myerberg

If there was going to be a movie made of The Man Who Stepped Into
Yesterday,
this is who I think should be in it.

Col. Forbin:  Michael Douglas> He is the right age and plus he is good
looking and in shape

McGrupp:  That Jack Russel Terrier from Frasier

Wilson:  Kiefer Sutherland>  Him and his father both look mean.

Tela:  Julia Ormand>  She looked great on a horse in First Knight, she
would look even better on a Multi-Beast

Rutherford The Brave:  Arnold Swarzenegger>  He is huge.

Earand Wolfe:  Al Pacino:  He is good at playing good gut/bad gut
roles (i.e Michael Corlion)

Mr. Palmer:  JB Ledoux> He is one cool dude.

Icculus:  James Earl Jones> His voice is the voice of god (and Darth
Vader)

This is who I think should star, I would love to hear if you think
different.  jbl@together.net


-JB

i just started getting into phish over the last year or two. actually,
started listening to them because i was a dead fan and had heard that
there was a dead influence to their music. i'm to the point now where
i like them just as much as the dead for their own style and music.
i'm going to my first phish concert this summer in new york.

-greg korb

Can not wait to see them rock this summer

-Rachel Baker

I always get questioned from my mom mother about the jamming with Phish.
"Doesnt that ever give you a headache?" All I do is grin really wide. Who could
possably not like what Phish does?

-Ryan Lay

Phans don't be discouraged that Phish has gotten so huge.  Maybe everyone's taste have just improved.  If
this trend continues hopefuly we will not hear of New band's like the the Spice Girls!


-Mark J. Kendrick

First set makes you happy to be a Phish fan.
Second set makes you happy to be alive!

-Andrew Gadiel

I am going to europe this summer and would like to catch some phish shows. If
anyone else is going and would like to tour with us (me and my girlfriend)
please e-mail me back
My e-mail account is jmkitt1@pop.uky.edu. thanks


-jason kitten

Man, you wouldnt believe it! i was lucky enough to score front row, dead center
tix to last years Halloween show in Atlanta (my hometown).  With out a 
doubt, that was one of the pinnacles of my life. the show sounded great,
the lights were insane, and the boys were loving it.  i'll be telling my 
grandkids about it. But i was very saddened when i got my last schvice.
the ticket prices are much too high. i know i can afford them, but its crazy
to pay that much when its been so reasonable in the past.  i've only been 
a fan for 3 or so years, but in that time i've seen Phish grow.  I wish
i knew what was going on so i could form a better opinion about the
ticket price issue.
keep up the great work Andy... you've got a great site!
-Eric

 What's going on?
                        It amazes me to see the amount of people that have the
love for phish.  I know that they truly are the greatest thing that ever
happened to music(in my opinion).  Last year I went to Deer Creek and that
seriously changed my whole outlook on life.  The first show was dank, but the
second was absolutely amazing.  I was completely blown away by their music.  At
times I would stop jamming and just sit there and wonder how exactly they do
it.  I mean most groups have a couple of members that can jam, but all phour of
phish never stop jamming.  To me its uniform chaos.  They are all 'going off'
in their own worlds, but yet they are in perfect harmony.  The first two songs
of the second set, AC/DC Bag and Lizards,...well I can't exactly explain it...
it was amazing.  Every time I listen to a live show, I am mesmorized on how
good of musicians they are.  I know a ton of people that dislike phish, but I
cannot understand how people can say that they are not good musicians.  Phish
de!
serves all the respect in the world!!!  And much more...!  Since I live in
Atlanta, I had to go to the Halloween show this last October.  Whoa man... it
was out of hand... I mean good lord... they just never stopped jammin'.  The
second set was incredible!  The second song, Crosseyed and Painless, was
soooooo dank.  Karl Perazzo, Dave "the death" Grippo, and Gazaway added and
incredible touch to the Phab Phour.  I never realized how awesome horns really
sound.  They just make everything a little better.  After this year, I have
made my goal to go to every Halloween show.  San Fran/Colorado...here I come!!!

                Dank You Harry Much,
                                                Isaac Cohen

Here's a response to Matt, the kid who wanted to know where the rhombus 
is.  Somewhere on the Phish.net page, perhaps in the FAQ file, there are 
specific directions which I read a few months ago.  
>From what I remember, the rhombus is actually located around King of 
Prussia, Pennsylvania.  Yes, as in Wilson, King of Prussia.  KOP is 
close to where Trey grew up (Princeton) and near Fishman's grandparents 
house (Philly), so it's feasible that they were hanging out one day in 
the "countryside" and found the rhombus near the Mall or Valley Forge 
park.  I say "countryside"  because the area around KOP these days is a 
lot of strip malls, Red Lobsters, and traffic lights.  
Anyway, Matt, I grew up in Monmouth County, too.  If you actually want 
to find the directions to the rhombus and drive out here (1hr & 1/2 
drive), get in touch with me, 'cause I'd also like to check it out.
Sharin' in the groove,
Squirrelly D
mmurphy@n2k.com

This is in response to Chris Constable's post.  I could not agree more. 
Reading your post brought tears to my eyes.  Phish is first and foremost
about the music which is truly indescribable.  But the subculture that
has grown as a result of Phish's music is  a great thing.  Chris,
welcome to the rest of your life.  May I run into you at a show some
day.  I'll be the one with the huge grin on my face.  Peace.    - REX

I just met Mike tonight at the book signing.  At first I thought I was going to
be 
star struct, but them when I met him, he seemed totaly normal.  It then donned
on me
that no one person is better than anyone else.  You might think to your self,
Who cares?
But this discovery really affected me deeply.  Plus I got a cool autograph on a
cool book and
was on the Channel 5 news.

Peace
JB Ledoux
Just wanted to tell everyone about a recent Phishy coincidence. On 4/23, my
favorite show, "Dukes of Hazzard", Tammy Wynette made a guest appearance. Guess
what song she sang! ROCKYTOP!!!! Cool. Don't forget to watch the reunion on
4/25! Also, I just came back from WSP/FGH concert in Asbury Park. Excellent
show but tight security. From Good Homes is an excellent DMB-esque band that is
ROCKIN'. You must check them out. WSP Kicked ASS, especially on Porch Song and
Domingo Oritz on Drums. He must possesed, because he beat on those bongos for
like 10 minutes. AIA, it was a great show. Just my $0.02 ;)

-Stein

My first Phish concert and, actually, first real concert, was Atlanta's
Lakewood 6/15/95.  At that time, I owned one Phish album (Rift) and had not
even reallly listened to it, because it was heavy enough, not anything like the
Metallica and other popular crap I was listening too.  I wasn't even originally
going to go to the concert, but some friends convinced me that I would enjoy
it, so I did go.  And did I ever enjoy it!  I don't think I've ever had so much
fun in my life!  I was hooked instantly and as soon as I got home posted a
newbie in need post to the rec.music.phish newsgroup.  I was expecting to have
to pay for tapes, I never expected to find people kind enough to share this for
free when they could put whatever price on it they wanted, but I did get my
tapes for free.  That was my first encounter with the true, unselfish, giving
attitude of the Phishhead.  Ever since then, I have become a Phish addict!
I've been trading tapes to the point where my collection now t!
otals 100 + tapes, and I'm getting more in all the time.  I own every CD
they've put out and have become a fanatic for the music, the culture, and
everything that goes with it.  I feel that I have finally found true acceptance
with the pholks I have met, and feel like I, a former pitiful loner, finally
have a place to turn - the community of Phishheads who have accepted me for who
I am, not what the sociatal norms say I should be.  To say that Phish and the
culture that folows has given me new prupose would be an understatement, for
truly, I have been given new life.


-Chris Constable

u know, i love this page, not just the thoughts, they are the best part,
but all the other stuffs cool, too.  we should all thank Andrew for putting
2gether this totally awesome page.  thanx Andrew!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!4 all of u
who have looked at the rumor page about 12/31/97 at MSG or Fleet center,
thats not really a rumor.  i was in boston over new years, and i will be
this year cuz i gots me family there.  sadly i didnt get tix 2 or go 2
either show, and now my mom says i cant go 2 the concerts anyway this year.
so im mad, but thats not the point, so i had heard like a 100
00000000000000000000000000000000000 times that they were playing the concert
the next day on WBCN on the radio.  the radio said"PHISH HAS ALREADY
RESERVED THE MADISON SQUARE GARDEN AND THE FLEET CENTER FOR NEXT YEAR'S NEW
YEARS EVE CONCERT" not word 4 word, but u get the d"rift", so the other day
i get bored, something that happens a lot, and i somehow fall upon MSGs
website, and it says that on NEw YEARS EVE this year theres some black tie
affair where u like taste wines and drinx all night, so PHISH, will b playin
FLEET CENTER again this NYE!!  !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  just wanted 2
tell every1.  

                                ANDRES

TWO nights in Amsterdam!!!! There is a god..and he must be a PHISH
PHAN!!!.....Anybody else going???   bcjackson 

Phish are grate, but I don't really understand the comparison w/ the Dead.

-Dennis Janosczyk

My last concert was 12/30, and although it was no NYE (I was almost
in tears when I saw the setlists and heard the tapes of 12/31), I was on
another level for seriously two days following the 'night before'.
It wasn't justthe THC either. The surreal 1st set Reba and then the Slave
2nd set closer  put me into a state of elation that didn't leave me
until well after new years. Phish give me musical highs that are so powerful,
so different than any drug...so pure. Anyway, if the Went is half as much
fun as the ball was we are in for a treat.


                        -simon

Does anyone know the direction on how to get to the rhombus??? It is near my
house in NJ and I want to go there. It should be in the tapes of 6/23/95 and
12/1/95. If anyone knows this please post it here on andy's EXCELLENT page. I'd
love to visit this place with any one in the NJ area (monmouth county). 
Thanx! 
P.S. listen to the Mike's Groove on 7/02/94. KILLER!!!!!!


-Matt Goldstein

Hey folks!  Thought I'd give in and tell you that there is a general
admission show at the Electric Factory on April 26th, Saturday.
        The line up:
                                Jerry Garcia Band
                                The Disco Biscuits (this is the reason that I
am
 going!!)
                                And another band...
Many people may have heard of the Disco Biscuits, but if you're just dieing
to hear some absolute kick-ass jam music there is NO better place.
        $13.50 pre-paid
        $15.50 the day of the show.
Give them your support, they will replenish you ten times over!!!

it's getting tougher and tougher to get good seats to Phish shows.  as you
proba
bly know.

-Patrick Manis

In the evening I undo my belt . . . split open and melt.

-Dave Wadsworth

Ok.  A few of my friends and I are at the Spectrum on the 29th and we are
sitting behind the stage.  This was pretty interesting in that Page was on the
right and Fish on the left.  Anyway,  we were about stage level and I had my
camera with me so I figured I could snag a few good shots of the guys if I
could stop dancing long enough.  Anyway,  they are playing YEM  and they go to
the trampolines so I figure I will get a picture.  Well, the phans behind the
stage had been raising hell all night and when Trey and Mike turned to face us,
we blew the roof off of the place and Trey gave us the thumbs up which I
S

luckily caught on film.  That was the last picture in my camera and I was
relieved that I saved that last picture.  However,  a few minutes later,
instruments started flying everywhere.  I couldn't believe my eyes.  I mean, I
knew they had done it before but I never expected to SEE it!  Anyway,  I was
cursing myself for not saving a few more pictures.  I mean Fishman playi!
ng a bass?  Page on guitar?  Mike singing 16 Candles?  Naturally,  I didn't
lose sleep over it or anything. It just goes to show that when you think a
Phish show can't get any better,  IT WILL!!!!  

-chris kasari

weird story about fishman playing with stash.  but oddly enough,
 my lttle brother
is a freshman in college, was home a maybe three weeks ago to 
visit me in manhattan.  i told him about this band stash
(good etc.) like you they hold me over for a while now that 
responsibility has kicked in after college but back to my brother,
he went and saw them. said it was fun, but he swears he saw fishman there,
but was too afraid to approach him.  it was at the wetlands.  so maybe 
fishman saw them there while he was in new york doing whatever, thought 
they were allright,
was home in syracuse for mom b day bash, finds out stash is playing again,
and sits in for a few songs.  just a theory.  peace and i'll see you and
all the rest of the kids at the went, or did it come?
doug madden

PHISH......Need i say more, For those who understand, surrender
to the phlow..

   Johnny Catt

      I never knew that Fishman had was married but I was 
at Chuck's in Syracuse on Saturday and he introduced me to 
his wife Nancy. She seemed really cool she even bought me a 
drink!!
        I don't want Phish to stop touring in 1-3 years, but 
I do understand where Trey is coming from it must be hard on 
his family. There are months that go by where all of my 
motivation comes from the fact that I will be going to some 
shows in the near future. Like now for instance, I am so 
pumped for summer tour that I am wishing my whole summer away 
and it hasn't even started yet.  

-Melissa

I think that the band is geat! I was excited to here that Phish is from
vermont! Because I just recently visited there on march break! I got
to also visit Ben and Jerrys and got to sample there new Phish food ice
cream! Which was great! I am going on tour to see them this summer
and I can't wait to see them live!! 


                                                 Becki

This band has helped me through small town life in highschool for more
than 3 years now.  Though in 8th grade I didn't realize the
signifigance of this band, I can now credit the members with keeping me
sane (which will hopefully continue well into college and beyond).

-Lynne Opper

I was at a this place called Barfly on Saturday to see the
Motherfunkers (who are worth seeing). Anyways, as I walk in I hear a
Simple-jam on their sound system. This Simple sounded very familiar. So
much so that I even recognised a yelp from the audience. Needless to
say, hearing a show in a bar was wierd, but that I recognised the tape
was even more strange. In fact, it was a copy of a show, (12/31/96),
that I had taped and the yelp was my own. Only a few minutes later did
I see my touring buddy sitting at the bar. he had given the tape to one
of the band members, who then put it on.

-Mathias Loertscher

All I know is that fate is often our guide. I mean sure Bouncing Around the
Room is everybody's "I don't really care for Phish but that Bouncing song
is really good" The way I see it, the Live One version has superb energy.
When I skipped school one day and drove around that night to add miles to
the ododometer so as to keep my creepy mother off my back is was just 
Wednesday. But when a radio station played "Bouncin" I was amazed. Not only
because its a good tune, but because you could hear the audience sing along
Thats what got me moreso than anything. When the next song was "Down with
Disease" thus completeing the station's double play I thought "Is that
Phish?, the band that when I heard "Julius" and Scent of a Mule" earlier
that year I was in utter confusion by their whatever it is that makes those
songs so fuckin odd. That nights listening of Bouncin caused me curious, 
and Live One, Junta, Rift were all subsequenlty bought much to my joy.
The fact that I missed school and found Phish as a result is an obvious
display of fate since Phish somehow replaced Zeppelin as the band. Now when
someone says how much they love "Bouncin" I would love to laugh and say
i heard "Alumni Blues" when it was in its prime. Instead I say "good tune"
and kick myself for failing both Music and Geography that semester.
Chris Piccirillo...........East Haven C

There is a big galla going on in DC in May
with live bands and two days of camping
Bela Fleck is the headliner and probably 
twenty to thirty bands backing them up.
Not sure who, Agents of Good Root a definite
alot of local Tidewater and DC bands. Funk Fest at the 9:30
Club on April 22 with Maceo Parker and Medeski
Martin and I've got Wood.  Should sellout so
act fast if you live around that area.  We want
the DUDE!!
 
-Costanza

My first show was at Sullivan Gymnasium at the University of Southern Maine in
the fall of 1991.  Never before had I seen anything like it.  One thing I knew
for sure was this was the best band I'd ever seen play.  

-Chris Taylor

my first show was at the spectrum in philly('fall 95) I Went with about
10 of my friends from school.  We were so stoked all day I couldn't even
concentrate in class that day.  When we got to the show I must have Ran
into about 30 people I know.  I got so caught up that I lost My friends.
This was bad because I was Boomin' hard!  I creeped my way into the show
by myself and Immediately made new friends.  I heard Chalkdust and I was
jamminn' with all these cool people. At the beggining of the second set I 
Found my friend greg. It was his first show also so we stuck together.
This was the most intense experience.  When we all got back to school
we traded storys for hours. Thats when I was hooked.  I've been seeing
shows and collecting tapes ever since. Can't wait for summer tour. 
See you all at The Went.            -jonis

always remember to live by these words of phishdom.....
set the gear shift into the high gear of the soul, you've got to run like an
antelope, out of control.    And be a SLAVE TO THE TRAFFIC LIGHT, those damn
cops are always out there!!!!!!!

-Beckalicious Lyman

i remember my first show last august...so many phriends, good tunes and smiling
faces...i knoew i had found my place, jammin' and rockin' in space. :-)

-beni

A Toast to New Year's Eve
by Andrew Gadiel

Hey all, I've wanted to write about my New Year's exeperience for quite a
while, and now seems like the perfect time.

	My New Year's - 96/97, was quite an incredible experience as I got to
spend it with my girlfriend, my roomate, his brother, Corey, and 50,000 other
people in Boston. Along with four other guys who I've spend more time with than
my parents recently. We had been on the New Year's run and so far had pretty
much been blown away by the first three shows. 12/29 especially, second set
really took me by suprise. (Fish on guitar just had to make you smile). So here
we are, entering the Fleet Center for what promises to be a stunning display of
music completeness. 
	After dealing with ticket exchanges and pick-ups, etc, (Thanks Mike!)
we found our seats. My girlfriend and I were directly behind the stage and my
roomate and his brother were on the complete opposite sides of the stage, upper
balcony, with the balloons. 
	Anyways, that's not the point, the point was the music. This was New
Year's eve and Phish was on, and I mean on. They played their hearts out that
night. Axilla opener was a little unexpected. Peaches made me sooo happy. Punch
reminisced for last year's NYE. Cars Trucks & Busses - I just love this tune
for some amazing reason. Stash - which I hadn't seen in umpteen shows, I danced
my heart out. Silent > Horse. It was kind of cool to be behind the stage as you
could see what the band sees. I always thought they were blind, but they can
pretty much see the entire arena when the lights don't shine directly on the
stage all the time. Very cool. The Divided Sky - Probably the most appreciated
song out there as it just exemplifies composed amazement. You think it's almost
over, and they just keep it going and going and jamming and jamming over and
under and swirling. It makes you want to cry. Then came Sample, which made me
think of the 12/30 last year when they played Divided , Sample to end the set.
But something was different about this sample. Trey, the rockstar, was pushing
it to the limits. They really jammed this one out hard. Then came something
completely out of the blue. A mini-hose, mind you. They finished out the
Tweezer from the night before with a Tweezer Reprise. This was New Year's Eve,
dammit! Anything was possible and wanted you to feel like you were a part of
something special. 
	As the lights came up I turned to Emily and said, "That was one hell of
a first set." We were breathless, and after a couple sips of water and a break,
we decided that we wanted to ring in the New Year with our friends. So we
packed up our gear and trecked out across the Fleet Center in search of my
roomate and his brother. We knew where they were going to be, so it wasn't too
difficult finding them. We did find some low key passageways on the outside of
the Fleet's main audience chamber. That place is enourmous. Anyways, as we
emerged from the stairway, there was my roomate, going to the bathroom.
"Wooohoo!!! Tweezer reprise!" We shared our joy for what was a pnemonimal 1st
set and what promised to be a continuing night of undulating joy. We made our
way to where they were sitting, up in the clouds, but with a frontal view of
the stage. As it turned out, there were two seats directly in front of their
seats that noone was using. We were siked. The waiting for the second set was
torture, but I didn't care, I was become the happiest person in the world at
that moment. As the silli began to set in, my mind began to wander to thoughts
of songs and dancing and wonderful joy with Phish.
	The lights went down, it was on. Chalkdust to open the second set,
couldn't be more perfect. I just wanted to keep on dancing. "Can I live while
I'm young?" Seemed to be my theme at the moment. Wilson...da da...da
da.....Wilson...has really become one of my favorites as I've heard such great
versions on tape - Full Moon @ the Zoo - '88 something...anyways, I love
wilson. Sparkle - The goodness continues. Simple. We're we going to get another
stellar simple jam ala 11/8/96 Champaign? It wasn't the most extended, but they
knew what was up. I didn't mind Swept Away > Steep as much as the next guy,
cause when I heard this at the Palace, they went right into Harry Hood. So I
sounded out my favorite Fishman drum beats (The hood opener) in my head as
steep was ending, and sure enough, they went right into it. Don't you love it
when that happens. Now I'll just come out and admit it. Harry Hood is my
favorite Phish song. I've heard it live a number of times and everytime you
feel like you're watching the best one. I've seen some great ones, too.
12/17/95 was amazing, to say the least. 12/30/95 wasn't too shabby either. My
first was 11/19/95 which is so special to me (Anyone got this tape?) So here I
am, listening to the beginning segment of Harry Hood. What will it have to
offer me this evening. The key to Harry, obviously, is the post "Thank you Mr.
hoooood" jam. And this one was just an example of how the band has matured and
learned that patience pays. They took their time with it, and allowed the jam
to sculp itself until it had built itself up into an array of cosmic dust
circling the venue in a historic retrospective. Phish was playing, and noone
was going to stop them. They jamming the hell out of Harry that night and I'll
be ever thankful. I think I resolved a hell of a lot of conflicts in my mind
during that jam. It really made me realize a lot about who I was, and that's
what makes the music so special. As the jam came to it's penultimate peak and
they let it all out and felt good about hood, which I did...I was hoping for a
quick ending, a "we'll be back in 15 - 45" since i had no clue what time it
was, anywhere...but that was not to be, they let the jam subside and segued
into Prince Caspian, which you'll hear no regrets out of me.I love this
peaceful tune. Now that I think about it, if they'd ended the set with the
Hood, I don't think I would have made it through setbreak. Prince Caspian then
moved into Character Zero, which really jammed out the end of the set, a cool
vocal - ba ba booo.....ending which I love. 

   After the second set ended clocks came on in the four corners of the arena
saying "Countown to New Years" and they said something like 45 minutes the want
left. The waiting begins. A small hot air remote controlled ballon began
circling the arena during setbreak which kept my mind focussed. Along with
thoughts of, how are they going to top this? Since setbreak seemed like an
eternity, I'll skip the whole waiting scene and move onto to the third set.
Although the guy next to me had a cool story of when he saw the originial Led
Zepplin. That was cool to hear about. One thing I should mention now, so I
don't spoil any suspense later, is that there were about 50,000 balloons strung
from the ceiling by big nets. God only knew what was to come.

	So, with about 10 minutes left on the "Countdown to New Year's" clock,
the band came back on. To say the least, I was intensified and highly expecting
of what was to come. The buildup at this point could have been cut with a
blade. As they took the stage, a familiar spacy jammy intro began to take form
and as the smoke covered the stage, it looked like we were in for a 2001 jam
session. This had to be one of the most perfectly planned/timed buildups to new
years. I just looking at the clocks, which seemed to flow with the music and as
the band jammed forth to the enevitible climax to the year 1997 I couldn't have
imagined being in any other room that night. With 4:20 left on the clock, the
crowd cheer. This made me smile. With a minute to go, the uproar
began....Thousands of people all around the venue, celebrating Phish and the
New Year together. It was the most pefect display of harmounous baalance I had
ever seen. As the jam came to a close and they brought it back down with about
10 seconds left, the countown began. 5 - 4 - 3 - 2 -1...HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!! As
the familar sound of Auld Lang Syne filled the house, the downpour began and
all the balloons fell from the ceiling. Many of you may think, so what,
balloons. But let me tell you, these were the happiest ballons I had ever seen
in my entire life. There were big ones, small ones, one's with tails, and all
had confetti mixed it. It was incredible chaos. And the balloons didn't go
away, either, they bounced around the place like no balloons had ever done
before. As The Auld Lang Syne jam ended, a mini-space intro began and then Mike
spoke his words...the opening base chords to down with Disease. It was on
again, they were going to jam this song to the ends of the earth. Mike didn't
even play the second set of base chords, he let the balloon popping do that.
For the record, in my opinion, this had to be one of the greatest Down with
Dieases ever played in the history of Phish. I haven't heard them all, and god
knows haven't seen them all, but the musical buildup and explosion which
occured at midnight - combinded with the fact that I couldn't even see the
stage because there were a thousand balloons ontop and all around it made me
love everything there was to love about Phish. The Down with Disease jam kept
going...and just took us out and back and out again. And then as the jam slowed
a little, it built back up, and back until the familiar trey noodling of the
down with disease jam....this has all been wonderful, and now I'm on my
way.....Perfection I must tell you. They had rocked in the New Year. I was
completely HOSED down at this moment, swiwing in Down w/ Disease glory. As the
amazing song ended, which in my opinion has never ended, Trey quickly counted
out and boom, into Suzy Greenberg....Wow...just keep the party rolling. No
dissapointments tonight I must tell you, they just let it all hang out and
saved the best for last. As Suzy came  to a close, I heard the familiar
noodling of the Antelope opener and I knew we were nowhere near done for the
night. Was it me, or was this the longest opener you'd ever heard. As I heard
the main jam begin I looked around, wondering where I had just been. The
Antelope jam lost me completely. I had to refer to the tapes to understand it's
glory. It just entereed my mind and I was living in another realm during this
amazing jam. If you get this tape, listen to the Antelope, I don't think you'll
hear many better. Maybe the 94 sugarbush, but this antelope was something
special. It was a New Year's antelope, and it was rocking good. As the jam came
to an abrupt halt, as it usually does, I once again looked around, wondering
where I had just been. A lie lie lacoord, Marco Esquadolis, epinu to have any
spike man....and now we're runnning like antelopes all the way home. I was
completely satisfied at that moment. Ringing out my clothes from the hosed down
exprience I couldn't have gusessed in a million year's what was to come next.
As the silence after Antelope ended and they came up to the mikes and said, "Is
this the real life?" I was overtaken by a intense force of historical
perportions. Bohemian Rhapsody, on New Year's eve. So special. It sounded great
too, and half way through, the Boston Community Choir came on stage to give
them some help. I don't know about you, but I heard them alright, and they were
great. The even jammed out the end segment, ala Wayne's World. Heads bopping
everywhere...it was awesome. If anyone was dissapointed, then you need to
reevaulate your value system, or something (sorry). As the Rhapsody ended they
went right into Julius to jam the set away and as it closed down I felt a sense
of completeness.
   The Amazing Grace encore was all too perfect as it allowed us to catch our
breathes, reflect, and enjoy what it was all about. 
   I must say, this had to be my favorite evening with Phish to date. It was
the last show I've seen (I didn't go to Europe or the Flynn) and it's really
special. I saw the New Year's run last year, which was stellar, but there's
something about a musical buildup to midnight and there was an overall feeling
that night that Phish knew what was up, and that they were taking care of us.
And that, my friends, is why they are currently the greatest band in america.

Thanks for reading.
Peace,
Andrew Gadiel

hola how is everyone?  ready for the story of my first show?
it was pretty cool.  it was in champaign il and i live in
chicago and i was looking so forward 2 cing them.  on a side note i didnt go
2 halloween even though i was offered cuz A.we didnt have tix and Bi wasnt a
phace yet, so a few months later i was listenin 2 my 1st phish
booter(6/22/94) and yelling up 2 the gods "WHAT HAVE I DONE?!"
i love THE WHO and since they played my favorite all time album
QUADROPHENIA, i was pissin in my
pants AND beatin my head against the wall.   WAIT, goin 2 get a tape of my
1st show so i can totally recreate the mood.  Ok im back.  well i had bought
tix with this kid and he scalped some of his at school, what a fag, he also
stole a tik from me.  so i figured i might c someone i knew at the show
besides MY (BEST) FRIEND MY (BEST) FRIEND, who was goin with me.  so cut to
the show.  we get outta the car, it was unreal!!!!!!!!!  every1 looked a lot
more like me then the kids at school.  in the first minute there we saw a
few kids from our school.  we looked around in the lot but ii couldnt find
any shirts just a lot of cool HEMP necklaces so we decide 2 go to the
ASSEMBLY HALL.  we get halfway there and this lady..WAIT the tapes goin into
MIKES, thisll take a sec.  ok the lady gives us some stickers, and then we c
some other kids from my school.  so ew talk and they asked if weve seen some
other people, we havent and go on.  we get 2 the entrance and a lot of
people r goin in, and some people r askin 4 money, and i give this girl like
2 bux.  we get inside and go i get myself a fall tour shirt since this is my
first show(11/8/96).  we walk through the hall in the upper level and i c
this sign that says NO SMOKING and laugh, i laughed like and ANTELOPE OUTTA
CONTROL.  i was lovin every second of it.  so we get 2 our seats and sit
down suddenly some1 taps me on the shoulder, ITS CAM another kid from school
and hes got glitter all over his face.  we talk and he shows me where hes
sittin so i can show every1 else when they arrive.  it ends up we all sit
2gether, but 2 kids r missin(LATER WE FOUND OUT THEY SNUCK DOWN 2THE
FLOOR,AND 1  OF THEM SAT THE ENTIRE CONCERT, THIS WAS THE KID WHO I BOUGHT
TIX WITH, HES A REAL PHACE).  So the band was way late so i start talkin 2
the kid next to me.  i asked this kid if he thought they would shut the
lights off, and as he answered me, the the ASSEMBLY HALL went pitch black
and every1 was cheering and on there feet, ill never 4get that as long as i
live.  so cut 2 the 2nd set,  after MIKES a microphone is lowered from the
ceiling and the boys move up and tell us theyre singin this song at the
Minnesota Timberwolves game, and they do the STAR SPANGLED BANNER.  after
WEEKAPAUG they left and every1 was on there feet(except that kid from my
school that is) wantin an encore.  it was so loud, CAM now sittin next 2
me(not at the beginnin of the show) has his lighter up and i look behind us,
every1 did!!!!!!!!!!!!!  when we entered the lot the electric sign said AN
EVENING WITH PHISH, they should have said ONE HELLUVA NIGHT WITH PHISH.

          thanx 4 readin              Andres

phish is best when served phresh

-gabriel harp

Looking forward to the Went

-matt archer

Phish writes the soundtrack to my life. 

-Matt Goldstein

sometimes the mountain in the distance seems to fade into a moss covered
boulder with a familiar set of people in the distance, I know that they make me
feel at home in my struggle agaisnt empire resourcism- the dominant paradigm
shall be beaten, and we all shall rise into the Hale Bob comet to the next
level-
there will be llamas in the future, not to mention many others.....

-Jesse Walmsley

if i can't be myself ........ i would rather be dead.    

-blueberry bridge

Ahhhh, the great CLIFFORD BALL! I ran into friends from College half-way across
the country and High School buddies from across the WORLD (england). See you
all at Went!

-Aidan Biggins

I used to see Phish at the Front a lot when I went to school in Vermont.
I would always stand right in front of Trey, and this one time-I think
it was one of the first Mango Songs, 89 or so,-he finished playing and I
said "I really like that song," and he said "Yeah? Me too!" 
I hadn't really expected a response when I made the comment, and I was
pleasantly surprised that he offered one. And he still gives that same
response every time I think "I really like this song"-I need only open
my eyes to see that he does too.

I've only been phishing for about a year and a half now, my first show being
last phall in N.Charleston (11-18-95).  What can i say, they blew me away!!! I
had never, never, felt music like that before...not even the dead made me feel
like phish does :)  Well, needless to say that the moment i walked out of the
colisseum that night, i wanted....needed more Phish!!  i did 5 shows that fall,
missed summer tour :(  and then another 7 this past fall!  And i'm anxiously
awaiting my MO.....i'll be doing the Full summer tour :)))  So in the year and
a half that i've been a phan....and by the end of the summer i'll have been to
over 30 shows!!! i can't believe it..hehe.  I really think that the boys
brought something to my life that i really needed, and i would love to thank
them (a desparate plea for a chance meeting...lol) if i ever get the chance!!
My time is spent either waiting on the next tour, reading everyone's thoughts
on rmp, and spinning tapes (have almost 200+ hrs now!)..!
...so i don't know what i'd do without them! and all the phriends i've met in
the past at shows and on the road!!!
Just saw this page and loved the idea, so i had to put a thought up :))
See ya'll this summer!!!!  Keep phishin'  <*\\\><
Please feel free to dump some mail on me....love talkin to new phans!!
Jeff Bigham          mcgrupp@city-online.com

no matter what people may say, I thought the clifford ball was phantastic.
i really enjoyed the afternoon set on saturday.  great Reba.  The highlight
of the show for me came during the second set on sturday night.  My friends
found great tabs of this kid in the lot.  They came back to the campsite
smiling
like little kids.  i wanted to get some too but had no cash left so I
grabbed some of the necklaces i had made and tried to find the kid.  
Amazingly i did but he wouldn't trade.  i ran back to the camp, scrapped
five dollars and ran back to the lot to try to find him again.  i knew
it was impossible but i gave it a shot anyways.  the stars must have
been in my favor because i found him AGAIN!  i took it immediately and by 
showtime it was kicking in hard.  As Fluffhead was driving towards it crescendo
i happened to look up at saw a real shooting star.  I almost lost my shit.
Then my friend Tim called Antelope as Fluffhead died down.  Easily
the most incredible evening of my life.

My first time seeing Phish...

(late 80's, '89 I think)
I was living in Syracuse, NY and a friend suggested I check out this band
playing at "The Orange Grove", a very small bar in the university area. I 
wasn't sure what to make of them. They kept on building incredible tension
into their songs. Weaving syncopation with odd time signatures over and over,
up and up...then release. It was very difficult to follow and a little scary
to witness. They also interspersed a lot of humor and frivolity into their
songs and stage presence that seemed at odds with the intensity of their 
music. It took me many years of seeing them here and there, whenever they 
were in town, before I finally "GOT IT". Now I live for this "tension and
release" and marvel at the appropriateness of their fragile intellectual 
stage demeanor ;-)

Jay

my random phish thought or story is we (me and my girlphriend) went to the 
ames,ia 11/14/96 show.  This was my phirst phish show experince and the
show was so intence that i blacked out after wolfman's!!   I missed the 
rest of the show!!!!  yes that sucks but being a newbie at the time
I diden't surrender to the phlow and couldn't handle the vibe!!!:(


The vibe was something that i have never experinced with music.  I diden't
know what was happening!!  know keep in mind that this was my phirst time
seeing anyone let alone phish, the greatest band and the greatest music
i have ever witnessed!!!!  all the sudden there we're thaousands of 
phishheads danceing to this loud and flowing music, and now I am one of those
phishheads and can't wait till this summer!!!!!!!!!!

I was so freaked out after ames that I dident want to go to the omaha show the
day after.
but we went so we could give someone that miracle ticket and turn around
phor home!!!!  as it turned out that miracle ticket turned out to be my
miracle ticket and we decided to enter the phish relm again.  

well phellow phishheads that omaha, that miracle ticket was the miracle that
I have been searching phor all my life and diden't know it!!!!  It's hard
to explain that phelling that i got at omaha.?  but I know that who ever reads
this will know excatly what I'm talking about and phelling!!

when I heard the phirst phew notes and knew the the song was rift something 
happened to me.  something snapped, I coulden't contain myself any longer!!!
I just screamed and my body just started to phlow!! I have tears in my eye's
right 
now just phrom thinking and wrighting about those phellings!!  and yes
they are tears of joy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have phially phound my place in life where i phell at home!! where i belong
and will stay till the end of time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

the trick was to surrender to the phlow!!!
I can belive how true that is!!!!

I would like to thank trey,mike,page and fishman phor a phelling that I
never knew I could pheel!!!!  keep up the vibe and see you on tour this
summer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

me and jessica are getting on the bus and starting in ventura and going
thru alpine vally!!!!!!!!!!!

hope to see everybody!!!!!

take a loved one with you on tour!!  I coulden't imagine shareing the vibe
without my sweet one,jessica

jessica took me to my phirst show's and I would like to thank her phrom 
the deepths of my heart!!! I'll love her phorever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:)

with love and happy phishing
bret and jessica

Okay, here's the deal.  I'm going on tour this summer.  I'm starting at Alpine
Valley, and going all the way to the Great Went.  Due to the shape of my car
and the fact that I want to drive next winter, 3 friends and I are going to
rent
a minivan.  We'd like to find one more person who'd like to come along and
share
the gas/rental expenses.  If you're in the Madison area, or anywhere near 
Manitowoc, which is where we're picking up the rental car, let me know.  My
email
address is: jeljach5@uwc.edu  I'll be able to get mail there until May 20th,
after which time I'm moving to Madison, and won't have email.  So... get in
touch with me if you're anywhere in the Southeastern Wisconsin area, or can
make it to somewhere in Wisconsin by August 8th or 9th.  Peace, Jenn

The first thing I noticed when at my first show was that sanity never came
Trey's way.  No sanity never came his way, I lost my mind more than a
couple of times... and didn't really want to leave?  I have the leg to
that show and all I remember were the sky-blue mirror of the lights, and
the amazing David Bowie.  I could stage a runaway golf cart marathon, but
I won't I will simply go on with the description.  I lost my squash during
David Bowie, to this day I have not heard a better David Bowie and many
kids agree that they haven't either.  It was different from any other
concert I had been to cause I felt FREEEEEEEEE!! to groove they way I
wanted.  The only complaint I had was the scene outside.  No it wasn't the
people that made it bad, it was the scent of a mule that made the
atmosphere very unpleasent.  We raged before the show close to this
dumpster and I couldn't ditch the scent.  
        I want to apologize if this didn't satisfy your quest for
creativity, but I really need a leg of the 96 dec. 30th show and I don't
know how else to get it.  So to quote a great sista, who would have
listened to phish, had they been around at the time.  "Help me Lizard,
HPoG, you're my only hope!  Help me Lizard, HPoG you"re my only hope! 
Help me Lizard, HPoG you're my only hope!

-Cassidy215

Both Grateful Dead and Phish play music that makes your mind travel deep into
the soul.  But the Grateful Dead gently travel in front of you and ask you to 
come along while Phish travel behind you and warn you if you don't go on
you might get hurt......just a little phood phor thought

-Christopher Spargur

I will be going to my first phish show at dairen lake in august. Can't wait!!!

-Christopher J. Tatro

I had a dream on 4/8/97.Here goes:

I am sitting in the living room with my dad listening to Phish live
at some bar in Tampa on the radio (I live in Florida). We keep listening
and some how we have ended up in the bar seeing the boys jamming out a
"Maze." Mike was jumping around and really gettin into it. I see my
friend Dave at the back of the bar and I go up to him. I asked what i
have missed so far. He said that they opened with "NICU" he thinks but
he can't really remember too well because he's trippin' so hard on
shrooms. Very strange. All of the sudden, Brian Stezer from the Stray
Cats and more recently the Brian Setzer Orchestra, comes up, grabs the
mike, and Trey says, "Our pal Brian is in the house tonight and we're
gonna let him sing one." The bar is not even half full. Brian takes the
mike and they rip out a version of the Cats' "Rock This Town". Cool. I'm
leaving and Trey starts counting out a "Poor Heart." And then I woke up.
A cool mini-Phish experience until the Great Went, I guess.

Trane816@aol.com
Evan Bickerstaffe

i remember being really wasted on aug-13-1996 at deercreek.it was second night and my 22nd
b-day..i 
remember being really tripped out on shrooms and dancing and loving the groove more than
life,when this guy started walking aaround with a big electronic sign on his hat..as the songs
played this guy had
them coming around his head with this big hat with an electronic sign going around it..than
leaving the show this guy appeared once again and spoke..everyone listened to him..he was real
weird . but as he spoke 
he somehow moved through the people and not be stuck like the rest of us.
so i guess the moral is if you dont want to be stuck in that after show crowd to get out.. put a
highclass system on your hat..

  peace,
         phriend(j.hantman)


What I like most about phish is how well they swim, especially Salmon.

-william Fults

well i just wanted to write about something that reaaaallly pissed me off. You se I have this
"friend" who thinks he knows everything there is to know. Well we were at the new years shows and
everytime a song came on, if we( my Best firens and I) didn't know it in the like the fisrt
milisecond , he was like "oh you guys aren't fans". 
I think that is totally absurd.  I may not be able to call a song on the very first chord, but
that doesn't make me any less of a Phan. Does it!!! I just wanted to get that off my mind.  Not
everyone has the ability to pick up the tunes so quickly, even so it is totally possible to
expierience the music in the same way. Thanks for listening. Keep phishing

-seminole girl

I just wanted to agree with RJs post.  Right on RJ!  Everyone should
really stop and take a moment to think about how lucky we are to have a
band like Phish around.  They are quite possibly the greatest band of
all time (IMO) and years from now we'll look back on this period as the
birth and growth of this amazing thing that we've all been fortunate
enough to witness.  Without Phish, how much different would all of our
lives be?  Think about it.  What would we do?  No tapes.  No tour.  No
net.  Nothing.   NOTHING.
        I often think about how my life would be different if Phish did not
exist.  It's scary how much they play a part in my life.  I won't get
into all the details...we all have our own emotional connection to the
music.  Anyway, if Phish played the way they did in August of 93 or fall
of 95 or spring of 88 all the time it would get old.  The band has said
repeatedly that their goal is to always do something NEW and different. 
So the jams are different now.  They're ALWAYS different.  It's all
relative to the time period you're in.  Nothing is ever permanent with
this band.  Instead of complaining about this or griping about that, why
don't we all just appreciate the incredible quartet of virtuosos that is
PHISH.  Life is good.
  - Jeff Waful     J_Waful@Emerson.Edu

I got drunk last night off Gordeaux...a ubiquitously nasty ass 
beverage made from coffee liquer and stolen Alabama grapefruits.

mmmmmmmm......Gordeaux is good!!!!!

-K.C.

Man, Phish is the best.  I never thought that I wold actually 
want tp go and tour with a band but I really do for Phish.  These guys are
great.  The best part is you never know what they are going to do next.
I saw that 12/29/96 show in Philly and I was amazed at the second set.
They did that instrument switch.  Who could have called it.  Anyway, I like
Phish a lot!!!!1

-Joe Kanakaraj

 I truly love phish and i have been a phan for about 4 1/2 years
the first time i had ever heard of them my buddy in high school asked me
if i wanted to go to see them in Syracuse NY..i said yes not knowing 
what i was getting into...every since that show i have been hooked not
a day goes by that i do not listen to phish because phish has become a 
major part of my life..before my fist show i really had no direction
but phish so how opened up my eyes to something unreal ...The most 
unbeliveable music ever...The last couple of years i have watched phish
grow bigger and bigger...now thought i hate to say it but alot of people
that are just starting to go to shows are only going because most think that 
it is just a big party..i feel that so people think the same way as i do
as phish grows larger and larger i think more people will find a meaning
but others are just going for the party and i feel that this gives phish 
a bad name..as for me i will continue to GROOVE to the day i DIE...
John Catt

You know what? I know everyone shares the feelings of "Well, Phish is 
the greatest thing that's ever happened to me, BUT...I really wish that 
they would do this, OR wouldn't do that." But I'll tell you what. If you 
want to do things that Phish doesn't, then start your own band, then 
you'll see how hard these guys work to make all of us happy. Basically 
the point of this long drawn out story is that we have to stop these 
small, retentive comments and wishes about this band. What makes them 
unique is who they are and what they do. I know that this band is the 
best around, maybe the best ever, so let's be happy with what they do 
for us and it will keep comin'.

-RJ

you know, my friends and i have talked about phish numerous times... and
everytime the topic comes up, we ask what do you like about phish?  What can't
you like about Phish, they are all big goofs on stage.  they are so serious but
at the same time, they are really funny and just goof around.

-shannon delehanty

Phish has played a real important part of my life.  In fact, before I 
got married I asked my wife 2 questions.  One was what is the difference 
between a pot and a pan?  I know its a little old fashioned, but 
important none the less.  The next was how old is Runaway Jim(my 
favorite song).  She got both right and needless to say we are 
happily mnarried.  We went to Europe last summer for our honeymoon and 
got to see the boys play in Amsterdam.  It was one of the most 
incredible experiences ever.  That morning when we were walking by the 
club we saw Trey and the boys getting off their bus at their hotel.  
They saw us and smiled and asked us to come over.  Wechatted with them 
and got to take a picture with the whole band.  It was amazing.  This 
summer I start working at the Oak Ridge National Labs in Tennessee.  For 
the first time ever my wife and I will be able to go to Deer Creek.  I 
won't be getting to Europe this year, but then again who knows, I love 
Phish and truly love the whole experience they bring.  Peace and Love 
Matt K.


Phish, imo, is one of the last few bands to play real, god's-honest good music, 
instead of the ever-popular copycat genre of music.  Nowadays the bands that are
 considered good in the public eye are those bands that are just copying a style
 that was innovative and daring in its own time, and by this I am largely referr
ing to the whole alternative/grunge genre.  It is refreshing to hear a band that
 knows what good music is and isn't interested in fame and fortune, only bringin
g their special kind of music to the masses.  I also think that phans should sto
p jumping on the growing popularity of Phish because I don't see anything wrong 
with everybody appreciating good music.  Phish is good music, and in a time when
 good music has fallen below money and popularity, it is a refreshing thing that
 should be enjoyed by everybody.  Who knows?  If everyone started liking Phish, 
or at least acknowledging that they are superb musicians, perhaps music could be
gin to start getting better and!
 more original.
 
-Landy Morales

i had an assignment to write an informative speech for my speech class.
it had to be 5 to 7 minutes long.  i picked phish as my topic to write
on. i left it till the last night to write it,.but i got it done and
then some, i ended up talking for too long, 9 minutes, and i wasn't even
finished! i could talk for hours about why phish is the best band of all
time.---  Ryan Gallagher

You know I was at local CD shop in Chapel Hill debating weather or not
to get a sweet import Phish CD.  Then I thought how much I have
connected with the vibe that surrounds the band.  Rembering reading post
that spread the message of imports, and how that took away the purity of
all those who tape. I did NOT purchase that CD, decided it was time to
start to collect tapes and realized that I upheld the ideals and
philosophy of Phish-------->I didn't sell out Phish------I knew then I
was truly addicted.

-G.C.

Phish is a drug.  Makes you extremely high, can cause euphoria, and can cause a
grown man to cry.  If you go too long without it, you start to jones.  You also
can get a tolerance to it, (that's why people collect tapes, to keep altering
the particular make-up of the songs).  Anyway, there are no negative side
effects to this drug, and it's even still legal (except at Red Rocks).  Right
now I'm out of phish.  I'm jonesin big time...I just mail ordered a shipment of
the stuff, but I don't know if the dude will hook me up.  Demand for this shit
is so high the price has gone up.  Please Icculus, grant my prayers.....
    -REX

duuuuuuuude I relly like the idea of reading other phisher's thoughts. 

I guess I've been a phisher for 2 years now (thanks to my friends d.o. & s.a.).

Been to one show (many other planned but never happened shows 
unfortunatly) and I have 10 shows on tape.  I went to their 1996 (???) Niagra 
Falls show and I've been waiting ever since for them to come to 
Toronto (Can).

I have 1 beautiful tip for anyone going to a phish show (for those who haven't
tried it this way yet).    Do your sugar cube, coolaid, shroooooooms, etc. one
and a half to two hours before the show so hopefully by the second set it's
been three and a hlf to four hours and you're aaaaaallllllll meeeeellllooowed
out.  This way you can have your spiritual experience during their first set 
and you can hopefully remember the second set a bit clearer.  This way you 
can tell your friends how the show was(or at least the second set).

What's up man. I've been just reading some of the thoughts and stories 
maaaaan whatever happened to the hiiiipppiiiees that have lots of love and 
compassion for those who don't have money.  Not everyone can afford a 
ticket to see PHiSH.  Just LET IT BE !!!!!!!!!!

Long live the DEAD..........    Any Deadheads out there, read the book:
    LIVING WITH THE DEAD by ROCK SCULLY

2 last thoughts 
      Listen to the song STASH on A Live One. and imagine an orchestra 
playing with them.  IT'S WIIIIILDDD !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
      Any one hear anything about PHiSH doing a Toronto show????!!! please 
say something, please!!

                (All of)  Yours truely (a phishing deadhead) Sohail B.

oh, oh, oh, any deadheads planning on back packing europe this summer?!?! 
       see ya in EUROPE

-sohail b.

ñÀñ PHISH FOOD IS GOOD STUFF!!  

-Robert Anderson

I would just like to say a couple things so be patient with me.  First of all,
for all the people who think that it's bad that all these "kids" have started
to like Phish,I think it's incredibly cool that so many people from the younger
generation are gettin into Phish. Is it wrong for them to like a rad band?
Wouldn't it be horrible if we all listened to good music?  Oh no, we couldn't
do that then maybe we might all get along. That goes for all bands not just
Phish.  I would also like to say for the record that I do like a wide range of
music not just phish and the grateful dead. I like 311,TKK,various ska
bands,etc.
   Oh by the way, a couple of years ago I was dubbing a tape with Divided Sky
on it and on one tape I was listening to the begging of the song and I hit play
on the other tape which was at the end of the song, then what happened was a
freak accident,the two parts of the song blended and sounded so beautiful
together. It was breathtaking but the sad thing is that it probably wouldnt
work ever again.

shalom,
Sarah J.

 P.S. if there is any one that lives remotely close to
Neillsville Wis. and is planning on going to the Alpine Valley show, I need a
ride so give me buz at warriors@badger.tds.net

I live in small town Wis. so none of my friends really like Phish, so it really
means alot to me when I go to a rare show and people treat me like I'm part of
a family.

-Sarah Jurgaitis

This is absurd. Billy Breathes is not as good as Nectar or Lawn Boy, but 
guess what? It's Phish. I'm glad to see they're exploring new lands.  The
album is not that bad.  Listen to it, and just remember - it is impossible
for anybody who kicks ass this much to put out a bad album. It's not bad, 
it's different.  Since when is that a bad thing? 

And another thing - 
stop it with the "I've been a phan since" deal. We're all phans now, and 
that's all that matters. WE only have the past on tape...

--George Viebranz

Just a quick note...

To the angry Phan who bashed the boys for including their dry goods catalog
with Billy Breathes-Relax.
All proceeds from Phish dry goods are used to finance the news letter, so you
and I don't have to.
And just in case you are from a planet with no monetary system  (If you are
show me the way)
printing and distributing 150 thousand! high quality color news letters, so you
know where they're playing,
costs $$. And besides, if Phish is so greedy why would they donate all proceeds
generated from Phish Food to the Lake 
Champlain Fund?  

I have seen 110 shows since 1990, and to this day my love still grows for them.
I'm honored to support 
something as pure and beautiful as Phish.  Money can't repalce what they
provide, but it can help distribute
the music to more people. Any comments can be directed to mrossi@email.cfr.org

"Sharin' the Groove"     Matt

12/30/96, Set II - Best set I've ever seen.  So much emotion, energy.
All I could think was, THIS SET IS HOT!  Any set that opens with Timber Ho!
you know will be packed with energy.  And then, Uncle Pen - Gordon shined
like never before...he was really belting it out in the Fleet!  SLOW
AC/DC, so funky, so twitchy.  Then Gyute...enough said.  Then the best, 
most coherent and funky Tweezer I've ever heard.  Just so much emotion
in this one.  Then a breather with Lifeboy...into Scent!  (We can't forget
Steven Wright...only Phish would think to bring him out.)  Awesome Slave
to end the set.  And for the encore...POSSOM!!!!  What a way to end this
killer set.  I really can't say enough about this set.  It sounds even
better on tape - It hasn't left my walkman yet.  All of you who witnessed
this musical masterpiece...you must agree.  Yes, it's true...Phish is on
their game now.  Those shows solidified it for me.

-Greg Robinson

 Hello, everyone.  I wanted to share one of my thoughts about
Phish.  I've been into the band for about four years, and I will
admit, when "Billy Breathes" first came out, I din't like it.  But
after some time, I found myself listening to it and appreciating it
more.  Without getting into philosophy on music too much, like the
album Rift, Billy Breathes is great because the album has an overall
cohesiveness to it, I feel that all of the songs flow together really
well, much as they do on Rift.  Billy Breathes, even though it is not a
"concept" album, gave me aural images of such classic groups as Led Zeppelin,
The
Beatles, and Simon & Garfunkel.  A good album is one that is good the
whole way through, like "Physical Graffiti" from Zeppelin, or "Abbey
Road" from the Beatles.  I don't think Phish is going soft, I think
they are increasing their abilities and their music is benefitting.
Playing only harder songs such as Wilson, Chalkdust, Golgi and
Antelope would get old after awhile.  The dynamics, harder as well as
softer songs they use in their music is great and is what makes it work.  
     That was my opinion on the album.  It may draw heat, but it's only an
opinion.  Next, I'd like to comment on two live sets which are some of the
best sets I've heard: set 2 of 12/30/95 and set 2 of 12/31/96.  At MSG, Ya
Mar into Free into Harry Hood-it made me feel good!  As for Fleet Center, in
my opinion, Wilson lacked a bit of the "edge" it needed, vocal-wise (Wilson
12/30/94 was better-more forceful-sounding) Sparkle was good, Simple had what
it needed, and the segue into Swept Away and Steep, culminating with Harry
Hood was amazing!  My question, though, is who had the initial idea to chant
"Hood" after the band sings "Harry" in the beginning?  It's great for a
concert.
     I invite anyone who wants to comment on my above statements to email me
at: dbraunsd@eden.rutgers.edu  Thanks for your time, the summer tour is not
that far away.  Peace.

                                Douglas R. Braunsdorf


"Ode to Mike G."

(in rhythm)

go mike. go mike.
get busy. get busy.
wit' yo' bad self. alright now.
get stupid. get stupid.
hit the bomb notes.  hit the high notes.
flash gordon. falsh gordon.
on the basses. on the basses.

-willo


The best part of New Year's at the Boston Garden is seeing myself on
the arena photo in the jacket of "A live One"................that is
pretty random........:)

-Mike Costigan

I am 17 and live in Michigan. I go to an all boys catholic high school, so
I guess you could call me a, "prep school hippie."  I really love Phish,
the Grateful Dead, and the Samples. Not many people at my school share the 
same feelings as I do and that makes me sad. Many people criticize me for
liking phish, but they are the real losers because they are caught up in 
this wave of new bands like bush, Live, and the Wallflowers. I can't 
remember the last time that I listened to the radio because I'm always 
listining to great shows on tape. I think that Mtv is the most overrated
show on tv. 
Does anyone else have this same problem???

Well, back to good music. I am very excited to see The Samples and 
Widespread Panic this month and I can hardly wait for the summer tour!
I can only make it to Deer Creek, but that is better than nothing. See
everyone in Noblesville!

When is the band going to do a long drawn out middle of the school year
tour so that the young kids can not give the tour a bad name.  I am tired 
of seeing spare changing kids who can not afford tickets when
they go sale, but always have money for dank buds and beer.  I work my
ass off to make money for tour buy all my tickets in advance, budget my 
money for the road.  The guy in GQ who said he came for the "nuggs and beer"
should stay at home along with all those who believe the same thing and 
maybe the fanbase would shrink enough to allow shows at Red Rocks.  I want
to go to shows, so I make serious effort to see as many shows as possible,
under my present circumstances, I do not go for buds and beer but for 
the music and the people.  The people part however is getting strange.
  
-GERG

Phish are getting better every second

Quit whining because they don't play Destiny Unbound
or Phase Dance or Skippy the Wondermouse anymore...

This IS the greatest band ever and these ARE the days

Enjoy

-Kevin

it's so good to read all of this because i know that others understand....
it's a love of music  but music that transcends, that communicates directily
we hear it and we understand... that's the thought that came to me the
other night while listening to reba 10/31/96...i understand..i understand the
music
because it is the music that is in my soul  and phish is playing it and
i understand   like i've heard it all before somehow     or when i stood there
in the sunlight and the wind blowing at the ball... slave was building,
beautiful, gentle, peace... and one word floating in my mind surrounding me,
one word...wonder...the wonder of it all...  this guy next to me said to his
friend, man, this is what it's all about... thank you friends for sharing
this with me...love,niki

Summer tour '95 I found myself along with three friends ticketless to the 4
day run at RedRocks.  Needless to say, I had to walk miles to find my 
tickets.  On the third night, an hour before the show with all my friends
inside, I got the miracle ticket kicked down from Trey's aunt who I 
happened upon in one of the upper lots.  Then, once inside the show, she 
handed me a back stage pass.  Backstage, spun on the mush, Trey's aunt 
took me by the arm to the back of the room to meet Fishman.  It was cool--
a mind blowing event for myself.
 
 
-Lindsay van Driel

Why do people drive on a parkway, and park on a driveway?

-Matthew Kellermann

Listen to the flying jam in Esther when high... I thought I was going to fly
away with her!!

-Robert Rubin

Hola, i turned 15 a few months ago and have now liked phish for a year.  I
never listened to the Grateful Dead until after Jerry Garcia died,even then
it was like months after.  I got into it through a kid who lives a block
away who ive known since i was 5.  He started listening to the dead and
phish a little earlier than I did.  His brother saw the Dead every time they
came 2 Chicago (MY Old Home Place,even though i was born in boston) since he
could.  Now I like Phish.  I would have gone 2 Halloween '95, but the kids
at my school were/are obsessed with one word I CANNOT STAND "POSER".  So i
never listened 2 them at school.  I listened in my room, in secret.  Because
some people decided that they knew what other people liked.  That is so poor
and pathetic.  let me tell all you Phans out there soemthing, YOU HAVE NO
IDEA WHAT IT'S LIKE TO HAVE EVERYONE TAKE SOMETHING THAT YOU HAVED LOVED
FOREVER ,TAKE IT, AND TRAMPLE ALL OVER IT.  When I was real young my dad
taped Star Wars off of the video and put it in front of me and made me
watch.  I watched it 3 or 4 times a day for the beginning years of my life.
That was all that I did.  Growing up I watched it and got the "Oh thats
dorky". Youll never believed what happened recently though, I knew about the
special edition re-releases for about 2 years, then people started talking
about it when the ads came on.  You are talking about a few million new
phans.  I am talking about several hundreds of millions of new fans.  My
Spanish teacher told me that she was the biggest Star Wars fan since, when
she was 5 she liked it, i asked her basic trivia, she didnt know it.  I
asked her what books she read, none.  OH?  So when your dad buys u toys
thats one thing, but when u have 2 pay 5 bucks down at the book-store for a
book thats 2 much, i dont think so.  Kids at my school call me a poser, no
one trades with me, i can only talk with the kid who got me into phish.  So
all u babies out there who are so boo hoo about the old Phish just shut your
damn mouth!!!  No one wants to hear how bad things are, so let us enjoy the
music if you cant.  I will never refuse to read Star wars cause now its
popular, thats crap.  If you like it, then who the hell cares if others like
it.  Who are you to tell people what and how to like????????
Oh yeah and another more thing, I LOVE BILLY BREATHES!!!!!!!!!!  
Its great!  In my opinion it is the only Phish album that really flows
together. Take HOIST, Julius:good, DWD:AWESOME!, AXILLA2: SWEET MERCIFUL
CRAP THATS SUCH A GREAT SONG, but then theres Lifeboy and u lose the vibe.
SAMPLE:GREAT INTO Wolfman's which is good then into 1 of my favs SCENT OF A
MULE: SWEET!!!!!!!!!!
Then Demand oh man bad way to end but billy breathes is great.  1st off
Billy Breathes is probably my favorite song so that helps.  But I think you
got the point, you should be happy that Phish is not considered dorky even
though i dont care what others think.  I LIKE WHAT I LIKE, WHY DON'T YOU
SELFISH JERKS LET
ME????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

                                        LOVE,

                                           Andres 

             ps The Jerks at my school who made this possible: 
                                                   
               (BAD NEWS FOR YOU BUT YOURE NOT THE ORIGINAL PHANS EITHER)

10/26/96:
Reba was a transcendental experience. Bam! the last drumbeat
echoes like a bat cry and instantly the entire smoke-filled coliseum
is tossed onto the seas of YEM.  I think--no, i feel--that it's a special
and personal song to Trey and the gang--it comes off as a little bit of
the band's SOUL.

The next Passionate Phish fan, or just a guy,
Jason

I had a magical experience at the Deer Creek show (8-13-96).  
During the Mike's Song I felt my soul leaving my body and flying high among
the stars, and it was at this point that I knew that all I wanted to do
was go to Phish shows for the rest of my life bacause it seemed the only
logical 
answer to The Question.

-Jerry Hegeduis

Phish played Jaegermeister only TWICE, both times within a month of each other
in 1990.  Does this mean that, generally, alcoholism happens sporadically?

-Steve Reidell

harpua has got to be the best phish story!!!!!!!

-Daniel Zone

Just saw the Philly shows, and they were lovely. I'm not sure if I can wait til
summer tour, but I'll try. Hurry up Maine!!!!! If mailorder doesn't work I will
be mad. That's all I ahve to say about this,
Stay kind guys!
Mira

I think a lot of people are at a loss for why we love Phish so much. To them,
they're a bunch of goofy looking guys who say things that sometimes sound.
Well, strange. But if you understand the place that their music comes from, and
all the love and appreciation the band has for their fans, you just gotta love
them, you know?

-Courtney Mullin

More Phish Thoughts ->

---

Andy's Phish Page

---

Andrew Gadiel
andy@gadiel.com
http://www.gadiel.com
(12/5/96)