Still Waiting…
Pre-show 3.6.09 (C.Taylor Crothers)
Waiting. Almost the entirety of our Phish lives are spent waiting. Waiting and anticipating the time of our lives. Unlike any other anticipation, that for a Phish show can be both paralyzing and inspiring. Prone to spontaneous bursts of excitement, we navigate the days, weeks, and months before a show with a different sort of smile. Despite what our days and weeks look like, we possess knowledge that trumps it all- Phish is right around the corner. So we fill the time. Listening to old shows, surfing Phish internet space, posting on message boards, guessing what might happen when the time comes- we continuously inflate our collective balloon of excitement to capacity and beyond. The ordinary no longer feels so mundane knowing that we have a date with the extraordinary.
Miami '03 (Unknown)
From the moment shows are announced, we begin waiting for the ticket process- “mail order,” on-sales, then trades. Once we get our virtual hands on our tickets, then the anticipation truly kicks in and things become involuntary. This is when your mind begins migrating to Phish when you should be focusing on tasks at hand. Surges of energy begin to shoot through your body out of nowhere, making those ultimate moments seem almost tangible. It is all within reach- and seems a lifetime away. But the emotions begin to bubble up months beforehand, intensifying as the calendar pages turn. You know what you’re in for, and the best part about it is that you have no idea what will happen!
3.6.09 Hampton (J.Kravitz)
Anticipation without expectation; getting excited for the unknown- it almost seems like a paradox. How can you get excited for something when you don’t know what will happen? Well, we have a hunch. But when expectations are dropped and we connect to that excitement without knowing or caring what is in store, we are prepared to receive the Phish. Following your bliss, knowing you will arrive, and giving yourself to that unknown journey; this is the fabric of the experience. Taking part in what will unfold- living it, not thinking about it- is one of the purest feelings we have left. Turning ourselves over, dropping our egos, and allowing Phish to lead the way- if only for three hours a night- is the most magical feeling in the world; a feeling for which we would wait forever. Considering the enormity, how can we not get periodic butterflies and shots of adrenaline, even if the shows are still a month away? Once the dates are circled, it’s on, and it’s only a matter of time.
3.7.09 Hampton (J.Kravitz)
But as blast off approaches, time begins to crawl. The week, even the day, before a show can seem like a stint in The Twilight Zone as we await entry through the pearly gates. Anticipation transforms into pre-show anxiety, knowing that whatever happens, you won’t be totally the same afterward- but that is the beauty of it all. Phish is life-changing, and when forced to await such an event, the rivers of possibilities overflow. Even once we are inside the venue, the hour before show time might as well be a day- time turns molasses as we await our destiny. Our mind begins to race, knowing that all of those months and all of these dreams, have led up to this moment. The time is now, and that reality can be as overwhelming and as powerful as the anticipation; the adventure is finally upon us.
In a mere twenty-five days, our wait will be over. While we might feel like bursting right now and May 31st seems like it will never arrive, it most certainly will. And as the first notes of the rest of our lives wash over us, that feeling of endless anticipation will dissolve into a sweet surrender to the majesty of the moment. And so it will begin again.
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DOWNLOAD OF THE DAY:
3.14.92 Roseland Ballroom, NYC SBD < LINK
3.14.92 Roseland Ballroom, NYC SBD < TORRENT LINK
Phish '92 (J.Pollock)
This is the first of Phish’s four performances at New York’s famed venue, and this show paints a picture of a dynamic band about to hit the first real peak of their career in the spring of ’92. Every band is psyched the first time they play the Roseland, and Phish was no exception, putting together a smoking setlist for the show. The night’s highlight comes with the gorgeous “Harry Hood” late in the second set, as the band expounded on the intro- something seldom seen- teased “Off To See the Wizard,” and drove the jam to the top with emotion and intent.
I: Runaway Jim, Cavern, Reba, Sparkle, Foam, Rift, Stash, Fee, Chalk Dust Torture, Take the A-Train, Mike’s Song > I Am Hydrogen > Weekapaug Groove
II: Golgi Apparatus, Llama, The Squirming Coil, Split Open and Melt, Bouncing Around the Room, Oh Kee Pa Ceremony > Suzy Greenberg, Harry Hood, Cold as Ice > Cracklin’ Rosie > Cold as Ice, Possum
E: Sleeping Monkey*, Good Times Bad Times*
*With John Popper (Blues Traveler) on harmonica.
Tags: Culture
I got row 6 on 8/6/96 by going to one of the West side entrances (via the upper lots)…arrived as soon as the lots opened, hung in the bushes with a couple other intrepid heads, ducked when security came by, no prob…didn’t get to get a buzz on, but 6th row was worth it.
^^ and i will definitely not be sitting..
The just looked at the website specifically for the Phish run and it appears that the RR seating thing for Phish is pretty enigmatic. It appears my seats are reserved and yours are GA… and the seats in the back are GA, too… bizarro.
From the website:
RESERVED SEATING: ROWS 25-55
GENERAL ADMISSION: ROWS 2-24 & 56-69
ROWS 1 & 70 ARE ALWAYS RESERVED FOR HANDICAP SEATING AT RED ROCKS.
(Scroll to the bottom here to see it on the page:)
http://www.redrocksonline.com/pages/concerts/detail.asp?id=3915
“ 4. I think Warren had a few lines and a couple cheezeburgers before the show, he was smokin’ hot.”
lmfao! i wonder if that phat witch ‘rantgirl’ got her wish of a blast of bobby’s pearl jam all over her scabby face?
glad you had fun billy!
Selector – WOW! that is interesting, and not what was on there the first day or so…
So, do your tickets say reserved? mine indeed do say GA, with a row and seat number.
Even when you have tickets this tour, it’s still a clusterfuck!!!!
@A_Glide, check your e-mail, I’ve got your Alpines!
Off topic but I posted this a couple of weeks ago first post and it got zero responses, hopefully due to the time it posted. I work late and when I get home, the first thing I usually so is see what the next topic of the day is going to be. Anyway, I’m gonna repost and hopefully you all will appreciate.
April 19, 2009
“Off topic again, but I’m pretty excited about something other than my tour schedule for the summer. I run a bar in Lexington and of course I book our entertainment (mostly one man acoustic acts). However, last summer, a dude was playing on our patio when all of the sudden he brings up a 10 year old little girl to play a couple of songs. She brought her own guitar (the same Takamine that I have) and a loop station (same loop station that I have) that she had just bought a couple of months prior. She did three songs and the crowd was amazed to say the least. Jaws were dropping and beers were the last things on peoples minds. She ended up playing about 10 songs as the crowd wouldn’t let her go. We exchanged e-mail addresses but I never heard from her again until Friday night when I checked my e-mail. I replied back to her and let her know I had a couple of nights still open for the summer. She shoed up Saturday night with her mom and dad and gladly accepted the dates I had offered. I’m checking into child labor laws, but at this point who cares. Recently, she has opened up for JJ Grey and MOFRO and has recorded a CD. I know I’m way off topic, but I thought this may be a site where people would appreciate this kind of thing. Anyway, her name is Almira Fawn and she is currently 11 years of age. After downloading this sick Newport show that Miner has provided us, check her out on you tube or at http://www.almirafawn.com. Also, please let me know what you guys think. I spoke in length to her father on Saturday and she just got back from taping an episode of “America’s Got Talent” which I am unfamiliar with. Again, Miner, I apologize for the off topic dialouge, but she is so talented I wanted to share with people who know talent, and I feel that this is a site that knows a little something about talent. Peace.”
She is currently booked for three shows at my bar and I just found out that she is playing the 12-1 PM slot at the Forecastle Festival in Louisville on July 12th. Widespread is headlining two nights and other bands include Umphrey’s, Zappa plays Zappa, The Black Crowes, Yonder and many others. I’ll be going on Sunday, mostly to see her and will check out the others as well. Hope you all enjoy and check her out on You Tube as well. Thanks.
PS – too much hype around Phish tour.
Expectations exceeding all-time highs.
Don’t be disappointed…
@Twiggy,
OK, I’m glad I payed attention tonight. I’m a Lexington resident, and former farmers’ market manager and regular market shopper in town. Almira plays down there pretty regularly, and yes, she rips.
Which bar do you work at?
Shamrock’s on Patchen Drive. She’ll be sitting in on Friday night with Jim Olive, an accomplished banjo player. She’ll probably be playing from 9:30-10:30, so if you can check her out. I would also be glad to meet a fellow phishthoughts reader. I also have her booked once a month in May, June and July.
@ twiggy…..good stuff ……thanks for sharing
BaaaaAAAAAAAAAAA!
Down In Front!!!!
That YEM w/ ARU is freakin crazy Man!
^^^^I swear I’ve just had a couple beers.
The drum mix from 3-14-92 is Killer Man!
IN YOUR FACE!
i was excited once i got my shoreline/gorge lined up.
but then…. i landed those Fenway lawn seats.
I’ve never even been to Boston. To think i’ll be in that ballpark, seeing phish for the first time in six years, it’s just wild. and i too have really learned the value of no expectations over the past half decade. I can’t wait to hit that park with a wide-open mind. just 25 days away, and it’s still hard to believe it’s happening. i don’t know that it will seem real until the music starts. i have an extra for fenway. thinking about handing out a miracle… a cute miracle, of course.
and i guess i should have said “Fenway Field” seats. 🙂
Miner – how many entries do you have now? Care to tell us if anyone’s nailed it yet?
^^ only have 2, noone has nailed it.