RIP Phish

It's been 21 long years.  Numerous set lists of many many shows, and now Phish has finally decided to call it quits.  After the summer tour of 2004, the band will officially break up.  Although I'm pretty sad about it, I think that they made a wise decision.  The band seemed to peak in 1997 and never seemed to surpass that funk-phase they went through back then.

Luckily, I've been to many of their concerts.  I think I've been to 28, but I really lost count.  Phish used to be my life at one point (I know it's very sad) but they really brought my friends and I together as we would travel to different shows, tailgate in the parking lots, meet interesting people, set up camp sites, and have fun...mostly.  I will miss the times with my friends the most.  So I wanted to put together a little memorial/shrine/memory page for my favorite band.

1995

I was first introduced to Phish concerts at the 1995 Jones Beach-Greatwoods shows with the usual crew.  This got me hooked.  Tickets were only $25 and gas was cheap.  Plus, our parents gave us money and we had absolutely no responsibility.  Could you ask for a better time?  What better time to see the majority of my shows?

1. 6/28/95 Jones Beach Amphitheater, Wantagh, NY
2. 6/29/95 Jones Beach Amphitheater, Wantagh, NY
3. 6/30/95 Great Woods Amphitheater, Mansfield, MA
4. 7/1/95 Great Woods Amphitheater, Mansfield, MA
5. 12/2/95 New Haven Coliseum, New Haven, CT
6. 12/15/95 The Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA
7. 12/28/95 The Centrum, Worcester, MA
8. 12/29/95 The Centrum, Worcester, MA

1996

This year, I went to Israel, graduated high school, but most importantly, I went to the Clifford Ball which was my first time camping for phish shows.  However, I also had one of the saddest Phish experiences ever.  I was traded a counterfeit ticket for 12/31/96 and happened to be at the end of the line of my friends and they all went in and I was left outside the concert alone on the streets of Boston by myself sitting in a parking garage for 4 hours.  Thanks guys, you're real pals!  Just kidding, I probably would have done the same thing...I just happened to be the one who got screwed.  But that night did suck.

 

9. 8/16/96 The Clifford Ball, Plattsburgh Air Force Base, Plattsburgh, NY
10. 8/17/96 The Clifford Ball, Plattsburgh Air Force Base, Plattsburgh, NY
11. 10/23/96 Hartford Civic Center, Hartford, CT
12. 12/30/96 The Fleet Center, Boston, MA

Enjoy these pictures from the Clifford Ball.

 

The typical patty wagon

 

80,000 people

Moshahontis

 

Jammin in the Weakapaug groove

 

Partying the night before in VT

Occupying our time in the lot

 

Return of "Brother" after many many shows.  we were excited.

 

Whoooooa ooooh oooooah.  Somebody's definitely jumping in the tub with your brother!

 

 

chillin.  we happened to bump into Joey Ramedei amongst the 80,000 people.

Heading home.  Everyone does their part to conserve the environment.

1997

Phish became very funky, and my Karma started catching up with me.  Joel ended up getting front row tickets from the lottery at the Worchester shows, and being the nice guy he is, he gave me the ticket for the second set.  Well, I chilled down in the front row and met "Big Phil" who gave me a backstage pass.  Plus, I heard the longest song in Phish history - Runaway Jim for almost an hour.  Backstage, I met Tom Marshall, the lyricist, who had very little to say.  I saw Mike Gordon but had to leave before I could talk to him.  Overall, it was cool.

13. 8/16/97 The Great Went, Limestone, ME
14. 8/17/97 The Great Went, Limestone, ME
15. 11/26/97 Hartford Civic Center, Hartford, CT
16. 11/28/97 Worcester Centrum, Worcester, MA
17. 11/29/97 Worcester Centrum, Worcester, MA

1998

Mo, Joel and I toured Europe and got to see Phish in Barcelona at a venue with about 1000 people there.  Worked out great, except the show kind of sucked because they kept having technical difficulties.  Also, didn't bring a camera.  Afterwards, we met Page McConnell in a Falafel restaurant.  In Providence, I saw a man with very nasty teeth.  See below.

18. 4/4/98 Providence Civic Center, Providence, RI
19. 7/10/98 Zeleste, Barcelona, Spain
20. 8/12/98 Vernon Downs Racetrack, Vernon, NY
21. 11/24/98 New Haven Coliseum, New Haven, CT
22. 11/29/98 The Centrum, Worcester, MA

1999

Kind of an uneventful year for Phish.  I started noticing the decline, but it started becoming more and more difficult for everyone to go to the shows.  Moshe had already lost interest in Phish.

23. 7/12/99 The Tweeter Center, Mansfield, MA
24. 7/13/99 The Tweeter Center, Mansfield, MA

2003 

Nearly all the Phish crew had petered off and it was just Dave and me left.  This show was ok.  I was doing an away elective in Philly which was nice to take the boat to the concert.  I know that I've been to 26 shows but I must have forgotten one along the way.

26.  7/31/03 E Center, Camden, NJ

 

2004

I finally wind down my tours with the show in Brooklyn that will be aired live.  This show was simultaneously broadcasted to many theaters across the country.  It was great going to a Phish show on the subway.  However, the parking lot scene was hurting and I could not find a veggie burrito on the way back.  It rained like crazy for a little while, but luckily we were under an awning.  The subway ride home was interesting, especially for Dave, where we didn't realize that we met someone he knew...  Here are some pictures of the scene there, mostly of random hippies, but a couple of us as well.  I'm happy that I was able to at least see them 1 last time before I had to start my residency.  Thanks, guys.

27. 6/17/04 Brooklyn, NY

1: Song I Heard the Ocean Sing, Dinner and a Movie, The Curtain With, Sample In a Jar, The Moma Dance -> Free, Nothing, Maze, Frankenstein

2: 46 Days -> Possum Oh Kee Pah -> Suzy Greenberg -> Axilla -> 2001 -> Birds of a Feather, Kung, Mike's Song -> I am Hydrogen -> Weekapaug Groove

E: The Divided Sky

Notes: This show was simulcast into movie theaters nationwide. Kung was dedicated to the golfers at the US Open (being played at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, Southampton, NY).

The two fans right before the big even

 

 

Dave showing his Brooklyn Cyclones pride and eating a corn dog. Someone asked him if he played for the team.

 

Random Hippies"

 

Cash or trade for your extra"

Where am I?

 

Here they are while it's still light out

 

Nice lights

 


Ooooooh.  Aaaaaaaaah. 

 

 

 

 

And thus ends an important chapter in my life.  Phish really brought all of us together as kids and now that we're all moving onto more important aspects of our lives, I feel that it's somewhat appropriate for this part of my life to stay behind also.  I'm a little sad, but realize that this is the right time.  Thanks, Trey, Mike, Page, and John. 

 

I thought that I'd leave you with some profound lyrics of Phish that you can ponder over as you try to fall asleep.

"I press on the elastic sheet, I'm breathing through a slice
'Are they worms or are the serpents?' bubbles through the ice
The source was quite invisible, the ever-present voice
While skating, both legs tracing different shapes, I made my choice"
 

Well said, guys.  Well said. 

bring it on home