Last week, I went to relive my old pastime and one of my favorite bands, Phish. Oh, Phish. For too many years and too much money I followed these boys all over this great country of ours listening to some of the greatest music and making some of the best memories ever. I have to stop my reminiscing here or this will turn into the longest post in the history of blogging.
Jam music isn't for everyone; to be honest, I'm not even that enthusiastic about the genre. I just fell in love with Phish. After 4 years of Phishlessness, I was so excited to see them again. I was meeting my friends and friends of friends at the show, so I filled my cooler with Great Lakes beer and hit the road to Burgettstown. I made the 2+ hour drive in no time and was back in the all too familiar line of cars making their way into the gravel lot. 
Immediately, I noticed a shocking lack of VW buses and patchwork. These staples from the "scene" seemed to have been replaced by '09 Honda Civics, Jeep Cherokees skinny jeans and fedoras. What's up hippies?! What happened to your dreadlocks and fairy wings? Ah, well
Immediately, I noticed a shocking lack of VW buses and patchwork. These staples from the "scene" seemed to have been replaced by '09 Honda Civics, Jeep Cherokees skinny jeans and fedoras. What's up hippies?! What happened to your dreadlocks and fairy wings? Ah, wellThe friends I was meeting weren't in the lots yet so I pulled into my spot, conveniently located 1 row from the port-o-potties and opened the cooler to grab a brew. Then I realized I brought all bottles and no opener. Asshole. I looked around at the others tailgating around me in groups. As outgoing as I am I somehow didn't feel comfortable asking for help. It didn't take me long to determine that tailgating by myself sucked. So, as I wasn't getting the outwardly friendly, hippie, "we're all family" vibe from the crowd. Weird. Anyway, after 20 minutes sitting in my car trying to MacGyver my way into my Grassroots Ale, I swallowed my pride and walked over to a group of dudes tailgating out of a minivan. They opened my beer and invited me to hang with them. They were from Pittsburgh and for a few of them this was their first show. They were cool. We swapped microbrews, they ate mushrooms and smoked weed and I started to realize how much I'd changed since my last tour.
Two hours and 5 Grassroots later, my phone buzzes in my pocket and It is my friend, Randy. She and her posse(including Zac, the keyboardist from U-Melt) finally made it to the lots. After some alphabetical confusion (I was parked in section "J" and she in "R" but evidently the letters weren't all in order) we met up after she climbed a mini watch tower and shouted my name. It was kind of awesome. It was a joyful reunion and we got caught as we met up with everyone else. 
After a few more beers, we decided we were hungry and roamed around for some decent parking lot food. Luckily, just 1 row over, this couple was making what looked like the freshest, yummiest chicken wraps ever. We each scarfed a wrap and then decided it was time to make our way to the pavilion. Then we realized, our friend Scott wasn't there yet. Scott was driving solo from Jersey and got stuck in crazy traffic. I told everyone I would wait for him and that they should get there seats. As I waited for Scott, I enjoyed the buzz and organized chaos outside of the venue's gates. The people watching, although slightly less colorful than I remember it from my last go 'round was great. All of a sudden I heard my last name in a voice I would know anywhere, I looked through the crowd and saw Scott's face, smiling as he was walking towards me. I hadn't seen him in 4 years and it was amazing to have him just happen me. That's how it goes at Phish shows; it's weird. One time at a Phish Festival in Maine (70,000 people) I bumped into both my friend Chris and my 3rd cousins (soooo random).
After a few more beers, we decided we were hungry and roamed around for some decent parking lot food. Luckily, just 1 row over, this couple was making what looked like the freshest, yummiest chicken wraps ever. We each scarfed a wrap and then decided it was time to make our way to the pavilion. Then we realized, our friend Scott wasn't there yet. Scott was driving solo from Jersey and got stuck in crazy traffic. I told everyone I would wait for him and that they should get there seats. As I waited for Scott, I enjoyed the buzz and organized chaos outside of the venue's gates. The people watching, although slightly less colorful than I remember it from my last go 'round was great. All of a sudden I heard my last name in a voice I would know anywhere, I looked through the crowd and saw Scott's face, smiling as he was walking towards me. I hadn't seen him in 4 years and it was amazing to have him just happen me. That's how it goes at Phish shows; it's weird. One time at a Phish Festival in Maine (70,000 people) I bumped into both my friend Chris and my 3rd cousins (soooo random). After a long hug, Scott and I made our way into the pavilion to meet up with everyone else. That's when I looked at my ticket. I had just assumed that it was a lawn seat (Randy got the ticket for me) but when I looked I saw I had a pavilion seat. I felt very VIP. Since Scott had a lawn seat we had to sneak him in, but once we were in and we were ready for the music!
It didn't take long for the band to take the stage and in no time at all the show was under way. God bless Mike Gordon for wearing white jeans and a neon green tank (not in the ironic way either). Although it was great, it wasn't my favorite show. I think I went into it with to many expectations. 
I mean, they are only getting older; I am only getting older. The energy just wasn't the same. I mean , I was still dancing like a maniac, which I also discovered is difficult in pavilion seats. I'm a Lawn Girl (pause for Phish reference) and need my space. After the first set, we decided to meet everyone else on the lawn.
I mean, they are only getting older; I am only getting older. The energy just wasn't the same. I mean , I was still dancing like a maniac, which I also discovered is difficult in pavilion seats. I'm a Lawn Girl (pause for Phish reference) and need my space. After the first set, we decided to meet everyone else on the lawn.I don't know if it's because of the time that has passed since my time as an avid touring fan, or just my age, but I actually started to yawn 2 songs in to the second set. I figured since I had a 2+ hour drive ahead of me that it would be smart to leave before the encore. Scott was doing the same as he was continuing on to Wisconsin to see Phish at their next stop. I was kind of bummed that I didn't have the stamina to stay, but I think I just felt disconnected from the band and the music. I hugged everyone goodbye and turned my back on the band. As I wandered back to my car, I heard cheers erupt from the arena. I had asked Randy to text me the encore songs and knew before she texted me that I had made the wrong decision. Not only did they play one of my favorite covers - Rolling Stone's "Loving Cup" but they did one of their rare barbershop quartet songs, acapella and Fish played the vaccuum (if you don't know what I mean, you'll just have to Google it). I was so pissed. On the upside, I got out of the parking lot in a flash (that's how I make myself feel better about missing out on the gloriousness).
Although I will always love Phish, I think I learned that we are in different places, seeing other people so to speak. My feelings are summed up best by the boys' own lyric, "waiting for the time when I can finally say that this has all been wonderful but now I'm on my way."
Thanks for all the great times, Trey, Fish, Page & Mike!
P.S. As a new weekly blog post I will be posting, "Eye spy with my Cleveland Eye" - 5 pics of things I see in and around Cleveland. I just want to mix it up a bit:) Goodnight!
