Confessions of a Phraud
They say confession is good for the soul. That’s what I hear, anyway. But confession is not easy. I’ve been trying to bare my soul for years, but the words don’t seem to come out. And now…
So here it is, in all it’s unvarnished heresy:
I’VE ONLY SEEN PHISH FIVE TIMES.
AND THE LAST TIME WAS TWENTY YEARS AGO.
TODAY.
Whew! I feel better already, even knowing that people will never look at me the same way again. I can take the chastisement, the derision, the embarrassment. I’ve been bracing myself now. For 20 years.
It was at the end of a long string of events that actually began in Orlando at Lilith Fair on July 27th, with a Dag show in Tampa July 29th, and two shows featuring Widespread Panic, Guster, and G. Love and Special Sauce (July 28th and 31st, the latter also with Edwin McCain). It wound its way through two professional indoor soccer games as referee and then a lovely New Orleans visit.
The plan then was to head to Atlanta to visit friends and hit Phish at Lakewood. Everything went according to Hoyle — until Lakewood. It was miserably hot (OK, not like it’s been this summer, but still) and dusty. We had seats under the pavilion, surrounded by dozens of trust-funders chain-smoking cigarettes and comparing the last six or eight shows they’d caught on this tour. I confess I was amazed, given that I was delighted to be able to afford to attend one.
There was no air moving under the pavilion at all — absolutely stagnant.
Still, I hoped that the show would lift my spirits. August had been a good month for me with Phish. First show was 08/02/93 at Tampa’s Ritz Theatre; several months earlier, a man at my favorite record store put two CDs in my hand and said simply: “YOU NEED THESE.” He had handed me Lawn Boy and WSP’s Everyday. I was hooked. Despite traffic hideousness, the Hershey Park show 08/14/96 with a dear friend was a blast.
So I was ready to soar.
For me, the show never seemed to fully get off the ground. By the time we rolled into the encore, the bust-out of “Runnin’ with the Devil” was fun, but “YEM” seemed overlong and tedious, perhaps given the atmosphere — or the lack of it.
And then there was that chick in the parking lot writhing on the ground having one miserable trip.
I promised myself I would go back, but then they were on hiatus, and when they returned, the shows were colossal events, and I just didn’t make the effort.
And now it’s been 20 years. Today. I keep promising myself I’ll get out there again. I just don’t know, to quote Rodgers and Hart, “where or when.”
We’ll see. Assuming anyone is still speaking to me.
Lakewood Amphitheatre — Atlanta, GA
Soundcheck: Sleeping Monkey, The Wedge, If You Need a Fool, Dog Log -> Jam -> Sexual Healing
SET 1: The Oh Kee Pa Ceremony > Suzy Greenberg, Roses Are Free, Roggae, Beauty of My Dreams, Vultures, Train Song, Billy Breathes, Fluffhead, The Moma Dance, Hold Your Head Up > Cracklin’ Rosie > Hold Your Head Up, My Soul
SET 2: Birds of a Feather, Wolfman’s Brother > Talk, NICU > Prince Caspian > The Mango Song > Down with Disease
ENCORE: Runnin’ with the Devil[1], You Enjoy Myself
[1] Phish debut.
This show marked the Phish debut of “Runnin’ with the Devil,” which was also teased during “YEM.” Trey once again referred to Fish as “Bob Weaver” after “Cracklin’ Rosie” (played for the first time since August 14, 1996, or 148 shows).
Here is the PhishTracks link to the show.