Earlier this week Phish announced that they will play three shows in Virginia’s legendary bush-league arena known as Hampton Coliseum come March 6, 7 and 8, 2009. These will be the first concerts by the band since the ‘farewell’ at Coventry, Vt., in August 2004.From 1993 to 2004, I had the distinct pleasure of seeing this quartet over 140 times in places throughout the Northern Hemisphere – from Washington State to across the pond for a European tour in ’97. I lived and breathed Phish when they were on tour. I knew all the songs, all the words and all the jams. I knew all the inside jokes between the band and its audience. I was clued to Internet after shows to read the setlists. I knew what to expect and what not to expect.
I also knew how work the scene. I knew the shortcuts to the parking lots. I knew how to get good seats. I knew how to score a room at the close hotels. This list goes on…
And perhaps it’s this closeness—borderline obsession—that leaves me with mixed feelings about Phish’s return. No longer will I be able to see Phish through the lens of a recent college graduate with no girlfriend, a crappy job and no idea what he wants to do with his life. And no longer can I place the costs of seeing multiple shows as a priority.Back in 1998, my idea of a vacation was sharing a dingy hotel room with a dozen friends at the Hampton Inn in the middle of November for two shows at Hampton. I spent vacations freezing my rear off in places like Boston and Worcester, Mass. waiting for friends to meet other friends. Now, my idea of a vacation is a tropical beach with my beautiful wife, day trips through rainforests, surfing lessons, etc.
I guess what I’m trying to say is, “I’ve done that.”
Don’t get me wrong, I still love Phish. I love Phish music – it’s my favorite and I’m pretty sure it always will be. I love reliving shows that I’ve seen when I listen to a live show recording.
I miss seeing good live music—music that makes we boogie like a wild man. I miss the reunion of friends as we converged in memorable settings like the Gorge, Red Rocks, Alpine, Deer Creek and MSG.But on the other hand, I don’t miss the wasted kidz on tour, the Phishier-than-thou tourhead who demands their space in your seat, the clapping fratboy and puking teenager at his ‘first show.’ Yes, there are many, many more good people at Phish shows than bad. Unfortunately, I have a hard time tuning out the bad.
I also have reached a point in my life where I’m not very excited to applaud and pay money to a group of guys that I don’t really respect how they’ve lived their lives. The heavy drug use is well documented. The failed marriages, the ‘open’ marriages, the infidelity, the drunkenness, the arrests, the arrogance, etc. Call me a goody-goody if you like, but I’m trying to think of anyone I know besides a rock star who can call themselves successful in life and who has the reputation of some members of Phish (note: Mike Gordon seems to have been the straightest of the four despite his oddities and I really have no problems with him that I’m aware of).
I was one who rarely left a Phish show disappointed, but maybe I was partying just as hard as the rest of the scene and was too out of it to notice the flubs, missed transitions and botched solos. I listen to some shows from the 2000-2004 era and I don’t hear things worth paying to see. I’m confident that Phish will come back as sharp and rehearsed as ever. They know full well that they can’t take the stage and sound like crap.So, I won’t go so far as to say “I won’t” see or do this or that, but I won’t be reliving my 20s on the lot or at some abandoned air force base.
But I will hope for local shows and multi-night runs. I will try to go to New Year’s shows because frankly, all other New Year’s plans suck. I will relish the rendezvous of friends who are spread over the country.Who knows? I must just go to Hampton anyway. I placed my ticket request on Thursday.
Here’s to a 3, 4 or 5-night run at Deer Creek this summer!!!
* I’ve always hated the use of “PH” for “F” but I had to do it.
