Doesn't Mean Shit To A Tree

Non-Phish General
#1

I’m sure many of you recognize the subject as a repetitive line from Jefferson Airplane’s “Eskimo Blue Day” off of the Volunteers album (and if you don’t, you really, really need to get this disk - it’s once again, unfortunately, relevant to all of us).

It’s also relevant for me on a more individual level, so I’ve been leaning into it quite a bit, as my professional life is rapidly changing and taking new direction. The music and lyrics are helping me to keep the perspectives I once found important in my youth, here, in the front of my mind as things turn and twist around in many ways.

But the most fun I’ve had while listening to this music is basking in the thoughts and memories when first I heard it in the months that followed the original Woodstock festival in the summer of 1969. I made mention of this time in my life to the OKP in a couple of threads a while back, and it’s about time that I pull all this crap together and finish the thought for you folks. (btw, without getting too maudlin about it, I don’t think I could ever thank you enough for the privilege to exchange these thoughts with all of you. Your kind acceptance of my offbeat mental meanderings is something I appreciate on many levels)

In a previous thread I had mentioned that I went to college for more than the allotted four years at one of the NY State University colleges at New Paltz. I also mentioned that New Paltz was halfway on a line drawn between the Millbrook NY, where Leary, Alpert, and Metzger performed their LSD experiments after being chased from Harvard in the early sixties, and Bethel, NY, the site of Woodstock 1. I was in error. As you can see from the map below, New Paltz isn’t exactly halfway. Actually, the Shawangunk (Pronounced “shongun”) ridge, a few miles to the west, is.

I apologize for the error, and for not really remembering why I actually brought it up. It possibly had something to do with listening to the Volunteers album at that time as well, because in May of 1970, in an area that my friends and I had deemed “the tripping fields”, we saw, among other great artists, Jefferson Airplane perform this music during a two day mini festival of our very own.

This is going to be very long I’m afraid, and while this is the second to last day on my current job, I still have things to accomplish in between developing this thread. So I need to take a break at the moment, but will return shortly…

#2

what?

#3

I guess I was pretty stupid in January of 1970. Rick, Artie, Bruce and I were hanging out in the TV lounge of the frat house waiting to go downtown around eleven when things started to get busy. Ray, the “pusherman”, who we had only gotten our grass from previously, asked us quite nonchalantly, whether we’d like to try this brown blotter that was “pretty pure”.

Honestly, none of us, except maybe Artie, who was a psych major had done any research on what was presented to us. But being the bored and totally lame heads that we were, and trusting Artie’s normally level-headedness (he’s now a Psych professor at a prestigious university in RI), we all paid Ray the three bucks for the hit and swallowed the piece of paper without much thought.

By the time Carson came on the TV, we were frozen in absolute awe as the faces of the personalities he had on began to contort and melt before what were once reliable eyes. By shear stroke of cosmic luck, Captain Dyno came in to pick us up to go downtown and was blown away by the four smiling tripped out morons who began laughing uncontrollably as we tried to explains what and why we had done what we did. The good Captain, who had already been where we were, took us under his wing all night long, and guided us through what turned out to be one of the most important experiences of my life.

Over the next few years, we continued to “experiment” in what we thought might have been the same way tiny Dr. Tim and his boys had done a few years back in Millbrook, although I don’t think any of us wanted to try the “horse test” (this picture is from the Millbrook mansion).

We were much less clinical and equine, for sure. What we did enjoy, however, were long walks in relatively safe outdoor locations. And one of our favorite spots to get inside of ourselves, was a cleared, grassy area beyond the southern edge of the main campus of the college, just past the gym and infirmary. They were cleared and used as auxilliary athetic fields, bordered by apple orchards just beyond to the south, and their expanse was quite large. The fields were probably as large as eight to ten football fields, mostly contiguous, a few separated by narrow lines of small trees.

We could drop what we wanted, walk or drive to the fields and spend most of the day, unhampered by any of the normal threats to heads escaping into wonderland. And to the west was always the Shawangunk Ridge, that provided us grounding, a point of reference from which we could jump from and return to on our journey inside ourselves. That view became symbolic to us, as important as any place we were travelling. Here’s a pretty close capture of what we saw from what we now began to call the “Tripping Fields”.

The promintory is called “Sky Top” and is a lookout tower made of stone on a piece of property maintained by the Mohonk Mountain House, a hotel still owned by the family that built it in the 1800s, and featured in the movie, “The Road to Wellville”.
http://www.mohonk.com/index_flash.cfm
Just in case you want to visit the place, although it’s pretty expensive.

Have to break again.

#4

Good luck Mr. Fono with wherever your life leads you… New job, relaxation, a trip back to the “Tripping Fields”… Just remember to have FUN.

#5

Sorry about the interruptions, and the bad editing.

The tripping fields were pretty freaking idyllic, and the things that we came to appreciate about life, and understand about ourselves, formed bonds between friends that are still as strong as they were then, even though we are separated by time and distance. That’s why the rise and success of the internet has been a great boon to those old friendships.

Rick, the one from the frat house, lives in Marin County and is a county transportation administrator, whatever that means. He was one of the guys I went to the MOMA with a few weeks back where we trailed Lucy Lui for a while. We talked about our time on the Tripping Fields and some of the foolish things we did as well.

For instance, on several occasions, I would drive my '63 Mercury Meteor onto the fields, Rick and Al would stretch out on the hood of the car, and I would open the drivers door and stand on the edge and steer. I’d crank up the 8 track, put the car in gear and let the idle push the car around at a few mph. The sensation was that of a boat cruising on an ocean of green, while the Airplane or the Dead kept rhythm with the movement of the world as it passed.

Here’s what a Mercury Meteor looked like. It was gigantic by today’s standards, but a compact back then. Of course mine was a low end model and didn’t have nearly as much of the chrome as the one pictured. Although mine was dark blue like this one.

I also found a recent article written for the New Paltz Oracle, the college rag, that mentions the Tripping Fields, some the activities that happened thereon, and the concert that happend there in the Spring of 1970. Although I don’t know why they didn’t mention seeing the Meteor cruising the Emerald Sea with many morons hanging off of her.

http://oracle.newpaltz.edu/article.cfm?id=1333

#6

The guy who wrote that article really doesn’t know what he’s talking about. The Tripping Fields haven’t “progressively disappeared”. They were never really there to begin with, so how can they disappear? The Tripping Fields are magic places that arise to take the initiate where he needs to go. When the journey is over, the Tripping Fields take another form for the next round of travelers.

Outdoor festivals can be the best way to enjoy live music, and the one that happened on the tripping fields just south of the main campus was one of the most memorable shows I’ve ever seen. The stage wasn’t very big, but some people insisted that parts of it were used at Woodstock the August before. It was a daytime only show because there were issues about lights and loud music so close to the town after a certain hour. So the bands played between noon and six on Saturday and Sunday.

Saturday’s show began with Joe Cocker and his Mad Dogs and Englishmen tour with my main man, Leon Russsell on keys. Now you may disagree with the following article:
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=14757,
but, without a doubt, Cocker rocked the tripping fields into untold glory, and his live album, that comes in at number 8 on this list, is definitely worth every dollar you might spend on it. That combination of musicians simply stold the afternoon from Roger Maguinn and the Byrds who followed them.

The Byrds, I believe the third incarnation without Crosby and Hillman, were decent enough, but by this time, more of a nostalgia act to be sure. As we left on the early evening of the first day, it was most assuredly Joe Cocker that would be in our heads until Jefferson Airplane rocked Sky Top right off its foundation the next afternoon.

Quicksilver Messenger Service opened for JA, and it was just as their Happy Trails album was released. They were a fine mellow group, part of that San Francisco sound that we, as the “Berkely of the east” (what a joke) were craving for in huge numbers, especially after Woodstock.

The Airplane was such a great group during those earlier years. There was such s synergy between Slick, Balin and Kantner vocally, and the music of Kaukonan and Cassidy was always so powerful. They band was rounded out with Spencer Dryden on drums and the wonderful Nicky Hopkins on keys. These people were just too wonderful, and just so appropriate in a place that we knew as the Tripping Fields.

They opened that show, appropriately enough with the first song on the Volunteers album, We Can Be Together. For those of you who don’t know the music from Volunteers, here’s that cut until around the 13th of March:
http://s46.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=12M5ORNGETRE405TAEQHJ3EDVX

I know the studio recording and the picture from the fields doesn’t in any way really capture the real meaning of this experience, but you guys, more than most rock music oriented net groups, having experienced the wonder of Phish in concert can most easily extrapolate the intensity level of what happend back then. These individually, personally profound musical moments are so important to us, so vital to the spirit that’s awakened for all of us, we should always try to seek them out no matter where, no matter who may provide them.

Phish may or may not be gone forever, but like the Tripping Fields, the spirit of the music is waiting to take us where we need to go. We shouldn’t ever feel lost or abandoned by the demise of one band or another, but always keep our eyes and ears and most importantly our minds open for the next musical portal to open, because I can attest to it, and guarantee you, it’s there if you want it.

One more little break…

#7

Great post… thanks.

#8

I really apologize for taking up the entire thread with this nonsense, but writing, externalizing this stuff, helps me to remember the lessons I’ve learned, helps me cope with what’s going on around me. If in the process, because of the common ground that we share, you can pick up some assurance that no matter how f’ed up life can get at times, there are those specific experiences to hold on to, to help you maintain your “balance” until the wheel takes just one more turn, then we’re all getting something out of this exercise.

Volunteers is a great album, an expression of some of the finer aspects of life, of sensitivities to nature, against hypocrisies and greed, of courage, and honesty, of love and the ability to fit in within a world of rapidly changing perspectives.

One of my favorite songs on the album is a short Jorma tune sung by Marty with Grace in support called Turn My Life Down.

When I see you next time round in sorrow
Will you know what I been going through
My yesterdays have melted with my tomorrow
And the present leaves me with no point of view
When I see you next time round look into my eyes
Where we

#9

Bill, you devote alot of time to your threads…your dedication is admirable

#10

It only exists because you, and the rest of OKP does. I would never open up like this and invest that time for the PT or rmp.

#11

if i’m ever famous and have any kind of pull of that sort,

i’m holding a festival on the tripping fields and i want all of you to be there.

this was some good reading there fonefono.
thanks and best wishes.

#12

what the hell are you talking about?

#13

Your posts are always a pleasure, Bill. I’m always excited when I see that you’ve started a thread or posted. It’s always good. Check out the song “Circle Back” by Johh Hiatt. I don’t know anything about John Hiatt, and I’ve never heard any of his other music. This song kicks ass and some of the lyrics are just him (as an older guy) looking back on his daughters and them growing up.

#14

Fono, You are great. I have come to appreciate your postings as much as anything on here. Thank you for the time and thought… Keep 'em coming!!

#15

Thanks fone! I REALLY enjoyed this thread.

#16

Those are great posts Bill. They’re insightful, illuminating and entertaining. Thanks for sharing.

#17

Nice posts, fone, thanks. I’m familiar with this area and have spent some time in the “gunks” as I’ve often referred to them. It’s a cool place, and a geographical phenomena taboot. I appreciate the little trip back that you have provided.

#18

Abridged version just for James:

  1. My job of 14 years is ending today and I’m sad about it.
  2. Volunteers is a great album that helped me with that sadness.
  3. Saw Jefferson Airplane when this album first came out at an outdoor concert in a grassy area at school where we used to trip alot.
  4. The music that stirs the soul is eternal.
  5. I love/trust the OKP enough to share my thoughts and emotions about all of this.

You can contact me privately if you need further explanation. -b

#19

HA!

#20

Its great to hear your stories… love to hear peoples personal experiences of the 60s. You remind me of my father in many ways. Tho I’ve never gotten into Volunteers it was a very special album for my Dad and his cohorts. Hes told me of his Airplane concert experiences and what it meant to him but I seem to be able to relate to your rendering only if b/c there is a phishy slant to the whole thing :slight_smile: