I’ve got to admit that I had my doubts about where phish fit in my life before my first shows in 2009. My apprehention came from wandering the lot and seeing a whole lot of drinking and nitrous huffing combined with a whole lot of trash on the ground (broken glass and balloons mostly). I simply cannot relate to this type of behaviour.
Then the lights went down and phish were back and I realised that ITS ALL ABOUT THE MUSIC.
Sure I would like to see less flailing from some fans, but ultimately I love the music of phish and nothing combares to getting down with thousands of freaks who are feeling it too.
Cari and I were talking about this the other day - Phish definitely has had points where it comes and goes in my life, though it’s not really related to my age, but rather my interest and appreciation for what they are doing. Around 03-04… I was actually alright with the breakup at that point.
I enjoyed Coventry, I said my goodbyes, and I was so involved with other amazing bands and musicians in my life that bidding Phish farewell really didn’t seem like a huge sacrifice. I’d been listening to them for over a decade, it was a great ride, but not one that I needed to continue forever, given the deteriorating condition of the vehicle. 
Was I getting older? Sure, and that gave me some perspective on music and my lifestyle, but did I outgrow them? Not exactly… they just didn’t seem as captivating anymore.
Fast-forward to 2009, and I actually went in with some trepidation. If they were back, I wanted them back FOR REAL. Hampton hits, and I hear those opening notes of Fluffhead, and they nail it. I got what I wanted - they really were BACK and in fine form. Ironically enough, Phish coming back and being so great has made me feel much younger again. 
I need to listen to 2009 Phish more.
11.20.09 - Slave to the Traffic Light… Man oh man… I just listened to this again, wow…
I felt the same way at my 09 shows. I used to get such a kick out of the craziness before and after the shows, but being older, it just felt like people were trying to hard. The shows themselves were badass, but I was kind of put off by the scene outside the venues.
^ Yeah, I feel the same way about the lot scene. And it’s funny, because as a 21-year-old, I should be one of the people out there being an idiot and buying 10 dollar balloons and just generally reveling in the scene. But I don’t, because it seems kinda childish. But once I’m inside, that’s all that matters. And then, once I get out, I usually give one of the food vendors some business, sit at my car and drink a few beers, and then head on out. I just don’t have any use for the dudes slinging bunk molly and weak doses in the lot with stupid fucking hat pins on. As far as I’m concerned, if they all stopped liking jam music, the scene would be a better place.
I saw my first show when I was 13 years old and I thought the lot scene was just awesome. Whether it was because I was just a naive kid or because the “scene” was still new enough to not have been as polluted I don’t know. As I grew older, and got a bit crazier, some of that “new car smell” wore off and I became kind of disillusioned with the shenanigans outside of Phish shows. I really wanted to have that innocent fun freedom I experienced as a youngster back. But it’s hard to get that when you’re trying to make a few bucks to make it to the next show. For me it was always about the music deep down, but I got caught up in some of the BS. Now I could give two shits about what’s going on outside the show. I usually roll on the solo mission and the only reason I might get there early is to catch up on a nap from driving all night by myself or to avoid the mad show traffic. I don’t drink or get high anymore, but it’s still fun to run in to people and hang out with them before the show. I only go to as many shows as I can afford so I don’t have to worry about the hustle. Then when the show’s over I usually bolt to my car and hit the road. I got what I came for–the music.
On the other hand, if you can get past the bull shit going on in the lot, it’s always great to just sit there and feel the anticipation that’s in the air from MOST of the people there.
me and you are too much alike Ed, I should be one of those kids in the lot huffing the balloons, or wondering aimlessly around, but that kind of stuff puts me off, especially the Nitrous Mafia…I don’t like those guys screaming at the top of their lungs about their gas, not the first thing I wanna hear leaving a Phish show…not to mention hanging in a new big city at night is a little different than hanging in a field in the summer
now over the past 4 shows I’ve been to, two of which being Phish shows, I’ve gotten out of the door fast and hit the road but it has a lot to do with how cold its been outside and how fucking tired I am…hopefully this summer I will get to chill in the Lot a little and just relax pre and post shows, not for the drugs or anything like that, just hopefully to hang out with some friends and new people
If anyone’s too old for Phish, it’s yours truly. I can’t do more that a couple of nearby shows of any tour, even though at times I think I would love to just follow the whole damn circus around like some twenty year old.
But I think, when it comes to touring or just going to some shows, you have to do what keeps your life in balance and what keeps the music fresh for you, because, if the phrase has to be repeated one more time, it really is all about the music. What Jay said about being ready for break was kind of the way I was feeling at the time too. I think, along with the band members themselves, it was time for it to end. I gave them a lot of credit for how they left it, and for how they knew it was time to come back.
Phish music is not my life, but an enhancement to my life, and it’s taught me many things about rhythms and timing, of the relationship between sound and silence, as all things that make of your life ebb and flow with their own specific timing. Maybe understanding Phish’s music helped me understand about why they needed to break up, AND come back again. Why it was good in both instances.
I don’t know, but if anyone is making justifications for age, or crowds, or tours, or whatever it is about getting to hear Phish live, there’s just something a little off about how they related to Phish. I don’t think it should ever be more than rock and roll, even though at times, it seems like so much more.
And rmp4life, when did you hang there? During Rosemary’s Digest days, Benjy’s Digest days or after that? I jumped in around mid '97, stayed active for about 18 months and then found some smaller bbs to haunt.
^Fone, great point…it’s always about the music. I’m there for a concert and the rest is just window dressing but it’s very fun window dressing.
I’m similar in it even seems an effort just to go a couple of states away for a show. The driving, getting days off at work (not even an option in the first week of every month), getting high-demand tickets…it’s just more of a hassle these days. THAT’S the part of concert-going that grinds on me…just GETTING there. Once I’m there, it’s all good. Maybe it’s me but I still enjoy the scene but kind of as an “outside observer.” I’m a big fan of chaos so I like the “a bunch of folks doing whatever they want” atmosphere. Venders, crazy folks on all sorts of drugs, the dogs running around, various music blaring from all the cars, the neat vehicles and setups. the shady drug dealers…I love it all as part of the scene. You don’t have to suck on nitrous balloons to enjoy the scene…but it helps to laugh at those who do. Just sit back and laugh and the hilarity of it and how there’s nothing much like it in any other form of life. The scene is fun if you don’t take it too seriously (VERY important) and if you stop comparing it to past scenes in your lifetime. Times change but the fun doesn’t.
Right when I started listening to Phish I got into rmp, so around the fall 95 tour. I subscribed to Rosemary’s Digest, but I was such a 
then that I actually spent more time reading the actual postings than the digest unless it was for show reviews. I never subscribed to Benji’s Eigest after that. Ha ha I used to drive my Mom nuts with it…we only had one computer (on dial up of course) and I would check rmp every morning before school, right when I got home for school, and once before bed. I scored mail order tickets to my first show on there (the only way I could convince my Dad to drive down to Deer Creek from Michigan was to get tickets first…ironically I bought two from somebody on rmp, but we ended up taking Ubiquitous Smokey and my Dad took one for the team and got shut out…thanks Dad!), built a massive tape collection (still remember the feeling of seeing that padded envelope in the mailbox), and made many long lasting connections in the Phish community on that there newsgroup. RMP and Andy Gadiel’s Phish page were my serious Phish addictions back then. The last time I was on rmp was 2003-4 and it was just too big and chaotic. My handle on rmp was nifudonicu for a while…I know I had another one at first but I don’t remember what it was.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gF1MoYp0Yio&feature=related[/youtube]
The people flipping out in the front put a smile on my face. 
Heh…I was there around 1998-2000 or so. The place was fun. I traded a LOT of tapes through the folks there. I remember even that dude who dressed as Gene Simmons on 2/20/93 was on there for a while. And who can forget POSTER?
i went to check out a bass from this dude on craigslist who lives in my town. when i got to his place he wasn’t there yet but his room mate let me in. he showed up shortly after and got the bass out and i plugged it up. i noticed he was wearing some sort of allmans dye so i started playing elizabeth reed. his buddy picked up an acoustic and jumped right in. after i got done playing i asked them if they liked phish at all.
“eh…a little…i don’t really like their fans though”
“hey, that’s me!”
“oh no, not the ones like you, i’m talking about those other people”
ha ha, i wonder who he was talking about? i doubt any of them have ever been to a show. i’m gonna make it my mission to convert these youngsters!
by the way i got the bass. fender american standard jazz bass in nice shape for $600. 
^ Nice one Jae; can’t wait to hear you play that some day!
At my first few shows I was really into the ‘scene.’ The idea of fans forming a temporary economy / shakedown b4 and after shows, with people vending all sorts of Phish-themed clothes, handmade food, ‘1-for-3, 2-for-5’ beers, hand-blown glass, etc. was super-novel and very intriguing.
I’ll admit that after certain shows Shakedown gets pretty shady, esp. with lots of strung-out / way-too-messed up folks waddling about. But what else am I going to do as I wait for the mass exodus of cars out of the lots? It’s times like those that I appreciate post-show music … thanks Justin for playing your sax outside of Miami 
I was completely freaked-the-fuck-out at my first Shakedown/lot-wandering experience.
Holy hell, it was terrifying and oddly fascinating.
This was me in Cincy
What year?
^2009…