I never thought i’d feel kinda bad about Phish coming to my area, but damn, it pisses me off to hear about all these people i kinda know that are probably going to buy scalped tickets so soon in the game for Alpharetta… it just gets under my skin that they don’t even think twice about it, one of my friends told me today i should just sell my pit for like 500 dollars and just make money off em…goddamn it, I don’t let stuff get under my skin much but ahhhh its just so freakin annoying hearing my friends that are “fans” complain about paying over face when I know there’s no way they were trying when the tickets went on-sale
^ I get what you’re saying. Like, if you care so much you would have known about this a long time ago and ordered them then.
Anywho, I came to this thread to say that i love OHP. Such an awesome song. It’s one of the ones that I would not know if Phish did not play it. For that, I am grateful they covered it! Phish were one of the artists that sparked my interest in bluegrass. Honestly, think of how much different music Phish shares with their fans. Not many bands do anything remotely like that…
^Yeah man Phish def sparked my interest in bluegrass. Them and “Workingman’s Dead.” When I listen to a show really loud in my car, and it shifts to a bluegrass song, I can feel the looks of the passers-by thinking/saying “What the fuck is that guy listening to?” The range amd virtuosity of styles has always been one of my main draws to the Phish.
Fitz, if you’re up Sunday mornings and can tune in 90.5 fm from Brookdale CC from TR, they have an hour of the best bluegrass performers, including the most of the artists who originally performed the Phish covers.
“Sunday 9amSunday means bluegrass on 90.5, The Night. Tune in for the down-home sounds of Bluegrass Jam Sunday at 9am. Randy Bailey, Heidi Olsen, & Ken Jewell bring you the best old-time, contemporary, and gospel bluegrass. Ease into your Sunday with Bluegrass Jam just once and you’ll want to hear it every Sunday.”
^ Thanks for the heads up, Bill. If I’m up early enough on Sunday, I’ll have to check that out.
So George Massenburg has been at my school the last couple days doing some recording workshops etc with us recording students. For those of you who don’t know, he’s a big deal, he’s worked with a shit load of people from Earth Wind & Fire to Linda Ronstadt to James Taylor, etc. He’s a badass.
Anyway, interesting little tidbit tonight when I was mentioning something to someone about scoring tickets and Massenburg perked up, turned around and said “Phish? They wanted me to do a record for them and I turned them down. And I regret the shit out of it.”
It was Billy Breathes from what I can tell. He said the album ended up selling a shit load and they got huge, and that they approached him between '94 and '96. I just thought it was interesting that a recording engineer with such success has turning down Phish on his list of regrets.
^Wow, good story! I bet that was a humbling experience for someone! I guess that goes to show that you should always look in carefully to what opportunities you have laid out in front of me.
I suppose I’m being very introspective with that. I have to talk to someone right now about this HUMUNGOUS pivot in my life, and it might as well be all of you.
EDIT: Long story. Bottom line- I can’t do Horning’s>Deer Creek anymore. If you wanna hear about it- read on…Hank, buddy, you should read this. I know you understand already, but you gotta read how amazing this opportunity is.
I need some input from everyone! What would you do? What should I do? What the hell am I doing on such an emotional rollercoaster??? How’d I get here? Whoaaahhh…
Tonight, I talked to an owner of a house of which he rents. I passed this house everyday going from foster home to High School and back for quite a while. I used to fantasize about living in this house. I also used to ponder how much trouble this house would be to live in. For example, The road it sits on is a curvey-ass Appalachian Foothill road, which as some of you know, can be pretty fuckin’ gnarly. And the driveway is very steep, and if the roads freeze, you can’t get anywhere. Or you could slide very easily off the road and down into a great valley the size of 2 Thompson-Bowlings Areana’s, and into a rather large pond.
Two good friends moved into this house a year ago, and I took them to actually find it. When we were getting a few miles from that area, I said, “Wouldn’t it be cool if it was that house that sits on the side of the hill…” It was! On acres and acres and acres. I’m not gonna say how many, but LAND people! Things like- A badass tree-house 60ft off the side of a mountain. A clearing to host a large camp-out if you wanted. A pond to slide your kayak down a large brush-hill into, with you in it. A mountain-goat to eat the kudzoo…
Doesn’t this sound amazing? It’s not far from the city, and it’s strange, but it’s almost completely natural. It’s kind of eerie, but very magical! I’ve had some fun over the past year there, and some exciting “trips” there. You sure can see some amazing Outer-Space from there, because it sits in a “bowl” of large mountainish foot-hills.
So, which leads me to this, and I’m sorry about the long story, but…
I believe I have made an important, and also a very bittersweet decision/commitment today. I can afford this house. I feel like I have to secure it now, now that my friends’ lease is up. I could live in a situation like that for the rest of my days and be happy. I don’t have to move out of the area. I don’t have to spend a shit ton of money. I can get a place that will keep me happy for a long while. I’ve always wanted land, and totally something like this! I think I even appreciate the awesome-ness of the place more than the people that live there, but not by much. It’s goodness.
But, the bittersweet part: I have to give up seeing Oregon, northern Cali, Colorado, and lots of amazing Phish and String Cheese Incident (my birthday) shows. I really had my heart on Hornings>Greek>Telluride, but all this SOMEHOW lost priority tonight when I realized it. Life has been telling me. I’m serious. I have to move into this place. My brain and heart have been telling me for a long long time to keep raging the shows as many times as possible, because you could die tomorrow. Anyone can. Rage it while it lasts! But I’m only considering this house a set back to that ideal. I can’t be happy without the live music. I would be miserable. As most of us would be/could be. But, right now, I think I should grab ahold of this special thing while I got it in front of me.
I’m not goin’ sour! I’ll be at a number of shows this summer! BUT I’m sad not to be able to do that run!!! I was REALLY looking forward to the trip with the crew we had, and company, on the West coast. Horning’s, on my birthday!! With my OKP pals!! But, like I said. 'Tis only a minor setback, I guess…
I’ll be on the Southern Leg/Creek>Alpine fiascos, and maybe, just maybe, Cuyahoga Falls, and mayber, just mayber, Summer Phish Festival? I think if I went to Greek>Telluride, I would have the time of my life, but I would miss anything else going on later in the year, Phish-related. I feel like I would also get my heart broken while sitting outside at Telly.
But I was ready for all that, and I was on my way!
BUT, this house became very realistic and it seemed somehow less important to do that part of the tour, no matter how excited/stoked/ready I was for it. I’m really sorry to all of you I had plans with!
But now you know you all have a place in K-town to crash at again!
That is, if I actually go through with it! The tickets are still in hand, and the thought is still swirling in me.
But honestly, I think the Universe wants me to get this place. It’s not like it’s a mansion with butlers, but it’s a very special place in my heart, and I want to be there. I’m so torn though. SCI/Phish during my birth-week, with great friends, in the West is quite a something to pass up.
I’m gonna repeat myself again.
Phish Greek, Telluride. SCI. Rocky Mountains. Oregon.
OK, I’m done.
“There’s a pathway- we must make a choice now…”
You’re in a great position my friend. Two choices with wonderful alternatives so how can you miss?
Look, if being into Phish has taught us all anything, it’s how to listen and feel what’s important in our lives in spite of ourselves and anyone else. This gusto to extract that special energy from everything we experience has to apply to things that are Phish and non-Phish alike, otherwise we really haven’t understood anything at all.
From the sound of your description, you pretty well know this already, and have made your choice, and I’m really excited for you. Finding that perfect spot that you can retreat to for peace and re-energizing is pretty important. Really much more important that a tour leg which is a fleeting thing.
One of my favorite things to do on Facebook is play “Name That Tune”. My friends come and comment on all my goofy song lyrics that I post as my status. Phish lyrics generally dominate. Currently, I believe I have some lyrics from Rift.
Well yesterday I was scrolling through my newsfeed on my phone, and a friend of mine (Whose more of a Panic fan than he is of Phish) put on his status, “Come from top the mountain, BABY . . .where the people come to prayyyyyyy!” Well (of course) my retort was, “Did you hit a possum on the way to work this morning?”
He said he didn’t know what I was talking about. He said, “I’ve had those lyrics in my head all day today, and I’m not really sure where they came from!”
I said, “Those are the lyrics to Possum, you dumbass. It’s Phish!”
He has yet to respond.
Little,
Enjoy your new home!
I need not say anything more…
Justin, it’s all good buddy. There will be other shows. We have a big crew for the Greek and Adam and I can handle those long drives between San Fran and Indianapolis ourselves if we have to. We’ll make it! 
I understand entirely, I have a similar situation. I’m also making a big change and financial commitment once this summer is over. More than likely a change that will completely affect what ends up happening to me for my young adult life. But I feel and know it’s something I have to do…the decision has been tearing me in both directions lately and I hope I have the balls not to let that sway me.
thankfully I have the ability to go all out this summer and then move in the fall from the place I’ve lived all of my 25 years. Hope to see you at Cuyahoga…
I am deeply saddened that you won’t be making the trip. But that sadness is no where near the joy that I have for you that you are doing what you feel (know) is the right thing. The fact that you say that the Universe and your heart both want you in that house implies that you are making the right choice. Congratulations .
PS - I will definitely need to check this place out.
So…Party at Justin’s then?
Those of you who read this post might want to read it again. Those of you who haven’t might want to read it twice. Well said, Billiam.
Hike around the area all day, pet the mountain goat, and then comes the raging house party. You can be as loud as you want, because of the hills surrounding. And then everybody moves it on down to the campsite. Or vice versa. This place was built for parties.
Oh, this was weird. And very hilarious.
I had a dream that Brett (smokey) bought a private plane to do tour in!! It was red. I went to meet up with them and they landed. Bill (Fone) and Marie were on there!
How strange.
Maybe that’s just what the OKP needs. A private plane to do tour in. Yeah…
gazes to the skies
sonted
Is that what you crazy kids call it these days?
Just try ‘petting’ me… 
^^^ Justin… I just read your epic tale (I love your crazy long posts btw)
And I just have to say this: while live music and concert experiences are among the finest in life and create memories that will last forever, they are are also transient and ephemeral. There will be PLENTY of other shows to see and trips to make and friendships to rekindle or create and experience in your future. But an opportunity like this for something permanent and lasting is not to be passed by lightly… you know that, obviously, but just to reaffirm what you’re already feeling… go for it.
And best of luck, brother. 