colinw

That is great. I like this one the best:

"I'm leaving you a message,

I'm leaving you a trace.

I'm leaving thoughts for you

I hope that time will not erase"

--Walls of the Cave

Photo by Rob Foster

It's hard to believe that after twenty-one years, its finally coming to an end. While the music may stop, the memories will live on. The concert process itself was utterly unforgettable: arriving at the show hours beforehand, hanging out with old friends and making new ones. Standing in lines that seemed to have no end in sight... and the show was still hours away. Scrambling for the best possible seat in the house, meeting up with friends inside and then waiting. Some idle chat, glancing at the watch every ten minutes (even though it won't start for another couple hours). Some more waiting. "What time are they gonna go on? What's the opener going to be? Any bust-outs tonight?"

Still more waiting, peppered with spats of boredom and irrational exuberance. All of a sudden, the house music fades and the lights go down. Unadulterated bliss ensues for the next half minute. The energy, tension and excitement is palpable as thousands of people simultaneously jettison the sentence coming out of their mouth and erupt in frenzy. High-fives, hugs, and all eyes on the stage. Not even one note has been played, and I've already forgotten anything that had been bothering me. For the next three hours, anything happening offstage is interesting but irrelevant.

That is one feeling I will never experience after August, and that's what I'll miss the most. The unwavering belief that anything is possible. Experiencing group improvisation at it's finest: music that makes you think, dance and laugh at the same time. Those brief, unspoken and yet profoundly meaningful exchange of glances between you and an old friend during a ridiculous moment of musical brilliance: "Can you *believe* this?!"

There is no other band that could ever again compel me to drive halfway across the country to see a concert, and certainly never one that could make that illogical plan seem so perfectly rational.

Thanks for changing the way I listen to music. Thanks for reminding me to appreciate the little things. Thanks for reminding me that it's okay to laugh and have fun, as long as you don't let it detract from the work in front of you. Thanks for making me think that anything can happen given adequate allocation of effort and patience. Thanks for conveying the beauty of living in the moment. Thanks for always prioritizing the music ahead of everything else. Thanks for showing me that good music is good music, and that genres are irrelevant. Thanks for making my college years some of the most memorable times of my life. And thanks for always making the long ride back home feel like a victory lap.

I vote for the Siket Disc.

I was at Cypress and the Velvet Sea was amazing. I was never a huge fan of the song, but that version changed my mind.

I also love Friday. I think it is a great tune. The slower tunes Phish performs are favourites of mine.

As for the last song, I would guess a 2 song encore - one upbeat - something like Golgi, or Frankenstein, and then maybe something long and slow like a Hood or a Slave. That would be a a great way to end things.

I wouldn't be surprised to have Tweeprise thrown in there somewhere either.

I guess that is how it works. If the band leader, chief vocalist/songwriter, driving force isn't going to be involved there isn't much to continue on with.

I can't see the band hanging on with any the members missing. The last thing we need to see is a half assed representation of the original (see Other Ones, the Dead, etc).

I think they are doing the right thing for now, and I can't wait to see the side projects. TAB will tear it up and Vida Blue will continue to get stronger. Who knows what else will emerge?

Colin

The more I read from Page, Trey, Fish and Mike, the more I think they made the right decision. At first I was upset and pissed that it happened, but the more I think about it, the more I think it is the right thing to do and the right time to do it.

I had 10 good years of obsessing about this band, and I travelled tens of thousands of kilometers and spent tens of thousands of dollars on Phish shows and merchandise. I will always be thankful for that. If I was younger and had just started loving Phish this year, I would be pissed that I wasn't going to see them anymore.

It is time to move on and try new things, and have different experiences. I think for a good long while I will still be comparing anything I see to a Phish show, but I am sure that will pass.

Colin

Here are my faves:

5-8-93 -> Chalkdust, Guelah, Rift, Mound, Stash>Kung>Stash, Glide, MFMF, Reba, Satin Doll, Cavern.....man

Nice - you'll be loving the new LivePhish release!!!

Colin

I can't even begin to think of a list of the top 10, but some I have not seen mentioned include:

- second set of second day Great Went

- Some of the Europe 98 shows. Specifically 7/6/98 from Prague. Check out the Piper!

- 7/9/97 with Bela Fleck and company. The YEM is nuts

- 12/11/99 - underrated. A kick ass show.

- If you don't have much Phish I would suggest a few shows from different periods - 1991 summer Horns tour, 1997 funk, 1993-94 craziness, 1998 spaciness, etc.

Lots to choose from.

This thread makes me want to get home and listen to some of my collection!

Colin

OK, so after some last minute running around to try and get my ass to Coventry I have it figured out.

Does anyone know details on the shows and when the sets will be? I assume it will be the same as past festivals with one set in the afternoon on the 14th and 2 in the evening. Can anyone remind me when the first night shows usually end? I was thinking they usually went from around 8-12.

I have an event in Halifax I can't miss that doesn't end until 5, and then I am flying to Montreal right away and hopping in a car to drive down. I am hoping to miss the majority of traffic and be inside by 10, catching the last set, and being able to see the final show on Sunday. I figure with the early opening of the lots that I shouldn't have trouble getting in late on Saturday.

Anyway, I know there are plans to have an official Conventry website, but if anyone has any insight or opinions please let me know.

How big a deal is the border crossing - will I have a big delay? Usually it is a breeze on the East Coast.

Colin

Well this licks balls. I was just saying in the other thread that I didn't think they would break up. What do I know?

I hope it was hacked. It seems that an announcement like this would be coming from Phish as a group, or the Phish organization, not from Trey! Here's hoping it was hacked. if not I am going ot have to find something else to listen to!

Colin

Also, I just noticed they have set up their own contingency plan for Saturday in St.John with Jimmy Swift Band.

Nice - I know where I'll be on the 19th. Checking out the Bus and JSB in SAINT John.

Colin

Both of those sound like crap to me.

If the Vegas one was true it would be great. Checking out a week of Phish a couple of times a year would be a good time.

I can't see them breaking up after Coventry. They are just releasing an album, they are back on tour and playing well. This new touring model is good for the band and families, as well as side projects, so why call it quits now? If they were going to quit they would have done so during hiatus, not after an amazing year like 2003! Even if they did quit, it wouldn't be because of the lack of success or quality of their albums. Since when did album sales or quality have anything to do with what we know as Phish?

Colin

Nice. I hope they follow it up with a DVD release. Maybe I can catch this somehow on the way to SPAC?

Colin

I would definately go too, but I am not around that weekend. Too bad - it will be the first big fest I have missed!!

The tickets may be steep, but seem OK for 6+ sets, 4 nights camping, and 4 days parking.

Colin

just listen. first thoughts sounds like trey with blue rodeo

that's fine with me. I like both Trey and Blue Rodeo!

I got it from a website posted on rec.music.phish. I don't have the address at hand though - sorry. if you do a search of the archive using dejanews or something you may be able to find it.

Colin

I preordered the album, so I didn't mind downloading The Connection as an MP3. When I first heard it, I didn't like it at all, but then I found myself humming it to myself later in the day, and went back to give it a few more listens. It certainly grows on you after a few listens, and now I really like it.

I find a lot of their new songs are like that, notably Crowd Control and The Connection for me, although I am sure there are others.

I expect that the Connection will get a nice live treatment and sound great in concert. Lets hope they play it at Saratoga or Great Woods.

If you're looking for progressive and jammy type tunes from the album, I would guess that Scents and Subtle Sounds will be long and jammed out.

Usually the tunes on the albums aren't anything like the live versions. Some good examples are Taste, Wolfmans, Walls of the Cave, Sand, Twist, etc.

Colin

Sean - that is him for sure. I have run across Gregg at a few shows as well, notably Europe tour 1998. He is a total tool. I have been seeing him out and about on tour since sometime in 1997.

Hopefully I never will run across him again. I am not about riding the rail at shows anymore anyway, so we usually are in different parts of a venue.

Colin

I would be curious to know of accomodations as well. I prefer hotel style, rather than camping, but if there is a decent campground I don't mind lugging all the overnight gear.

thanks for the help.

Colin

Hi everyone - I didn't have much luck with the Phish ticket lottery results. I am only able to see the Saratoga shows and I was shut out along with my travelling companions.

I know public onsale didn't happen yet, but if anyone has extras from mail order I would gladly take them off your hands.

Usually I have good luck and have extras to distribute (many people on this board can testify to that!), but this time I guess I will have to hope someone else can get me a ticket!

I will pay face and throw in a few shows if you want as well.

Drop me a line if you can help - ccw@nb.sympatico.ca

Thanks,

Colin

IT had MULTIPLE high definition cameras recording all the action, while the others were not recorded as well. I have been at each of the big festivals since 1996's Clifford Ball and that was recorded and so was Big Cypress, as well as the Went which had cameras, but not had as big a film crew or as professional type gear as IT had.

The film gear they had set up and the production which was obviously going on was pretty top notch.

Did you go to IT? The scene and the shows were smoking. If they can capture even a portion of that on DVD I would love to see it! Like I said - I have been to many of the festivals and some had better moments, but there were other pieces that IT blew away. Overall I would love to see any of the big festivals on DVD, but IT would be second only to a Cypress DVD.

Colin

I'll be there.

Saint John, NB

1. the ocean

2. the friendly and down to earth people

3. the dirt cheap cost of living and the amazing quality of life

4. amazing architecure and heritage buildings

5. proximity to northeast US and lots of shows

The crazy thing about the story below... I became friends with this guy about 3 weeks before his arrest. Played music and sang with him. Talked about stuff. Met him at Market Square and we chatted and hung out. He was a really neat person. Told me his name was Josh! And now he faces life in prison. He's on the FBI's most wanted list. Labelled a terrorist for what? For damaging logging equipment. SICK!

A beautiful and important person is going to jail for THE REST OF HIS LIFE - what's happened to us? ::

Yeah, what's happened to us - arresting internationally wanted criminals who willingly and knowingly break the law by firebombing stuff - sheesh - ::

Is it possible to display more than 10 threads per page? It may be a personal option but I cant' find it anywhere.

It was always easy to read through a list of topics and choose your thread to read, while ignoring some of the garbage. Now with only 10 per screen you're always using the numbers at the bottom to move around.

I like the new look though. The look and functionality are great!

Colin