i was very lucky to do the whole tour (although skipped Hibiya on account of a seeing LTJ Bukem at Liquid Room after Zepp Tokyo and a beautiful girl). some very good comments here. the whole tour really are my favourite memories of seeing this most incredible band which we share and love.

some very quick stories. didn't have a ticket to On Air East. half-way through the first set, a Japanese wook with a GD tie-dye slipped his stub under a door where i was standing outside to listen what i could (no extras). ran to the door with the stub, they said no-ticket-already-ripped, and made up a Gaijin excuse, and got in. wook hug and thanks and i am on the dance floor grooving.

on train to Nagoya, sit in my seat and a few stops in, dude looks at his train ticket, and sits down next to me. asks me if i am going to Nagoya to see Phish. tell him yes. he is fm Tokyo but studied at UCLA and saw a handful of shows. we talk for hour or so. he tells me Nagoya is smallest show of the tour (abt 450) and that tickets will be very tough. i don't have a ticket. chat more. need some quiet time. give him my discman (yes, discman!!!) and let him listen to 12/7/99 Halley's. he's grooving. jam slows as train pulls into Nagoya. he takes out his wallet. gives me his ticket. demands 6000 yen. tell him "not taking your ticket bro". he says give me the money. i oblige. he says no worries and he will somehow manage to get in. share a cab with him to the venue. big hugs. and saw him later in the show.

post Fukuoka. drinking beers fm a vending machine and street noodles. trey even mentions the noodles earlier in cities as fukuoka famous for its noodles.

no words really. i could go on. best times of my life. seeing your favourite band in a clubs of 500-750 people after arenas and sheds (my first show was 12/9/95) is just not translatable into writing. yes, some songs were probably mediocre. but the sheer energy of the fams, taking bullet trains to shows, and some incredible music will never be beat for me. and the japanese fans! so amazing. so much kindness. so much generosity.

looking forward to the box set next year.

big love,

alexcanada