Summer Tour 2000 comments
review submisions to me at [email protected]
or [email protected]
Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2000 17:08:36 -0700 (PDT)
From: Richard Os [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: About arrests at Deer Creek
While my friends and I were very disturbed about all the arrests at Deer
creek, there was much about the scene at the 3 deer Creek shows that was also
very disturbing. I am by no means conservative or in any shape or form a "law
and order" devotee, but to be honest all of us phans need to be more concerned
about our own behavior at shows.
Most frightening was the amount of "Opium" being sold at the shows. first off,
all of the so-called "opium" that I was shown by dealers was not really opium
but "black-tar" heroine. How do i know? It's easy to tell if you know what you
are looking for. Opium is a goo, it comes from the poppy seed and it isn't
hard or crystalline like all the junk being sold at the shows. Second, opium
tastes like soap. if what they were smoking tasted like beef jerky, it was
dope. If most folks we're lucky, they were actually buying "opiated" hash. But
most likely, they were unwittingly buying heroine.
I didnt know whether i should laugh or cry when, during the show on the 11th,
a fool sitting in front of me held up a piece of black-tar heroine during
"Free" and said to me "This will truly make you free". What stupidity!!!!
Free? being addicted to a narcotic will make you free?? Going through
withdrawals is liberating? My friend, sitting next to me, managed to pull
himself out of addiction, but only after an arrest for shoplifting to feed his
habit, and only with the love and concern of his family and friends. He has
told me about his experience at Ventura 98, and how he was afraid of going
through withdrawals during the show. ABout how what controlled him that day
wasn't the love of the music, but the need to feed his addiction. "Free"????
He knew he wasnt free as an addict. To think so, is naive if not stupid.
Second, if you think you can't get addicted by smoking heroine, you are dead
wrong. My friend became addicted through smoking dope. And no, he isnt weak or
stupid. Addiction happens. If you think you can beat it, you are probably half
way to addiction. If you don't believe me, read the book "dark Star" the
biography of jerry garcia. Owsley is quoted as saying that Jerry became
addicted through smoking and that really, it may be the easiest way to become
addicted. he insisted that the tar from smoking dope leaves resin on the lungs
which continuously feeds the body dope. To me it makes sense. Dont believe me
if you'd like. Thats your business. But selling heroine disguised as opium is
a damn sleazy thing to do. Even worse, want to see the cops show up in a
hurry??? Start selling narcotics. Sometimes, cops will look the other way when
pot is involved. They will never look away when heroine is involved. To all
those dealers out there, thanks for drawing police attention on our scene.
Like we needed that.
But maybe even more disturbing were the low-life "profiteers" benefitting from
others being jailed. On the night of the 11th there was a girl walking around
the lot asking for money to bail out her "brother". She had a gallon water
bottle cut in half full of bills. I walked next to her for about 10 minutes
since we were headed in the same direction, towards the main exit. It rapidly
became apparent to me that she was full of shit. There wasn't any agitation or
concern in her voice. Nor was her story very descriptive. "my brother was
arrested for half a pound of weed, I have a thousand dollars already and Im
half way there" was all she told me when i asked what happened. No more
details as to when or where. I couldn't believe that someone arrested in deer
creek with half a pound of weed would be granted a bail of only two thousand
dollars. And a person most likely from out of state too!!! Im not stupid, no
way that is possible. And from the other posts here, I know I was right! I
only gave her a quarter. I was prepared to hand her a five, but since she was
such a suspicious character, I couldn't part with more. The next day, in the
campground, our neighbors brought her up in a conversation, and they too had
the same impression of her. No concern or agitation in her voice. Story
without details. Emitting bad vibes. We all agreed that she was scamming
people.
The next night, I saw her again. This time she was at a vendors table on
shakedown, standing on a cooler. Except this time, she was asking for money
for "75 people arrested coming out of a campground". I walked up to her and
asked what happened. "75 people arrested coming out of a campground" was all
she said. now I had heard this story from a kind brother who had gone through
the check point where all those people were arrested. he told me how horrible
it was. But why was this girl collecting money for "75" people. Friends,
family I could understand, but bailing out 75 people on unrelated charges is a
hell of an undertaking. How would she divide the money? who gets help first?
Who made her in charge? besides, what about her brother.
I returned to grill her some more, but this time i asked her "So you got your
brother out?". She looked stunned!!! Did she really think no one would
recognize her? She then started to stammer about "not having a brother"
"having step brothers, but at home" etc etc. But i knew by the look on her
face that I had her dead to rights!!! I grew up in the NYC. I've met every
kind of low-life and liar imaginable, from every country on the face of the
earth! Im not a kid either!!! And here was some stupid girl from middle
america thinking she could pull a fast one on me!!! I told her that I saw her
soliciting bail money the day before for her brother. Again she denied it. So
I said, "well, your twin sister is running around the lot trying to get bail
money together for your brother". She tried to ignore me, but i started
calling her a scam artist and liar. At that point, she had her low-life
boyfriend (who was obviously a junkie) confronted me and started to get tough
with me!!?? "why are you calling my friend a scam artist?" he asked as he
reached into his back pocket were he obviously had a weapon of some sort. I
stood my ground and told him that she was full of shit and that I had seen her
the day before asking money to bail her "brother" out. Evidently, she hadn't
told him that I had her rightfully pinned out, because the look on his face
went from tough guy junkie anger to one of shock. "you are the one hurting
people man" he said. "We are justing trying to help people". yeah right!!!
What my friend said later on was true "thats the typical junkie thing to do
when they are caught. They try to play on your guilty feelings" But I couldn't
ever feel guilty for scammers.
So please, be wary of who you give money to in the lot. But this is not meant
in any way from discouraging anyone from helping out fellow phans in a bad
situation. They need our help and together we are strong! But something must
be done about people preying upon the scene and creating distrust and robbing
others of help for their own personal benefit. Many good peole thought they
were helping out those in need. instead, they were ripped off by these junkie
scam artists, and lets not forget those who were sitting in jail and needed
our help, but didn't get it because of these losers.
I think something must be done, maybe in coordination with local Legal Aid
societies and the band's management, whereby phans could donate money to help
bail brothers and sisters out of jail, and be insured that they really are
giving to a legitimate source that will make certain that those in need of
help get the proper legal representation that they deserve.
As to my "friends" scamming money in deer Creek, I'll be looking for you on
Fall tour. You do't know this, but I have pics of you and will be looking for
you to make sure that no one else gets scammed!! And as to how to avoid
problems with the police, what we need to do is get rid of the heroine dealers
first. maybe the key to avoiding the police lies in the phans policing
ourselves and our scene!!!
Date: Tue, 29 Aug 2000 14:30:35 -0400
From: Paul Rizzi [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Scary stuff
I had a wonderful time on tour this summer, to which my review from 6/30
Hartford will testify. However, I was reading some of these horror stories
about the rest of the tour (I was not aware of the rape, deaths, etc. until
today), and it reminded me of something that I had blocked out. I was in
pavillion seats for the 7/1 Hartford show, and we were rocking out to one of
the songs (I don't recall b/c I really had blocked this out!). There were a
whole bunch of empty seats around us, so we spread out and were dancing our
tushies off. Then these two guys take a couple of the seats in the row in
front of us. No biggie. Hardly noticed. Didn't notice them at all, in
fact, until I noticed one of them passing a pocket mirror to the other with
some sort of powder on it. The two passed the mirror back and forth maybe
twice, packed up their stuff, then moved along. Now, forgive me, for I had
not been on tour for a while, but is this now the thing to do at concerts? I
was too much in shock to do anything about it, but is this commonplace?
Granted, I am still in it for the music, and will be attending Great Woods
shows this fall. But seriously folks......is this what the Phish scene has
come to? Just my $0.02. Feel free to email me to discuss.
Paul
[email protected]
Date: Sat, 7 Oct 2000 14:31:00 EDT
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: summer tour comments
I can't think of much I would rather do than spend my summer traveling with
my favorite band. I got to catch 7 shows, 6 of which I was very happy with.
One comment though: The lots at alpine were in horrible shape after the
shows. I'm sure they were also in bad shape at other venues, but I didn't
notice it the way I did this night. Bottles everywhere and the sound of
tires cracking them. Is it too much to ask that we all find a recycling or
trash can? People shouldn't have to be dodging bottles when leaving the lot.
They should instead have all eyes out for people and dogs. Think about it.
Date: Fri, 4 Aug 2000 10:15:13 -0500
From: "Fugleberg, Mary" [email protected]
To: "'[email protected]'" [email protected]
Aside from the people that aren't there for the music, I can say this, that
I think some people are getting so burnt out on phish. People say they
don't play this, or they repeat that too much. And then people make
comments about other bands to go see. People, you will get burnt out on
them too.... me, i could never get enough of phish. because i see them 2-3
times a year and each time it is the show of shows. like my
favorite....somehow in some way. i am there for the music. no drugs
whatsoever.....i am so high off of their music when i am there, in another
world. try it sometime......
Mary P. Fugleberg
Date: Wed, 2 Aug 2000 17:53:14 -0500
From: "Walls, Jeff (DT-ORL)" [email protected]
To: "'[email protected]'" [email protected]
I'm not sure if people still check up on this. My thoughts on the scene,
which I agree, has become worse. I would love to take action along with
Thomas Laws and whoever else. I would love to start an organization to keep
the shitty drugs (heroin,K,Meth) off the lot, educate the younger phans, keep
the *bad* gutter punks in check. Unfortunately I am not Superman. I am not
Batman nor Robin. I don't have any authority. I have an opinion. Until my
opinion can stop drug abuse, alcohol abuse, violence, and disrespect. Until
my opinion can stop this shit on a mass scale like the Phish scene, I can only
throw up my arms and shake my head and pray. Should the band speak out? I
don't know. I kinda think not, a little. I mean they are up there for the
rush of the music. Not the lot scene. They have been doin it for 15 years!
Why start being leaders of the scene now? Why not? I don't know. Just like I
don't know why a human would rape another human. It's a fucked up world.
Yet it's great at the same time. Maybe that is the approach of the band.
There is a price for the rush of the jam.
My friends. Phish is no longer our little secret. They are on their
way, if not already, to being the second biggest musical cult phenomena EVER.
You can't control that. Now in 92'..93' we could have spoke up and made some
change. Not now. It is a train that cannot be stopped. If it is stopped it
will be by the band or us. Probably a mixture of both will end this great
ride. The cool thing is, is that it most likely won't happen for many years.
When I'm in my thirties. By that time I will have kids, a home, dogs, cats
and a fuckin huge collection of Phish shows on my computer and a lot of great
memories of the greatest band that has ever been.
So what are my plans for the upcoming tours, fall and summer, that I
plan to embark on? Go to the show. Partake in my usual mental exercises, go
into the show, jam with the band and scoobie my skinny ass off, and then go
home. It's truly that simple. It always comes down to the music. In every
review I've ever read it comes down to "we're all here for one thing...the
music". So I will follow that creed and continue to love my band for as long
as possible and pray that the kids will be alright.
I love you all.
Jeff Walls
you may respond at
[email protected]
Date: Fri, 4 Aug 2000 16:49:50 -0400
From: Thomas Laws [email protected]
To: [email protected]
I agree Jeff, we will be old before the circus comes to town but, there has
to be people that express their discuss for this behavior----I love PHISH
with all my heart but much like Jon T, I have to ask not even a public
statement---not even something to let the media know that it isn't YOU or I
thats od'ing there is a different breed of phan out their that they are the
nonphans. I personnally have been harrased for wearing PHISH shirts by
cops---singled out and expected to fuck up-----and when i wasn't under
possesion they were suprised---the cop that arrested my friends in MD told
me their goal was to arrest ALL the PHISH kids---we got pulled over in VA
and the guy said his job was to stop ALL the Phish kids and say hello-----It
is assumed we are all shit cause of these people who in number are in small
amounts----there is like 2000 of them and millions of us---there has to be
something done to slow this process-----when these drugs hit the scene for
the DEAD they made a movie about it--The End of the road to unlimited
devotion-----I only get to see about 3-5 shows a year due to my work
schedule and I ENJOY meeting you guys I enjoy hanging out with new faces
they always give me something to take home and tell my friends--but my
stories of bliss have been overshadowed by horror stories---now as far as
the band is concerned don't play dumb----they make a song called Nitrous
Oxide and then we wonder why it seems to be excepted as a "cool" drug but
yet its Killing kids---is it just me or do you see a link in responsibilty
there -----as I am swimming by---don't you see anything you'd like to
try----these words can be taken sooo many ways but at the same time they
give a very unclear message to the unclear head---I was very aggresive in my
last post because I LOVE this band and the scene but this band has got to
except some responsibility for this ---What is the last verse in NICU I try
to convey what you strive to condone ---years of head games make
hallucinagens really fun at a show---and Jeff your opinion can't stop drug
use (I hope not) or Drug abuse but all of our opinions with a little support
from the fab four could influence ---no one is expected to go through the
lot jerking up junkies and kicking ass but ---at the same time to stand
there is not helping either--I don't know anything to do ---I just know that
one scene got destroyed and the 95 DEAD tour was Fucked up-----the kids here
seem to be a lot more willing to show there asses then those fans
did-----and this is long before the end----I hate talking about that-----but
it is a long time before these guys stop blowing our minds----I don't know
but I feel that if they care as much about us as we think they do---when
people started dying they would try to do something----I am spent you have
all of my thoughts I love feedback----
Thomas Laws
Service Coordinator
[email protected]
Date: Wed, 2 Aug 2000 12:41:09 -0400
From: John Tringle [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: The scene
Hello.....I'm a little hesitant to actually have this posted but here goes:
I am in contact with a bunch of people regarding the scenes at the shows.
Some of us are BOLDLY asking about the Band's participation (or lack of) in
these matters. I want to make very clear our lack of desire to "diss the
band"...but when we discuss the deaths, the rape, the overdoses, the arrests,
the bottle throwing, the hard drugs..........we first started asking
ourselves if the BAND members have ever MENTIONED any of this. Look, I
haven't gone to every show, maybe they have.....but maybe they haven't.
I am not saying that PHISH is a traveling bus of parents who's job it is to
comment on social ills...but the question of their absence in this is
starting to become deafening.
So I am taking this very bold step to see if the 4 most important people in
the Phish scene can step up and TALK about some of this stuff. If I'm wrong,
I'm wrong. Perhaps the Band HAS mentioned it....perhaps they ARE doing
something....but alot of us don't see it. Trey, Mike, Jon, Page........if you
haven't gotten involved in this stuff please do. If you are, then my
apologies........far be it from me to confront the greatest band of our time.
waiting nervously
John Tringle
Date: Wed, 02 Aug 2000 19:30:08 -0500
From: ang and jason [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: summer tour 2000
I couldn't agree more with Marc Oldham. The last show i went to was
alpine '99 and during tmwsiy-alvenu there were a bunch of kids a little
younger than myself(27), talking and laughing, not even paying attention
to what the fuck was playing. That was my 10th show since '94 so i had
not heard that yet and was so intrigued and in awe and couldn't believe
they were playing it, however they had no clue what it was and or didn't
give a fuck. maybe i'll start going to Japan where the phans really get
into the music and that's the reason they are there. I usually enjoy
more shows on the fall tour where it seems the true phans come out.
Iowa '99 was killer which is why I skipped summer this year and plan on
hitting some more fall shows.
Date: Mon, 31 Jul 2000 12:24:10 -0400
From: Thomas Laws [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Death's----Gangs-------Rape???????????? Is this PHISH tour or Cl
arkston GA
WHAT THE FUCK PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Have you lost your fucking
minds
If I have already offended you stop now cause I am fixing to vent a while, I
am not happy or here to blow smoke up your ass we know PHISH is the best
that's not why I am here
Deer Creek, Alpine Valley, Star Lake ----these are some of the legendary
places we have been and get to go every year then these poor bastrds came
along--remember Red Rocks---
I can only imagine the crazy life these kidz live---I have been there
however and its not very easy to change--I am soooo sad right now to read
this stuff I knew nothing of these things before submitting my review I am
slowly falling out of love with the scene that brought me out of that life
style because of crap like this-----I don't tour anymore due to the fact all
of my friends got arrested in 99 at a SMALL camp ground in Maryland--you say
for what?---cause a bunch of kidz thrashed the place the year before with
nitrous balloons and beer bottles, a state park and a beautiful one at
that--you have all seen that movie "The Blair Witch Project" well that's
where we stayed ---it was soooo pretty I would never think of leaving a mark
there lettle off trashing it but you bet due to the crap started the year
before we were searched and arrested--I spent the entire time I was on tour
paranoid of being pulled over--------Gangs---Give me a break gangs on tour
is this a joke---first of all a "GANG" is an intimidating an organized form
of organized crime not a skinny strung out gutter punk with a gun a pit
bull and a trunk full of drugs this is not intimidating , seriously I have
been there and these kids aren't shit--they aren't tough, they are a bunch
of middle class white kids with serious drug problems do you people really
know about Gangs--I DO ---this is sooo stupid I was involved extensively in
a few gangs in Atlanta mostly just running drugs and stealing things nothing
positive and nothing I wish to hold on to I have SEEN people get shot--I
have SEEN people get robbed I have participated in this these are not things
I am proud of but I am letting you know I know what I am talking about the
guys I ran with were some of the baldest of the badasses in Atlanta but
they too were a bunch of cowards searching for an identity with the maturity
level of a twelve year old feeling they have to be the BADASS----I am not
your a-typical granola loving peace sign "HIPPIE" but I respect the values
that these "HIPPIE" people carry and have taken several of them with me day
to day --they are old school they are smart and have been tested and
proven---unlike special K and METH --Just like there are many beautiful
people and individuals in the LOT (I could probably even find something good
about these idiots ) lets face it peeps there is A LOT of shit out there
also--these people have NO rhyme nor reason for being on tour----nothing
against drug use but drug abuse is different--I have sold pot on the lot, I
have sold Liquid but people I am hearing kidz say stuff like Crack, Heroin,
speed, who's got CC, where is the fun here, where is the positivity that
brought me here in CRACK, if you find it hold on to it and keep it its not
wanted---been there done that and you guys are lost-----thats why you are
here---you want to find YOU weather you know it or not----It is very easy to
get trapped into a life of hard drug use however not very easy to get out,
Look at the scene the Grateful Dead had 20 years of psychadelich love but
then came these young people with different beliefs and different ways and
means ---they didn't get here due to music they latched on to a rolling
circus where everyone is fucked as as they can get and it ballooned --gate
crashers, junkies --there it went----DOWNHILL ------all right from what we
have learned from the past----KEEP THAT SHIT OUT i am sorry for the
profanity but i feel so strongly about the issue------and to the girl that
got raped---I am sorry that you got raped, I am sorry your husband was too
chicken shit to do anything about it, he put the druggs he was in possesion
of in front of you--he watched the whole thing this is not love this peice
of shit isn't even your friend lettle off your husband You are a woman and
i give you respect for that but you are stupid it is the company you keep
that got you into this situation------To the girl that died MY GOD what is
going on when we feel the need to get that fucked up ---and her boyfriend
was wanted by the cops so he wasn't even there for her----What a peice of
work he is, I am gonna run while my "Girlfriend" dies------I am soo sorry to
say this and i love this girl without knowing her simply because like it or
not she was one of our community and I know some of you will get mad but
like the other girl---its the company she kept----this negativity has not
only wrapped me and sucked me in before it has run my life into the ground
-- but I fixed it, I used the love i felt from you guys and the love i felt
comming from the stage to look at my life for a second---it needed a change
I realized at the first show I saw that i came for the wrong reason----i
didn't know about the music---and this is the way it is for a lot of kidz
first show I knew i was gonna get trashed and see a great show---then i got
there and the band started playing and the energy set in--the feel was there
that feeling....aaaghhh it was amazing---now that is why i go back not to
get fucked up---i do that very well, but to be taken somewhere i had never
been before by the best band on the planet. I am at a loss for words now
and I can't take up my time looking for things to be possitive about--you
guys that are there for the music KEEP coming---You guys that sell
psychadelichs I love you to keep coming this is our scene and that is what
we are into, I honestly feel nothing is wrong with these druggs but we as a
community have to draw a line in the sand as to what is cool and what isn't
--and the above mentioned (see subject line) is deffinately way over this
line ----tour should not be like a "Take back our Neighborhood" event it
should be bliss---since picking up on this negativity I have found other
pathways to possitive energy and spiritual journeys, I miss taking them with
PHISH --I love these guys with all my heart ----but Today is a time when you
have to take care of YOU, cause no one else is gonna--You make these
choices--you choose to go on tour----you choose to do druggs -----you choose
how many you do and which ones, and you choose to show your ass----basically
there are a lot of kidz making poor choices out there----they will not
probably read this but someone will and i hope if YOU participated in this
crap, then you have something to say about it, and hopefully you will show
the same balls as you did when you were beeing the tough Gang Banger on a
PHISH lot (it can't just be me but that sounds fucked up) and E-mail me back
---E-mail all of us and explain why you are ruining our scene, why you are
so important that even the value of a Human life should be cheapened at the
expense of a "BUZZ", WHY????????? are you so selfesh that you would destroy
the reputation that we work hard to keep up of fun loving mischivious good
hearted kidz--I think after the obviously unwelcomed display we recieved
this summer kidz should either-----:A. stand up and defend yourself and your
beliefs with a passion not just a fucking e-mail. B. Find a new
tour/hobby that is just as satisfying and keep collecting tapes (here you
will find me and my kidz Sound Tribe Sector-9 where its about love and
positive vibes none of this--feel free to come there but keep this gutter
shit out bring it with you and i will personally run your ass off ) C.
SHUT UP if you aren't willing to take action quit wining---unless you are
helping you are in the way. I also think that PHISH as an organization
should do a better job at working with the venue security, working with us
and local police letting them know there are 2 obviously different agendas
out there in the LOT and working to preach some kind of message, I know they
love us but give a statement about the scene--give an opinion and MAKE IT BE
HEARD LOUD---What if Trey sat his guitar down and said hey you guys out
there over the wall with no ticket or ambition sitting around hufing
nitrous, shooting smack, drinking till you puke and passing out then getting
pissed and smashing bottles , i am sick of your negative energy and want you
to get the fuck out of here? ---I personally would not mind in the least if
he took a second or 2 to tell them to leave............. I sure as hell do
when i walk by them in the lot---Sorry to be sooo harsh but thats what the
subject is harsh this shit isn't a game people are getting hurt and
dying--------
Thomas Laws
Service Coordinator
[email protected]
Date: Mon, 19 Jun 2000 09:26:08 -0400
From: Thomas Laws [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Reviews and my thoughts on them
What up peeps
I have seen a lot of "How dare you say this" and "How dare you have
the nerve to say this" ---and its like this If you paid for a ticket you
have the right to say whatever you want about the show --whatever you
feel----If you spent 4 hours trading tapes to get it and then when it got
there you didn't like it then thats cool you can express that---for example
IMO PHISH had a rough summer last year I didn't like verymuch that I
heard--and I thought the scene was full of gutter punks---but guess
what--that was how I felt-----and guess what it sounds like they are kickin
ass again I liked the New Years shows --I have heard a lot about RCMH I
didn't go-----so I am anticipateing this summer big time. Itslike this a
friend of mine told me once--"If you don't like the musical direction the
band is going in then skip a tour they will be up to something new this time
next year and you might like it more----You guys are letting what PHISH does
run your lives --My point is if you aren't happy with a show thats why this
page is here---If a certain show was the best day of your life then tell us
here.
The only thing we should not have the nerve to do is dissrespect each other
on this list of our opinions--our feelings--I am out please take what I say
to heart
PEACE
Thomas Laws
Service Coordinator
[email protected]
White* Magnetic* Wizard
I Unify in order to Enchant
Attracting Receptivity
I seal the Output of Timelessness
With the Magnetic tone of Purpose
I am guided by my own power doubled
Date: Sun, 25 Jun 2000 15:00:24 -0700
From: G [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: These reviews....
for a while I have been amused by the reviews sent into to you guys, but I
also impatinetly await them, so what can really say...*but* the last one for
the second night of Atlanta takes the cake...the kid calls Carini a
"classic" I mean COME ON!!!!!
All I want to know, is if Mike told the crow it was time to get "back to
Trey's show,," I would be really surprised if the strife was so
prevalant...
Date: Wed, 19 Jul 2000 16:50:39 -0700
From: david ramey [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: summer 2000
it seems that a whole lot of phish experts spend too much time with
phish. all 6 shows i saw were excellent....of course i would love 8 hour
shows and ripass bustouts song after song. but c'mon can anyone else make
you move your booty like mike does during jiboo. if it gets stall, take
a break it'll be even better when ya get back. remember everysong is
someone favorite..even bouncin'..i can tell you that if foam was the
first tune i heard back in the day i'd be like whoa..next..but no i heard
a live one and thank the good lawd i did.....this band works damn hard to
put on a show like no other..despite the venues' attmpts to get em in,
milk em dry and get em out, phish makes each place seem like a party.
that you have a special invite to, bad attitudes certainly don't add to
the party. the musical adventure is the reason we all go isn't it?, keep
it fresh keep it groovy and most of all keep it RIPASS
see ya in veg(rip)as(s)
Date: Mon, 24 Jul 2000 20:41:43 -0700
From: Lance Feola [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: review of summer tour
First of all welcome home to everyone that did the tour it was definately
and enlightening expierience. I had a great time throughout the entire tour
from Tennessee to Colombus. There were some shows that I liked better than
others in the begging it was really cool they were playing different stuff and
Tennessee was a great kickoff. In regards to some people that wrote reviews
this year about the scene ithink it has changed also but I don't think it has
anything to do with the people that hang out in the lots. The "tour rats" as
he called them are there in the most part to et into the show and are trying
there hardest to get in because of those good 'ol sons o' bitches at ticket
master. Not everyone gets tickets it is difficult. As for security the cops
have gotten worse over the years especially in New Jersey and in a few opther
places. But thats what they are there for, given they should not be as
corrupt as they are but that just another good reason to keep our grug
exploits just a little more low key and for gods sake please camp on-site for
creek next year the security was puffing with us! To the Families of the two
that died my utmost sympathy goes to them. Phish lots have always been full
of pot and other drugs such as mush and acid, but he following drugs do have
to go exstacy, special K, meth, crack, coke and all other grugs that go beyong
the afor mentioned. It has gotten quite ridiculous with the introduction of
people into the lots that come just for hte drugs and not for the music that
does suck. While walking out of walnut creek in Norht Carolina I encountered
some hooligans saying and i quote "were the fuck are all the dirty hippies
selling the pot. That has also got to go. Now that i have ragged on the
scene enough I think its time to mention the band were the hell are all the
good songs although they played some good stuff they only playe it 1 or 2
times. The stuff that they repeated (which they never used to do) that has
got to go include the new album goota jiboo, heavy things, piper, first tube,
and a few others. they have to bring songs back lie harpua and stash they
used to play stash all the time and tweezer, and Allah forbid they jam out
some of the good old stuff like they used to. this will be my last complete
tour i'll catch shows but depending on what the fall is like they may have
sold out already i hate to say it but it happens to the best of them.
Wrtiting that makes me feel like an asshole and probably makes you think I am
but hey I'm tired of having to listen to clapping during songs and people
screaming during a mouth jam courtesy of you enjoy myself. thank you phish
for a great summer and thank you to everyone who sold me beer and food
especially jello shot guy if your out there and french bread pizza guy, egg
roll dude and everyone else thanks.
Lance Feola
[email protected]
Date: Mon, 24 Jul 2000 19:56:52 -0500
From: Greg James [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: the scene
Please note: this is not a review of a show but a comment on the actual
scene and where it's gone, some of it's negative, some of it's positive,
and it's my honest opinion. Thanks for reading.
Well, summer tour has come and gone and I managed to catch 9 shows on
the tour, which isn't bad for a guy who works full-time. Now in those 9
shows I was able to witness, as well as hear first hand, some things
that I never thought I would hear or see when following the band I love
most. Bottom line is: the band needs to take a long break so the
worthless, ticketless, homeless tour rats have somewhere else to go and
mess things up. Never in my life have I seen so many people in a place
for nothing more than to party or make money. People, we're seeing a
band who plays MUSIC, which should be the first and only reason you are
at a phish show, or any other show, for that matter. There are a few
people on this page that have seen or heard what I was unlucky enough to
see or hear, and it shouldn't be taken lightly...the bus that the girl
died on at creek, we camped 50 yards away and saw first hand what a
bunch of fucked up tour rats do when shit hits the fan: NOTHING. Poor
girl. My heart goes out to her family. And supposedly a girl was raped
from the same bus. What happened to that guy? NOTHING. Cause the girls
boyfriend/husband didn't have the balls to make a statement cause they
were all carrying the inevitable. Not to mention all the wannabe
gangbangers that think they're the shit cause they're on Phish tour, but
don't go into any shows!! Ooh, you're cool. Fuckin losers. And all the
meth heads and K heads and nitrous tanks all over the place. These
people obviously care nothing, and contribute nothing, to our community
whatsoever. I apologize for all the neagivity towards these people and
in all honesty, pray that they will turn out okay (except for the
rapist, of course). It just seems like there are more people to leech
off the scene than are there for the music, ya know? And most of this
was at the ON-SITE camping. I've heard horrible stories of Pine Lakes
being raided by Federal Marshal's, What the Fuck? What really stinks is
that all the fucked up tour rats aren't even gonna read this. You wanna
know why? Cause they don't don't give a damn!!! About the you, me, the
scene, the MUSIC, and most importantly, THEMSELVES. I mean really, if
you don't love yourself how can you have the capacity to love anything
else?
Which takes me back to the band taking a break. IMHO, the band NEEDS a
break. Take 1 year, fuck it, 2 years off so you can get back to what's
important in life like your family and friends. I'll be here when you
decide to come back. Go change some diapers and do the laundry and cut
the grass, you know, real stuff that makes you appreciate what you have,
because the band, as well as us, have a wonderful thing right now. They
may be rock stars but they're still human beings. Not to say the band
doesn't appreciate what they have, cause they do. I just think that it
would be good for everything and everyone involed (the band, the true
phans, the scene, the MUSIC). Now all this also doesn't mean that I
didn't have a great time at the shows, cause I did. I ran into all the
people I needed to run into, and even met a bunch of great people who I
am still keeping in touch with as we speak. And the music was very well
played, but that is for a different review. So that is proof that there
are still a lot, i mean A LOT, of really great people on the scene, and
I am so grateful for that. What that means is we need to really pay
attention to what's really going on, both inside the venue and out.
Because if this continues, I gurantee you that the music will be put to
a halt, if not ended completely. And none of us want that, do we? We, as
a phanbase, really need to try and make a positive impact on the
communities we visit, and the people within those communities. And in
doing so, the behavior trancends into our own community so we can
flourish and be who we want to be, and take care of our family like it
was our own, because it is family.
I guess that's it from me. Thanks for reading this and I welcome any
feedback on this touchy topic, positive or negative.
Safe and happy travels,
Greg
ps..when and if you get a chance, thank dan for putting his energy into
this review page. he definitely deserves it.
Date: Fri, 21 Jul 2000 14:48:03 -0400
From: John Tringle [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: How to stay out of JAIL!
This is in regards to arrests at Phish shows.
I will now give you all the magic formulas for avoiding contact with the
police:
1. Do not buy or sell drugs around the venues. Do this at home...BEFORE you
enter an area crawling with cops.
2. The automobile is a CIVIL LIBERTIES TRAP. Once you enter an automoblie you
are effectively giving up some rights. Don't do things that will bring
attention to you......don't drink any alcohol in an automobile. Wear your
seabelts. Don't smoke pot in the car. Don't have anything exposed. If you
don't violate any laws in an automobile then you are not giving cops
"probable cause" for a search. Don't speed. Don't violate traffic laws. Don't
do ANYTHING that would get you pulled over. When you are in a car you should
come across as a drug-free law abiding citizen.
3. Let's all go back to joints instead of all these glass pipes (leave them
HOME).....very hard to pat down a couple of loose joints in your pocket,
isn't it?
4. I don't think a Phish concert is the ideal place to get absolutely
trashed.......if you drink 10 beers and pee on a tree...here comes the cop!
If you pass out, fall down, throw things, carry on.....all of this is like
flagging down a cop and saying "look at me."
5. Friendliness, respect, courtesy, kindness.......not confrontation,
anti-authority, anger, violence.
So now where do we stand after this? You are not buying or selling drugs
around the venues but in your homes........so that eliminates that problem.
You are wearing your seatbelts, following all traffic laws, speed limits,
etc, and you are SOBER...this eliminates a potential car search. You are
adjusting your behavior in the lots so as not to attract attention to
yourself and you are no longer bringing in anything bulky so your pat -downs
now go smoother. You are saying "thank you" and "sir" to cops so they might
have better respect for us.....
The way I see it......there should never be another arrest again......
I'm here to help.
jt
Date: Wed, 19 Jul 2000 02:27:21 -0400
From: A. S.
To: [email protected]
Subject: summer comments
Summer tour was great. Thanks to the band and the phatty kidz on the lots
who cook food and sell beer and water and smokes. We couldn't survive
without you. Everything's good for the most part with the whole scene. But
kidz dying at Alpine and Deer Creek?? What's up with that shit?? Where have
we gone as a huge forceful fuckin mob?? We have plenty of shit to indulge
ourselves with, but can't we leave the fuckin pharmies and nitrous tanks at
home?? Besides the ridiculousness of seeing nitrous crackheads fall on their
face sometimes, it's annoying to see all the empty balloons all over the
ground. Let's not let this thing get out of control because right now we are
at a great place. We don't need to raise a big fuckin flag for the police to
see so they can come and crack down at us in every city and venue we visit.
Let other kids know that they're shit needs to be kicked to the curb. We
wanna maintain the positive images which a lot of people hold of the band and
its scene in general. Thanks for reading this far......
Peace and Respect
A.
Date: Mon, 17 Jul 2000 12:04:17 EDT
From: Anthony Sandler [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Tour 2000
Hey,
I'm a candian phan who was lucky enough to have an older bro who introduced
me to phish before puberty pretty much (89-90), and the dead even earlier.
However, I never saw the dead and except for those early 90's TO shows, I
didn't travel to see a show till buffalo '96. I skipped a couple more years
and then hit Oswego, albany 99 and New Year's down south. Oh yeah NYE 99 as
well at MSG. All good times but not really on tour you know. It's one
thing to have two hundred cd's of live music and another to see it for
yourself for a week or two straight.
So for this summer I decided I would hit a few shows and see what it was
really all about. I went from TO on except for Star Lake and have to say
all the shows were great. I am a musician but also not very picky about
what I hear as long as the groove is tight and there is variety (both
present in all seven shows). So I have no complaints and only love for the
band and there team (esp. CK) I love my friends on tour. The jiboo crew
was not fucking around and they kept me in the know and pretty fucked up all
week long). The main purpose of my writing this however is to bitch about
the lot.
I saw the lots at Oswego and Cypress get a bit sketchy by the early morning,
but nothing in the world could have prepared me for the horros I saw at Deer
Creek on the last night. I left at 4:30 am not able to stomach another
minute of it. I got to see stupid rat kids trying to piss off a wigger who
was yelling that "the nigger was about to wig out if anyone touched him" by
hugging the guy. I saw a lynch mob of around 15-17 methheads with a dog
trying to kill a guy who apparently raped a girl. Now, hold up. The guy
who did the molesting was probably the biggest rat of them all, and I have
no sympathy. Phish tour with rape is the last thing I ever thought would
happen. But since the stupid little tour rats were too fucked on K and
demerol and God knows what else, the police let the guy go cause they
wouldn't take statements, even from the girls husband who told me he saw the
whole thing. All around a horrible thing to see or be near, stuff best left
at Woodstock 1999 and trailer parks (no offence to those decent trailer park
tenants meant -- or decent woodstock fans either). I now hear there are
gangs on phish tour.
People, we need to clean up this shit. Every night on tour there were news
stories about "the Phish" and their "phans" and the drugs and the police
plans etc. I had my stash taken going into second night creek or third
maybe, and it wasn't cool. One of my most amazing friends who is the
sweetest girl in the world was busted and could go to jail for anywhere up
to twenty years. I was paranoid going everywhere and that is no way to
enjoy tour. I don't like police at all (call it common sense when you live
a lifestyle like ours) and anything that is bringing more attention to the
scene and the phans and then drugs is not welcome.
I doubt any of the kids this is aimed at will read this (i doubt that any of
them can read. But something must be done or else this will all crash
around us and the degenerates witht there pharmies and funks will bring the
fucking army down on us or some shit. I love the Phish from Vermont and
they put on the best shows in the world (save maybe Floyd -- but fuck it
they never tour you know). I want to see shows but I don't think I can ever
do a tour liek this again unless I have the bucks to stay at hotels every
night and get the fuck off the lot before the freaks come out.
Sorry this is poorly written but I'm rushing through this cause I've done no
work today.
TR
Date: Mon, 17 Jul 2000 09:44:29 -0400
From: Marc Oldham [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Comments on the Scene
Please note this is a negative review and if you dont want your tour glow to
be crushed then dont read this:
Since 94 I have been spending much of my time & money seeing phish and the
some of the great people that go to these shows. Many of you have become very
special to me and have made many great friends along the way. I am saddened to
see what was such a great vibe go down the tube at a fast pace. I guess with
fame there will be more problems.
It seems to me that there are more and more people walking around the lot with
no reason to be there but the party. Along this summer tour I have heard of a
girl getting raped at Starlake and also someone getting a gun pulled on them
for a bad drug deal. (please note. only heard second hand)
Someone dying at Alpine, and a young girl dying at the Creek, as her boyfriend
runs around the campground looking for someone to take him away from the scene
due to the fact that cops are looking for him. I am saddened to hear all of
this and hope for the best for there families and loved ones.
There are more and more ticketless people in the lot who will pay any price to
get into the show so they can stand next to me and talk through the most
wonderful parts of the music not knowing what it is that they are seeing. And
to the guy that PISSED ON MY LEG at Polaris, that I had the decency to not hit
in the jaw, thank you for crushing my little hope I had left for the Phish
scene. Is this scene really worth fighting for?
Last but not least, have you noticed all of the people who have friends in
jail, who walk around the lot using that as an excuse to scrounge money?????
Give me a break. I work my ass off for the time I get to play. I guess I will
no longer be playing where I once loved to spend my time.
I will miss seeing all of the wonderful people that I have met in my travels
and hearing all of the superb music which resonates from the stage , Maybe I
will catch a Fall or winter show here and there but they will be few and far
between.
"This has all been wonderful but, now Im on my way"
Date: Mon, 10 Jul 2000 12:28:00 -0400
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: positivity
A brief comment from someone who can't get to any shows this summer and
follows the tour through the reviews. I'm so encouraged by the optimism and
enthusiasm I'm reading from a vast majority of the posts. Two things appear
to me to account for this:
1. The band by all accounts is smoking right now. This certainly appears
to be a very fruitful period where the band is comfortable with each other,
themselves, and their place in the world;
2. The reviewers are not encumbered by their belief that the band should
play any particular way for the edification of the particular reviewer.
I wish I could take in a show this summer, but for now I'm content to live
vicariously through others' reviews of this tour. Thanks for your comments,
and keep them coming!
Date: Sun, 9 Jul 2000 14:58:01 -0400
From: Benson Hendricks-Hoffman [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Summer Tour Reviews ...
Hi, y'all.
Let me start out by saying that I am not the world's most experienced
Phishhead. I've never done a Phish tour. In fact, I have only seen a handful
of Phish shows over the years. I'm more of a Deadhead (90 + shows before
'95), which may have something to do with my perspective here.
In going over recent show reviews, I repeatedly read complaints from some
Phisheads that certain songs drag on with pointless jams. For some reason,
Limb By Limb stands out in my head as one song whose jams get dissed for
being too aimless and / or quiet. I simply want to offer another perspective
to those who make disparaging comments about the quiet, meandering, aimless
jams.
I saw Phish a few times in the early 90's (90 - 92). In those says, Phish
rocked pretty hard on almost every song. Their jams were fast and furious,
and always built to a climax. For one or two shows, this was exciting. But
over time, it grew repetitious and tiresome. The pace of the concerts rarely
varied much. There was a strong limit to Phish's dynamic range and variety,
in terms of speed, volume, tight-vs-spacey, etc. I thought to myself that,
while they sound great, there's no way they'll ever single themselves out
from the Max Creek, Blues Traveler, etc. crowd and really come into their
own. So, I lost interest in the band.
In 1997, I saw my first Phish show in many years (Gorge at George, 2nd
night). Man, what a difference! It was like I was watching a different band!
Mike had grown soooo jazzy. Fishman did quite a bit more then just beat the
hell out of the drums. Page had grown subtler. And Trey played most of his
solos without resorting to the well-worn path of the straight-ahead rocker.
Songs were unpredictable. When Trey started a solo, you didn't know if it was
going to build, or meaner, or break down into a new song, or what! Somewhere
between '92 and '97, Phish had become a band, IMHO, that you really had to
LISTEN to and be PRESENT with.
A few days ago, I saw the Molson Amphitheater show in Toronto. Once
again, Phish completely blew me away. I loved the way some songs slowed down
into textured feedback jams. I loved the way that some songs were slow and
quiet. And, as was the case with Limb By Limb, I loved the way some songs
created round, gently-spiraling jams (reminiscent of a "Crazy Fingers" jam)
that didn't necessarily "go anywhere"... it just found a beautiful place and
graced us with that sonic landscape for a while. And, of course, I loved the
way that Trey built some songs into frenzied, searing guitar solos.
I understand that not everyone appreciates quite, spacey, meandering music.
But, for those who don't appreciate that aspect of Phish shows, I want you to
know that some of us think you may be missing out on the best part of the
show.
Take care, have an open mind, and enjoy the shows,
Benson
PS. Not all that wanders is lost.
Date: Fri, 7 Jul 2000 14:34:02 -0400
From: Cynthia Benno
To: "'[email protected]'" [email protected]
Subject: I need to vent
Hi,
This is not a review of a show, but I have some comments to make
about shows in general. I read a review of Hartford's show on 7/1/00, by
James Andrew Hunter [email protected] and he made comments about
obtaining a pavilion stub and the venue's security that I would like to
address. Specifically, he referred to the security as pricks for
checking his borrowed ticket stub on his way down to the front and for
not allowing people to stand and dance in the aisles. James' attitude
about security and his entitlements at a show are not his alone. I heard
girls in the ladies room comment about security sending one of their
friends back to the lawn after the friend could not produce a pavilion
stub. These girls considered these security guards to be extremely
unreasonable, but expressed that feeling in a more vulgar way while
talking in the ladies room. This is a sentiment that I see frequently at
many Phish shows and I have a problem with this.
I attend many shows and for those shows that are not GA, I go out
of my way to buy good seats. At a show like the one in Hartford this
tour, I had a seat in the pavilion. Whether through the box office or
buying seats from fans or brokers, these seats cost more than the lawn or
any other GA area. Why do I pay more? Because I want my own piece of
real estate, a guaranteed place to chill that will not be lost if I go
the refreshment stand or ladies room, and to have good sound and a good
view. I do not understand why people get angry at security guards for
doing their jobs. I, for one, appreciate the fact that the security is
checking stubs and keeping the aisles clear. I do not think it is right
that fans in my row expect me to share the small space that has been
allotted me, through the purchase of my seat, with all their friends that
they bring down from the lawn. If I ask people to move down (I don't
care if they want to share their own space, but do care when they move
into mine) major attitudes are displayed and I am viewed as being selfish
and self-centered when just the opposite is true...the lawn people who
think they are entitled to my spot are the selfish ones.
As for knocking the security for attempting to keep the aisles
clear, I again appreciate those efforts from security. The Radio City
Music Hall shows come to mind when I think of an example of security not
doing their jobs. It took almost 10 minutes to get from my seat to the
exit door due to people in the aisle who had seats in the back or the
mezzanines. Now, imagine trying to get back to your seat with, heaven
forbid, a soft drink or cocktail in your hand. Each time, I ended up
wearing half the drink because of people dancing wildly in the aisle and
paying no attention to the people trying to get through. Even saying
"excuse me" to people was not helpful. They assumed that just like them,
I was trying to scam down closer to the stage and would become resentful
and refuse to budge. This from people who don't even belong where they
are standing in the first place! I think that the average fan would
agree that clogged aisles are bad, but that same average fan probably
thinks that at least they should be allowed to dance in the aisle...not
everyone, no no no, but they should be able to when they want to.
Unfortunately, I feel that the real problem is the average age of
fans and the fact that they have not been around enough to learn that
they are not the center of the universe and that they are not entitled to
sit and dance wherever they want. That is what the lawn and GA area are
for. I see so much rudeness and lack of consideration for others at
Phish shows. I am in my early thirties and have been attending concerts
for quite a while, including many Grateful Dead shows. The average age
of fans at the Grateful Dead shows was much higher than at Phish shows
and the rudeness was not as prevalent. In general, adults, as opposed to
young adults or teenagers, have learned how to not be self-centered and
selfish and considerate of others. That is not true of all adults, but
of the majority. Case in point, at Dead shows, people who wanted to
dance and spin, usually went to the venue's outer hallways and not the
aisles inside. So, to wrap it up, I would like people to acknowledge that
others besides themselves, at a show, have rights too. People with lawn
seats are not entitled to sneak into the pavilion nor clog the aisles.
The world does not owe you them these things and security is there to
make sure that all attendees are treated fairly...that includes the
people who paid for reserved seats and who wish to have a clear path
through the aisles as well as fans in the GA areas.
Thank you for listening to me and let's hope for a more
considerate vibe for all...fans and security.
Cynthia
Date: Fri, 07 Jul 2000 10:43:14 -0400
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: comments about show reviews
Hello
Everyone has very good points on the reviews. The secret is simple, just
don't let yourself get offended by someone elses review. Different people
look for different things in shows. Some folks judge a show by the setlist
alone, some judge by how special the show was (trey talking, funny antics,
etc.), while others go purely for the musical execution of the songs. I,
myself, go for all three, and if any one of those bases is covered, I walk
away a happy man. Seth had a great point about the need for negative
reviews sometimes for the purpose of tape trading. I know I'd rather have a
super sick version of Slave than a weak one. Mark also had a great point,
that these guys bust their asses to make unreal music and maybe it's not
always our place to criticize them. The fact is that, as a community, we
need to respect eachother's opinions. This is what sets us apart from wild
animals and crazy rednecks, our ability to be non-judgemental (to eachother
that is). Now, obviously, if you've seen over 100 shows and seen every show
on the tour, then you are going to be more critical of the show, it's
unavoidable. People with a lot more Phish experience and the means to see
more shows than the rest of us are going to disect the show a lot more and
are more likely to have a negative opinion on it. Obviously, this doesn't
make their opinion wrong, and we need to respect that opinion even if we
don't agree with it. I constantly see (and i'm guilty of it too) reviewers
attacking other reviewers, even going as far as to tell them "their not
phans" or "they don't deserve to see phish". Come on, everybody deserves to
see Phish. I think that by telling some frat boy that he doesn't deserve to
see Phish because he thought a show was great that you thought sucked is
ridiculous. For all we know, that show could have changed his life, but he
won't see any more because some "phishier than thou" dready told him that he
doesn't deserve to be there. This kind of attitude is what we are supposed
to stand against. We have the ability to be non-judgemental of people and
to have respect for our brothers and sisters no matter how they may differ
from us. Honestly, I've seen more discrimination in the lot than I did on
the movie "Roots". Let the shows be shows, and let the phans have their
opinions. Example: I loved the Raleigh show, as it was the only show I got
to see on this tour. I was able to overlook the flubs because the setlist
consisted of a lot of my favorite songs. Many people thought it was a
terrible show, and I understand why, but I really loved it. A friend of
mine taught me how to "let it be new every time", and it really works when
you do. Another example: West Palm Beach, 96 Fall tour: I found this show
to be extremely boring. The setlist was chock full of songs I don't like
and I found the jams to be obnoxiously long and spacey, but others said it
was the best they've seen. I haven't seen one other negative review. To
each his own, though. I just want us to accept eachother and stop bashing
eachother for different opinions. As for me, Phish has to play a show with
a standard setlist, no antics, and very boring sloppy jams for me to say the
show wasn't good. However, others are much more critical and look for more
in a show. We all interpret it a different way, and that's what makes it so
special. Please, let's not ruin that magic. Thanks for reading my ramble,
have a great tour.
Jason
ps - one of my favorite shows was 7/26/99, second night of Deer Creek.
Probably the most standard setlist ever played, but surely the sickest
jamming I've ever seen.
Date: Fri, 30 Jun 2000 12:33:38 -0400
From: John Tringle [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Who's got MY?!?
(I guess we'll put this one under summer 2000)
Sometimes I have an extra. It does not go to anyone who says "Who's got my
ticket?" This implies that it was yours to begin with and we're simply
holding it for you......"MY ticket...MY nugs.....".......it just comes across
as a bit self-centered.
It also doesn't go to anyone who's drunk or obviously well off.
Just my 2 cents.....
peace
jt
Date: Tue, 27 Jun 2000 01:56:43 EDT
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: A post for the summer tour comments
Just a thought or two before the massive Phish machine begins to roll it's
way across this great land this summer. Please one and all, look out for each
person at the shows. Too the dred locked couple, to the first show phan, to
the space tripper, to the young college student, we are all different, make
that a plus not a minus. Don't be so judgmental either. Were all Phan's of
the same band, that should bring us all together not make us uncomfortable. I
recently saw a young phan by himself at a show not talking to anyone. Meet
that person, say hello. Just be kind to each other. It seems that it's
getting a bit out of hand at points. Like it should be about the art that is
going on, on stage, not the other crap that surrounds it. Help one another,
be careful, if you see someone "lost" help them. We've all been there. Enjoy
the summer. Pnc shows, please be careful. Take care
B
Date: Mon, 26 Jun 2000 14:36:42 -0400
From: Suncrowe [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Summer Tour2000 comments
I notice a lot of people getting down on those who, in their opinion,
over-indulge. Now violence is never neccesary, but using the police and,
thereby, the Court system to alleviate this problem is inviting The Man into
the scene. Can't we just take care of each other ourselves and leave the pigs
out of it ? Being little less judgemental and a little more compassionate can
never be wrong, but bringing the police or other Authorities into the picture
can often do more damage in the long run than good. I'm not downing anyone
and I've done my fair share of babysitting drunks and disturbed trippers,
etc. but, this is a pretty good scene and I'd hate to see it get ruined by
ourselves, with a litle help from The Man. We all learn lessons like don't
eat so many 'shrooms, or whatever, and some of us learned them quite a long
time ago, but that doesn't give us the right to kill anybody's fun. I'm just
saying that people seem to get arrested more at shows with a heavy police
presence. How many got in trouble at Big Cypress ? Very few, I bet. Whatever,
sorry for the rambling, but The Man has been making himself present more
often at the shows lately, or is it me ?? Take care of each other and when
you're done find somebody else in need and do it again... Peace
Date: Fri, 23 Jun 2000 09:35:40 EDT
From: joshua martin [email protected]
To: [email protected], [email protected]
Subject: to be placed in the comments about summer 2000 section
i know this isn't really a review at all, but i thought i might share an
opinion about the current state of the phish scene.
i am sure that a lot of you have read the article at gadiel.com about there
being an onsite court at the pnc arts center this year. i'm also sure a lot
of fans feel like, once again, they are being unfairly targeted by the
police. perhaps there is some truth to this.
but, if some 'fans' had not given them a reason to be there in that
capacity, they wouldn't be. i know that a vast majority of people who come
to shows come to enjoy the music and have a good time with their friends.
but there seems to be an increasing element of people who follow the band
around the country because it gives them something to do and an excuse to
abuse (and i mean ABUSE, not use) drugs. in the past year i've seen numerous
fights, gate jumpings, and thefts. in '98 in murfreesboro they had to hogtie
some kid because he was so fucked up. in hampton this past year, some fool
jumped off a hotel balcony into the windshield of a car. i heard kids were
throwing beer bottles at cop cars, and i know there are worse stories out
there. here's a tip, if you don't fuck with cops, and stay out of their
way, a large percentage of the time, they'll walk right past you.
the town council members had some terrible things to say about the band's
followers, that they were criminals, groupies, etc. i, for one, am sad to
say that in a growing number of instances, those accusations are completely
correct.
i can't think of anything more disrespectful to phish than getting so fucked
up that you try to crash the gates, get in a fight, or pass out before the
show even starts. the kind of people who do this shit don't give a damn
about the music or the community.
please people, when you go to a show, go with a ticket and don't imbibe more
than you can handle. i hate to see this bullshit behavior associated with a
band i love because in the end, it only reinforces the negative perceptions
of the band and the fans, and makes it worse for those of us who just want
to enjoy ourselves.
have a safe summer,
josh martin
[email protected]
Date: Fri, 23 Jun 2000 11:13:59 -0500
From: "Robert.Hubanks (Exchange)" [email protected]
To: "'[email protected]'" [email protected]
Subject: In response to Josh's Article Below
Well said Josh.
Certainly we are all here to have fun...but it needs to be a community of
RESPECT. If you want to see Phish get banned from your town, then by all
means, getting completely wasted and belligerent, and be sure to 'stick it
to the man'. During the Aames show last year, my pregnant wife and were
enjoying the show, when some asshole comes up next to us, pushes me, pushes
her, and starts flailing all over the place. Clearly having eaten too many
shrooms, we tried to get him to calm down. No chance. He was ready to
fight. We tried to get him to RockMed, but clearly he had other things on
his mind. At the setbreak we saw him hog-tied in the lobby surrounded by
cops. How sad. But maybe his parents will not take away his allowance and
send him to rehab. Poor fratboy. Sorry for the longwinded story, but my
message is this: lookout for your sister/brother. If they've been
over-served, get them to RockMed and out of harms way. If you can't handle
the shit, don't do it.
Please please please, keep the scene safe and fun. I want to be able to
take my kids some day and not have to deal with this crap.
Peace,
Robert
Date: Wed, 28 Jun 2000 12:33:33 -0400
From: John Tringle [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: In the middle of it all
Taking a brief rest from Atlanta and NC.....We are all set for PNC and CT. We
are having a wonderful time and I just wanted to take a moment to thank all
the wonderful people who help make it a great experience for our son. The
responses we get from all the people who recognize him from the tours help
make the shows that much more special. At 2 1/2 years old he is ready for
show #23 tonight at PNC. I notice other parents with their kids and I think
everyone should bring them to at least one of the outdoor amphitheater shows
because the lawns are ideal for kids. I'm glad when they let him in for free
too (they should) because that means I got another ticket for someone who
really needs it. But given the immense amount of traffic at these shows
please stay back if you don't have tickets. At Atlanta we were shut out of
parking a full three hours before the show.
Come on guys, give my boy a meatstick and a simple.....
For me? ESTHER!!!!!!
I could see Esther, leave, die, and be very happy.
thank you
John and Margaret Tringle
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