I feel that it's only appropriate to share a story from my favorite July 4th celebration.
It was 10 years ago today that we made our way through the gates of Lakewood Amphitheater to embark on the second night of a two night run that Phish was playing in HOTlanta. If anyone was there you know how hot it really was. I think I drank about 6 bottled waters before we even made it inside of the venue. Maybe it was also due to the "Bart Simpson" prints I ate on lot...maybe not, though. As we took our seats about 16 rows Page Side it all started to get out of hand. Mind you, this was still over a half hour away from showtime and my vision was as fragmented as shattered stained glass. Moments before the band took the stage I was approached by a cute and fast talking girl from Rhode Island and she began telling me my shirt was on fire. It wasn't really and I can only assume she had indulged in the same Bart Simpson prints as I beforehand. After a few minutes of talking to one another she went on to tell me that this particular night was her 10th Phish show. This was also my 10th Phish show and I found that strikingly odd that out of the 16,000 plus people there I would be sitting next to this cutie and watching the greatest band on Earth. It wasn't long after we exchanged our first words that she told me she was doing the whole tour(as was I) and that she was also doing tour with her two sisters. Thinking to myself, "If they're as cute as her this could be awesome". She had been "miracle'd" her ticket and was fortunate enough to get an unbelievably good seat. Page Side was always where I sat...mostly. I've probably done well over 90% of my shows Page Side and with good reason. If you don't understand, well, you just wouldn't understand. The formalities were out of the way, the band was taking the stage, and I'll be damned if the first notes of "My Soul" were being played she starts stripping down. Hey, I was OK with this as she was a little hottie. What better way to see/hear the greatest band touring than to dance your ass off with a naked New England chick(the real party girls)? After "My Soul" ended she leaned over and told me, "they're gonna play 'Ya Mar' this set". Low and behold, the second song of the set is "Ya Mar". It was bliss. Maybe it was the great L or maybe it was just idiosyncrasy but we went back and forth calling song after song in order as they were played. Well, all except for "FEFY" and "Meatstick"(who can ever really call a "Meatstick, though). This night, my 10th Phish show, was definitely one of my most memorable of the 130 I've seen to date. It will forever be etched in my memory and still remains as one of the Top 15 I've ever seen outside of a festival. This day of independence, our nation's birthday, and the freedom that Phish's music gave me(and still to this day does), will not soon be forgotten.
To commemorate this glorious holiday here is a link of that show for download. Do yourself a favor and give it a listen.
07/04/99 Lakewood Amphitheater, Atlanta, GA
Set I: My Soul, Ya Mar, Farmhouse, The Oh Kee Pa Ceremony> AC/DC Bag, The Wedge, Vultures, I Didn't Know, Fast Enough For You, David Bowie
Set II: Ghost> Slave to the Traffic Light, The Horse> Silent in the Morning, What's the Use, Wilson, Mike's Song> Sleeping Monkey> Weekapaug Groove
Set III: Carini, Meatstick
Encore: The Star Spangled Banner
Part 1: http://www.mediafire.com/?4nn4tmmyilm
Part 2: http://www.mediafire.com/?ceohhciymdj
Part 3: http://www.mediafire.com/?akumg49yzvw
Part 4: http://www.mediafire.com/?owcktddimmd
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