When Phish Quit and other Existential Crises

We came at the show from an alt route hoping to one up the herd. I don't remember how far from Plattsburgh it was that there is this bridge we crossed. I will never forget driving, and after a long 18 hr trek with my self and three in the car we crossed into Vermont over a bridge, better prepared for any festival than any of the numerous Phish festivals we had attended, with the radio on as folks were close to waking up, I gave the radio a spin and landed on a public radio announcement.... We are sorry Phishheads, go home.

I had already had to pull a lot of strings to get this entire cast in the car with me to see our favorite band. I don't think any of us had any intention if missing the concert if a concert there would still be. What we did was drive to a Starbucks in Coventry so I could use my laptop to map us in or find a place with a real map so we can sneak in somehow.

We talked to a local before it was said and done and took her advice. I'll never forget leaving a large part of all of the unnecessary accommodations behind, we settled for backpacks and two of us dragged a ~150-200 lb 2-man cooler for 10+ miles! up and down! up and down over countless hills on pure adrenaline knowing even Mother Nature would not stop us.

Trey had some issues at the time, I won't even go into all of the human complexities in a monumental decision like quitting and I will just stick to the facts in a musical sense. Yes, we all had been partying like it was 1999 for years untold.

Musically Phish, but I think mostly Trey was feeling trapped by his past. The drugs made him feel that way, the fans rolling their eyes at new material made him feel that way and he didn't like the feeling that he was being pushed out of the drivers seat by his own lifestyle. A lifestyle that was growing faster than his ability to connect and innovate with his band.

Nothing will ever replace this show, it was the end of the second book in Phish's Trilogy. What a wild, wild ride that was, I won't ever forget the unique and timeless memories I get to take with me in this life from this band. I am pretty sure I became a man alone on the hill with the wind in my face and the music playing at the Clifford ball. There was so much more to life than I could ever know.

This is a great point in Phish history for "thank you's." Thank you to Phish for not giving up and finding away to build to new heights and thank you to my fellow fans who are indeed model citizens who should be the envy of any society. Even if Phish isn't on some nights, here and there, it is the unconditional kindness and non judgmental kinsmen-ship or camaraderie I consistently witness by fellow fans that keeps be proud to keep coming back for more of the fire, and yes--like Coventry--more self inflicted bull shit. Peace