This was my first show. I will never forget walking into Lakewood and hearing Trey's opening walkdown of 'Julius', which was the first Phish song I ever heard (i.e. first album = "Hoist").

There was so much stirring at this show - the punchy energy of the band tempered by weeks in Europe and Mike with his new 'attack on the bass'. They had many cards tucked up their collective sleeve to say the least. And I was a noob walking the delicate balance - trying to figure out what was going and still stay in the flow.

'Ghost' is the hallmark - absolutely neck and neck with 11/17/97 - and then there is the Julius opener (extra mustard) and don't forget the 'YEM' jam which raises the bizarro factor of this show a few notches (and the 'Rocky Mtn Way'?).

A few weeks before, my best friend from high school was killed in a tragic accident - I had a ticket for him and I gave it away in the parking lot to gal with a finger in the air. Looking back, the epic ethereal Ghost that happened this night at Lakewood was (and remains) a cathartic event. Give it a listen - Godspeed.