So this was my first show of 1995. I was fully committed to Phish at this point. All I had on my agenda was seeing Phish. I ended up going to 43 shows this year. My friend and I hitchhiked from Windham NY to Memphis to start tour. We made it to Winchester Virginia and were taken off the highway by a sheriff. He dropped us at a Greyhound station where I had to pony up almost all of my money for the tickets to Memphis. My friend was flat broke so I had to cover him as well. We got to Memphis on show day only to be shut out. We were able to sneak over the bridge and go hide in the bushes and we thought for sure we were getting in. Right before showtime security found us somehow. I really don't know how we were deep in the bush right on the river. I slipped in a few times and man did my legs smell. After the show I hooked up with a righteous phan named Chris Granzow. If anyone knows him please PM me! Chris agreed to drive us through Deer Creek which was pretty damn sweet.

Driving through Alabama late that night we ran into the tour bus at a gas station. Mike and Page were inside and they looked pretty knackered. We said hello and they were pleasant as always. It was kind of weird being 3 am and all so we didn't bother them too much. We all walked out together and they started walking in the opposite direction of the buses. So we yelled "Hey Mike you are headed that way!" They shuffled off toward the buses and we parted ways.

Southern summer tour 95 was pretty interesting. They were playing venues that were way too large for them at that point. But that just meant that a lot of people who were curious about the band could go check them out without stressing out about tickets. It also meant there were tickets everywhere usually for free if you knew how to ask. I would have paid if I could but I was pretty damn broke.

It was great seeing the band after 6 months off. That was the longest break I had had in a long time. They definitely seemed to be taking things out there a lot more. Lots of improv and extended versions of songs. I didn't always approve but I loved the Bowie they played here. Stash also went into some new places along with the freak IDK. I was also a bit apprehensive about the new tunes like Taste and Theme. I dug the music but not the lyrics so much. But regardless of the new tunes this was a great show with a lot of fun and great playing.