Not a review, just a cool memory from way back.

This was at a time before Phish had made it big, so it was pretty easy to get up close and even have a conversation with the guys in the band.

Before the show we were tailgating in the little parking lot behind the Agora when one of us looked over at the back door of the theatre and said something like "Isn't that the guitarist right there?" Being a redhead, it's kinda hard to mistake Trey.

3 or 4 of us walked over to where Trey and Mike were standing and started talking to them. They we're super cool, friendly and nice.

I'm not exactly sure what we talked about, but at some point a joint appeared and was offered to Mike and Trey. They graciously passed and Trey said something like "We don't smoke or drink before shows because we're really focusing on our music right now."

That comment always stuck with me because even if it was just a nice way to avoid smoking with a bunch of fans, looking back, it seemed like at that point in their career, Phish as a band had decided that they we're going to be serious. That they we're going to really practice, write, tour and do whatever they need to do to "make it".

Over the next few years, 92-95 it was obvious that their hard work paid off as their music and live shows continued to get better and better.

By 1997 I remember thinking at a show (as I sat in a seat 100 miles from the stage) "these guys are unbelievable. They can literally do whatever they want."