Four score and thirty years ago..... I went to my first show on this very night with my ex-, who turned me on to this amazing band. Little did i know at the time how it would later connect me with some of my best friends in life as well as a whole range of amazing trips and a ZILLION laughs. This summer, i am quite likely to hit my 100th show and the magic journey continues, thanks to good friends, GREAT music, and laughter.... lots of laughter.

With that said, i'm now listening to this show again for the first time in a few years, but it is a show that i revisit fairly often with much fondness. It might have been a 'typical' show for the era, but (though i do listen to quite a bit of REALLY out-there, avant garde music), this was a unique experience for me at the time. As is described in another review here, Hayden Square was really just a roped-off area in a local pedestrian mall. I had previously done both my bachelor's and master's degrees at ASU and used to frequent the jazz club named Chuy's that had moved into that area from it's original location, so i knew the area quite well. Small venue, small crowd (for the time) but the area itself was pretty jammed with people. I had previously listened to Picture of Nectar, so i wasn't coming in completely cold, but i was definitely a newb. But, i would have had no idea at the time if this was a 'standard' show for the time or not, it was all news to me.

The first song was of course, Runaway Jim, which happens to be my first name (though none of my Phish friendsies call me that), so that was an immediate laughter point. I remember really enjoying MFMF and as i listen now, It's Ice was a pretty stellar version, i wish they jammed this tune out more like this version (and also more famously, at the Baker's Dozen, which i'd describe as one of the most unique versions of a song in that entire run - but i digress). The second set was where i really dialed in. CDT was awesome, i am a fan of Bouncing but SOAM might have been what truly hooked me on this band and this experience. I LOVE the tension this band creates in SOAM - "evil Phish" is my favorite Phish. If SOAM didn't get me, then when they pulled out Peaches, the hook in my craw was SET! ANY band that covers Zappa (well) is a friend of mine. From there, the show just went up - crazy vocal YEM jam, Purple Rain, HYHU, GTBT, by the end of the second set, i was enthralled. Then, they dropped a Freebird encore, and i probably had the most "WTF?" look on my face after the show. I had been thrown in the deep end of the pool! Good Times, GREAT Times, it was just the beginning of having my share.

This show was the catalyst for many shows to come. After this, i hit Laguna Seca and Spreckel's Theater later that year and i was ALL IN. Kudos and thanks to all of my phriends who i've met, bumped into, stumbled over, laughed to point of crying with and hugged over the last thirty years. Some of my very best friends and best life trips have been organized around seeing this amazing band create spontaneous magic for us each and every night. We are VERY blessed my phriends. The journey HAS been the reward, and i look forward to another THIRTY years! :-). (Wow, where did the time GO?)