this was my phirst show. a "hometown" show so to speak... I'm from the beach so it was just about as close as it could be to a hometown venue (until they built the amphitheater in Wilmington, nc)

fishman with his glasses on gave me a hint that the fire was coming...

as soon as the first notes of have mercy reached my ears, I knew this was going to be a special show. the reaction from the crowd was even better... we all knew we were in for it.

I remember someone on lot that I talked with called a ginseng sullivan.

the tweezer fest was a blast, the way they weaved it into the rest of the show was something that is so telling of these guys musicianship. the segue into passing through was flawless and mike was turned way up.

the 1st mercury was a melter. (it was super hot and humid, gotta love Carolina summer shows!) I remember being soaked by this point and loving every minute of it.

set break was weird. but when isn't it?

second set opened with Jim, it was fun and bouncy. sand is a personal favorite, yet it hadn't quite taken the meaning on that it has for me today. lifeboy was a treat and a much needed breather. ASIHTOS was fitting and is special to me just because it's what I know (being a salt drinker and all) the "if I only had a brain" tease was cool because the wizard of Oz has always been a favorite of mine.

I don't care, I like more... and it was fitting for the start of my journey... because "more" has been revealed on the road following these 4 men from Vermont. closing it out with reprise was an awesome way to end my phirst show.

I didn't necessarily grasp it at the time, but the next two nights at Merryweather, through many many conversations with people, I began to understand how special this show was. I heard more than once, how lucky I was to have been there AND Have it be my phirst show... and that it was probably the best show of the year, up to that point. I've gone back and listened to this show so many times, in fact I'm going to listen again today. I'm just so grateful that this was my phirst show experience with this beautiful community that would shape my life from that point forward.