Sam's Ford Explorer on route to Maryland
Three nights at Madison Square Garden to close 1997? I heard about the shows in August, during a summer which -- due to my job with a local newspaper -- allowed for only a single weekend of Phish. I anticipated these shows for five full months.

I live on 23rd Street in Manhattan. The Garden lies between 31st and 33rd Streets.  Not only is it within walking distance, The Garden has incredible lighting, mellow security, and awesome acoustics. It is also a central meeting point for my friends across the northeast, and in the middle of the greatest city in the world. Intimacy aside, MSG is the best large indoor arena there is. And Phish have played several spectacular shows inside.

From left to right: Adam, Andew, Sam
 But before the three shows at MSG was the single show at the USAir Arena, in a suburb of Washington D.C. Only days earlier, Adam got his first car, a Toyota Corolla, and I got the honor of riding shotgun for its first road trip. With Sam driving the Explorer (and Andrew shotgun), we caravaned down the I-95. Fighting the horrendous Christmas weekend traffic was just one factor that made my 50th show an utter letdown.

I will add more text shortly. Enjoy these photos in the meantime...

Madison Square Garden, Dec. 29, 1997

 
Alex (San Andreas) pre-show
Tube
Madison Square Garden, Jan 1, 1998 (12:03 a.m.) 
With the Slasher on stage to protect Trey
Back at Sam's House, Raging. 
From left to right: Sam, , Sam, James, Amos, Buppy, Scott
From left to right: Adam, , Steve, Andrew