There's no place like home, There's no place
like home...
The New Years holiday run is tradition for me. My second Phish show was
their first MSG show (12/30/94), and my third was the infamous Boston Garden
show on the last day of 1994. That show was a major turning point in my
life, and Phish played a major role in it. I decided then that a Phish
show is the best place to be when a new year rolls around. The New Years
Eve concert in 1998 was my fifth consecutive, and quite possibly, my favorite.
The two photos below were taken from the floor on Dec. 30, 1998. With
the friendliest security of any major venue, I was able to bring in my
camera, champagne, and anything else I wanted to. I love MSG. So does Phish.
The Dec. 28th show, just like with 1997, was my least favorite of the run.
Saved by a Mighty
Quinn> Bowie at the end of the second set, I found the show disjointed
and unspectacular. The 29th, as is always the case, was superb. A Rock
n' Roll> Funky Bitch to open the show, a 2001> Boogie on Reggae Woman in
the second set, and a wonderful Divided Sky encore. Beth
and I were bumped from our seats, but found the aisles to be spacious and
tremendous fun.
Outside MSG, Adam tosses me a Piper
T-shirt and says, "This is for you." He was given the shirt by a
generous girl who was grateful for Adam picking a hot dog up off the floor.
You can see the design by clicking Piper.
The photo below, taken by Doro Globus, expresses the post-show contentness
of that night.
For the Dec. 30th show I wore my new Piper
shirt, positive it was going to be played that night. Our seats were right
next to the soundboard, allowing for great sound and a great view (see
above). The first set when on forever, 100 minutes to be exact.
 |
Piper
was magnificent in the second set, spurring a beautiful, harmless, glow-ring
war that accelerated with the tempo of the song. A wipeout theme in the
Possum encore brought back strong memories of Worcester,
the last shows before the Holiday Run.
The photo of Jordan on the left was taken by Justin Bass on the Dec.
30th MSG show. The crazy MSG dancers were spinning in the aisles, putting
their hands all over everyone in their path. For Jordan, in his state of
mind, with Phish playing in the background, well, his face says it all.
Jordan didn't even know the photo was taken until he got back to California
and Justin showed it to him. |
On Dec. 31, 1994, I had just finished my first semester at college and
was undergoing a major lifestyle transformation. I was joined by Jordan,
Gabe and Kenneth as Phish ushered me into the next chapter of my life.
Now, exactly four years later, I was a college graduate entering the real
world and the rest of my adult life. Again, Phish played a role in that
moment and again, I was joined by Jordan, Gabe and Kenneth. The four of
us reunited for the first time in four years, and our presence was shared
with my girlfriend Beth.
It was a perfect combination of the past with my new life, and I don't
think I've ever been happier.
It's tough to describe the events of that New Years Eve experience.
These images tend to sum it up.
