hree more shows at the Worcester Centrum. But even after eight shows, the place is still crazy, confusing and chaotic. Worcester is three hours from New York City and less than an hour from Boston, but besides being centrally located, doesn't have much else going for it. An industrial, blue-collar mid-Massachusetts town, Woosta' never offered any enlightening experiences -- only sick Phish shows.
 

Friday and Sunday were great shows, Saturday was not so great. Obviously it's all subjective, but that's how I saw it.  Beth and I scored the best seats in the house for the opening night, and Phish played an insane show. Buried Alive, Dog Log, Carini, and an English Beat cover -- Mirror in the Bathroom -- in the middle of Chalkdust Torture confirmed it. And any show with Sanity must be insane.  In addition to the rarity kick-downs, Phish played the Wipeout theme after the Buried Alive jam and again in the Weekapaug Groove. Having too much fun with the riff, Trey pulled it out again as a third encore. After driving up from New York City through awful holiday traffic, Phish once again didn't disappoint. Beth and I drove back to her apartment in Boston and I slept very well after a hard week of Phishing.

Saturday was full of funky songs, but Phish wasn't very funky. And while trying to chill with a large group of friends on near-Fishman side, I got bumped from my seat -- hard. A couple of jerks literally pushed me away during the second song of the show, Tube. I remember being tossed into the crowded aisle at the very moment Phish sang "Ruining the fun." But Phish is like pizza; even when it's bad, it's good.

Sunday made up for Saturday. The first Paul & Silas of my Phish career was a sign of things to come. Catapult> Kung was as as incredible as it sounds, and the two debuts with 19-year-old Seth Yacovone were fantastic. Pain and Sufferin' was intense, bluesy and raw. Layla was, well, Layla. Originally written and recorded by Duane Allman and Eric Clapton, the song requires two guitarists and Seth and Trey were up for the challenge. Page played the piano part perfectly. They brought back the Wipeout theme in a fiery Possum and closed with a perfect You Enjoy Myself.

For the last concert of a memorable fall tour, Phish played an extremely lame encore. Roggae, an overplayed pretty little ditty, followed by an a cappella. Seeing how this tour brought the revival of the a cappella Freebird, it only made sense they would play it. Predictable, I thought, but still a great song. Instead, Ragtime Gal. Oh well. I only felt bad for Scott, who would miss the New Years run and be left for a very long time with the bitter taste of Roggae in her mouth.

At the end of the run, getting ready to leave, Beth and I pose (left, taken by Adam) in front of the stage. On the right, Scott and Sam are wearing the colors on the far right with a bunch of strangers.
 

As annoying as the Worcester Centrum experience is, I will always reflect back on it with a smile. Crowded, cold, and with an awful lot scene, its accessibility from New York and Boston means that many of my friends get to go. And Phish have played some monumental concerts inside.

My brother and I drove back to New York that night and I made it to work the following morning in a dense haze. Somehow I managed to get to nine shows in the fall tour during the first six weeks of my first job. And not only was I not fired, I was promoted a few weeks later.