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Thread idea stolen from PT. Would like to hear yours!I didn't know much Phish outside of the White Tape before my first Phish show, and bought a ticket completely on a whim.
Mine was, "Holy crap, I don't know what this song is, but it ROCKS and I can't keep my body from moving! I am so glad (already) that I came!"
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Crap, setlist didn't work. haha
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Oswego... 'Everyone is smoking weed... and the police don't care!'
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I will never see these shoes again.
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With a Nellie Kane, Mellow Mood, Buffalo Bill opener I was very confused because I though Phish was a goofy jam band, but once I heard the second set and experienced the atmosphere I was hooked
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I was pretty into them by the time I saw them. I discovered them summer '95, first show that Dec. I had all studio albums and a good deal of bootlegs cds bought from a record store around here (I know. Awful. I knew it was tabboo but I needed live Phish fix). I went into my first show knowing a decent amount of music. Back then, it was a lot different then today. Now, you can DL any show when you want and hear just about every show. Wasn't the case then unless you were brought in by a cooler older brother or in college. I found them comepletly on my own. Had to figure it out as I went. Anyway, I went into it knowing that some shows/songs/jams were better then others. But it was still so new to me so everything was pretty awesome. I remember being super intimidated by the largeness of it all. Here was something I already cared so much about. Music that spoke to me in a way nothing, nothing, ever had. I wanted to do it right. Sounds silly at my age now. To feel the need to "do it right". But at 17/18 (however old I was at the time) it really meant a lot to me and I didn't want to f*** it up.
The show was a complete blur. It was just so big. Everything. The lot scene. The people that knew so much more then me. The lights. The sound. It was just enormous. I was pretty lost most of the show. I remember standing there during the 25+ Gin and wondering what the f*** was going on. Or the random jam they tacked on after Scent. "Is this a song?" I said to my buddy (his first too). He just shrugged. My first (12.5.95) was a good mix of songs I knew and songs I didn't know yet. Some lengthy jamming and random jams. In hindsight, it was the perfect first show. Not too much, but still had that "Phishiness" to it to feed my obssesion. I always use this analogy when talking about first shows: Some people talk about seeing a legendary show as their first, and how they wouldn't want it any other way. I really don't get that mentality. It's like sex. Your first time is supposed to be messy. Confusing. You don't know what you're doing. And that's ok. It's new. I wouldn't want to f*** Jenna Jameson my first time. First off, you're not gonna do it right. Secondly, it won't get any better. You'll always think back to that and wonder how you could have done it better or different as you gained experience. I'm glad I had that show as my first. It helped shape me into an appreciative fan (not that the show was in any way bad).
I did get a massive Hood my first. And ALO Hood was one of those moments that defined me as a fan and got me hooked. I'll always remember that moment.
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Bonnaroo 09 ..only reason I went,we watched snoop dogg to get good seats my mind was blown,I have a hard time enjoying other bands now,and ive seen I think 28 shows since..can't get enough they make me so happy!
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What the hell is this?
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I shouldn't have brought my Louis Vuitton. Followed by "what's a goo ball?"
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"Where are the f***ing lyrics"
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@ypehmish said: I will never see these shoes again.Sounds like you were at IT. I came home, hopped out of the car and tossed my sneakers in the garbage before I hit my driveway.
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@harryhood92 said: 2011-06-08 With a Nellie Kane, Mellow Mood, Buffalo Bill opener I was very confused because I though Phish was a goofy jam band, but once I heard the second set and experienced the atmosphere I was hookedThis was such a great day.
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"Dude, that was a kickin' blast. The band got it togetherbaxnd wailed. Really bent the gig outta shape! "
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My first thought was, "That doesn't sound bad, I can move to this". So for the first few songs I smoked a bunch of bones and had a pretty good time. I thought Stash was pretty cool but then Fee came along and I'm not gonna say I didn't like it, but I definitely wasn't expecting it. Once it got going though, I changed my mind. I had already taken a hit of L and a bit of mol so TTE was nice and chill and then Cavern > Antelope, both because I had heard the songs before, and they are a bit more high energy, really got me going. I actually believe I took another tab during that last two songs because I was having so much fun and felt great and wanted more.
By the start of the second set, almost any music would of kept my interest in that state of mind, but I remember and enjoyed every song nonetheless. The Lizards I definitely was a bit intrigued/confused just because it sounded pretty random to me, definitely not like one of Phish's best most popular songs, but EVERYONE was going nuts and screaming/singing the lyrics from the first note till the end. I enjoyed it don't get me wrong, but I certainly did not understand the significance at the time.
Overall I had lots of different feelings, but whatever they were, it was enough to get me to hit the two Worcester shows of the NYE run a few months later and the rest is history of course. Amherst N2 great show BTW.
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I had been in to phish since freshman year of high school in 2001 I was 14 at the time, but they broke up before I got a chance to see them. I had been to many many Red Sox games over the years, but this scene was different and something I honestly was not prepared for. At the time of my first show I knew a lot of there songs and jams as I had quite the Live Phish collection, but listening to them on a CD player compared to live and in person was a completely different experience and one of the best times of my life. This was honestly the best first show I could've asked for especially at legendary Fenway park.
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Why is there a big-ass chess board behind the stage? 10-24-95My favorite YEM to date. Had zero idea what was going on for the majority of the show. But it was fantastic.
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Felt the love during the Golgi chorus when I looked around the lawn and saw every single person with their right hands in the air - "I saw you!!!"Fell in love forever during the 2001 > Billie Jean Jam straight-up dance party with 1000s of new friends...
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@LarryLegend said: 2009-05-3198 shows man, lifelong Sox fan. Never thought they would play Fenway. Not the "best" show. Ranks as one of the best nights of my life. Dancing on that field. Leaving through the wall into that scene on Landsowne...absolutely incredible. And this is saying nothing of the fact that this was my first show since the breakup. That alone just takes this night into legendary status for me. Glad you were able to share in it.
I had been in to phish since freshman year of high school in 2001 I was 14 at the time, but they broke up before I got a chance to see them. I had been to many many Red Sox games over the years, but this scene was different and something I honestly was not prepared for. At the time of my first show I knew a lot of there songs and jams as I had quite the Live Phish collection, but listening to them on a CD player compared to live and in person was a completely different experience and one of the best times of my life. This was honestly the best first show I could've asked for especially at legendary Fenway park.
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@ivy_light said: Felt the love during the Golgi chorus when I looked around the lawn and saw every single person with their right hands in the air - "I saw you!!!"f*** you for getting an Alumni opener your first show.
Fell in love forever during the 2001 > Billie Jean Jam straight-up dance party with 1000s of new friends...
2010-06-25
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@bostonron said: @ypehmish said:I will never see these shoes again.Sounds like you were at IT. I came home, hopped out of the car and tossed my sneakers in the garbage before I hit my driveway.
I wish it was IT, it was the big 'C'. One step two step three step gone. I ended up buying rain boots in the wrong size in shakedown. Never saw those again either.
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These lights are sick
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I love hearing first show stories!BUT!
When I made the thread, what I had in mind was that one thought during the show, that "whoa!" or "what?" or "huh!" moment that made you realize what was happening.
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What is this place?
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"This weird"
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"What the f*** is this shit?"
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@Drgordy said: "This weird"I was at this show. Honestly all i remember is that it was cold as all get out that night.
1999-12-08
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OP, I guess there were no words. It was complete awe. I honestly don't think my buddy and I said more then 10 words to each during the show. And most of that was "here" in passing joints to each other. So I guess to answer your original question: besides being in awe, I guess it would have been "wow!"
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Actually, it was more like this...
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@FunkyCFunkyDo. That's it exactly
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I had phish shoved down my throat by my sister for about two years prior, at first i resented it, you know independence, but then i started geting really into them. I went to my first show with a little knowldge of their repitour, but not a lot. the minute they started playing i became a phan for life.
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2012-06-08, the only way I can describe the sound that came out of my mouth when they came on stage is "woaawoaahwoaah!" but very shaky and sounded a bit like hyperventilating, but less. When they first start Free it felt like being blown all the way to the back of the arena, but the first moment it all made sense was Treys first few notes of the opening riff. That hit me. I thought I had this figured out, but that moment hearing it live was like the last puzzle piece that made everything come together all at once.
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Toyota Park 09Honestly, I wasn't blown away. Nothing really stood out to me - I didn't know much about phish at the time.
I don't really remember the show much, was totally sober, and didn't know most of the songs - I had only known about phish for about 6months, and only been really listening/discovering more of them on my own for a few months prior via youtube.
But afterwards, I started listening a lot more and after watching some great videos from that fall I was totally hooked by summer 10
noob'd
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Coventry was my first show, so... yeah. I was already pretty familiar with the band, and wanted to catch them one last (and first) time--little did I know...Anyway, my first thought was, "wow, I am way too tired after walking 10+ miles to really enjoy this..." By the time they got to YEM and hit the part where they all scream (you know, right before the boy, man, god, shit part), I could feel the energy moving in a wave from the band all the way to the back of the crowd. It was then that I realized, "yeah, seeing them live is a bit different than listening on tape." Seeing the crowd respond in unison to exactly what I was feeling was pretty exhilarating.
Even to my n00b ears, a lot of that first night sounded pretty sloppy, but I remember just jumping up and down and pumping my fist during the AC/DC Bag jam in set 2. I had practically fallen asleep during the set break just due to general exhaustedness, but that woke me up. And I didn't care that nobody around me seemed to be feeling it; it was awesome to me in that moment, and that was all that mattered. (And for the record, that jam still holds up on tape IMO--one of the few bright spots from that weekend that I can still appreciate so many years later).
That weekend wasn't the ideal, transcendent experience I had hoped for, but in retrospect, I got what I needed out of it.
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I really never understood why people liked Phish. One day I was on youtube and came across Character Zero, that became on repeat for a while until I decided to check out the whole album... I finally got to a show last year, and wish I got into Phish sooner. Anyway Phish is about all I listen to, and I wouldn't have it any other way. Also loved that I got Character Zero at my first show, thought it was quite fitting.
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@spaced said: Coventry was my first show, so... yeah. I was already pretty familiar with the band, and wanted to catch them one last (and first) time--little did I know...are we the only ones?
Anyway, my first thought was, "wow, I am way too tired after walking 10+ miles to really enjoy this..." By the time they got to YEM and hit the part where they all scream (you know, right before the boy, man, god, shit part), I could feel the energy moving in a wave from the band all the way to the back of the crowd. It was then that I realized, "yeah, seeing them live is a bit different than listening on tape." Seeing the crowd respond in unison to exactly what I was feeling was pretty exhilarating.
Even to my n00b ears, a lot of that first night sounded pretty sloppy, but I remember just jumping up and down and pumping my fist during the AC/DC Bag jam in set 2. I had practically fallen asleep during the set break just due to general exhaustedness, but that woke me up. And I didn't care that nobody around me seemed to be feeling it; it was awesome to me in that moment, and that was all that mattered. (And for the record, that jam still holds up on tape IMO--one of the few bright spots from that weekend that I can still appreciate so many years later).
That weekend wasn't the ideal, transcendent experience I had hoped for, but in retrospect, I got what I needed out of it.
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I got Llama and then Moma Dance. I knew about both songs months before summer tour.Great stuff.
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@ypehmish said: @spaced said:Hah! Maybe! I seem to remember there being someone else on here, but I forget who. I definitely got a good story out of my first Phish show, if nothing else.Coventry was my first show, so... yeah. I was already pretty familiar with the band, and wanted to catch them one last (and first) time--little did I know...are we the only ones?
Anyway, my first thought was, "wow, I am way too tired after walking 10+ miles to really enjoy this..." By the time they got to YEM and hit the part where they all scream (you know, right before the boy, man, god, shit part), I could feel the energy moving in a wave from the band all the way to the back of the crowd. It was then that I realized, "yeah, seeing them live is a bit different than listening on tape." Seeing the crowd respond in unison to exactly what I was feeling was pretty exhilarating.
Even to my n00b ears, a lot of that first night sounded pretty sloppy, but I remember just jumping up and down and pumping my fist during the AC/DC Bag jam in set 2. I had practically fallen asleep during the set break just due to general exhaustedness, but that woke me up. And I didn't care that nobody around me seemed to be feeling it; it was awesome to me in that moment, and that was all that mattered. (And for the record, that jam still holds up on tape IMO--one of the few bright spots from that weekend that I can still appreciate so many years later).
That weekend wasn't the ideal, transcendent experience I had hoped for, but in retrospect, I got what I needed out of it.
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I honestly can't remember. I was just happy that they were telling stories between the songs, kept my young mind occupied. I was probably wondering when they were going to sing that song about tires making contact with the road. But those assholes decided not to play it that night, geigh!!
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im really diggin this one song theyve been playing all night
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wow, these are some weird people, everyone's grooving and this kid in front of me is out of his mind.
eventually i started to loosen up and getttin dizzown
eventually i started to loosen up and getttin dizzown
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I specifically remember on 12-31-95 thinking that I was part of something very special. It was the most musically moving experience of my life thus far
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"holy f*** I just got puddled. "
True story.
True story.
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My first show was an unusual experience. I admit that I was naive and a bit sheltered but nothing prepared me for my first encounter with the lot. Wow, what a crazy circus! The show itself 12/3/99, was just OK IMO. I had listened to some of the studio albums and some friends had a few bootlegs but I really didn't know what to expect. Unfortunately nothing song wise sticks out in my mind from that night. One of the things that I remember was the lights. Our seats were behind the band so we got a great view of that. Nobody told me about the lights before I came so this was a new thing. I still love to sit behind the stage and watch them to this day.
I didn't really start to get IT until my next show, 9/2/00, and even then it really wasn't until 3.0 that I got totally hooked.
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"holy shit!""I thought the guitarist said 15 minutes?"
"holy shit!"
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That guitar player can shred. These guys are going to be big.
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"Jesus christ it's hot as balls out here"Deer Creek '12
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I was blown away with emotions... confused, entertained, blissfully happy. The vacuum solo was the most amazing thing i've ever seen in my life (at 15 y/o) and Divided Sky was and still is my favorite Phish song.
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Why are all these hippies here for the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Fishbone, and the Beastie Boys? You could come and go from the concert area and my buddy and I actually left for a few of Phish's songs. I only remember the Reba and YEM.
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