Stop Throwing Glowsticks at the Band!

There are mixed opinions on throwing glow sticks at shows. Now that most people bring the lighter, thinner glow sticks, there is not nearly as much concern for getting hit in the head with them. However, some folks still choose to bring the bulkier, old glow sticks. When a glow stick war erupts, you should still expect to be pelted occasionally.

For us fans, it's not really that big of a deal. The most amazing thing we may be doing is dancing. But let's imagine for a minute if this happened to you while you were working. Picture yourself at work, on the phone, maybe finishing a report, maybe speaking to a client, maybe at a moment of extreme concentration where a facet of your job needed your direct and immediate action. Now imagine at that very moment you are struck with a pile of glowsticks. It may accidentally shut down your computer in the middle of a huge project. Maybe it hits the phone just right and it hangs up on the biggest account your company ever had. Ooops.

When you intentionally throw these things as hard as you can towards the front of the stage this is exactly what you are doing. Aiming for the band with anything is one of the lowest things you can possibly do. Purposefully trying to hit the band while they are onstage and playing may be the most selfish thing I have seen.Yes, professional musicians need to be ready for anything in a live environment, but we have control over this environment, too. This is our favorite band, remember?

Fans, if you see this happening, please say something. I do not, and will not advocate violence, but maybe your fellow fan is too spun to realize what they are doing. If you must throw glow sticks...please...do not throw them at the band.

Farewell Willowbee

I only got the opportunity to meet her once, but Liz (known to us as Willowbee) was a bright spot in many people's lives on reality-tour.com. Her presence there and in the real lives of fellow Phish fans will be deeply missed. Sincere condolences to her family and friends for this terrible loss. The obituary appears below.

Elizabeth Claire Young Passed away Saturday, October 2, 2010. She was born October 27, 1983 in Indianapolis to William and Doris Young. Liz graduated from Broad Ripple High School in 2002, where she was active in the Madrigal Singers and the Humanities Advisory Council. She later attended Marian College. She was a Phish devotee, and music was one of her biggest passions. She is survived by her parents; her godparents, Brad and Zee Hirst; her aunts and uncles, Nancy Huckleberry, Jim and Carol Young, Dave and Patti Young, Marty and Diane Young; several cousins and boyfriend, Christopher Lafave. There will be a private service with no calling. No flowers, please. Memorials may be made to Broad Ripple's HAC, Broad Ripple Alumni Choir, or Bethlehem Lutheran Church. Online condolence may be shared with the family at: www.flannerbuchanan.com

 

Boston in Charleston

Balcony 3, Section N - 17.50 + fees

When I saw Phish in Charleston, I was only heading to see my third show ever, in an era when they were blowing minds nightly. I love this particular run, because it led up to the first ever Halloween musical costume in Glens Falls, NY.

I had heard that they were doing a lot of bluegrass type tunes this tour like Nellie Cane and Ginseng Sullivan. Then someone told us they were doing a bluegrass take on a Boston cover. One of the things that appealed to me about Phish is their ability to take the show into many different places. So, naturally I hoped that out of the two fall shows I was hitting that year that I would catch a version of that. That night I hit pay dirt. Besides a tight, well played show, I was treated to a mini bluegrass set with the Boston cover as the crown jewel. These moments continued to make me wonder where these guys had been all my life.

Below is a download for "Foreplay>Longtime" from Gallard Auditorium on 10-28-94. The original source was recorded on AKG 460's but I have no additional information on this recording. I have EQ'd the copy I was given and tried to improve the quality, but it may be a bit rough.

Foreplay>Longtime - download

Fall Merit Badges from PhanArt & Jiggs

In cooperation with PhanArt, I have designed three fan merit badges for the upcoming fall tour. Each badge is stitched in an edition of 50 and costs $5. If you want one in advance, stay tuned for ordering info through PhanArt (not Jiggs Lot....the badges will be available soon on the PhanArt blog).

The Last 4!

After going through some stock recently, I discovered that I have 4 of the Whalecaller shirts left. There are no further plans to print any of these and the screens have been reclaimed. They'll go to the folks with the fastest mice. 1 XL, 2 L, and 1 M are the sizes left.

SOLD OUT