As fans were making their way to SPAC, so were storm clouds. Concertgoers were held at the entrance gates with no admittance while Mother Nature performed her own show of lightning and thunder. Meanwhile those on concert grounds sought refuge in the amphitheater. Like a lame opening act, the storm fizzled out and failed to impress. The gates were opened, the show was on!
I made my way in, keenly aware that somehow a skunk must have entered the lawn area. After all, Spa State Park is forested so I guess it would not be unusual to have some skunk at a Phish concert. I’m sure I smelled it, but never did find it, nor did I find my seat. With a reporter’s ticket in hand I began the descent into the amphitheater.
The flawless rock quartet was already performing their unique brand of improvisational musical mash-up while the crowd was getting groovy dancing in the aisles and staring into space. How was I going to get to my seat through the melee of sweaty, swaying bodies? I was so close, but it could have been miles. In the throng of fandom the situation began to get really freaky! Someone handed me a joint, I passed. I had to keep my wits if I was going to make it through this and somehow write a cohesive account of the evening’s adventure. Just then, a wild-eyed young woman stared directly at me exclaiming “I want to hear you say f*** yeah, say f yeah, say f yeah...” She was serious and had to be appeased. “F yeah,” I said, although my heart was not in it. Wild eyes was validated and on her way.
I just want to get to my seat! A patient and dutiful SPAC employee with a micro light peered at my ticket and informed me that I was close. She then went back to corralling the chaos. WHACK, hit in the head with a glow stick, BUMP, a sweaty, shirtless guy pushed past spilling beer. Somehow amidst the frenzy of activity, that skunk made its way into the amphitheater. I held my ground, arms folded, stoic. Why so serious?
Intermission: The dazed and confused shuffled out while the band took a break from serious jamming. This trip was only half over for some but I was done. I don’t fancy mania or fanaticism, however a Phish concert is best described as phenomena. So, why is Phish so popular? At the core is musicianship. After decades of performance the band mates intuitively jibe well. This gives the members tremendous creative space to solo and the fans really dig it.
The experience transcends music, though. For many it is the psychedelic experience. Perhaps the secret of success is this: Phish know their fans and care enough to give them a great time. In turn, the fans, joyous and euphoric, celebrate the music which in turn motivates Phish to give the fans their very best. It is more than self-sustaining. The energy builds like the slow storms that were also very much part of the busy weekend in Saratoga Springs. Clouds gathered, crowds gathered, anticipation, the event, dissipation. Then it happened all over again and again.
