Remembering....a stormy night together

One summer night, eleven years ago (July 22, 1997 to be exact) Chad and I ventured out to Walnut Creek ampitheatre with a few friends to take in a phish concert. Chad and I had already seen Phish numerous times and the previous time we had seen them at the creek, they were not even big enough yet, so we were able to comfortably sit underneath the overhang, which was not sold out (6/29/1994).

ON this summer evening, there was a severe thunderstoprm warning, and I remember being stupidly excited, because anyone that knows me knows I am a weather-hound and I love a good storm. Well, I got a gift from God hand-delivered to me that night in more ways than one. I will never forget as it began to thunder and rain and people started running down the hill for cover. Lightening danced acrossed the sky, thunder cracked and right before my eyes, lightening split a tree in half, in the distance, behind the stage. It was amazing. Chad and I stood on the lawn, hands outstretched (we may as well have been lightening rods) and welcomed the downpour. THe band played into it, going along with the storm. It was a theatrical performance being made up as they went and you could never re-create that kind of magic. I stood there, trying to take it in.

While only those of us there could say we actually experienced it first-hand, eleven years later, I will be able to look back on that night and remember what fun we had, because.....the band is releasing the performance in a dvd package, appropriately called "Walnut Creek Severe Thunderstorm Warning". Perhaps we may be able to pick ourselves out somewhere on the vast lawn of individuals filled with stories you would not believe.

Phish tales of mystery, delight, wonder and amazement. Traveling folk, music lovers, and yes, pot heads, but one thing that connected all of us was the extreme love you felt for these complete strangers. You felt connected to them, no matter who you stood next to. You watched people spin in their own world, you ate your $1 grilled cheese to support someone's next ticket (which are by and far the best grilled cheeses that have ever existed). I never went to a Dead show, but I assume the connection was a bit of the same. Hippies are like that-no one judges you, you can be yourselves and no one cares. They don't care what you wear, they don't judge your past or present-they live in the now and everything you have to say, is the most interesting thing being said at that moment-they hang on your every word. Does it help that they might be higher than kites? Probably, but the affection and attention is sincere. I felt like we were all short of holding hands and swaying together.

There is (was) nothing like a phish show, for my generation anyway. I am glad I got to experience them at the many shows I saw before they disbanded. It was always something different. You never knew what you would get. Chad, myself and our friends shared some of the best times together at those shows. As a birthday present to me one year, Chad gave me a tape case full of shows-probably something like 50 shows. Their music meant a lot to us and still does.

So, I look forward to the August 5th release date:

http://drygoods.phish.com/Dept.aspx?cp=773_14035