Phish

Okay, so I've seen the Grateful Dead 18 times. I will recount some experiences and the history for amusement. Mostly mine.

I had a friend named Suzy when I lived in PA after college. She went to Kutztown University and I went to Lehigh. We met on our first "real" jobs, although I had worked there while going to school.

We had a lot in common. We both liked Happy Hour, smoking dope and shopping on a limited budget.

We used to go out together every Saturday night. We were young. Before we went out, we would pre-party at one or the other's apartment and watch COPS, (Bad boy/bad boy/whatcha gonna do when they come for you) which came on at 9. By the time both episodes were over at 10, we would be wearing that nights black dress and heels and made up like Liz Taylor.

Note: In PA, they didn't have nude strippers where they served alcohol so it was Bring Your Own. A KMart closed on Stephenson Highway in Bethlehem so they opened Irv's BYO. They at one point headlined two strippers, bought full page ads in the local paper, got a billboard. Names of the strippers: SUZY BOOBIES and LISA KNOCKERS. Do you think Suzy and I lived that down anytime soon?

Anyhow.

Suzy's sister Tracy followed the Dead. Yes, she was a Deadhead, had the dreadlocks, wore a lot of unwashed tie dye. She also made white chocolate chip macademia nut cookies she sold at Dead shows. Sold enough of these cookies that she had a very nice motorhome and could afford lots of body piercings and tattoos.

Suzy and I met up with Tracy one summer all up and down the East Coast trailing the Dead. I like their music fine, I'm just not a Deadhead. I'm too happy of a conspicious consumer.

Best line I ever heard in the parking lot of a Dead Show: Lots of people hawking lots of food to combat the munchies. "Burrito!" "Veggie Taco!" "Steak on the Grill!" "Peanut Butter and Jelly!"

So. Phish.

I like Phish. I've seen them in concert more than once. I wasn't thrilled. They did the unending drum solo thing like the Dead did. Time to find the john. However. I do love the most commercial album Phish has ever done, Farmhouse, and I listen to it all the time.