Hey now! I thought I was finished after Red Rocks, but it appears that I might be traveling on work and there is a chance that I can swing the three-way ticket to fly through Hotlanta.

I was thinking about flying into Newark and attempting to catch both of these new Jersey shows too. I know call me greedy ;-)

Anyone from Jersey, care to comment on this intinerary? What will the drive be like from Newark to Holmdel? I did the MapQuest deal, but would prefer a local opinion. Is an hour about right? My flight won't get in until around 3:20 PM so will no doubt be cutting it close if travel-time is much more than that.

Should I just bag Holmdel and shoot for Camden the next night?

Headlight- There's all kinds of construction going on at Newark, so it's a pretty big mess. Never got a rental car there, so don't know what that situation's like. Once you get out of the airport, it shouldn't be too bad getting to the garden state parkway- probably take 78 west. Once you get on the parkway, go south and look for signs/follow the hippies.

Probably take you an hour to 1.5, depending on traffic, and getting in at that time you're gonna be right in the thick of it. Also, don't be surprised if you hit some type of delay with the flight-Newark's pretty notorious for that.

If you don't mind missing the opening acts, you should easily make P+F.

As for Camden, you're looking at about 2.5-3 hrs. from Newark, at least. But, I've never been to that venue, so that's sort of a guess.

Anyone feel free to correct me if you think I might be off.

Good luck...

listen buddy, you would be crazy not to go to holmdel. without traffic its like 55 minutes tops, you'll definatly get there in time for phil, it is a friday and it will probably take you 2 hours to get there, but i'm a local jersey guy, and well i'd definatly do it, as for holmdel to camden, on a saturday, its basically a walk through the park, about an hour and a half tops, watch out for the jersey state troopers, although i've personally never had any trouble with em, i dont think they like out-of-towners, although i did see some guy run over a state troopers foot last year at a phish show in holmdel, and the cop just let the guy keep on rollin, it was pretty crazy, just be cool, have patience and i;m sure jersey will be real kind to ya

Shore Traffic - Shore Traffic - Shore Traffic! On Friday's in the summer everyone from New York/Northern Jersey will be on the Garden State Parkway heading south to the beaches. Well not everyone, but it will feel like it. If you leave Newark at 1pm it could take an hour. If you leave Newark at 4pm it could take 3+ hours. If there is the least bit of an accident it could be worse. I used to work by the airport last summer and on more then one occasion it took me 4 1/2 hours to get home. I lived 10 minutes south of PNC at the time. - Jim

Plus rush hour! The parkway entrance from
the turnpike will be a mess. Plus people
heading into PNC. 3 hours of traffic is about
right. Shit you could probably make it
by bicycle quicker just ride on the shoulder.

Its really not THAT bad. From Newark (i lived there for 8 years) it should only take you 2-1/2 hours TOPS!! that is with heavy traffic and no construction. My honey commutes the GSP everyday and i will keep you updated on any of next weeks construction mishaps or anything else. (IE. A week ago a helicopter had to make an emergency landing and shut the whole system down for 8 hours!) The safest bet is to leave before rush hour. The worst of it being at the airport (construction MESS especially baggage) and newark itself, especially 1 and 9. If you can get clear of the 1 and 9 zone before 3:00-3:30, your in for a smooth ride, after it you'll be pushing it.

People, please be aware of the State Troopers. They don't particularly like the hippie crowd and they can be very aggressive. They work in uniform and undercover and go after nitrous tanks and acid sellers.

The venue itself and its surroundings are beautiful.

Any questions or advice needed, please respond. P.S. I'll also be seeing Ratdog there on 8/17.

go to both shows holmdel will be a tough commute from newark on a friday depends on the weather. i'll be on the lawn rain or shine. camden is about an hour and a half from holmdel. cops are plentiful in holmdel but if you use your head you should be fine. don't be like a kid at a phish show that is. camden is usually a better place to see a show its on the waterfront with nice views. less cops usually too.

O.K. Just so you all know, I hit the commit button and am coming to both the Jersey shows; hope you all are up for it. I'll pray for rain, to keep the beach traffic down. Try and get the Frog Brigade to play an extra couple of tunes in case the traffic is bad. Any alternate routes from newark, besides the GSP, or should I just bite the bullet and head on down?

Camden sounds like a excellent place to see a show ; in all of these years I never caught a Spectrum show, so this will probably be as close as I get to a philly show. Looking forward to it. Sounds like they have been on a roll since Red Rocks.
I am glad to read that all of you have been keeping the posivitve energy going for the most part: sucker punhes and inconsiderate minority aside.

Going to make the trifecta complete with the last show in Hotlanta, hope to meet up with some of you at Camden and Atlanta.

Headlight

There is no alternate to the GSP. The Arts Center is actually on and only accessible from the GSP (Exit 116) It is only about 30 miles south of Newark ("Nork") airport. TIP: Take GSP Local lanes after the parkway splits (around Exit 127), just after the Raritan Bridge/tolls and remeber exact change for tolls will speed the trip (.35 cents per toll and I think there is only one between the Airport and the Arts Center).

The express lanes only have two lanes for traffic and the local lanes have three. most shore traffic will be using express so take local!

from newark airport take nj turnpike south to exit 11 which is the gsp. you will pay a toll getting off turnpike about $2 and one 35 cents toll on the parkway. arts center is at about mile marker 116. worst part of the traffic is getting off turnpike and on to the parkway. camden is more complicated i dont have exact directions for that. parkway south to rt 195 west and then i have to check my map for the rest.

like Lou said BEWARE FOR THE STATE TROOPERS!! i can't stress this enough. I got busted big time by them. When you're driving just don't do ANYTHING stupid. They're just waiting for you to screw up and once they got you they got you! Another thing don't lock your keys in your car. My friend dragged me to a phish and then locked her keys in her car...we got home at 5:00am. Cops just left 2 girls in a vacant parking lot...when you need them they aren't around but when you try to duck them they're up your ass!

My experiences in NJ have resulted in law enforcement's rationalization that "driving in the left hand lane" is valid enough reason for pulling someone over.

Get your windshields fixed.

Check your tail lights.

Make sure you aren't African American.

Check that list but...
No long hair.
No tye dye.
Don't drive a car with dead stickers on it.
And please people the Police are civil servants,
but don't ask them to get you a glass of
water.:0)
As Dylan sang... Anything in Jerseys legal as
long as you don't get caught.

I got a good story about driving in Jersey...

On tour this spring I stopped at my friend's house in Old Bridge the day of the Assburry Park show. His name, friends and neighbors, is Romeo. Honest-to-Goodness. His parents are Potrugese and they named him Romeo...

And the great thing about Romeo is, dig this, that he drives a Pink Cadalac! And Romeo's not the kind of guy that can be satisfied with driving a Pink Cadalac. No, no, no...He has to decorate the interior with Zebra skin. Zebra skin floor mats, zebra skin seat covers, zebra skin fuzzy dice, zebra skin steering wheel cover, zebra skin liscense plate covers...You get the point.

And, as if that's not enough, he added the Boss Hogg bull horns to the hood of the car. And, to get even more rediculus, he added a cat-call horn (which he proceeded to use on every "hefty" woman he passed).

We roll into the Assburry Park show in this ride and the Heads were giving us a standing ovation! We were so well received that we swung around the block one more time just for shits and giggles...

On the way home, however, we got pulled over by a green-rookie cop. Not for swerving, not for speeding, not for a broken headlight, not for anything illegal. We basically got pulled over for driving a Pink Cadalac. (Can you say racial profiling?)

The cop came up, bitched about not having our seatbelts on. We told him it was a classic car which meant that lap belts were sufficient. He bitched about the fuzzy dice (seriously). We took them down. He basically held us up for 25 minutes and then let us go. Had we been of a darker complexion, however, I doubt we would've been so lucky...

So, the moral of the story is, watch yourself in Jersey. The cops WILL pull you over if they feel like it regardless of what you're doing (especially if you're riding with Romeo in a Pink Cadalac)

True! I can tell you from personal experience
I got pulled over and I quote "Because of the
way you and your car looks like" This was in
1989 mind you my hair was long and I was wearing
a favorite Dye. My car only had 2 Dead stickers
on it. When the cop told me this I laughed and
said are you serious he said yes. He looked
at my DL, ins and reg. Did an on the spot
motor vehicle insp (lights, wipers, brakes etc)
Found nothing, then told me I should clean myself
up and fit into the real world. For the record
Im a white dude. Then told me to go home.
Gee I love my home state, just like nazi germany
at times.

OK, I get the picture. :-( Seems like things have gotten even worse, since the last time I was in Jersey. Circa 1977...

I am fair-skinned, hair not too long ;-) and will be driving a rental car, which I will not put any dead stickers on, not even a "Keep the scene clean" one, which I am prone to doing.

I'll drive the speed limit or less and stay in the right lane, at least I presume that is the local lane.

I won't huff, puff or blow any smoke to anyone.

I hope to be there before PLQ starts and thanks to some good advice, I am reasonably optimistic.

FTM

All in all its sounds bad. But you know the
show is gonna be just fine.

Okay, people it seems to be pretty well established that the State Troopers are a major concern, as is the Shore traffic. Now, how about some positive comments! The venue is very nice and believe they sell beer, although you have to 1st wait in a line and show ID to get a bracelet before you can get in the beer line.

Songs I really want to hear (based on what has been played previously) include Ramble on Rose (Rob sings this bueatifully), Morning Dew, China Doll, He's Gone (although I don't think its been done by Phil)and a rippin' Bertha. Any thoughts?

BERTHA!!! i'd luv to hear that!

Im thinkin... Jam>Eyes maybe New Potato
defintely bertha.. Hopefully Solomon Marbles.
Stella Blue. more to come.....

Whats up phil heads? as far as the five-oh are concerned at PNC, just don't do anything in front of any cops that would give them a reason to give you a hard time. i have been to a ton of shows there, and they generally just talk a good game. like any venue, they are going to be there in full force, so we have to deal with it. just don't let some cop spoil your good time. but any of you heading down to merriweather, watch out!
cops down there are the worst, by far, of any venue i have been at. at least lately.
see yall at the show!

I just need to let everyone know about the hardcore police presence at Holmdel. I personally have had some run ins with them last year at Phish, there will be undercover pigs, and narcs around so everyone just be cool, you know a narc or undercover when you see one...other than that enjoy the show
Peace

Cant wait for tomorrow to get back on the road.

Yo Muad you and me both... The SPAC seems
like weeks ago for me now. Im sitting here
debating if I should go to Jones Beach tonight.
I work in NYC so its an itch that I need to scratch. But Im looking out my window and its
raining so maybe I won't. Either PNC is a done
deal. I was gonna say DarkStar tomorrow but
I have a feeling thats gonna happen tonight.
DarkStar maybe a Terrapin. PNC I think Eyes
maybe ChinaCat eleven, Bertha, Hard to Handle
and darn I want Solomons with that Eyes Mr Lesh
I want to here that little bass solo that you
used to do in that jam.

Carlin, you going to meet up with any of the zoners?

Would like to haven't as yet. I was going to
at the SPAC. But ended up parking in the state
park and partying there. But if anyone is going
to PNC yeah.

It's easy to find some. Just find TC inside the show and he'll point out several others to you. You do know how to find TC, right?
Or look for the flag. There weren't too many flags flying around the shows so it shouldn't be too hard to find.

Actually PNC is so small I think I
should be able to see the flag without even
looking.

Whats up brothers and sisters. Just got back from Phil in SPAC and Finger Lakes. What shows.....whats shows!!!!!! Cant even tell u how psyched I am for PNC and Camden. Band is ON. Saw a great cryp>otherone>cryp in FL. As for commuting from Newark dont forget NJ Transit. Bout 45 minutes from Newawk to Hazlet on the jersey coast line can hop a cab for a few bucks from there.

I sit and watch the clock...
Stuck at work knowing I will see
be seeing Phil in sightly under 8
hours from now. Work Blows the big
one today. But on the Plus what a
Day for a Show!

Your work blows? I was going to leave here at 8 am but my f***ing employee never showed up. Never called and isn't answering his phone. That means I'm stuck here til 12:30 if that f***er doesn't show up. If I knew I was going to be here that late I would have brought my stuff to leave straight from here. Fortunately, I can miss Les without being too heartbroken.

Dude maybe your employee is at PNC.:)
I feel for ya man.. Yeah its lookin like
I'll end up catching the end of Les too.
But as long as we make it for Mr Lesh on
time, all we be fine.

>Dude maybe your employee is at PNC.

That would be an acceptable excuse

Look out Holmden, here comes The Eleven.

The Eleven maybe... DarkStar>Eleven that would
be sweet. Unbroken Chain> Eyes> Solomons too.

>That would be an acceptable excuse
Muad Im comin to work for you..
I would be like...Hey Boss tour time got
go.

What a beautiful day for a show at the Jersey Shore -- Here Comes Sunshine!!

Bst place to park for partying is the North overflow/commuter lot. If your in the south overflow lot, you take a shuttle bus or a long walk.

I work in Manhattan but will avoid all traffic because I commute to the Shore every day by high speed ferry. Holdel is about 12 minutes from boat dock in Jersey. Its the greatest way to commute (boat has full bar) and I'll be on 2:00 ferry, docks in Jersey at 2:40 and a quick trip home to change out of lawyer suit- kiss wife and kids and then go hear some bombs drop!!

Help --> Slip --> Franklins is due as is a Brown Eyed Women, Sugaree Eys, etc.

>Muad Im comin to work for you..
I would be like...Hey Boss tour time got
go.

Right on. We'll take your car and just close the place down for a month. Or hire temps.

>Or hire temps.
Can't trust them temps.. I should know I did
that once. Well actually I must have been
super temp one of the companies I temped for
hired me. See yall at the show.
Man the sun is getting Brighter by the hour!

carlin
you at camden tomorrow?

WOOOOOO HOOOOOOOO!!!!!
ITS FRIGIN BEAUTIFUL OUTSIDE TODAY!!!!!!
can't wait,cant wait,can't wait!!!
in a 1/2 hour ill be back on the bus.

Yes Mr.cryp...Yes Iam..
Dude get in the car of yours and get down here
you could still make PNC and still obey
the speed limit.:) Meant to meet you all
at the SPAC but ended up parking the
State Park next door, didn't get to
the parking lot, only made to where that
band was playing in the field.

What will they play tonight? I'd like to hear some predictions.

Terrapin, Bertha, ...

Done deal.

Got someone carting my ass down and back, place to stay AND i got an 8th row ducket.

time to rip it up

Lou look at the lists from last night
and the night before. We have all kinds
of possibilties. Terrapin, Bertha, Eyes,
DarkStar, Solomon Marbles, Eleven,
UnbrokenChain, Here Comes Sunshine (fitting for
how today turned out) New Potato,
I think this one is going to be nice.

Right on Cryp!

What time is the band scheduled to go on tonight? Hopefully 7:30 or later?

If I remember from the SPAC it was 7:30 or
7:45. Man I wish I could just leave work
NOW!

New potato would be sweet and I would LOVE to hear a creepy ALLIGATOR!

GCarlin I'm leaving work in about 10 minutes, off to a local pub for a quick pint and to pick up a little smokage (a true benefit to working in Manhattan) then on the boat for a beautiful 45 min. feey ride to the Jersey shore. I should be in the parking lot by 3:30. Anticipation (first show of the tour -- actually, 1st Phil show since Beacon llast October.

>New potato would be sweet and I would LOVE to hear a creepy ALLIGATOR!

NO NO NO

save that for TOMORROW!

:^)

>GCarlin I'm leaving work in about 10 minutes, off to a local pub for a quick pint and to pick up a little smokage (a true benefit to working in Manhattan)

Yeah man I work in Manhattan too, unfortunitly
Im stuck up here til 4:00.. Im bouncing
of my office walls.

Hey cryp... New Potato or Alligator
haven't been done in awhile tonight could be
it. Im think maybe Dancin tonight as the opener.

Tonight's Setlist (unconfirmed, but accurate)

Set 1: Jam>Here Come Sunshine>Blue Sky>Uncle John's Band>Lazy River Road>GDTRFB>Cumberland

Set 2: Real Heavy Jam>Sugaree>Unbroken Chain>Eleven>Revolution>Blues For Allah>Eyes>Golden Road E: Broken Arrow> We Bid You Goodnight

What you see is what you get.

I'm tupac to Jinpas biggysmalls? So be it.I wasn't trying to rip on the east coast,I was trying to get a rise out of Jinpa.I wanted a forum on where people saw there favorite shows.PEACE.

Set 1: Jam> H.C. Sunshine> Jam> Blue Sky | Jam> Uncle Johns Band> Lazy River Road | GDTRFB > Cumberland Blues

Set 2: Jam > Sugaree | Unbroken Chain > The 11 > Revolution > Spacey Jam> Blues For Allah > Eyes > Golden Road

Encore: Broken Arrow > We Bid you Goodnight

Yet another Great Show!!!! As always will report when I'm back from this crazy ride.

TC, we have to hook up and I realize the onus is on me, but frankly, I have been knocked out by these shows, cannot move. Feel like I got dosed again........and I don't do drugs.

Very Good first set, very average second set...

sweet show, blue sky, uncle john's, unbroken chain were especially nice.

>>> Feel like I got dosed again........and I don't do drugs.

There's another one here besides me?

BTW- That's how I felt last night in JB during China Cat.....

its 6:30 i'm patching my bones and going again tonight. what a show. this was a great venue for these guys. cumberland blues!!!!!!!!! had me going like i haven't in a decade. thank you phil and that guy who gave me those oreo cookies.

Does anyone know if this band is for real?? last six shows.........undescribable. See ya'll tonite in Camden..peace

O.K. ALL YOU HEADS OUT THERE.....WHO KNOWS WHAT TUNE THEY PLAYED IN THE BLUES FOR ALLAH JAM????? (HINT: FROM ONE OF THE ALL TIME GREAT FUSION BANDS FROM THE SEVENTIES..4 MEMBERS) GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!

Another fine show from the PLQ. First set, especially, was very hot. The band had a very laid-back but at the same time intense feel, as if they knew they could do anything they wanted and taking their time exploring the possibilities. Oddly, this was the second show I've been to in a row that opened the first set with HCS and closed it with Cumberland (the other being Great Woods). Even with the "bookend" repeats, I thought this set was better than the 1st set at Great Woods. The Blue Sky after HCS was excellent, the first one I've seen. The band was very comfortable with the groove, Warren and Jimmy going nuts trading off licks the whole time. A quick stop and then Uncle John's Band, which my wife had said she wanted to hear back in the parking lot several hours earlier. Nicely played, again the guitar players playing nice, long jams with a sense of we're going to be here a while we might as well take our time and see every possibility. This flowed smoothly into Lazy River Road, a song I considered a "throw-away" with the Dead. Not that it's a bad song, but Jerry never really took any extended solos on it. The PLQ opens it up a lot more, my only regret is they didn't save it for tomorrow night with Willie (that would be fun).

The GDTRFB was very well played also, again the guitarists took their time to fully develop their ideas. The band was smoking, and then into Cumberland, the intensity level building and the pavillion positively rocking.

OK Cee - i'm pretty sure it was a Weather Report tune that i have heard but i couldn't place the name - am i right?

Second set opened with a little jam that dropped into Sugaree, Warren taking the band to extreme heights, opening the song up and jamming for all he was worth. The Jam->Sugaree was pushing 25 minutes by my count, not one of them was wasted.

Then it was time for Unbroken Chain. At this point the mood of the set took on a darker feel after the open, "sunshine" feel of the first set. Although it seems as if I see Unbroken Chain a lot, the song is always interesting and this version did not disappoint. Coming out of the last verse, the band got going into a groove that worked it's way into the Eleven. As always, nicely played, and the jam out led into a surprise (for me, at least), Revolution. This was rocked pretty good.

After Revolution, another jam that dissolved into Blues for Allah. The band was very tight on this one, hitting all of the complex unison parts together, like a well-oiled machine. This was my first Blues for Allah, and it's an interesting, dense song. Coming out of it Eyes of the World was a perfect way to get back into the lighter mood of the first set.

Eyes was jammed out very well, Herring and Haynes playing each taking their leads into new areas, dancing around each other. This led into a rocking Golden Road, the whole place up and dancing to the driving beat (another interesting note, this was the second show in a row I've been to that closed the second set with Golden Road).

The Broken Arrow was a nice treat for the encore, again my wife had said this was one she wanted to hear before the show. The Bid You Goodnight was a total surprise, and a great way to close an outstanding show. Warren, Phil and Rob worked their vocal parts nicely, singing counterpoint lines and weaving in and out, just like the guitar players had been doing earlier.

The scene at the Arts Center was weird. We got there pretty early (a little before three) and rather than getting parking right up front we were directed to an "overflow" lot about a 10 minute hike from the Arts Center itself. According to the security/traffic control people, this was at Phil's request. The lot itself was pretty mellow, there was a reasonable size Shakedown scene going on and we were pretty much left to ourselves (although the hiss of the nitrous tanks was conspicuously absent). Around five o'clock we started heading towards the Arts Center, figuring we would check out the parking lot scene closer to the venue on our way in. There didn't seem to be much happening there.

Les Claypool's Frog Brigade was an interesting choice as an opener. I'd never heard them before, but had heard they do some nice covers and jam pretty well. The sax player was dressed in a Merlin outfit while Les was wearing a orange jumpsuit and a Clockwork Orange mask and bowler for the first few songs. Shine on You Crazy Diamond and Space Odyssey were both very well done, a lot of the other material was interesting as well. I'm not sure if I would seek them out, but I wouldn't mind seeing them again.

After the show we were hanging by our car while the people parked next to us were selling grilled cheese sandwiches while playing loud rap music. I've got to think that playing rap at loud volume hurt their business, I know it drove us out of the lot earlier than we might have otherwise. Getting out we were sent down some country road before eventually finding the Parkway and heading home. Can't wait for tonight.

Hi gang. This is a first posting for me, but I had to add my two cents about last night's show.

I've seen 5 (of this configuration), and I have all the "official" SHNs, and a bunch of other shows too... That being said, I feel last night ranks up there with the best I've heard! Everything was played to perfection, and the band never seemed to lose steam. High energy, and the crowd was right there with them the whole time!

One word - FANTASTIC!!!

I hope the quintet stays together for a long, long time! THANKS PHIL!!

...just wanted to chime in.

Peace/

PS - I also sang my vocal chords raw on Revolution... a real pleasant surprise for me.

did they tease Birdland again? i can't imagine that in the middle of the Epyptian desert but i wouldn't put it past these guys..

Hey Bucke-You are sooo not alone. There are hundreds out there, and it is scary. To describe this music and the power it has over me at times is something I am just not capable of. This is really scary shit...I have heard these guys alot, how does each show get better, but still be equal to the evening before. I cannot believe I am slated for 2 more shows, and during the Eleven last night considered not going to Hershey. I just don't know if I can take it.

Sorry for anyone who thinks they saw just an average show. The Blues for Allah seemed more Blues than Allah last night, just me, the entire show is a standout, if only for song selection on its own. Only "predictable" thing in the show was the Bid U Goodnite to finish what was started in the end of UJB.

Brian Farmer- time to get that Sympathy for the Devil to the top of the list.

To my dear friend, Tom, thank you for the front row center for my all time favorite, Eyes. You know I love you, and my other dear friend Chris-I miss you terribly. You should be here, I need help. Maybe tonight I will not be seeing stars and hearing God, and might be able to form a few sentences and go meet people.

come on pholks, les is awesome. alot of the reviewers have raved on SCI,after seeing them at Alpine, we think they are at best a bad dead/phish cover band. the fearless flying frog brigade is awesome. open your ears and hear the dissonance! open up to the funk, next to phil, they are the best live band i have seen in years! long live les!

You couldn't pay me to see Les after the debacle that was Red Rocks, sorry, but it is only my opinion.......

One last note, did anyone notice the LACK of traffic yesterday afternoon, evening. Just another one of those things to be grateful for...leaving for Camden, what to pack, and will I stay and Philly and leave for Hershey in the AM..."its all too much".

haven't been to shows in years caught 110 dead shows from 84-95 last night brought back excellent memories A GREAT SHOW SAYS IT ALL

As to Les,
Funk...Yes
Dissonance...No

TO ALL YOU ASTUTE LISTENERS....THE SONG PLAYED DURING BLUES FOR ALLAH WAS FROM THE ALBUM " WHERE HAVE I KNOWN YOU BEFORE " BY ONE OF THE ALL TIME GREAT FUSION JAZZ COMBOS.........CHICK COREA AND RETURN TO FOREVER. AND I HAVE SEEN A FEW HUNDRED SHOWS AND LAST NIGHTS FIRST SET WAS ON PAR WITH SECOND SET PEAK DEAD MOMENTS!!TRULY SUPERB!!!!!!!!PEACE

I was quite impressed last night at the Arts Center. I remember roughly a year ago saying to myself, "It'd be so great if Phil headlined PNC Bank Arts Center. Nah, he's not big enough to do it." Well, here we are, abotu a year later, and Phil has grown big enough to pack the place. Sitting in my seat last night, and then glancing at the lawn (it's been >= 10 years since I've had seats there), I was floored by the amount of people packed on the grass. I really thought the Here Comes Sunshine -> Blue Sky exemplified Phil's idea of telling a story through the setlist. It's been two years since I've heard a Blue Sky at the Arts Center (no Dickey w/ Allmans last year) and I have to hestitently say that this version tops all but the best Allmans versions I've heard. Truly superb. I was happy I got to hear some songs I've been wanting to see Phil do for a while. In addition to the two previously mentioned, there's UJB, Sugaree, and number one on that list: Golden Road! During Eyes I was thinking to myself how great it would be if they broke out into a jam and then turned on a dime right into the immistakable Golden Road intro. I flipped out when they did. As soon as Warren stepped up to the mic I was going crazy. There couldn't have been a more perfect set closer in my opinion. Prior to Eyes, I have to say the Blues for Allah was a nice touch as was Revolution. Les Claypool, while certainly quite curious, blew me away. I had heard some of his stuff but his bass work is really amazing. The rest of his band with the exception of his drummer was only so-so. The first song he did was kind of interesting with him on an upright bowed type thing. I was laughing when they started to play Kashmir (and quite well I might add). Shine on You Crazy Diamond was very good... and the Karn Evil 9 intro that he did was just funny. My favorite part of Les' set was when Rob (Baracco) was watching from the side of the stage and then started dancing and doing a bit of "air guitar." Anyone else happen to see that? In any event, now I'm just gonna sit tight and wait 'til I can get the tapes. Any tapers there who wanna give me a response go for it =P.

Darn nice show at PNC.
Very surprised.. First set opening jam
very nice... Here comes Sunshine some
opening kinks but work that out as they played

>..did they tease Birdland again?
yeah Iris they messed around with serious
parker stuff before Allah. Man I love it
when these guys go into the little, miles,
coltrane or parker jams..
Sugaree was alittle to drawn out for my
taste.
Uncle Johns...just plain stellar!
Unbrokenchain>Eleven.....The jams in this
made a straight guy like me trip!
Cumberland..only my third for P&F but I dare
say rivaled the Boys back in the day.
Someone mentioned Blue Sky comin close to blowing
the Allmans away.... Without a doubt!
Eyes solid...not the best I have heard them do
but hard to argue with ther jam Herring was
laying down.
Despite the 5 bust I saw go on around me,
this show came through big time.

I've seen Phil with several lineups over the past 2 years. It seems that now there is more controlled chaos and mellodic tendencies in the onslaught of 2nd set jams throughout. In particular, last Easter 2000, w/Kimmock vs. Haynes, the band seemed to jam with such intensity that the lyrics just got in the way (or at least gave us heads some titles to pen in to our phriends). But now, it is seems to be more balanced, not to say that madness is objectionable but thank God we can breathe at some moments in the show.... Secondly,
NOT TO CRITICIZE but to KENNETH B's comments earlier "..average second set.." since when is the > Sugaree | Unbroken Chain > The 11 > Revolution > Spacey Jam> Blues For Allah > Eyes > Golden Road average? We're not talking Estimated Eyes or China/Rider, It was UC/11/REVOLUTION/BFA/EYES/Golden Road...the list alone is 1 step beyond......

Not to say that I'm not happy to see the Dead anymore, but I'm very happy to see Phil out on the loose. The energy and spirit of attempting the impossible permeates through each of the 1st / 2nd sets. Moreover,there are less boundaries i.e. Waiting for "Gordeaux Weir" to actually play since 1988--> Ratdroppings. The only sad thing is that Jerry is only here in spirit.Thankfully, Phil remembers...

i miss jerry.

Like everyone else on this thread, I've seen alot of shows. Hundreds. Yes. Thousands. Probably. Glad I didn't read this list before the show. That left turn down the profiling path was an unnecessary downer. And traffic was no problem.

Can I just add: the problem with this show was that my face hurt from smiling when it was over. So beyond words I'm just shaking my head. And it's Sunday. The amazing thing is that I'm sure they did it again last night, even though I wasn't there. If they're not peaking, we're in serious trouble - because I don't think I can handle more than that.

Maybe the best concert I've ever seen! And I've been to many that have been labeled legendary.

Thank you Phil.

Golden Road To Unlimited Devotion stole the show.

When we saw them at Red Rocks they did a rain theme. All the songs had rain references.

Last night was the God theme.All the songs had spiritual references.

Blue Sky----Lord , you know it makes me high when you turn your love my way.

Uncle John's Band----He's come to take his children home

Goin' Down the Road Feeling Bad----Going where the climate suits my clothes
Going where the water tastes like wine
I'm going where those chilly winds don't blow

Sugaree----When they come to take you down
When they bring that wagon round
When they come to call on you
And drag your poor body down

Unbroken Chain----nail me to a cross.

Golden Road to Unlimited Devotion----Title says it all
Try on your wings and find out where it's at.
Blues For Allah----"Taste eternity", the swords sing

Eyes of the World----There comes a redeemer.

Broken Arrow----meet me by the witness tree.

We Bid You Goodnight---- Jesus loves you the best.

open letter to 'fans' in commuter parking lot

I have been a serious fan since 1980. I've been to many shows from Alpine Valley to UVM to South Carolina and EVERY Hockey arena in the Northeast.

I always enjoyed the music and the scene. On Friday, however, I was forced from the parking lot by an angry mob. My wife and I were taunted and forced to leave.

What did we do to provoke this reaction???

We pulled up in our new convertible sports car which we were enjoying on a perfect summer day. I was wearing a polo shirt (my tie-dye was in the trunk) Since when does being a 'deadhead' include being intolerant to anybody that appears different - and showered?

We were shaken up as were exited to the highway and found the general parking lot. We were still upset until the lights went down and the Wheel began to play. We never looked back from our front row seats.

Philphan - What the hell kind of car were you in, anyway? As an older, straighter appearing member of the community, I too have on occasion been met with suspicion, if not outright hostility, on recent Phil (and Phish) tours. I've found that kicking the crap out of the offending party(s) works wonders toward turning scorn into smiles.

Seriously, a good sense of humor tends to rectify these situations 9 times out of 10. And if the humor and good nature don't work, scold the little bastards.

BTW, The Wheel wasn't played on Friday. And how much did you pay for your front row seats?

LSrider - the wheel did open on saturday. I had just gotten back from 3 straight shows (something I haven't been compelled to do since graduating in '85) when i posted the original note.

I don't think many narcs drive porches (except maybe on TV) - what's to be suspicious about? I wasn't about to start a scuffle and there was no room for humor - It was made clear that we weren't welcome.

As for the price of admission - for less then the price of dinner and a show on broadway I got 2 front row tickets and a couple of veggie burritos. It was an amazing experience to see Phil practicing his craft.

If by any chance the kind head who gave me his 3rd row VIP ticket during eyes reads this, thank you so much. I swear Phil played that Broken Arrow just for me.

I have seen over a hundred shows and after Jones Beach, PNC, and Camden I can say PHIL IS THE REAL DEAL!!I agree with the poster who felt that they were dosin' when they straight at PNC.The intensity during Sugaree was unmatched.Cumberland
was out of control.On top of playing better than the real thing on some songs(including Bid You Goodnight)they play songs from yesteryear and rip
them up.Golden Road was awesome.I waited a long time to hear The Eleven and now I wait no more!!I feel sorry for the poster who got harassed for having some money for the better things,in our lot EVERYONE was hangin' together-I even played some serious frisbee on the lawn with strangers.A beautiful day(I took the day off!!),an even better show-and I can't wait to see what the Fall brings us.Bottom line PNC was as good or better than 1/2 the shows I've ever seen,Warren Hayes KICKS ASS!!!!!

Hey now, taking a break from my class in Nashua; wanted tocatch up on what had been written about the Jersey shows and see what I missed at Hershey.

Trip from Colorado was fine until I hit Houston; Hour and twenty minutes on the runway as I watched the clock tick away.

Got into Newark at 4:25 instead of 3:52, not too bad. By the time I got to Avis there were about a hundred people in line ~ hour wait.

A brother told me he could get us out of line and on the road. I asked how much, he said $25, I said make it happen and its a deal and he did.

Took e around to a friend of his on the backside at preferred and I was in a car and on the road in less than 10 minutes. Traffic to Holmdel was moving nicely and made it to the venue by 6:10. Had to park in one of the oveflow lots, no big deal. Said hello to neighbors and took a spin around the lot to look for a ticket; nothing available, but the show wasn't sold out, I was told.

Went overland through the woods to the main lot; more on this lovely trip later.

Scored a second row isle VIP; thanks Damien. Found out Phil was going on at 7:30; went back to my car told everyone the schedule and went back in. I was dead center and psyched...Thanks everbody for the help in getting there safely.

Trip through woods was only slighty marred by the excessive trash. I kid you not, for those of you whom have never been to this venue. this hike rivals many in state parks and Nature Conservancy sites I have taken. If I might suggest, some of you local heads could clean this path up in less than a half day with a few trash bags. Cleanup for Phil and let em know... Off my soapbox.

Glad I had my String Cheese flashlight; got about 10 people down the hill nad back to the overflow lot via the trail after dark.

On to Camden after the show; had to drive longer than I wanted down to 195 and a rest stop.

This Holmdel scene (the venue itself) was harsh.

>If I might suggest, some of you local heads could clean this path up in less than a half day with a few trash bags. Cleanup for Phil and let em know... Off my soapbox.

Point taken... But they have or are supposed
to have people to do that... Thats part
of the parkway authority... And our taxes
and tolls are for the maintance and cleanup
of that place. But then why should I'd be
surprised that NJ collects money and does nothing but pocket it.

Headlight
where you at in Nashua?

Don't know if it is supposed to be taken care of, but obviously not. Looks like they just cut down a few tress and some brush and dragged it to cover the path. Maybe if some of us cleaned it up , they would reopen it. Does make for an interesting walk home at night!

Hey Crypt, I'm staying at the Marriot, exit 8 off the 3. Rm 155. Why are you in the area?

Dude
I live 1 exit away from where you are at.

PNC Bank owns and operates that property according to the lease they signed a few years ago, so off the soapbox regarding cleanup. I get really sick of you guys dumping on New Jersey. Most of it has to do with cops this, security that. How come we never have a problem? Here is one for you, follow the fucking rules and behave like adults, no problems. I have gone to this venue since 1970 and never had a problem, and neither have any of my friends over the years. So far there has been a complaint in every post regarding venue security or rotten cops. You guys, lets give it a rest. You are irritated that a cop wants to prevent you from doing illegal things in parking lots? Reality check here. Be cool, and respect the space, and I can pretty much guarantee no hassles, no matter where you go, except Hershey which practically strip searched me...go figure.

> and behave like adults, no problems.

Dewit

you are asking alot of some of us here

;^)

Hey now Dewit, I wasn't dumping on New Jersey, just offereing an analysis and a suggestion. Take it for what it is worth, if you don't want or care if this area gets cleaned up, no matter to me. Just looked like too nice an area to be so trashed out... You know how Mother nature can be?

Cryptical, guess I should have stayed somewhere else huh? ;-)

Give me a call later today or this week. I check out on Friday AM, cause I got to drive back to Newark after my class, to catch my flight to Hotlanta.

I am out of here at 5:01 EST tomorrow for the
VA-NC-GA swing myself...

see you on the road and at the shows!

If we had time, i'd take you out for a beer to soak up the cultural mecca of southern NH

still humming blues for allah a week later after this great show! wow! this show and the asbury park in april rank up there with the best.this is the band! looking foward to the beacon run in nov.thanks phil! see ya soon.

Is it possible this show was better than I remembered it. Memorex tells me YES! If you have access to the discs, get them, this is priceless.

hmmmm.....i might be hearing a trade offering?

I'm listening to this show (thanks Dewit! Your discs hit the mail yesterday AM) and there is a DEFINITE ESTIMATED TEASE right before the Jam that starts off Set II...

Im hearing that one too! Rob on his keys again.

ok, get this one shabbazz, the theme to the "God Father" is teased as well. Somewhere right after Revolution (song 5, 0.53 into it) . Must be that soprano's thing again.

I missed that one! I'll have to go back and give it another ear. I definitely wouldn't doubt it!! They're friggin' brilliant!

WOW!
What a friggin show! Had to hear it again to absorb it all. It gave me chills! Thanks Dewit!

I know I have said that Hartford was the best, but frankly, these two shows are equal to me. I love the New Jersey shows, I don't have to travel far, and PNC, despite the fact that it has become mammoth will always be the Running On Empty venue I remember from way back when. This show was so cool, and as I have said before, I was asked to the front row and couldn't move, until the Eyes...two nights in a row they did it to me...the tripping thing again. There is also a tease that may be an old Rascals tune, or a maybe Richie Valens thing. I keep hearing myself mumble latin lyrics, but can't put my finger on it.

Hey Tim, so glad you are enjoying it. What did I ask you for, seems like so long ago, and I cannot remember.

>> What did I ask you for, seems like so long ago, and I cannot remember.

Yeah, yeah, yeah...I know, I was a slug on this one. Didn't have the patented 1 day turnaround like I normally do. I think it was the 7-7? Maybe the 6-27? Or the 7-15? I don't really remember either...You should have them today or tomorrow...

Phil is the best ever! I love him! This concert was the highlight of my whole summer, and something I had been waiting for for over 6 months! Thank you PHIL!

Does anyone have any idea how I could get a taping of this show? If you do please let me know via e-mail or post it here. Thanks!