Tweet
Today, I am heading off to my 13th and 14th Phish shows at The Gorge Amphitheatre. I'm proud to say I've caught every show the band has played at The Gorge since Summer Tour 1997 due to the fact that I moved to Eugene in 1994 and graduated from the University of Oregon in `97.
Come to think of it, that's not quite true. I was there when Phish played The Gorge in 2009 but had to skip the second show and boogie on back to my then-hometown of Bend, Oregon in time for a party celebrating my son's 5th birthday. So, actually it will be my 12th and 13th shows at The Gorge. (Shhhh! Just wag it and don't tell anybody. That's just between you and me.)
On a side note, my son was born August 8, 2004. The following evening was the Hampton Coliseum show on the final leg of Summer Tour 2004, which was just a few days before Coventry and The Break Up.
So, in my 18-year career seeing Phish I've missed two shows due to my son's emergence into the world, but that's OK by me. I wouldn't trade the chance to spend time with him for anything. Not even a guaranteed Gamehendge.
The August 1997 Gorge run also was the year they opened with Theme from the Bottom, and when Trey asked Chris Kuroda to turn off the lights so the band could play under the stars--the best version of Harry Hood I've ever witnessed in person then unfolded.
I won't be blogging from the shows; my fingers are looking forward to some time off, being that I work full time as a freelance writer.
If you e-mail photos, or links to photos, of your Gorge experience (or your Couch Tour experience listening to the Gorge run) I'll post them here for all to see.
So, have a great weekend everyone and keep your fingers crossed for a Divided Sky, for there is nothing like seeing that song performed at The Gorge.
Posts
