I was introduced to the band by some older counslers at an overnight summer camp. I had been listening to Phish for about 3 years before this. Mostly studio stuff execpt for Slip, Stitch, and Pass and NYE 95. At the time I new nothing about trading tapes and such. So when this tour was announced and i saw the boys were coming so close to home for me I hounded my dad to get tickets for me and my friend Ray. I was 17 at the time and had no debit or credit cards and plus i was in school when tickets went on sale. This was my senior year in high school. My dad was puzzled at the time why he had to be at the computer right when tickets went on sale. He was able to get tickets for me and then checked like 30 minutes later and they were sold out! Told ya Dad!

It seemed like forever until March 1st would get here. Finally show day rolled around so Ray and I made the thirty minute drive to Greensboro. It was cold and rainy that day. When we got on lot we were nervous n00bs about taking our weed in so we baked out the car and headed to the gate. This was a GA show so we wanted to get in as soon as we could. While waiting in line we kept hearing people talk about this nasty Tweezer from the last show and some song called Destiny Unbound that had not been played since god knows when. At the time i didnt have a clue what they were talking about but sure do now. The show before this was of course the now famous 2.28.03! So really for my first show I missed the whole lot scene and Shakedown, but would get my introduction later that summer.

So finally the doors opened and we made a mad dash for the floor! I couldnt believe it, my first show and I was three rows behind the rail! When Phish took the stage and laid into the first notes of CTD I knew this was exactly where I wanted to be at that moment in my life. The coliseum holds like 23k people and I turned around to survey my surroundings and i swear there was 20k lighters going off and they show was on!! All of a sudden Ray and I were offered all kinds of joints and bowls from our neighbors. It was like heaven on earth us two high school kids. For such a n00b I was I actually knew every song they played that night exept for maybe Foam and Mountains in the Mist. They highlights for me that night was the epic glow stick war during Divided Sky and strangely enough Boogie On, an a capella Carolina, and of course the YEM encore followed by Proud Mary.

When the show ended that night I knew this was the band for me. From that point on I was completly obsessed the Phish, I couldn't get enough. I was lucky enough to catch two more shows that summer. Looking back now i'm glad I have a little 2.0 under my belt. It would be seven looong years until I was able to make to another show. I'm so thankful to be a fan of Phish and part of this community. Their music has given me so much joy in my life and I've made alot of friends at shows and from here at Phish.net.

So there ya have it, my story about my first encounter with the Phish from Vermont.