i did not have a ticket for friday night and my brother got me an extra ticket from a guy he works with. now, my brother couldn't go to the show b/c of work, and this same friend drove me and my pal to both nights and we ended up chillin with his large circle of friends. these guys are like 10 yrs older than my buddy and i, and we felt at home immediately. first night philly featured an amazing 2nd set wedge and out of nowhere HAVE MERCY. a beautiful, 30 yr old hippie lady next to me hugged me when trey started singing and the whole place was nuts. 

the 2nd night the band walked out and noticed a Major vibe in the spectrum that night. the place was rockin, and an entire section had inflated massive orange balloons and released the dozen or more of 'em onto the floor. they eventually made it to the stage. the boys huddled together and opened with Hood. okay, by now i've shit my pants. out of the ending of hood i faintly hear the chords to mike's and i about lose it. when the song kicked in i witnessed the most vivid expressions of joy i've ever seen on people's faces. i had definitely creamed myself. 

meanwhile about 8 newbies were next to me, dressed in abercrombie and passed out cold for the entire show. they missed the hood, they missed an amazing Scent of a Mule with russian dance segment etc etc etc. at one point, security came to check on them, and this blonde girl couldn't hold her own head up. when the security picked her up by the hair she puked everywhere. the show was too good and i didn't even care. listen to 12/11/99 ghost and you'll know why. 

to retrace some steps, how's this for great preshow vibes: some security guard opened up a section of parking that was closed b/c the guy driving us had a "bad ass car." the car was like a '74 plymouth valiant or something and we ended up real close. Then as the heads are walkin to the arena, they serenaded the cops with a beautiful "silent Night"(december, the season of stoned caroling). 

finally, at the end of the two nights, these new friends who had taken us in for both shows toasted a friend of theirs who had died recently. they made speeches and drank champagne out in the lot and it was touching. i've seen and heard many a show and those two nights stand out - maybe it was the venue, for the spectrum ignites a crowd... or the time (winter of my senior yr in high school). nevertheless, a truly memorable experience- i mean we got a cracklin rosie from fish for god's sake!!

- jp tenz much