It all started on this day last week (Feb. 24th) at around 11:30 at night. My 21st birthday was in half an hour. I was in my apartment, in Towson MD (where I go to school), studying my ass off for a chemistry test I had in the morning. I was already pissed off that I was not going out and celebrating my 21st but I wasn’t even getting anything out of studying so I was not happy at all. I slammed my chemistry textbook shut and dropped my notebook on top of it in complete frustration. Then I figured I’d go eat the rest of my food that I had made earlier to calm me down.

When I got to my kitchen, I saw that my piece of shit roommate had ruined my food when he didn’t like that I used his pot to cook my pasta in. Not only that, but he wrote a note on a piece of paper and taped to the cabinet above the stove. The note said some shit like if you use the new black pots put some water in it when you’re done. The oil fucks up the non-stick coating. I kid you not, I’ve never seen more anal, stupid, retarded shit ever in my life than I have from this one dude in the apartment. First of all I didn’t use any oil. Second, does oil even fuck up non-stick coating?? Nothing sticks to oil!!

Anyway, I was so steamed and didn’t want to be by myself as I turned 21. So I went upstairs to my friends apartments and hung out there for a while, turned 21, and downed a load of vodka in the span of 30 minutes. I was off my rocker and……… slept right through my chemistry test.

I was so pissed, but luckily the teacher was nice enough to give me a make up test the following day, Wednesday morning. That was great but the only thing was I had a microbiology test as well. Fucking biology major. So on my 21st birthday, Tuesday February 25th, I did not spend in Philadelphia seeing Phish. Instead, I spent that whole day and night studying for the two tests that I had on the next day. I studied my ass off and did fine on both. The only thing that pissed me off was that my other roommate had tickets to Phish in Philly that he didn’t use because his grandfather passed away. When I found this out I knew I had to tell him I was sorry for him but WHY DIDN’T HE GIVE ME THOSE FRIGGIN TICKETS!!!!!! But I didn’t tell him he should’ve gave me the tickets.

Anyway, after my two tests I partied my ass off and planned on going home to Long Island on Friday. Eventually Friday rolled around and I got in my car toward home. I turned the key and the son of a bitch wouldn’t start. I hated to do it, but I had to ask the roommate I don’t like to help jumpstart my car. He was nice enough to do so and I was on my way. On the Jersey turnpike I called my mom to tell her I was on my way home, but was going to stop at Nassau Coliseum to see if the box office had any extra tickets for Phish. She told me that when she passed the coliseum that morning (our family business is right around the block) it said “Phish SOLD-OUT.” I said,” Mom, I’m trying anyway.” I could tell by the way she said,” OK ” that she just hates to see me disappointed. After all, that’s what had been happening since not being able to get me NYE tixx or any for this tour.

So, at around 5 oclock I pulled into the coliseum parking lot. I had to pay $6 for parking and if the box office denied me I’d be able to get my parking money back from them. I stepped out of my car and took a deep breath of my long island air. I was damn glad to be back. It had been a while since I was home and the past week we could all say was nothing much to shout about, especially for a 21st birthday. I then slowly walked myself into the coliseum.

At this point I thought that the show was on Saturday and not Friday for some reason. So I walk behind a security guard who was let inside by another security guard and started to make my way to the box office inside the coliseum- but what’s this I hear?? A phat ass jam coming from inside the arena?? Could it be?? No way… I turned to a guy right near me setting up his Phellowship booth and asked,” Is that Phish in there?” He said,” ummm yeah I’m pretty sure, go check it out.” My heart skipped a beat and I thought no way. Why would they be playing in there right now when the show is tomorrow night?

So I put my ear to the door, didn’t see anyone looking, opened up the door and very sneakily walked in….. “Oh my god…… there they are.” No one was there to ask me who I was or what I was doing and then escort me out so….. I sat my ass down and watched them finish up a VERY solid jam. I still don’t know what song that was but geez it was good. They stopped playing and the 8 or 9 people that were there clapp ed. I was all smiles. This alone would be a good enough birthday present. Then I took my first breath since entering the room and tried to make out what they were saying to each other on stage. By the time I knew it, they began another song. Poor Heart. It was hysterical, Trey was shouting his ass off and they looked like they were having SO much fun.

So after that song Page and Trey made there way off stage and towards backstage. They were about to pass me in the section I was sitting in. I said,” Hey guys!” They both looked at me, waved and say, ”Hi!” Wow…..

While Mike started to make his way off and Fish played limb by limb by himself for a little while I asked the kid next to me if he had any extras for here, tomorrow night (still thinking the show was Saturday and not that night). He said” They’re playing tomorrow night too?” I said,” Yeah, I thought so.” He goes,” Oh, well no I only have for tonight.” I said,” Oh……. Wait a minute….. They’re playing here tonight??” He said,” Yeah dude!” So then I asked him if he had any extras for that night and he goes,” Dude you’re already in, just stay here.”

I backed up for a second and tried to comprehend exactly what was going on. Basically, all I had to do was stall for another 2 hours or so around the coliseum and I’d see Phish.

So, I talked to this kid who does stage for Phish for about 45 minutes. He was on a lot of acid so the conversation went pretty deep. After a while I was getting a little worried because more and more ushers and security guards were walking around. So, I made friendly conversation with some concession vendors and kept cool. I went to the bathroom, got myself an Italian sausage, bought a tour shirt- basically just walked around like I was supposed to be there. Then seven oclock hit.

The gates let open and all of my phellow phans started coming in. I knew I was home free. At around 7:45 I made my way to a section to the right and a little behind the stage. The seats were perfect. Nice and close because I left my glasses in my car. At a little after 8 the lights went down and my birthday present had arrived on stage.

As for the show, the first set was really good. Destiny Unbound barely sounded familiar to me but I knew they hadn’t played it in years so I was thrilled. I loved taking a bath and the walls that closed the set. I talked to a really cool kid in between sets and jammed with him for the second set. He’s the one who gave me the idea of putting my story up here on pholktales.

If you haven’t read the reviews by now, the second set was ridiculous. Opening up with Tweezer, I thought- very cool. But the jam was absolutely insane, download it if you wanna know what I’m talking about. Thirty minutes later I hear a quick high hat. Tweezer then bowie? PHAT! And what a phat version it was. Absolutely ill. Then a little Round Room which I thoroughly enjoyed (especially that bridge).

After this song I thought,” Gee. On this tour Phish has only been playing 4 songs or so for their second sets. If they play another amazing song right now I will do one of two things. Either cry, or have a musical orgasm in my pants.” Then I heard the rat-tat-tat-tat from Fish to start off Hood and I did both. Sick show guys. Thanks for the contact encore. Leaving the show and walking up the stairs I saw the dude who told me to just stick around for the show. I said to him,” Thanks man, it worked! He said,” Alright!!”

In closing I’d just like to say thank you to the dude who told me to hang around, hello to the cutie I met from manhattan during the second set, the dude who told me to put this up on Pholktales, and of course Phish for giving me the greatest birthday present I could’ve ever asked for.