Firstly, I'm 44 yrs. old and have experienced much in the way of music.  Not that I'm an expert or anything, but let's say I've been around and decided to go to a Phish concert in Miami 12/03-1-04(on vacation where my parents live) to amuse my 19 yr. old son and here it goes my friends....

The first show I had purchased tickets through an agency and they were way up top in the direct center, as far away as possible from the band. I was disappointed because I'm totally spoiled, always demanding at least w/in the 1st 15 rows-and with a passion for photographing... A long, long story.  My son was o.k. with the band but I was not yet satisfied.

A bit more curious to have the real deal, the real experience of feeling the music up and close because boy! these guys had that something. A REAL something. I can only describe it as how I might feel for Carlos Santana, Chick Corea, Ian Anderson (Divinities tour), that sensual and spiritual connection shared to and from the individual band members and audience.

Phish, however, owns a place in my heart that has been rekindled because they own a very clear and important place in our healing process as a troubled, interconnected society. Their sheer presence demands fun and exotic oneness with complete strangers, although our family is so fragmented a soul.

Dare I even speak politically, but I really feel we isolate ourselves too readily, masking our need to feel. Here I am writing this fuckin' stupid thing on the computer, but really this is not me, I just want us to feel together and have the good g-d strength to stand up for what is right, together. And we have lost that by this mask of belonging, without responsibility of action.

I was astonished by the crowd, drugs, illegal goings on and so forth. The police did not NEED to take action to control the people; they COULDN'T and gave in to a better resource- compassion.

For example, the second night a security guard was trying to move people back out of the isle and a man put his arms around him and starting dancing with him. I watched open mouthed and smiled at the security guard.  He looked at me, smiled, and shrugged his shoulders in a shit eating grin, began to dance with him back down the isle. In my 35+ yrs. of photographing musicians, I would have given millions to have that moment on film... Thank you Phish for an experience that has opened my eyes again to the beauty of life that is always just under the surface of our feet.

- joy