Now myself, well, I consider myself a newbie as I've only been to about 7 shows. Compared to my friends who've seen probably 40 shows each, I was experiencing that overwhelming feeling Phish made me come to know and love so well.

People (fans) talk about how drugs are such a part of this life philosophy that the Phish community has sorta been stereotyped for. And to some degree, I can honestly say I got too caught up in that stereotype. I'd go to a show with this desperate need for some substance to make me feel the music. When all I really needed was the music itself to give me that feeling I was searching for. 

So we get to the parking garage in Albany and immediately I'm on the look out for some mushrooms. I hadn't ate any mushrooms since my first show, 1 year before. BINGO. Score. I pick up an eighth and BOOM. Well, stupid me, who knew a whole eighth was too much?!?!?! Perhaps in the whole confusion of getting inside the venue, I must have thought the only safe way of getting my boomers in was to eat it all! And that's where my near catastrophe started.

Remember that warm tingly feeling that you're suppose to get? Well imagine it so intense that it's driving your MIND bonkers. I mean really nuts. You look at people's faces and you don't see eyes, nose, ears...you see purple patterns and horns! Your body temperature must be 174 degrees farenheit. And no amount of water in the world will ever make you feel better. 

The weeks prior to the show I had actually called the opener. I even put it down on my PhantasyPhish.com pick as POSSUM. So needless to say as soon as that first guitar rip came, my ass was up down up down up down! I remember saying to myself, "is it me or the drugs?"

To make an incredibly long story short, I sought help. Of course it was the drugs. But no way in hell was I going to allow myself to be tortured by the feeling I was experiencing that night. When you're on drugs you know it. I knew I was bad. I requested medical attention but was weary of possible legal ramifications.  I wasn't sure what I had on me at the time or even what would happen after, when I'd be all sobered up. All I knew is that I was in a bad bad place & I needed to get out. 

Eventually, I found EMS and laid down on a bed. Man you should see that place sometime. I thought I was fucked up. Compared to these other dudes in there, I was Mother Teresa. Man, were they wacked in there --whewwwww!

After about 35 mins in EMS an ambulance was going to take me to Albany County Medical Center. Once there, I realized what I had done- paranoia started setting in hard. I needed to take a leak bad and the doctor's wouldn't allow me to go by myself. They said if I needed to do this, I'd have to go with someone. The alternative- a tube they'd stick in you know what and I wasn't about that at all!

A really close friend rode in the ambulance with me on the way to the hospital and our other friends met up later.

So what did I learn? I learned that next time Phish comes back...to not put such an emphasis on drugs and just enjoy.

 - Socrates

Editor's Note: Yep, I'd definitely call that a bad trip, as I would consider this chocolatey, mushroomy experience.