A friend's girlfriend was on AOL's "Phish Bowl" earlier that day when a cookie came up announcing the Band's surprise show to be held that night in Woodstock, NY. The cookie then disappeared. To make a long story short - I made a phone call, got a ride, and ate a tab or two. My buddy Smith and I got to the bar "lot" at about 9:00 PM to be greeted by a line of about 25 phans waiting at the door. The show was 21 and over, and we were 19 without fake IDs. 

Some dude came up to us and said, "well we're not gettin in, but we may be able to hear the tunes out here in the l--..." He didn't even finish his sentence and Smith and I were running for the wrap around porch that surrounded the bar. It was up on stilts and you could barely see people's heads up on it, but that didn't dissuade a true phan. 

We were ready for the challenge the boys were giving us... it would be impossible surely, but our bloodshot eyes saw all that lay between us and fulfillment of our vow... and we wrapped our fingers around the 4 x 4's and pulled our bodies upward to a bar scene up in Woodstock, and we saw the silhouette that stood before us, and we quietly addressed him... Michael THE BOUNCER, stood before our eyes. Looking down on me and Smitty where we shuddered on the deck without a drink. He saaaaiiiiddddddd, he saaaaaaaaaaiiiiiiiiiddddddd: "I know why you boys have made your way here, and I'll help you get past obstacles that stand up in your way." 

Well, actually he just said, "you boys want to get in tonight don't you?" We said, just as the acid was really starting to kick in, "yes, we really do." He stepped to the side with a big smile on his face and said, "welcome and enjoy the show." Just as we entered this side door from the deck, we could see Trey and Mike from the shoulders up, and we heard the thumpin bass line for Split Open. We danced like nobody was watching the whole show. There were about 175 people there! 

They debuted Character Zero and Waste, I got Trey's beer bottle that he played the Scent of a Mule jam with, and we hung out with Mike outside for literally 20 minutes after the show, discussing their coming trip to Europe, the coming Phish.com, and various personal things. We were even introduced to Evan Dando of the Lemonheads by Mike. At the end of that summer, I'd see 100,000 phans at the Clifford Ball... quite a change in numbers, maybe that's some kind of record?

See you all after this damn Hiatus ends next Fall.

Peace and Love kids,

- Jer