It was July 4, 2000 at the ECenter in Camden, NJ. Besides seeing a killer show (you can ask my bud, I called the a capella Star Spangled banner opener), there was a great vibe all night long... I guess it was the whole "country's birthday" excitement. Anyway, for those who were there, you will remember the scene I am about to describe...

On the walk back from the venue to the parking lots, one would have to walk down the road, under a wide overpass, which was probably about four lanes wide, resembling a short tunnel. After the show, some creative phans realized the acoustic value of such a structure, and formed what in my estimation was the coolest drum circle ever! About five to seven drums had phat nonstop rhythms going for close to an hour. 

The echo was booming the beats everywhere, not to mention the intensity in that immediate area. Everyone passing through was stopping for minutes at a time to shake their still-energized booties. The crowd got so dense and so excited under that overpass, that eventually the cops had to do what they do best, and break up the party.

But as I stood in the parking garage, and me and my friends watched this all develop, with the fireworks going off everywhere, and people screaming and laughing, I realized why I always look so forward to a Phish show...nowhere else on earth do such a great group of people have so much great fun! It's the coolest circus on earth!

- Smokey