Over the past few years, I've realized I love California Phish. I fell in love with California the first time my Dad took me there in tow on a business trip back in the late 70s. We stayed at The Beverly Wilshire hotel.We flew out with business associates which included Hugh Sloan, who was Nixon's treasurer of The Committee to Re-elect the President. That's another story entirely however.
My point is, I fell in love with California a long time ago.
Over the past few years, I have made a point of not missing Phish in Cali.
After what I felt were historic shows at BGCA, I flew down to Southern California for the last show of the tour before returning home to Miami.
I happen to come across some fungi before leaving the Bay Area that I though might come in handy.
I landed in LAX and immediately ingested said fungi en route to the Roosevelt Hotel on Hollywood Blvd.
It was a beautiful Southern California day. As we approached the hotel, we were caught in a traffic jam. I was really starting to feel the mushrooms by this time and didn't want to be constrained to a cab any longer, so I got out and walked the last few blocks.
When you're on tour, even a mini tour, you never know where the magic will happen...or why.
I was with a couple friends in San Francisco who had to go back home, so I was in L.A. solo.
I was feeling the most beautiful sensations walking down the street. I was in Southern California, on vacation, about to see my favorite band in the world.
I checked into my room with only about one hour until showtime. Above my bed was a photo of David Bowie from the late 60s sitting at a table with a beautiful garden behind him, and a view of the L.A. skyline from my window.
Every now and then in life, everything flows perfectly without any negative energy.
I started walking down Hollywood Blvd and the mushrooms were starting to really work. There was a movie premiere with celebrity photo ops on one side and the Chinese Theatre on the other with people in full movie character costume. It was completely surreal.
As I made my way over to Highland Avenue, I began to see other people walking to the show and joined them.
As we walked closer and the crowd grew to mostly Phish fans, I looked over at a girl who was walking near me. She looked at me like she knew the trip I was on. She had such a beautiful smile, I'll never forget it.
It was nice to be back at the Bowl after 2 years.
It's really difficult for me to criticize this show at all since I had such an incredible experience.
The entire first set was like a waking dream. Beautiful versions of every song.
I saw my first Sparkle and Scent of a Mule. I danced like it was the first show I had ever seen.
The second set was equally entertaining with the version of Hood that now stands as one of the best of the year.
It was one of those nights when you leave a show completely satisfied.
It most certainly ranks as one of my favorites of 2013.