Yikes man , listening to Camden in line was the best part of the festival. I take nothing for granted that I’m getting to see them this weekend for the first time this year. Thank you friends 🙏
Tough one to revisit i can only obviously agree and express basically the exact sentiments that were discussed in the video. Great job guys.For me, my own personal life became dark at that point in time as well....The realization of how awesome and amazing that they are still playing and have moved well away from that time as well as myself is truely a blessing and a gift. Thanks for another great presentation WOOK+
Thanks Tim and all - another awesome episode of our favorite band ... but during the toughest time in their history. Historic. Looking forward to Festival 8 !!!!
Another great episode! I wasn’t at Coventry but knew the stories, and it makes it a great juxtaposition to watch this having just seen 3 incredible nights at Alpine in 2024. We should all be thankful for every show we still get to see!
Every time I talk about Phish, whether it’s to a phish head or not…I always say “we’re just so lucky to still have them.” I was at alpine N2 and it was absolutely incredible, what a show. For them to still be playing and at such a high level, they’re a fucking unicorn of a band. I think in some ways they’re better than ever
This is so insightful. As a 49 year old guy from NY that started going feb 93 and toured very heavily through the mid and late 90s, you guys totally captured a lot of the feelings of that weekend and the aftermath. I stopped seeing them after island tour. I didn’t like the ambient direction they were moving in and the scene started getting real dirty. But I HAD TO GO to the last show! I was really shook up for a long time after. Thank god they’re still touring and putting out great music. My friend put it this way:”you’re not picking your face up off the floor anymore, but you’re still smiling”
Hearing these stories again, I have to say I relate to every one of them, having lived through this "event" as well. I remember thinking at the time, it can't really end like this, can it? After all these years getting bigger and bigger, how did this happen? Where did it go so wrong exactly? The 2004 tour and this festival broke my heart. It was like watching a horrific car accident live, knowing your family is in the car. An unwelcome exclamation point at the end of my youth. Let's say, I am very happy to see it didn't end this way afterall. They deserved better and so did all the fans.
Witnessing Trey snort a bag of dope right before 'The Curtain With' is very haunting, as I too used to live in The Land of Nod.... as someone in Recovery from opiates I cannot express the gratitude I have for this band and those 4 musical scholars from the Northeast Kingdom. September 18, 2000 changed my Life @ Blossom Music Center, please do return 🙏 ✌🏼💜⭕
You guys are incredible. I was there F&F RV camping. Met Trey and Fish came to my RV. Which was cool but it all felt so strange. I finally had all the access I ever wanted and none of it seemed real. I have pics of me and Trey and my GF and fish but it’s painful to look at them. Trey was mangled and couldn’t get his words out to his golf cart driver. Anyway, thanks guys! One last thing, I too cried. Never expected to be crying. Anyway, it had all the potential for greatest fest ever. But this is video is the first time I’ve been able to let myself go back.
Phish became my favorite band in 2003 and then broke up. Between then and when Hampton 09 was announced I held onto Coventry and never listened saving it for another day as I made my way through the decades of phish then when it was announced I just went and listened to coventry and it sucked! some great amazing moments really breath taking sometimes
20 years later. Crazy. I remember listening to Mike talk about the flooding and mud problem on XM Radio. I was 17. Great times! 😂 Glad they rectified everything and are still crushing……….when they want to, of course.
Wow great job that was the best episode to date. Which is weird because it was the worst festival they ever did but great storytelling, great content from the guests each with a interesting point of view of how it went down. I am so grateful for what we are getting now after listening to how it could have ended for our favorite band.
We were the sixth to last car to make it past the cutoff line on the highway so it took my buddy and I a total of 50 hours to get in..we pulled into the lot during setbreak on the first night. Found a spot to set up a tent and listened to last set at camp. Our friend who hiked in the 15 miles from the highway on Friday somehow found us on Sunday morning. Such a weird ass show all around.
We stayed offsite at a fishing lodge and had a local cab drive us as close as we could get. We were so put off by the first day we just left and never went back the second day
That's what we did. We got a tip and took a chance, parked on someone's lawn, and the locals sardined us in the back of a pick up truck. We left everything in the car. I slept on the picnic table in front of some food trucks. And yes, I lost a shoe
I drove right in. I missed my exit going north and went several miles toward the Canadian border. Turned around and got off my exit and parked about a mile away from the entrance. Had some dudes ride me in on a 4 wheeler. Slept in our rental SUV every night. No problem.
Great perspectives as always. I know it doesn't fit the theme, but after the lows of Coventry, it would be really interesting to see a video on the 2009 return, even though it was Hampton, not a festival.
I bought two sheets of plywood and strapped them on top of my car so we had a floor at our campsite, no muddy shoes allowed. I went to school in VT so I knew the backroads to shortcut. Still barely made it in past the cutoff. We were on the last stretch getting ready to park in the ditch and hike in because they had announced parking was closed and a cop rode by on a motorcycle and said "You guys are in!" One of my friends hiked 20 miles from the highway and forgot her ticket in her car so we had to sneak her in. My highlight was rescuing a performer on stilts that was stuck in the mud. After I got him out I offered him a sealed water and he was suspicious and thought it was dosed or something lol. He was from France. Coventry was better than Curveball at any rate... At Curveball we were in view of the Watkins Glen sign and saw it change from Welcome Phish Phans to Event Cancelled. That was a bummer.
This was, technically, my first show. I asked my folks for tickets to Great Woods for my 15th birthday but for whatever reason they bought me tickets to the last night simulcast in Marlborough MA instead. I think they thought it would be more chill (it absolutely was not). I remember walking in during Weekapaug, sitting in our seats for about 5 minutes and then noticing everyone dancing at the back of the theater. I ran off to go join the proverbial party, although I was such a nerd at that point I didn't dare try any...uh, party favors. In retrospect I was definitely pumping up music that wasn't really being played well, because I thought that was going to be the only time I'd see them in any capacity. During one jam (I think it was DwD?) where Trey is hitting his guitar with two glowsticks, the camera cut to Fishman who mouthed as clear as day "Pull up man! Fuck!" and did not look happy. I was too naive to realize what was going on when Trey turned his back to the audience and looked like death warmed over after. I remember on the ride home my mom said "I think that guitarist was on drugs..." and I tried to earnestly defend that just because they were a jam band did not mean they were on drugs. Oops. I wouldn't actually TRULY see them for real until 2018.
As an addict myself, it’s hard for me to watch Trey during certain stretches. I’ve been a phish fan since my dad got me into them when I was a child in the mid/late 90s…I have yet to ever watch or listen to Coventry other than the Velvet Sea moment. Maybe now is as good of a time as ever? They’re in such a great place and it’s such a distant memory…but man, I don’t know that I ever want to see it lol
I was there. Miraculously avoided the traffic by parking in a nearby adjacent town. Lets be honest here: that wasn't mud. That was cow manure. I can still smell it.
They opened with walls of the cave because of the poignancy of the opening lyrics, given the circumstances. Not really their fault that you don't like the song. Walls of the cave is absolutely gorgeous in my opinion. To each their own.
This brings me back. What I recall was having a great time despite the circumstances. It was a fun trip to Vermont, but the vibes were weird and ominous inside, weather being one of the big issues. However, people seemed in good spirits. Musically, this was by far the worst show ever with no redeemable sets. But thank God this was not the end, and their live shows today are better and more consistent than they ever have been always delivering magic instead of only on occasions.
Spot on. Missed all of 2.0 besides Camden and Coventry. Had to say goodbye. The mud and music was bad, the porta potties were ungodly disgusting. I’ve never seen hundreds of them all overflowing with poop.
It's a lot easier to come to grips with, and reflect upon now, given the nature of that weekend, and the subsequent music and shows that have followed. But as one of the 25k people who didn't get into the venue because they followed the instructions of staying in the right lane. I still want it properly noted in Phish history and lore, that the Left Lane Cheaters SUCK! They know who they are. And I can only hope their eternity includes only having access to that weekend's music, while the rest of us get to enjoy the band's entire catalog.
I was at Coventry... EVERYTHING and EVERYONE was a mess. the crowd was F'd, the band was F'd, the property was F'd. I was personally a complete shit show
no Brian it wasnt wolfmans. that wolfmans was a highpoint of the show. it's where we found out that fishman was the wolfmans brother! but that glide. woof. yup literally the worst playing they have ever played. such a weird sad strange fest. i walked out during curtain. too sad.
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Yikes man , listening to Camden in line was the best part of the festival. I take nothing for granted that I’m getting to see them this weekend for the first time this year. Thank you friends 🙏
Tough one to revisit i can only obviously agree and express basically the exact sentiments that were discussed in the video. Great job guys.For me, my own personal life became dark at that point in time as well....The realization of how awesome and amazing that they are still playing and have moved well away from that time as well as myself is truely a blessing and a gift. Thanks for another great presentation WOOK+
Thanks Tim and all - another awesome episode of our favorite band ... but during the toughest time in their history. Historic. Looking forward to Festival 8 !!!!
Glad you liked it! I'm looking forward to these last few as well 🍻
Another great episode! I wasn’t at Coventry but knew the stories, and it makes it a great juxtaposition to watch this having just seen 3 incredible nights at Alpine in 2024. We should all be thankful for every show we still get to see!
Every time I talk about Phish, whether it’s to a phish head or not…I always say “we’re just so lucky to still have them.” I was at alpine N2 and it was absolutely incredible, what a show. For them to still be playing and at such a high level, they’re a fucking unicorn of a band. I think in some ways they’re better than ever
🙏
How about that simple!?!!?
This is so insightful. As a 49 year old guy from NY that started going feb 93 and toured very heavily through the mid and late 90s, you guys totally captured a lot of the feelings of that weekend and the aftermath. I stopped seeing them after island tour. I didn’t like the ambient direction they were moving in and the scene started getting real dirty. But I HAD TO GO to the last show! I was really shook up for a long time after. Thank god they’re still touring and putting out great music. My friend put it this way:”you’re not picking your face up off the floor anymore, but you’re still smiling”
Hearing these stories again, I have to say I relate to every one of them, having lived through this "event" as well. I remember thinking at the time, it can't really end like this, can it? After all these years getting bigger and bigger, how did this happen? Where did it go so wrong exactly? The 2004 tour and this festival broke my heart. It was like watching a horrific car accident live, knowing your family is in the car. An unwelcome exclamation point at the end of my youth. Let's say, I am very happy to see it didn't end this way afterall. They deserved better and so did all the fans.
Witnessing Trey snort a bag of dope right before 'The Curtain With' is very haunting, as I too used to live in The Land of Nod.... as someone in Recovery from opiates I cannot express the gratitude I have for this band and those 4 musical scholars from the Northeast Kingdom.
September 18, 2000 changed my Life @ Blossom Music Center, please do return 🙏
✌🏼💜⭕
The Land of Nod....
Love this series! Thanks for the hard work, Tim!
My pleasure! Glad you enjoy it!
You guys are incredible. I was there F&F RV camping. Met Trey and Fish came to my RV. Which was cool but it all felt so strange. I finally had all the access I ever wanted and none of it seemed real. I have pics of me and Trey and my GF and fish but it’s painful to look at them. Trey was mangled and couldn’t get his words out to his golf cart driver. Anyway, thanks guys! One last thing, I too cried. Never expected to be crying. Anyway, it had all the potential for greatest fest ever. But this is video is the first time I’ve been able to let myself go back.
Well done once again. Really enjoying this series
So happy you enjoy them! We have a few more coming soon!
Theyre idiots. Displaying their complete incomprension of Phish. Its emarassing
So well done. Enjoyed every second of this.
Thank you! Really appreciate it 🍻
Amazing work Tim. This one got me to finally become a member.
Thank you 🙏 And welcome to the wook crew!
Phish became my favorite band in 2003 and then broke up. Between then and when Hampton 09 was announced I held onto Coventry and never listened saving it for another day as I made my way through the decades of phish then when it was announced I just went and listened to coventry and it sucked! some great amazing moments really breath taking sometimes
20 years later. Crazy. I remember listening to Mike talk about the flooding and mud problem on XM Radio. I was 17. Great times! 😂 Glad they rectified everything and are still crushing……….when they want to, of course.
Wow great job that was the best episode to date. Which is weird because it was the worst festival they ever did but great storytelling, great content from the guests each with a interesting point of view of how it went down. I am so grateful for what we are getting now after listening to how it could have ended for our favorite band.
Thank you 🙏 it's pretty wild to go back to that place and to see how far they have come.
I still haven’t re-listened to it at all.
We were the sixth to last car to make it past the cutoff line on the highway so it took my buddy and I a total of 50 hours to get in..we pulled into the lot during setbreak on the first night. Found a spot to set up a tent and listened to last set at camp. Our friend who hiked in the 15 miles from the highway on Friday somehow found us on Sunday morning. Such a weird ass show all around.
Damn. That's wild!
We stayed offsite at a fishing lodge and had a local cab drive us as close as we could get. We were so put off by the first day we just left and never went back the second day
damn I woulda loved to join this discussion. I have some stories. "dark, dark times" (c) CC Deville. Great episodes gents
🙏
We left everything on the freeway! Grabbed essentials. Walked in.
Glide was the most memorable moment for me sadly. That and Velvet Sea, Split Open and Melt, and The Curtain With.
You too will one day experience, Coventry
That's what we did. We got a tip and took a chance, parked on someone's lawn, and the locals sardined us in the back of a pick up truck. We left everything in the car. I slept on the picnic table in front of some food trucks. And yes, I lost a shoe
I walked like 10 miles to get in. Then worked for clean vibes for 3 days after the show. It was brutal.
I drove right in. I missed my exit going north and went several miles toward the Canadian border. Turned around and got off my exit and parked about a mile away from the entrance. Had some dudes ride me in on a 4 wheeler. Slept in our rental SUV every night. No problem.
Damn 20 years, I was in the descent of total self destruction (luckily I came out of it), but man.
same
Samesies
Great perspectives as always. I know it doesn't fit the theme, but after the lows of Coventry, it would be really interesting to see a video on the 2009 return, even though it was Hampton, not a festival.
We are going to capture some of that sentiment in the Festival 8 video for sure.
The walk on the 14th was brutal.
Very tastefully done.
Thank you! Cheers!
@attendancebias, love the Nashville 2015 print! Third event held at the brand new Ascend Amphitheatre!
I bought two sheets of plywood and strapped them on top of my car so we had a floor at our campsite, no muddy shoes allowed. I went to school in VT so I knew the backroads to shortcut. Still barely made it in past the cutoff. We were on the last stretch getting ready to park in the ditch and hike in because they had announced parking was closed and a cop rode by on a motorcycle and said "You guys are in!" One of my friends hiked 20 miles from the highway and forgot her ticket in her car so we had to sneak her in. My highlight was rescuing a performer on stilts that was stuck in the mud. After I got him out I offered him a sealed water and he was suspicious and thought it was dosed or something lol. He was from France. Coventry was better than Curveball at any rate... At Curveball we were in view of the Watkins Glen sign and saw it change from Welcome Phish Phans to Event Cancelled. That was a bummer.
Crazy stories.
This was, technically, my first show. I asked my folks for tickets to Great Woods for my 15th birthday but for whatever reason they bought me tickets to the last night simulcast in Marlborough MA instead. I think they thought it would be more chill (it absolutely was not).
I remember walking in during Weekapaug, sitting in our seats for about 5 minutes and then noticing everyone dancing at the back of the theater. I ran off to go join the proverbial party, although I was such a nerd at that point I didn't dare try any...uh, party favors.
In retrospect I was definitely pumping up music that wasn't really being played well, because I thought that was going to be the only time I'd see them in any capacity. During one jam (I think it was DwD?) where Trey is hitting his guitar with two glowsticks, the camera cut to Fishman who mouthed as clear as day "Pull up man! Fuck!" and did not look happy. I was too naive to realize what was going on when Trey turned his back to the audience and looked like death warmed over after.
I remember on the ride home my mom said "I think that guitarist was on drugs..." and I tried to earnestly defend that just because they were a jam band did not mean they were on drugs. Oops.
I wouldn't actually TRULY see them for real until 2018.
As an addict myself, it’s hard for me to watch Trey during certain stretches. I’ve been a phish fan since my dad got me into them when I was a child in the mid/late 90s…I have yet to ever watch or listen to Coventry other than the Velvet Sea moment. Maybe now is as good of a time as ever? They’re in such a great place and it’s such a distant memory…but man, I don’t know that I ever want to see it lol
Well done, such a contrast to the other episodes… I’m still chasing Glide and am anticipating its redemption at Mondegreen!
Thanks! 🍻
Would love to get a Glide at monde!
Wow MAN!
One of my sandals is buried a foot plus deep in Vermont dirt.
I do remember meeting Danny DeVito. He was just wandering around the crowd
I'm just glad there was no boathouse backstage.
Bought a pair of knee high waders from Brendan from Umphreys. Best money I ever spent.
way cooler than mine from Walmart!
Smart
They had a bus parked on the runway. Couple of em went
The ghost was pretty sick
And melt
I really like the bag jam first night. I thought first set was good a little sloppy but it was 2.0
I love The Curtain With. But that they chose that as the last song says a lot about where they were at. If it happened now, it’s Tweezer Reprise
I literally skipped all of 2.0, sad to have missed IT being I was at both Went & Lemonwheel, but glad i didn't make the trek to Coventry
I was there. Miraculously avoided the traffic by parking in a nearby adjacent town. Lets be honest here: that wasn't mud. That was cow manure. I can still smell it.
11:24. Nope, never had " breakup seps." Really cannot relate. 😂
Clifford Ball was epic!
We should have bumper stickers that say I survived Coventry... If you did that is
I did NOT take care of my shoes! Left them on the freeway.
They opened with walls of the cave because of the poignancy of the opening lyrics, given the circumstances. Not really their fault that you don't like the song. Walls of the cave is absolutely gorgeous in my opinion. To each their own.
sink in the water but you're walkin on wood
Good Luck in Delaware
TL;DW - No Coventry footage here, just the perspectives of some dudes…
Yup.
Coventry was odd as they had a few good improv sections but they missed on so many of their actual written sections of songs.
This brings me back. What I recall was having a great time despite the circumstances. It was a fun trip to Vermont, but the vibes were weird and ominous inside, weather being one of the big issues. However, people seemed in good spirits. Musically, this was by far the worst show ever with no redeemable sets. But thank God this was not the end, and their live shows today are better and more consistent than they ever have been always delivering magic instead of only on occasions.
Spot on. Missed all of 2.0 besides Camden and Coventry. Had to say goodbye. The mud and music was bad, the porta potties were ungodly disgusting. I’ve never seen hundreds of them all overflowing with poop.
Coventry was kinda like 1990s Grateful Dead I guess
95, yeah
It's a lot easier to come to grips with, and reflect upon now, given the nature of that weekend, and the subsequent music and shows that have followed.
But as one of the 25k people who didn't get into the venue because they followed the instructions of staying in the right lane. I still want it properly noted in Phish history and lore, that the Left Lane Cheaters SUCK! They know who they are.
And I can only hope their eternity includes only having access to that weekend's music, while the rest of us get to enjoy the band's entire catalog.
I was at Coventry... EVERYTHING and EVERYONE was a mess. the crowd was F'd, the band was F'd, the property was F'd. I was personally a complete shit show
Love Glide opening this episode. Always cringy.
Don't do drugs
no Brian it wasnt wolfmans. that wolfmans was a highpoint of the show. it's where we found out that fishman was the wolfmans brother! but that glide. woof. yup literally the worst playing they have ever played. such a weird sad strange fest. i walked out during curtain. too sad.
One of my sandals is buried a foot plus deep in Vermont dirt.