My first show was at Deer Creek 8/3/98 between my junior and senior year in high school and is something that changed my life.  I went with my friend Doug and his older brother and wondered why we would be getting to the venue 4 hours before the show started.  I had no idea what would hit me.  After having a few beers and walking around and enjoying the scene I figured that this was some treasure that I had just discovered.  I've been to many other rock concerts before, but never ever experienced anything like this, much less experience the music I was about to hear.So the three of us headed into the venue and made it through the security check...so it seemed.  I told the other two that my drunk self was going to the bathroom and to wait there.  When I came back out Doug's brother informs me that Doug got kicked out for showing off his stash as soon as he made it through and that he would meet me back at the car after the show.  So there I was, at my first show all by myself, and it couldn't be more perfect.  I crept up through the lawn and met so many great people that were nice as can
be, considering I looked nothing like them (I had on the "fratboy" attire, which I no longer wear;).  As I was sitting there on the lawn, I noticed people were jumping down into pavillion when the security turned away, so I decided to give it a try.  Being extremely drunk at this point, nothing really mattered, so I waited for the oppurtune moment and made the move.  It felt like I was in some sacred area and made my way up as far as I can to the front and found an empty seat that no one thankfully came to sit in. Then the band just walked out.  Walked out.  Not some stupid entrance that an 80s hair band would do.  It said it all.  Then I heard my first live Phish notes. The first notes sent chills running through my body like nothing else has ever done before.  Roggae.  And then everyone started this dancing to the groove of the music I had only seen on Woodstock documentaries.  So I just surrendered myself to the flow and began an experience I want to feel on an everyday basis.  At this point I had never smoked weed before and some guys introduced me to it for the first time that
show.  The first set ended and I was sooooo hungry for more.  Just then, I see Doug and his brother come up to me!  Doug gave some dude $ 20 and his T-Shirt for a pavillion ticket stub and made it in to the show! Umbelievable!  I used his stub to use the restroom and upon returning, I found that they were chased out by security because they didn't have their stub.  Great.  I'm looking around and see that they are on the other side of  the pavillion a little behind me waving me up there.  I found them again, and experience an absolutely ripping second set with a Possum and Bowie to boot.  But the highlight of the evening was the closer that started my obsession to Phish:  Harry Hood.  Complete with a monstrous glow stick war. I walked out blown away and completely hooked.

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