Happy Aloha Friday Y’all
February, oh February, what’s not to love about the sneaky month who changes shape every four years, expands its short stature to ensure the cosmic mission of planetary revolution keeps its pace with our calendar. Well, there was even more to love 20 years ago, when the band Phish decided enough was enough of their hiatus and leapt back onto the scene in grand fashion, ringing in the New Year at MSG followed by a run of shows at the Mothership, Hampton Colosseum…Cut to February 14th and Phish sets off on an 11 show coast to coast run, winding their way through the vast circuitry of the continental US, hitting California, Nevada, Colorado, Illinois, Ohio, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and all culminating, full circle, in what many feel was the best show of that era, Nassau Colosseum 2/28/2003, Uniondale New York (check out last year’s Aloha Friday email, attached, and the retelling of that old yarn).
Along the way, Phish dusted off the proverbial cobb webs of a few year hiatus, polishing the brass of their vast cannon and ushering in a new era and a new sound. Creativity was not lacking, by any means during a true New England winter that February. Winter storms were rattling the east coast, snow piling up in those enormous mounds across large parking lots, the kind that sat outside large arenas. The kind you heard a rumor about a friend’s friend’s friend falling through a chasm in one as they climbed up a pile to get a better look and got stuck. On 2/24/2023, at the old Continental Airlines Arena, in East Rutherford New Jersey, such piles abounded outside the arena. Dressed for the arctic, but hoping for fire once the house lights went down, I entered the arena and was witness to Phish concluding their first set with a series of songs accompanied by Blues Legend BB King! As B.B came on to the stage and was handed his trusty guitar, Lucille, the place erupted and the band dropped into a searing 22 minute version of Everyday I have the Blues, which bled into The Thrill is Gone complete with dueling guitar licks from B.B. and Trey. They rounded out the set with Rock Me Baby and B.B. left the stage a raucous standing ovation from the entire crowd. We had witnessed history.
As we wind down February and Black History Month, here is a nod to B.B. King and how he helped bring the much needed heat, 20 years ago today, to the Meadowlands. Click those links to enjoy some tasty Phish and Chips with Tar Tar sauce! Yup, I went there.
