By Jeanne Griffin, Producer, WXPN

Ever hear of this band called Phish… Have Two Tickets to the Show Tonight

This was the message on my machine, from a high school friend. Phish? Who?

Betty and I went to H.S. together - both products of Cardinal O’Hara High. We did Senior Week in North Wildwood, weekends @ the shore, and a lot of other concerts together over the years, so it seems fitting looking back now that we attended our first Phish concert together… even though we “looked liked someone’s Mom.”

The date was December 2, 1997, and my friend Betty Condron scored two tickets from her boss, Dean, to the Phish Concert at the CoreStates Spectrum in Philadelphia.

Phish? Sure, I’m game. Reminiscent of Yes. I’m there.

No way are we someone’s Mom, we’re here to see Phish.

Surrounded by twenty-somethings, we arrived early and took our seats in Section 207. What’s that smell? Is it 1997, or 1967? We immediately experienced quite a (70s) flashback, as the pleasant aroma of grass filled the air. The kids/guys around us quickly struck up a conversation, asking us if we wanted to share a joint (talk about the 70s). After chatting with us for a few, they confessed they thought it was really cool that we were “someone’s Mom”, and there with our kids (their age)! Ha! I had no kids, Betty had four… but someone’s Mom?? Don’t think so. Not on “my” inner screen, or in this lifetime. We’re here to experience a Phish concert!

Minus the “Mom” comments, and the years in between, we were right back there in the 70s, grooving to live music and prog rock with one of my favorite bands, Yes. I absolutely loved the show, and was an immediate Phishhead convert. The setlist was awesome and included “Chalkdust Torture” - here’s a clip from the same 1997 Chalkdust tour, but from Cologne, Germany.

[kml_flashembed movie=" http://youtube.com/v/M0zq2ZJO4fg " width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]

On the way home, we talked about what a great show it was, the kids and the joints, and reminisced about all the great shows we’ve seen: The Who at the Civic Center in ‘67, Pink Floyd @ the (original) Electric Factory - sitting on benches, Toots & the Maytals - during the 70s reggae craze - at the Academy, Joan Armatrading at the Tower, Wings Across America at the Spectrum, 2-3 Springsteen shows, Robert Plant (zipper and all) with Led Zeppelin at the Spectrum, Jackson Browne at the Mann, the (then) Philly Local bands at Belmont Plateau in Fairmount Park in 1970, Herman’s Hermits in 1967 (subject of another post), Dave Matthews Band, and… the list goes on. So many shows, so little time!

Trapped in time and I don’t know what to do
These friends of mine, I can see right through
You don’t gotta tell me how I don’t gotta move
‘Cuz I’m sittin’ back here sharin’ in the groove

Setlist
12/02/97 Core States Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA

Set I: Buried Alive, Down With Disease, Makisupa Policeman, Chalkdust Torture, Ghost, The Divided Sky, Dirt, Taste, The Star Spangled Banner.

Set II: Mike’s Song, Simple, Dog Faced Boy, Ya Mar, Weekapaug Groove, Bouncing Around the Room, Character Zero Encore: Ginseng Sullivan, Sample in a Jar