09 November 2009

Phish Festival 8 - Part Two

Hey there phriends and other friends!!!

So, per my last iReport (http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-350641) the jam band Phish held their Festival 8 in Indio, CA, over Halloween weekend this year.  Friday got things off to an incredible beginning and that fervor most certainly spilled over into Halloween proper…

Halloween day at a Phish festival is almost indescribable.  With the entire English language at my command (and sizable amounts of other languages) I don't think I could find a sufficient amount of adjectives to do the experience any justice.  Phish fans are a fun-loving bunch to begin with, often wearing costumes to shows on the calendric opposite of All Hallow's Eve.  Add every favorite adult child's holiday into things and you get an electrified, feathered, painted, glow-in-the-dark insanity that is off the Richter Scale.  The whole day was as extremely enjoyable to witness as it was to into which to fall…the positive energy and common craziness enveloped you like a golden haze all set to the music of one phenomenal band.

The video and pictures really tend to speak for themselves in terms of commentary.  Mostly, you just need to sit back and enjoy...

There are a few highlights to mention, of course.  Phish's traditional Halloween "costume" (another band's album they cover in its entirety) was The Rolling Stones' "Exile on Main Street".  They did an incredible job of playing it, however, there was some division amongst the fans as to how quality a choice it was.  There were a lot of happy folks to be sure, but there were also a lot of disappointed ones…  Additionally, the band's third set was truly off the charts.  I heard many, MANY people around me in the crowd say it was the best set they had ever seen.  Not bad for a band whose performed sets now number in the thousands…  The finale, "Suzy Greenburg", really was unbelievable.  For that number, the band brought out a full horn section and some incredible back-up singers.  It blew the lid off the whole night!!!  Well done, boys!!!

So, here you go…Halloween at Festival 8.

If you were there, you remember.  If you weren't, well then, at least you have this, right???

(Be sure to stay tuned for Part Three -- coming to an iReport near you!!!)

Peace through music,

PHAmanNYC (now in CO)

Image Captions:

1 - "The Coil" - an art installation on the venue grounds

2 - Feathery costumes and Enablahs abounding!!!

3 - Amateur tightrope walking near the vendors

4 - Venue sights...

5 - The staff busy doing their best to help us all out...

6 - This gnome roamed to Festival 8, apparently...

7 - Enablah Birds of a Feather at the afternoon set

8 - Moonrise over 8

9 - Enablah lady birds on the Coil.