Benjy Does Vegas (Pt. I)
Benjy Eisen
first time...
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Benjy Eisen <be...@archive.phish.net>
First of all, thanks to all who made my Vegas t r i p as much fun as
it was - to my traveling companions (Greg Malin, Jim and Gwenn,
Melham/Nan, Beau and Jimmy, etc.) and to my Vegas (Hunter
S.Thompson-style) Companion Phillip Zerbo: Thank you all for making
this a truly memorable experience...from what I remember and don't
remember :)
Fwiw, I'll take Dirksen's established disclaimer by saying that I've
seen almost 90 Phish shows ('ween was 89th I *think*) starting in 1993.
I've also seen many shows with Phish members (both STTA shows, Cosmic
Krewe appearances, Bad Hat, etc.) and have heard an obscene (and
probably unhealthy) amount of Phish on tape, spanning every year of
their career.
I've been blessed to see many memorable Phish shows such as all of
the Sugarbush shows, Big Birch 7/13/94, Ottawa 7/5/94, and many of
the December '95 historic shows (Hershey, UMass, Binghamton, etc). I've
seen Gamehendge performed live (Great Woods '94) and The Talking Heads'
Remain In Light (Halloween '96). I've seen The Clifford Ball, The
Great Went and The Lemonwheel. I've seen the NYE runs (in part or in
the entirety) since '93. I am jaded at times, naturally, and am no
longer easily blown away.
I was blown away in Las Vegas.
Vegas itself was unlike any other place I have seen Phish...it was
unlike any other place I have seen at all, for that matter. If The
Clifford Ball, Great Went and Lemonwheel sites were like an abstract
psychedelic oasis, Las Vegas appeared as The Mother Ship. We stayed
at The Excaliber, which was fashioned after a story-book Castle...it
was supposed to resemble Medieval haunts I believe, however the pastel
coloration of the turrets and towers were more of the Snow White
variety and indeed, standing on the drawbridge, one did feel like one
of the seven dwarfs. This was the scene I arrived at on Thursday
evening.
A quick look across the street was matched with the New York
skyline. Walking into New York, New York, I explored a small-scale
replica of the city..one in which instead of being mugged, patrons
surrendered their cash over the table via poker and blackjack.
And while the hotel was a "mini-replica" of NYC, it was still
incomprehensible in its magnitude. Further explorations into Las
Vegas (with drink in hand, always, with drink in hand) found me
walking into Bellagio's which I will not even attempt to explain other
than to say it was MAGNIFICENT and impeccably tasteful - from Lake
Como to Van Gogh originals! Simply unreal...
The MGM Grand, while grand alright, didn't do much for me - The Luxor
on the other hand was also quite an attraction. After a few more
drinks and reunions with friends ("Big Phil" of NC, Angelika and
Laura from PSU, etc.) I crept into bed for a whopping three hours of
sleep.
After breakfast, Greg Malin and I wandered over to the NY, NY to ride
the roller-coaster. We were front row. It was unbelievable. I say
this as an experienced roller-coaster engineer.
After the thrill, we ran into Phillip Zerbo and the three of us went
exploring Las Vegas...drinks in hand. We hit Bellagio's and Ceaser's
Palace. Again, with drinks in hand. After a stop back at the
Excaliber for pre-show preperations, PZerbo and I walked to the venue
(drinks in hand) where we were amazed to find absolutely NO LOT SCENE!
The parking lot was empty. EMPTY. There were some kids playing
hackey-sack. Other than that, empty concrete. Around the building it
was more crowded, but again, no real "lot scene". Just a lot of
people waiting in line to get in, and a few people looking for extras
(with cash in their hands). This was around 6:30pm I think. WIERD!
We walked inside and got situated in nice seats, Page's side. We
underwent some preperations and viola - lights out! The set was
ROCKING from the start - all four Phish players were as pumped as the
vibe in the audience, fists swinging high like the Stratosphere, super
disco breaking like The Circus Phish Fillet. Scent of A Mule was the
first highlight, compliments of the Chicken Shack blues jam inserted
in the duel. The Thomas and Mack was then comped with a Long Cool
Woman In A Black Dress to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the band
- not having been played since their first show, a safe bet wagers
this as the largest breakout ever.
Against the odds at the MGM, the Antelope which followed was a
"best-ever". Easily. Patient jamming, developed builds - this
Antelope was over the top. The rest of the set was introspective and
definately a discreet look back at 15 years of glory. This whole show
had that feel actually.
The second set, one of my favorite sets ever, weaved Stash into a
worm-town rendition of Manteca (a nice break-out, eh?) which they
nailed and which took the rarity to a performance level unseen in
previous renditions, including the recorded Picture Of Nectar take.
The odds were overturned again as this segues beautifully into a
magestic Tweezer - one that incorporated the extravagent scale of Las
Vegas with the unified flexibility of Fall '95 jams. IT then continued
to power its way onto a wonderful bridge which led into NICU. The rest
of the set was also worthy (Prince Caspian was a bit too arena-rockish
and forced perhaps) and easily a set that, missing from someone's tape
collection, will render that collection incomplete. It is that good a
set.
After the show, PZerbo and I wandered around the Strip some more
where we ran into other rmp'ers, revelers, oddities and friends (such
as AJ, Jim Raras, etc. etc. etc.) Mr. Zerbo, old man that he is, had to
call it a night :) <duck!>
I myself managed to push dawn, helping myself to some complimentary
drinks and other delights while wandering around with thoughts of
Hunter S. Thompson's failed search for the American Dream. This was
the right place to search for it, I thought. I later corrected myself:
Las Vegas is the place to search for people searching for The American
Dream. The Dream itself may be elsewhere.
(Part II tomorrow kids...)
Walk with light my friends,
Benjy
"Some people like the happier stuff. Some people like the songs that
are melodic. Some people like the songs that we just tear our shirts
off and jam our faces off." - Jon "Barber" Gutwillig; The Disco Biscuits
PZerbo
> After the show, PZerbo and I wandered around the Strip some more
>where we ran into other rmp'ers, revelers, oddities and friends (such
>as AJ, Jim Raras, etc. etc. etc.) Mr. Zerbo, old man that he is, had to
>call it a night :) <duck!>
Benjy, as your attorney, I must advise you to duck -real- -low-!
Hey, raging past 4:30am is all well and good on most nights, but not on a
school night, after all, there was a show the next day. And if anyone needs
their beauty sleep, it is most certainly me! :-)
-Phillip