2.5 Weekapaug Groove - 1997-07-22 | Walnut Creek Amphitheater, Raleigh, NC

2.5 Weekapaug Groove - 1997-07-22 | Walnut Creek Amphitheater, Raleigh, NC

[@TheDolphster5000]

So my best friend, "Bakes", said let's tour cross country and follow Phish back in 97. We did the Clifford Ball year before and many other shows. I had graduated college, and was already working. Did not like my job (or maybe just work in general) at that time, so said I am in! Quit and we did it. Parents, not particularly on board with the idea, but inertia was on my side!!! It was, the most amazing experience for a kid who never really left PA. Drove so much. Saw so much Phish. Met so many different people - from PA to VA to GA to TX to AZ to CA to WA to WI to ME and back - we got around. Came face to face with a rattle snake den at a watering hole in TX - pooped a little. Got sunburned as fuck in AZ but still took over the town that night - many heads at the Hampton Inn we were saying at just dropping acid, smoking weed and breaking bottles at the pool which did not go over particularly well with the management - somehow, we did not have to leave an enjoyed the night. Lost my new piece due to aggressive security at the George, WA venue, and remember running away from them right after they took my wonderful piece just as Phish came on and played the most bizarre, trippy, opening to DWD I have ever heard. Met two dudes that had a large ziplock bag full of shrooms that eve parked next to us in the camp ground - have never seen stars sooooo bright as that night!!! Lost my mind shortly thereafter but had to keep on moving. Next thing I knew, met a biker chick in South Dakota and she reset my clocks. Was just amazing the whole trip - and getting to see Phish in their prime was just an experience not very many people can relate to - but would never trade the memories for anything. Love you Bakes!!!!

[@austinskeens8983]

thank you very much for sharing

[@BAGAKOOS]

Great story! Sounds like an awesome time! Would’ve love to catch phish back in ‘97. Definitely a creative peak for the band.

[@joshuaserber3855]

I was there. I'm from maine. Home court advantage

[@neptunestylev]

Bruh write a script on this story please. I played this out in my head and it was legendary.

[@Chuckdiesel-js6oh]

This is my favorite Weekapaug for sure.

[@bunnyrubyjanee]

I'm obsessed with young trey anastasio

[@isaacchura141]

@Sanjay Mallipudi I much prefer band coach give-everybody-space-to-shred chilled out Trey... Though no disputing the man was spewing fire from his fingers in those early years

[@vasillydalmiras1231]

94 trey is probably my favorite. If you haven't listen to red rocks 94 do yourselves a favor my favorite show to listen to.

[@2112CO]

@@vasillydalmiras1231 94 was pure!

[@rageagainsttheworld]

so good, fell outta love with phish for a bit, but this brings me back!

[@ExxylcrothEagle]

I love these superimposed semi faded duo shots of the band. really nice

[@DH-ij9pe]

There’s nothing better than a Weekapaug....

[@briant9130]

Until the next song.

[@BAGAKOOS]

how does MIke do the things he does while playing this song? amazing!

[@edwardfetner2513]

holy shit do i hear a Can You Hear Me Knockin tease at the end?!

[@ambermcdade2919]

Oh my God I am totally aggravating my boyfriend listening to all these phish songs from different venues but he's so sweet he doesn't care or he thinks alot of my skills and doesn't want to lose me *joking but not REALLY*

[@joshuaserber3855]

Can't hate that!!

[@brittanyknight1103]

Big red and the boys never fail to put down a heater! It’s like a way of life! Always put out your best!! Burn the house down in a good groovin way.

[@DaFreezeey]

Does anyone know what effect Trey clicks on at 7:58 ? It almost sounds like Page is playing in unison with him on his B3 organ but its not cause the camera shows us that page is still playing his Piano... So its definitely an effect he is using there

[@jerryseinfeld9815]

Ryan DeFrees he turns on his leslie speaker to the fast setting.

[@FunkHitsTheFan]

Need me a Leslie speaker!

[@BenFranknbeans]

Slappadabassssssss

[@pango-y8j]

Hey I've seen fish a few times mostly in Northern California Ventura Santa Barbara Sacramento San Francisco San Jose I paid my dues but I know there are people who enjoy fish that know a lot more than I do I also took a 20-year sabbatical due to life I've seen fish in Christiana Copenhagen I've seen fish in Prague Czech Republic I've seen fish at Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation and I love fish I listen to them for hours every day Trey Anastasio Paige Gordon fish you guys are absolutely amazing and I'm from San Rafael Marin County San Francisco California I pledge allegiance to Jerry Garcia but am I wrong here and please someone point out point out if I am wrong when they're jamming in this week of Paul Groove do they not do a pinch or a hint or a tease of I am hydrogen or am I just Totally Baked on kind outdoor homegrown and about six or seven naughty ice cheap American domestic beer 5.9% good bang for the buck I mean come on that's got to be I am hydrogen right am I wrong anybody Bueller

[@travisotero8088]

fucking nutz

[@neptunestylev]

From 5:15 to 6... my goodness 😮

[@elevatorsfan]

:)

[@bobcoleman9045]

How faced you think Trey was here

[@pango-y8j]

I love the I am hydrogen kind of tease but not really just like yeah that base oh we could put Groove yes I Tucson Arizona Sonoran Desert Rastafari keep on keeping on naughty ice homegrown

[@briant9130]

Only thing that would make this better is if Fishman was in his muumuu.

[@joshuaserber3855]

Best phish is 94 to 96. Yup

[@hippogator]

*'83-'22

[@mikecardona5684]

98 all day

[@hammondOT]

Trey's faces are so ridiculous.

[@sweetpeajunglebean]

this is my least favorite era of the band. '97-98 era jams had a certain flat, meandering sterility to them that just rubbed me the wrong way. this weekapaug is a perfect example of that. am I crazy?

[@travisotero8088]

def crazy they were destroying

[@novakaya]

No I totally hear you. People often make the mistake of associating the power speed and raw energy of early eta phish with artistic mastery and finesse. I personally feel the same as you about late 90s phish and have found that the music they’re playing these days is on an entirely different plane as far as finesse, texture, depth and poignancy. It’s less notes per minute these days , but the notes that are player are more potent and allowed to ring out within a perfect application of silence and spaciousness

[@brucebrandy9433]

Certifiably so, indeed. Have you been fitted for your very own, one-of-a-kind, button-up-the-back-blazer-jacket in stunning Pure White Kevlar-strengthened Rayon, yet? Do proceed.

[@jodyneal4969]

but both of you are here watching ?

[@brucebrandy9433]

You are in a very small group of people, and that's a guess I am certain is on point with actual Phans of this band, and although your opinion is in disagreement with so many......iiwii, to each his own. But this is some genius musicianship and they were like a fine tuned performance device that was unbefuckinglievable at that time. Now, too, imo. But not like 96-98, Fall 97 and the Island Tour (those 4 dates in April 98) Absolutely Crush.