SHARING THE SHOWS
Introverted me now has to follow through on plans extroverted me made months ago. That’s the story behind my trip to Phil Lesh & Friends. I’d never seen him perform during his multiple residencies at the Capitol Theatre (the Cap for short), and indeed, the only band I’d ever seen perform there was String Cheese Incident (SCI). But, back in March, I decided I needed to check a Phil show at the Cap off my bucket list. Mark had raved about them, so I’d be missing out if I didn’t go. Seven months later, I’m in the middle of the semester, I’ve been going to a show nearly every weekend, I’m back teaching in person, and my social battery is constantly on 8%. But I knew I’d regret it if I didn’t, so I pulled myself up by my metaphorical bootstraps and took the serene train ride up to New York. After checking into my Airbnb, napping, and downing a couple of NY pizza slices, I got on the Metro-North to Port Chester, NY (the second part of which belongs to my cat/son Chester). As I sat on the train, one person who passed said, “All these tie-dyes on here; there must be a show at the Cap.” Another said, “So many smells on this train.” I inhaled the aromas of patchouli, marijuana, and McDonald’s French Fries in just two cars. Another asked me, “Is there a show at the Cap tonight?” I guess my tie-dye gave it away. The mass exodus from the train came when we hit Port Chester (first time I’d been since 5/28/19). There was a mini-shakedown just outside the parking lot of the train station, where vendors set up makeshift stations to sell T-shirts, jewelry, and bumper stickers, of which I purchased two for $5. Once in the venue, I made my way to the top, where I chatted a woman named Tammy and a dude named Bruce. The show started at around 8:15. Mark had told me about the light show they play on the walls of the Cap; there had been some displays during SCI, but it was on fire tonight: The band opened with “Alabama Getaway” and went into “Friend of the Devil,” to which Karl Denson’s saxophone added nicely. “They Love Each Other” is my least favorite Dead tune, but the heavy keyboards actually created a nice jam. “Loser” was next, the flute on the “Bird Song” had me tearing up, and “Jack Straw” was a nice first-set closer.
Set Two opened with a tease of “Dark Star,” but went into a jam that led into “Box of Rain.” “Help on the Way” and “Slipknot” came yet, but the group took an unconventional route to “Franklin’s Tower”: Let it Grow Unbroken Chain (a rarity, but a lovely one) Jam (sat down) Stella Blue (I stayed seated) Franklin’s Tower (I got up and danced) After the second set, I took a strategy I picked up from Pete (thanks, man) and headed toward the main area near the entrance so I could beat the crowd out. “Sugar Magnolia” jammed. As it turned out, it wasn’t necessary, because I had a 28-minute wait for the train going back to Grand Central, during which I went to the “International Mart,” which had a nice array of Latinx snacks and beverages. I just got a seltzer water and Tums (the pizza I ate preshow had me fighting a wicked heartburn throughout most of the night; when the f**k did I get so old?). I got to order in Spanish; the clerks were impressed. Bien. Not so bien was the nitrous mafia with that “TZZZZZZZZ’ sound of the balloons ; they just seem to swarm down like vultures after these shows, especially in New York. A guy next to me on the train platform inhaled from two (how he’s still alive I’ll never know). Afterwards, he puked his guts out, and I thought, there but for God’s grace go I. Still, the ride home was packed but peaceful, as we all winded down from the show. After two subway trains and a walk down Eighth Avenue, I winded down in my room with a pair of Hostess Cupcakes and an episode of Derry Girls, that hilarious, true-to-life show about teenage girls in 1990s Ireland. Introverted me got some nourishment.
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May 2024
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