Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Furthur 7/23/11 Mann Music Center, Philadelphia, PA

     Greetings everyone. Hope you all managed to survive the heatwave this week. The temp in at work this week had to be well north of 110 degrees. But neither rain, nor snow, nor instant swamp ass inducing humidity and heat will stop me from doing Tour. So without further ado, let me regal you with tales of insanity and wonder from Furthur at the Mann Music Center on July 23, 2011.
     I picked up my friend Emily from Mechanicsburg and was shooting to get to the Lot around 4. I went a little later than normal on account of the heat. We got to the same spot as last year, under the trees on the grass by the statues. Set up the Quik Shade and were ready to rock and roll. George Shcrippa showed up (Independent George in the house). Dion and his friend Christie showed up as well. It was all about chilling out under the shade and conserving energy. Did a quick swing by Shakedown Street. Not too much going on there. Bureau of Licensing and Permits was out in force and telling people vending to close up shop. Weak sauce. Saw Jamie Lee, Greg, and Suze from my adventures at the Tower Theatre back in March on Shakedown. The heat index made it feel like it was over 110 degrees.  It was 20 degrees hotter on the asphalt. We made a quick retreat back to the campsite.
    Christine and her crew showed up after 5. She saw a green Quik Shade but knew it was mine because of the blue HMLL shirt hanging from it.  It serves as a beacon for all the ladies on the Lot.
      They were late because they had to wait an hour to check in and still couldn’t do it.  However, they did see our neighbor from SuperBall 9, Dave from here, there, and everywhere. I love it when you see the same people on different tours. Vanessa had an even larger tent, so we moved mine and had a huge spot made in the shade. Saw one guy pass out from balloons/dehydration. Cops and EMTs were right on the spot. Seemed like the guy was OK. More nitrous than you can shake a stick at. Complimented the police on taking away some of the tanks but they hardly put a dent in it.
      Our friends on tour told us that Furthur had been starting early every night so we went in early. Avoided a huge backup at the gates getting into the venue by 7. Famous mandolin genius Paul Kraft said it took him an hour to get into the show. That really sucks. He missed them covering Boxcar Social. We ran into half of Frank Miller’s Beard. They played earlier in the day at the 3D Hempfest in Wrightsville.

Set 1
Sitting On Top of the World, Greatest Story ever Told, High on A Mountain, Masterpiece, Ruben and Cerise, Loser, The Last Time, The Mighty Quinn

Set 2
Shakedown St, Women are Smarter, Any Road, Playin>Help>Slip>Franklin’s Tower>Playin Reprise, Death Don’t Have No Mercy, Midnight Hour

E: Fool in the Rain, One More Sat Night

     Sitting was a nice opener. First Greatest since 3/21/94 for me. (Don’t freakout, I had to look it up. But on the lawn I said early 90’s, so I wasn’t that far off) The Last Time was really good. I get a Stones cover almost every show I go to. George saw a time and temp sign that said it was 97 at 9pm. The Quinn was the third one I saw this summer, 2 by Phish and 1 by Furthur. Shakedown had a nice ’79 vibe. Women Are got all the ladies dancing. The meat of the set was the Playin’ sandwich. All of it executed flawlessly. Finally got my first Death Don’t and a rocking Midnight Hour. Can’t beat a show that ends with a little Pigpen. I was super surprised when they did a double encore. Would have bet we would only get One More Sat Night. But low and behold, Emily got her Fool in the Rain. I love the sambaesque rocking out they do at the end of the song.
     Hung in the Lot a little bit after the show and then hit the road. It was still over 90 at midnight. Ran into Butch and Sean at the rest stop. Emily remarked I knew everyone everywhere but was very pleased with the local turnout at the show. I love the life I live and live the life I love.
     One last moment that sums up what this is all about. Frank and Miller stopped by again during set break. At some point during the show, 8 of Emily’s friends showed up. So it was myself and 7 smoking hot chicks sitting on my blanket. Frank asked “Kemp, is this your harem?” My reply “HMLL’s man. They follow me everywhere” I do always have the hottest chicks on the Lot in my general vicinity. How do I do it? The beard, a full head of hair, and 21 years of going to shows. Furthur!!

Dave Kemp
BA in American Studies
PhD in Rock and Roll

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