Greetings everyone. Hope you all had a safe and enjoyable weekend. I spent mine at the amazing spectacle that was SuperBall IX, held at the Watkins Glen International Speedway in Watkins Glen NY. So without further ado, let’s get this show on the road!
I went up with Christine, Todd, Nate, and Christie. We decided back when it was announced that we were going to do a RV. And boy did we ever. It could sleep 6 and had the 2 most important things for a pimpin’ festie experience, a bathroom and a shower. I’ve been to a lot of festivals but never had the exquisite pleasure of having a clean bathroom available instantly. No lines, no feels like being in an oven, and no overwhelming odor of whatever had been cooking up over the weekend. It had one shortcoming; as my brother would remark, “No third leg room.” The shower wasn’t bad either. No words exist when it comes to describing the joy of not having to worry about chafing at a festie. Gold’s powder helps alot too.
We met up at Christie’s and Nate’s crib. Load up and head out. Nate had researched the RV we acquired and even found websites that had tips on driving a big RV. He was like Capt. Kirk kicking Klingon ass. No traffic on the way up and took a ninja backway into the racetrack. No line to get in. First Wow of the weekend. My previous Phish Fests had waits of 6 hours at the Clifford Ball and 18 at It. The search was interesting. They asked us if we had any weapons, glass, drugs etc. They missed the coffeepot on the counter. They missed the cutting knives including a meat clever. They did take the maple syrup bottle and Pyrex measuring cup. Missed the wine bottles and barely dug into our coolers. I stepped out to smoke a cig and by the time it was done, we were rolling into the show.
We got a good spot overlooking the valley and nearby hills. What an amazing view. Green rolling hills all around us. We set up our 3 Quik Shades (We don’t mess around people!). Our neighbors said hi and the one chick casually mentioned they had PA. We had tables, a lot of candles, christmas lights, and even Asianesque lanterns hanging. We had a Gonzo flag on top and an HMLL t-shirt hanging loud and proud from a tent. That’s how you know where we were at. Matt and Alicia made a surprise early visit, bring the AYC (Adams York County) to the Ball. Camp Gonzo was ready.
Christine decided to rock out with her cocktail out right from the get go. She made it until 7:30 and then crashed. This was surprising for a couple reasons. One, she ain’t no noobie. She’s been on more band buses than you’ve been to festivals and is the OG HMLL. But even she was no match for the awesomeness that is Superball IX. She passed out but woke up to greet Switzer who showed up around midnight.
Switzer and her husband Josh rolled down from the luscious green state of Vermont early evening Thursday. They had a friend with them who had an all access pass to the fest. She got them an all access parking pass and they camped at a friend’s RV a block over from us. Perfect. HMLL’s unite! General tomfoolery ensued as our neighbor set up his PA and was only moderately annoying doing DJing until the wee hours of the morning.
I must now devote an entire paragraph to how well Christie and Nate do Tour. I’m blown away. They had everything you could need. Nate is an amazing cook who did an outstanding job. I give him a super rare 5 beard rating for the food. We never repeated a meal and had a wide variety of grub. Turkey burgers infused with blue cheese and herbs and spices from their garden was up first. Christine commented she’s used to doing tour on 3 days of grilled cheese and oatmeal. 5 kinds of cheese. A huge variety of fresh fruit. Most of it was local from Lancaster county. He is truly the Gonzo Gourmet.
We had 3 propane gas grills plus the stove in the RV. Nate’s brand new vintage model wouldn’t work. Then my propane stove would work. I’ve had that bad boy since the mid 90’s. It’s been everywhere and made more grill cheese than one can comprehend. I want to save it because it has some amazing stickers on it. We shall see.
After getting a great nights sleep in the modern day comfort of air conditioning, we arose to greet day one of the Fest. Took forever for the RV section to fill in. Eggs, bacon, toast and some fantastic coffee to start the day. Then just chilling out in the constant breeze that blew all weekend. Was supposed to meet up with a chick I met at greensingles.net but she never got ahold of me. Your loss sister. Never even made it to Shakedown. The scene was so perfect in the RV section I had no reason to move. Matt and Alicia showed up in their Fishman dress inspired outfits. Dinner was steamed green beans and sausage with a kick ass raman noodle/walnut/something else side. He also carved up a pineapple. Man do we know how to roll. Delicious!!
We head in and get a spot rather close on Fishman’s side. Interesting people around us. Group in front was a sight. The guy had these big black Raybans on. He would go up to people he didn’t know and bob his head inside their personal space. He looked like a European tennis pro from the 1970’s. A short asian chick was rocking out next to him in a style that looked like she was flexing, kickboxing, and doing taebo all at the same time. How she didn’t elbow me in the stomach is a miracle.
Friday, 07/01/2011
Watkins Glen International, Watkins Glen, NY
Set 1: Possum, Peaches en Regalia > The Moma Dance, Torn and Frayed > NICU > Bathtub Gin, Life on Mars?, My Friend, My Friend, Wolfman's Brother, Roses Are Free > Funky Bitch, Quinn the Eskimo
Set 2: Jam > Crosseyed and Painless -> Chalk Dust Torture, Sand > The Wedge, Mike's Song > Simple[1] > Bug, The Horse > Silent in the Morning > Weekapaug Groove > Joy > Character Zero
Encore: Show of Life
[1] Third Stone from the Sun teases
Notes: This was the first of the three-show SuperBall IX festival. Life on Mars? was played for the first time since February 15, 2003 (175 shows). Simple contained Third Stone From the Sun teases
They played the overplayed Possum right off the back to get it out of the way. Peaches woohoo! Been looking for that one since my first show. Moma had a nice jam. Finally got my Torn and Frayed off of Exile. Life on Mars made a welcome return. A nice long first set, a beautiful omen for the rest of the weekend.
Very short set break caught us still getting beers at the far end of the Square. Nice song selection with an almost old school Mike’s. Haven’t relistened to it yet so just going by memory on all the music. Head back to the camp ground to chill out and listen to the crappy ass DJ play crappy ass music at a reasonable level. While hanging, we observed the people across the way try to set up their pop up. 2 guys had a hell of a time opening one of the popups but were doing it with as little energy expended as possible. Nate remarked they looked like zombies which sent myself into fits of laughter. Marcus made his way to our camp but it was after we had crashed. He knew it was ours by the Gonzo flag and the HMLL t shirt. Rock and roll!!!
Day 2 opened just like day 1; perfect weather and a constant breeze. Took a shower which made me feel like a new man. Marcus Pivic stopped by. Marcus is an old friend from the Devolver family who now has a family of his own and flies jets for the Air Force. Though luck and sheer force of will, he got out of his first training run to go to the Fest. Mad props to our citizens that serve in the armed forces. Because of what you guys do, I can go to festies like this one, so thank you very much. He was a one man Walmart and more than made a profit selling heady beer and sake jello shots. Never saw that on the Lot before.
A lot can go wrong with a rented RV. The people next to us had their generator battery die. People across the road had their water tank leaking inside and out. We had our waste tanks emptied but the human waste tank still read 2/3 full. Nate harangued and Todd ripped them a new one. They said a piece of toilet paper was blocking a sensor. Wrong. It went to full later in the day and we had to get in emptied again the next day. But that was our only issue. 3 sets today so after a kick ass breakfast of waffles, made on an actual waffle maker, we were ready to go. Got on Fishman’s side again, next to the king and settled in.
Saturday, 07/02/2011
Watkins Glen International, Watkins Glen, NY
Set 1: Tube, Kill Devil Falls > Ocelot, Lawn Boy, The Divided Sky, Boogie On Reggae Woman > Camel Walk, Cities > Poor Heart > 46 Days > Suskind Hotel[1], When the Circus Comes, Timber (Jerry) > Back on the Train > Suzy Greenberg, Monkey Man[1]
Set 2: Runaway Jim[2] > McGrupp and the Watchful Hosemasters, Axilla > Birds of a Feather, Stash, Sample in a Jar, Heavy Things > Horn > It's Ice > The Mango Song > Rift > Scents and Subtle Sounds > Run Like an Antelope
Set 3: Golden Age > Prince Caspian > Piper > Tweezer[3] > Julius > Backwards Down the Number Line > Twist > Also Sprach Zarathustra > Harry Hood > Cavern > Golgi Apparatus > A Day in the Life
Encore: Loving Cup, Tweezer Reprise
Encore 2: Storage Jam, Sleeping Monkey
[1] Phish debut.
[2] Introductions of Runaway Jim 5K winners.
[3] Scents and Subtle Sounds teases from Mike.
Notes: This was the second of the three-show SuperBall IX festival. This gig featured the Phish debuts of Suskind Hotel and Monkey Man. Runaway Jim included introductions and trophy awards for the winners of the Runaway Jim 5K road race held earlier in the day. The first Secret Language of 3.0 was a Simpsons Signal after BOAF. Tweezer contained Scents and Subtle Sounds teases from Mike.
High energy right off the bat. We had the sun to our back so we could rage as required. Camel Walk and Cities back to back gave us all the funk we needed. Suskind Hotel had a cool little jam. The highlight of the entire fest for me was the closing song, Monkeyman by the Rolling Stones. It’s one of my favorite Stones songs. Devolver did it first but I recognized it from the opening notes. The snaking bass line and piano parts had me jumping up and down, screaming like a maniac well before the vocals started. I still can’t believe they played it. I was so geeked and blown away I forgot about my poncho on the ground. I’ve had it since ’98 or ’99. I’m sorry I left you on the battlefield old friend. You will be missed.
Made our way back to camp to grab some grub what with it being an extra long set break. Had cheesesteaks lot style along with fresh cut watermelon. Gave away a lot of it to peeps in our hood. Had seats a little further back by a stop sign where Switzer and some of the Vermont crew had gotten a sweet spot. That became our base for the next 2 days. Hoover found me there and Marcus made his way over there as well. Trey introduced the winners of the Memorial Runaway Jim 5K winners during Runaway Jim. I had wanted a McGrupp for a long time and was rewarded for my patience. A rocking Antelope closed out the second set. The Golden Age is a great song and crackled with energy. The Tweezer and Twist were the highlights of the rest of the set. Beatles to end the set followed by a Stones song and a Reprise. Yes sir!!!
We hung out afterwards because the rumor was Phish was going to play a late night set. Got a good spot next to the Superball and waited. We couldn’t see anything and just hung out while Phish played some really spaced out stuff. We later found out we were on the wrong side of the “stage”. Some of us left before the end but not Christine. She got her Sleeping Monkey along with everything else she wanted to hear. Why? Cause she’s HMLL. Represent!! Call it a night in order to rest up for the final push.
Slept in once again thanks to the modern comforts of a RV. Eggs and bacon to start the day off right. Conserved energy all day and hung with our cool neighbors, Blake, Dave, and Lana. They were parked with the DJ crew. Blake lives in the woods outside of Asheville and has 3 black bears that roam his property. Damn all I have is that squirrel.
Sunday, 07/03/2011
Watkins Glen International, Watkins Glen, NY
Set 1: Soul Shakedown Party, AC/DC Bag > The Curtain > Colonel Forbin's Ascent > Fly Famous Mockingbird, Destiny Unbound > Big Black Furry Creature from Mars[1] > Wilson > Mound, A Song I Heard the Ocean Sing, Time Loves a Hero, Reba[2] -> David Bowie
Set 2: Big Balls[3] > Down with Disease[4] -> No Quarter > Party Time, Ghost > Gotta Jibboo > Light, Waves > What's the Use?, Meatstick[5] > Stealing Time From the Faulty Plan, The Star Spangled Banner
Encore: First Tube
[1] Theme from Leave it to Beaver tease from Mike.
[2] Dave's Energy Guide tease.
[3] Phish debut
[4] Unfinished.
[5] Japanese lyrics.
Notes: This show was the third of the three-show Super Ball IX festival. The Curtain was played for the first time since September 9, 2000 (202 shows). The narration preceding Mockingbird, (the first since September 30, 2000 (188 shows)), referenced the previous night's fourth set Storage Jam and explained that all of SBIX was merely a mental projection of a reality that the band created in 1988 on their way to Colorado. Mike teased the theme from Leave it to Beaver during BBFCFM. Reba contained Dave's Energy Guide teases. The setbreak featured All-American themed music. This show featured the Phish debut of Big Balls. Disease was unfinished. Meatstick included Japanese lyrics. Before the encore, Trey thanked each of the crew, management and artists who helped make Super Ball IX happen. First Tube was followed by fireworks.
They opened up with Soul Shakedown Party. Christine remarked it was almost like they were writing the setlists for her. Then Christie had line of the weekend.
“I like it when Christine gets excited about things” Hells yes! The Col’s/Famous Mockingbird with narration was just about spot on. Loved the return of Song I heard the Ocean Sing.
Big Balls by ACDC kicks off the last set. The Disease had some nice jams and No Quarter just destroyed the place. They even had the cool vocal effects. All of the set was high energy. Trey thanked everyone and then a First Tube along with a lot of fireworks sent us on our way.
We get back for some chilling out but DJ Asshole next store decides that everyone in the campsite needs to hear his shitty music. This was definitely the loudest and bass heavy of the 3 nights. We can’t have a glass syrup bottle but this douchbag can bring in a PA because everyone is just dying to hear his mix. Child please. He finally stopped around 8 AM, I guess his ketamine finally wore off.
We packed up everything relatively quickly and were on our way. Mad mad props to Nate and Christie for the planning and preping for this spectacular event. You guys really know how to roll. A big thanks to everyone who showed up, hung out, and made the weekend so much fun. And thanks to Phish for having the imagination to put on such an amazing event.
Dave Kemp
BA American Studies
PhD Rock and Roll
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