07/03/2024
I suppose I shouldn't let this whole day go by without taking some time to reflect on this moment.
15 years ago tonight, I snuck a camera into Phish's first show back after a nearly-five-year hiatus. And I had no idea at the time, but that moment is what started an incredible journey that has led me to wherever it is that I am today.
I had gotten into Phish (and became a "taper") in the 90s because of tapers - people recording the shows and sharing the music far and wide. I experienced how good it felt to receive that shared music (back then it was on tape via mail), and I wanted to be one of those people who helped capture the music and share with others. I taped my first Phish show in 1997, and dozens upon dozens over the years that followed.
While I continued taping other bands after Phish's first hiatus in 2000, I stopped taping them when they returned in 2002/3, as technology now allowed soundboard recordings to be shared by the band soon after the shows. Accessibility was no longer an issue, as everyone had an "official" way to hear all the shows.
Fast-forward to 2008, when we learn that our beloved Phish would be returning the following March. This was glorious news after we all thought we'd seen the saddest ending ever to our band in 2004. I was one of the lucky ones to score tickets to the reunion shows. At the time, I was *just* starting to get into photography (and a little bit of video). In December 2008, Canon released the first bridge (consumer) camera that also shot 1080p HD video. Mind you, we're just two years into iPhones at this point - this is LONG before we all had 4K video cameras in our phones. I bought the camera on release day with one goal (and extreme excitement) in mind: I was going to capture the moment Phish returned to the stage for the first time in 5 years IN HIGH DEFINITION (lol BIG deal at the time!). And what a moment it was.
And so I did, and I shared it on YouTube. The response that it got was beyond anything I could have imagined. As far as things go in our little corner of the world that is Phish, it was "viral". So many people were seeing this video - either reliving the incredible moment that they were in attendance for, or being able to see it for the first time as one of the thousands who were shut out of the show. It brought me back to the prime days of taping and the feeling I got from sharing the music with others who did not have the means (or want) to record it themselves. And that's exactly why I did it - to document this VERY important moment - not just for myself, but for others to be able to enjoy for eternity.
Of course, with today's technology, looking back on these videos is "funny". While the quality was great at the time, we are used to SO much better now. And I'm also critical of myself because I also could have done a much better job with what I had, but I digress. The fact is that this moment - this video - changed the course of my life and eventually led me to doing this professionally.
Today I saw this video posted on Instagram as a reel, and at the end, the person who posted it was advertising their lot/fan merch over the video. It made me cringe; even a little angry. It just felt so completely against the intentions this video was made with in the first place (sharing freely vs. selling). But then I took a deep breath and reminded myself that I can't control what people do with the things that I share. And I decided it would be good for my mind and soul to have this little reflection session. And I'm glad I did. I needed to, and it probably wouldn't have happened otherwise. Life is funny like that sometimes.
Anywho, if you read all that, thanks for sticking around. I hope you got something out of it. Happy 15 years of 3.0! And thank you Phish.
