A few months ago, one of my out of town friends (M) asked if I wanted to go to a Phish concert when they came to Philadelphia this summer. He’s a big Phish fan, and I’m someone who likes to get out of my house and do things, so of course my answer was an enthusiastic yes.
“Do you even listen to Phish?”
No. No I didn’t.
But I do listen to Dave Matthews Band and am familiar with rambling jams within the framework of a song. I knew that with over 40 years of recording and touring, I’d never learn every Phish song before attending the show. Still, I didn’t go in completely unprepared. So I listened to the Phish channel on SiriusXM when I was in the car or lazing outside on the weekend. I recognized one song at the show and was immensely proud of that.
The concert date fell on one of my in-office days, which worked out perfectly. M came into town the day before to see the Tuesday night show. Our friend L, also a first-time Phish attendee, came in from her hometown west of Philadelphia. She and I split a hotel room because we are grown-ass adults and didn’t want to navigate home after a late night in the city. It was also L’s birthday and is there a better way to celebrate than sleeping in a comfy hotel bed? I think not.
I left the office at 2pm and took the subway to the Walnut/Locust station. The hotel, the Hyatt Centric, was just a few blocks away. I met up with M and L in the lobby, I dropped my bags in the room, did a quick outfit change, and we walked to the nearby K’Far Cafe for pastries and coffee.
L is a foodie and knows all of the best places to eat in Philly so we let her take the lead on every restaurant choice. My ravenous appetite was very happy for her expertise.
Back to the the room to prep for the show, and then out again for dinner at The Love Restaurant on Rittenhouse Square. We shared the fried green tomatoes appetizer. It was my first time trying pimiento cheese and I really liked it! For dinner, I had the handmade ricotta ravioli and had to refrain from licking the plate.
Then it was off to the show! SEPTA operates a special Mann Music Center bus service for concertgoers. It was only $2 each way and so much more convenient than trying to drive or grab a rideshare. The bus was absolutely packed on the way back but I’m a Disney Adult! Being soaked with sweat and standing shoulder-to-shoulder on a crowded bus with other equally damp humans is in my DNA. Give me public transportation any day of the week and I’m a happy Kim.
It was a hot and humid evening, on par with our September 2022 trip to Walt Disney World, which remains my benchmark for oppressive heat.
M bought L and I “1st show” buttons to wear and let me tell you: the Phish fans were delighted to see us first-timers. A lot of fanbases are guilty of gatekeeping but this crowd was just pure joy — equal parts fervent and welcoming. No “name three songs” energy at all.
The music was wild and immersive and went all over the place. There was no banter in between songs. The band hit the stage at 8pm and other than a 20-minute break and a fake walk-off before the encore, played straight until 11:15 or so. Here’s the setlist.
The lighting was unreal. Each of the pinkish “lines” in the photo below is a light bar. These bars rotated 360 degrees and cycled through at least 8 different colors. Each lighting bank had four to six of those bars and were raised and lowered individually. Everything — the movement, the lighting, the lasers — was fully in sync with each song. The lasers and spotlights created amazing patterns through the (very smoky, very aromatic) air. It was mesmerizing.
People were given cardboard fans to help stay cool, but I brought my ride or die portable fan and was very glad I brought it.
This was also my first encounter with a ladies’ room line that was nonexistent, while the mens’ room stretched endlessly.
We all got back to the hotel around 1am, and after a very necessary shower I didn’t fall asleep until after 2. I’m so glad we stayed in the city and if I see another show at the Mann, I’d do it again.
The next morning, we went to SkyHigh at the Four Seasons hotel for breakfast. It’s on the 60th floor of the Comcast Center and the elevator ride alone was worth the trip: ear-popping and epic.
I’d had brunch at the old Four Seasons location a few times, but this was next-level fancy. I was absolutely ensorcelled by this coffee cup.
I had a divine fritatta with sourdough toast. I usually a fan of basic breakfasts (Cracker Barrel pancakes forever) but I could get used to the occasional elegant brunch.
Sadly, I had to leave after breakfast to attend a family event later that afternoon. M and L still had time before catching their trains so they squeezed in visits to the Museum of Illusion and Eastern State Penitentiary.
Would I attend a Phish concert again? Absolutely yes. It was a boatload of fun and an overall mesmerizing experience.
THANK YOU M and L for well-needed evening of fun!
(Happy Birthday BvP, wherever you are!)
I love all these people.
Me too!
Lovely write-up. What was the one song you recognized?
Fluffhead, but I didn’t fully get there until the line about the pills.