(posted long ago to Rec.Music.Phish)
7/17/93 The Filene Center, Wolf Trap Farm Park, Vienna, VA
Charlie Dirksen, San Francisco, CA

It was a gorgeous summer afternoon. My friends and I barbequed for awhile in the lot pre-show. Phish was really starting to "get big" this summer: there were a few vans clearly ready for tour, and a thousand or so folks already in the lot about 2 hours before showtime. There was very little vending, though. Wolf Trap, a small, non-commercial amphitheater-styled venue, usually features folk or classical music, and very little rock. I had no doubt, even before the show, that this would be the only time Phish could play here. The staff wouldn't be able to handle or tolerate the young crowd.

The first set contained solid playing and great tunes, including a pleasant Stash and Reba combo. But the highlight for me personally came with the second set opener. I had seen the movie "Being There" just a few days before this show, in stereo with large speakers, in order to hear the "Also Sprach Zarathustra" in it as loudly as possible. This tune makes its entry at a monumental point in the movie. I had always been profoundly moved by the original classical version, but I was particularly charmed by this funky cover. I remember commenting to my friends -- while watching the movie and listening to this funky 2001 -- on how unfortunate it was that we would never see the song jammed out *live*.

Imagine my shock and Joy upon hearing 2001 open the second set at Wolf Trap! I recognized it at the very beginning -- the spacey intro -- and began trembling, then screaming and waving my arms wildly. I was Fishman-side about 7 rows from the stage, and I know I caught Mike's and Trey's attention. My Dionysian revelry also dominologically caused everybody around me to start ya-hoo'ing, too. It was one of those EVENTS in one's life (if one is blessed enough to have such events) when Everything Falls Into Place and absolutely nothing could ever possibly be more spiritually glorious.

I witnessed the rest of the show like an ecstatic, giddy fan boy who hadn't seen his favorite band in far too long a time. The Leprechaun especially moved me (I wish they would bring this back!), and both Weekapaug and Good Times raged. I wrote the band soon after the show, pleading to receive their newsletter. I was hooked!