The Clifford Ball
The Ball, the ball, the ball. The Clifford Ball 1996, the greatest musical performance I've ever witnessed, a time I'll never forget.
"Where the fuck is Plattsburg, New York?" That was the main concern on a warm summer afternoon, as we began to pack up the car for a trip that will remain crisp in my mind better then vacation I've ever been on. It was Tom, Tim,
Joe, Beau, Tom' brother Steve, Alex who flew in from Wisconsin, Tim's brother
Sean and myself Tony. The weather couldn't been better, the mood...excitement, joy, and a little nervousness. After all it was my first Phish show, and Tom was the only other one out of us all who had seen a Phish show. I had always liked phish, but I was always reluctant to get tix for a show, I figured I could wait till they came to Giant Stadium, or The Meadowlands. One day I decided “
What the hell!!”
Plattsburg was a good 6 hours up I-87 from quiet River Vale, New Jersey.
So we spent most of the afternoon at Shop-rite, Campmor, and Ramsey outdoor. We had sleeping bags, coolers of beer, soda, food, and more beer, tents, stoves, lanterns, bug torches, and clothes. At around 12 midnite Friday morning we hit the road and embarked, on what would be a scared trip. Tom drove the van with his brother and myself. Tim in his red Festiva with Joe and Sean, and Beau in his blue Festiva with Alex. Stopping only to piss and re-fuel, we busted up to
Plattsburg, arriving around 6am. It was amazing to see all the VW Westvalias up
I-87 with Steal you Face, and dancing bear stickers. Once arriving, we picked a spot to set camp (out of the Wetlands of course) We followed the lead of crickets bouncing gently round room to a nice spot. Close to the potable water, yet far enough from the rank smell of port-a-jons. Then we got some needed sleep. We woke up around 1pm and I opened my eyes to my suprise...100,000 other people arrived while we were asleep!!! Didn't bother me, the more the merry.
It was really strange. Once I stepped out of the tent, I think I left something behind. I didn't have a care in the world. I forgot about my job, my house, my life back home. I WAS AT A PHISH SHOW, that's all that mattered. Yeah, in an ordinary situation, the crickets would have bothered me. I liked um. The real freaky people that lived off acid and trying to get that one miracle would
On the morning of April 20, they reached the San Jacinto plain. Buffalo Bayou was on one side, a football field wide, and 30 feet deep—not wadeable. On the other side ran the San Jacinto River, and near the bottom of the dry land was a shallow mudhole known as Peggy's Lake. Beyond that was marshlands. And the thick forest was greatly positioned. [see battlefield] They made their camp here in the trees, with their wagons and Colonel Neill's artillery in the forest as well(Hoyt 149).
around a fire in the woods by the town preacher, Samuel Parris. In an effort to
involved in or a specific place I went to, I got to clear my mind of all the things that were
Sweeney. They were going to the Yellowstone Valley to find gold until they came across
point in my life where I was selfish, young and immature to put the least. I was going out every
The caravan of about eight cars pulled away blaring the music of Van Halen and Metallica. I have never seen such a pumped up group of young men until then. My stomach was kind of queasy because of the great deal of nervousness that had come upon me. The team and I were cruising on highway forty heading away from the beautiful sunset that was occurring behind us.
On Monday March 25, some members of the baseball team, my girlfriend, and I traveled to Murray State University to watch a concert performed by Nelly and the St. Lunatics. It was a terrible night to go anywhere because it was raining and storming the whole way, but there was nothing that was going to stop us from going to the concert. We where all so hyped up about it and couldn’t wait to head out. My brother, who attends Murray State, had gotten us excellent seats about seventy-five feet away from the stage.
The stag do was a couple of weeks ago in Brighton and on the Saturday evening we went to a club called The Event.
Once I let my thoughts return to the music, I knew what lie ahead of me. I tapped the nearest "big guy" on the shoulder and pointed towards the ceiling; the universal signal on the concert floor. He nodded, grabbed my foot, and pushed me on top of the crowd. Once I was up there was no turning back. Soon strong hands were surfing me towards the stage. I had the best view in the house and reveled in the moment. I was fueled by an adrenaline rush that was only heightened by the fusion of the music and the energy of the crowd.
was warm and steamy. I was tan and happy. My dad, my two sisters and I
On the 13th of September last year, I attended their Where We Are tour. It took place in Rose Bowl, Pasadena. The concert started a few minutes after the given starting time which was 7:00pm. I did not mind because everyone in the stadium was chanting the One Direction name, screaming, and lights filled every corner of the stadium. Just being in the same location as the One Direction made me feel content. Everyone was filled with contagious energy. I was too happy to even care about the concert starting a few minutes late. One Direction came out a few minutes later and I just knew right then and there that this concert would be worth it.
...nside of me. For my first time ever being at a concert, it was well worth it.
After the show had ended, I felt slightly empty. I had waited years and months for that night, and it was over in the blink of an eye. Although I was sad that the show was over, I felt completely content. Now, when I hear their songs, I get to remember what it felt like to hear the band perform them live. I can watch the videos and try to wrap my mind around how it was real. Going to my first concert was an unparalleled experience that I will always cherish. The ambiance, the band’s performance and the unity the audience
frogs, and fish. We would go to the pond to catch the tadpoles and fish. When night