Phish — Antioch, TN (6/22/2000)
Phish opened their 2000 summer tour in Antioch, TN. A sultry southern night greeted us as we arrived and checked into our motel room in Nashville. The lot scene was in full swing with a wide array of merchandise to be had and a little something for the most discriminating consumer. We could hear the soundcheck in the lot and it got us pumped and excited for the stellar show we were about to witness. Mike seemed to have a little technical issue with his bass, but the problem was remedied and the show resumed. The show turned out to be a bluegrass tinged show similar to those seen in ’94. The band was locked in and performed an amazing show with guest sit-ins all over the place, a virtual who’s-who of Nashville. Certainly one of the most memorable moments was Wynnona Judd singing “Free Bird”, changing the lyrics to “..if stay here with you Phish…”(she announced that it was the one year anniversary of her divorce). I honestly get goosebumps thinking about this show. It’s definitely in my personal top ten Phish shows.
06-22-00 Amsouth Amphitheatre, Antioch, TN
Soundcheck: Jam -> Back on the Train, First Tube, Uncle Pen, Billy Breathes, You Shook Me All Night Long
1: First Tube, Wolfman’s Brother*, Beauty of My Dreams, Golgi Apparatus, Limb by Limb, Bug, Poor Heart, Roggae, Chalkdust Torture
2: Gotta Jibboo, Also Sprach Zarathustra > Sand, Harry Hood -> Dog Faced Boy -> Harry Hood**, I’m Blue I’m Lonesome***, Hold Whatcha Got***#, Uncle Pen***, Freebird##
E: You Enjoy Myself
*With “Inna Gadda Da Vida” ending. **With Ronnie McCoury on mandolin, Rob McCoury on banjo, and Sam Bush on fiddle. ***With the Del McCoury on guitar, Ricky Skaggs on mandolin, Mike Bub on bass, and Jason Carter on fiddle (in addition to those already on stage; thus, the Del McCoury Band plus Sam Bush and Ricky Skaggs). #First time played; Jimmy Martin and the Sunny Mountain Boys cover. ##With Wynonna Judd (who announced that it was the one year anniversary of her divorce settlement, and that she wanted to celebrate) on vocals, Sam Bush on fiddle, and Ronnie McCoury on mandolin; also some guy was dancing while wearing Wynnona’s scarf; full band arrangement (not a cappella).
One of our readers sent us this very moving and touching memory of this show.
In the summer of 2000, my mom was nearing the end of her battle with cancer. She had just come home from the hospital so she could basically die at home. Earlier that spring I had purchased two tickets to see Phish at Amsouth Amphitheater in Antioch, TN on June 22nd. I had family coming in from across the country to see my mom and spend time with her before she passed. I felt like an asshole even thinking about if I’d make to see Phish or not. I guess my mom overheard me talking to my aunt about the show at some point. She called me into the room and told me that my life should not stop on behalf of her illness and she ordered me to go because she knew exactly how much going to shows meant to me. I refused to go, she demanded…so I decided to go. As was leaving Louisville the morning of the 22nd I stopped in to say goodbye to her, possibly for the last time. She looked right at me and said “Go have fun, enjoy your concert. I’ll be here when you get back.” So I went, the entire time I was nervous…expecting my phone to ring with the bad news….it never did. What I saw that night was pure magic. I saw songs that I’d been chasing on tour for a while…including my all time favorite, Harry Hood. In the midst of this incredible show, I realized that it was probably going to be the most happy I’d be for quite some time. The setlist may have not been the best by hardcore heads on tour, but it was all I could have hoped for. The smile on my face could not have been surgically removed. These musicians that didn’t have any idea who I was had just given me something I couldn’t find anywhere else….joy, relief and a small break from the grim reality I was facing at home. I’d still love to thank them for that.
I headed back to Louisville the next morning and when I got home, sure enough….there was my mother just as she promised. She was weak and visibly her condition had gotten worse in the 24 hours or so that I was gone. I’m pretty sure she flashed what was the last smile of her entire life at me and said “I told you I’d be here.” An hour later, she passed away. My mom wasn’t a big hippie or anything in college, but when I hit the scene and started seeing the Dead when I was 15, she knew what was up, she understood my obsession with it all, she always “got it.” To this day, I still think that somehow she waited or put off cancer that was ravaging her body to allow me that one final night of live musical bliss because she knew how happy it would make me, there’s no other explanation for it as far as I’m concerned. I had that show on tape and completely wore it out. Thankfully, not long ago I found an MP3 download of it and I listen to it often. My mom and I were very close and all these years later I still miss her horribly. However, when I feel down about that or anything else listening to that show always makes me smile. Sorry this story is depressing and long-winded, but it is indeed my most memorable live music moment.
Harry Hood:
Freebird with Wynnona Judd:
