2003 Winter Carnival
[Vail through
Denver, Colorado]
What used
to be called Winter Carnival has been renamed "The Blizzard of 2003
Tour". After a few days of melting snow here in Denver, it's coming
down again.
What a great time we had. Getting back to Denver from Vail was quite a
chore as the main route, highway 70 was closed, but us resourceful Jellyfish
found the alternate route and made it to the Fillmore just in time. (Patrick,
you would have loved my driving through the snow even more than Montana
1999.)
Although we had a lot of shuffling to do with weather issues, we did have
the table manned at each show, thanks to Tom and Dan from our Denver fellowship
filling in on short notice.
The shows were great and we got an added bonus accoustic bluegrass set
on
Saturday. It was great seeing Georgie as our only out of town Jellyfish
guest.
(Not sure how she made it in to Denver with the storm.) Since I will not
be making it to Japan, it will break my streak of attending consecutive
Incidents at 12 (every one since Halloween, LA).
Peace and Hugs,
Steve K
(CO)
2001 A String
Cheese Odyssey
[Portland, Oregon]
When
I first arrived in Portland on Friday the 29th, I had some business to
take care of before getting ready for the first show of this much anticipated
three night run. Nadia had sent each of us on a mission to update the
Jellyfish table look and to get some supplies for the many folks who would
hopefully be visiting us for the next few days. My task was to find a
container for the crew to carry around Jellyfish supplies from show to
show. The front desk staff gave me directions to a mall about fifteen
minutes drive from the hotel. This was a great practice for my serenity,
patience and acceptance since I can not stand malls, shopping or anything
that goes along with it. I can stand in line for hours to buy tickets
or to get into a show, but if there are two people in front of me at the
register in Kmart, it tests my serenity. And to top it off, this was the
Friday after Christmas, where everyone is returning the gifts they had
no use for. (Oh, Aunt Muriel, this tie is just what I needed!!!) But I
was an addict on a mission and found the biggest, baddest container in
Portland. Ninety two gallons, with a carrying handle and wheels. Check
it out at your next show. I also want to thank ScottL. for our new laminated
"jellyfish" banners. Great job!!!!
I can't
begin to describe how cool the Oregon Convention Center was set up for
the shows. These were not just shows, but an event. My congratulations
to John Dwork of Peak Experience Productions for turning an otherwise
cookie cutter convention center into String Cheese City. The front atrium
hosted audience-participatory activities as well as the shrines honoring
each night's specific theme (water, earth and space). Also in the atrium
were great vending booths where there was some real unique items for sale
as well as face painting and chair massages. I even went home with a DVD
player from the silent auction to benefit The Rocky Mountain Peace and
Justice Center. Now if I only knew how to hook the thing up. Off to the
side of the atrium were the "Chill Your Space Room", "Munchkin
Childcare", "SCI Fidelity Room", and of course my favorite,
room 126, "Jellyfish Room". We had our own room complete with
sofas and chairs for our meetings at set break, and also for anyone to
hang out in. Thanks, Nadia. The table was set up in the atrium right outside
the room. Ah, the pleasure of not having to have our meeting in a walkway
near the beer line, with stoners interrupting the meeting with that often
asked question "Hey, dude can I have a hit off that mellow balloon?".
Ironically, right across from our room was the "Aviva Rock Medical
Room" which unlike first aid was specifically for people who were
feeling too heavily the effects of chemicals. Today we have a choice of
which of these rooms we want to visit. I choose the Jellyfish room. And
then, of course, there were two stages for music, Main Stage and Odyssey
Stage.
And great
music came from both stages. The first night on the Odyssey stage I listened
to some local boys from Netherlands, CO, the Yonder Mountain String Band.
They play great electrified, high energy bluegrass and are a blast. Check
them out. Tonight's Incident started at 10:15 with a rousing Restless
Wind, as 8000 freaks danced in unison (well, sort of). The room was large
enough for each of us to have enough space to boogie. The set featured
a new Kang tune, Inspiration, and ended with a rousing Daryl. Off to the
serenity of the aforementioned Room 126. There were about twenty of us
from all ends of the country at each night's meeting to share recovery
in their own way. The calm between the storms was a very special part
of the weekend for this addict. The second set each night began with Lester
composing a poem for that night's theme. On this night, Kang went right
into Water after the poem. Steel Pulse came out for a swaying Get Up,
Stand Up. The set's climax for me was one of the hottest Black Clouds
I have ever heard. The show ended at 2:15 AM. Can we stand two more nights
of this?
One of the
musical highlights of the weekend was an acoustic set by Billy Nershi
and Liza Oxnard in the SCI Fidelity room on saturday. Billy and Liza played
together in Telluride, CO before SCI existed (when Billy was a "fry
boy" in a Telluride restaurant). This set was beautiful combining
Liza's lovely vocals with Bill's stunning guitar work. I couldn't help
looking around that small room thinking that three years ago, String Cheese
Incident could not have filled up this small room and tonight there were
8000 people waiting for them to take the Main Stage. They've come a long
way in such a short time. Saturday's first set started with Come As You
Are and featured guests from Ozomatli, who opened on the Main Stage. The
set ended with a scorching Search. The second set was also well paced,
and included two tunes I hadn't heard before, Howard (which sounded very
phishlike to me) and SKORT, which I loved.
There was
a special electricity in the air on New Year's Eve. People seemed especially
friendly. I have never worked a table before where so many folks just
stopped by to thank us for our service and supported what we're doing
even if they were not one of us. It was really cool to be part of this
special night. I used to go to the Grateful Dead New Year's shows regularly
in the 70's and early 80's but once the kid's came along, I had other
responsibilities to attend to. Therefore, this was only the second time
I could make it to a New Year's show since 1983. The first set of tonight's
show I thought was the best played set of the run, and I was not alone
in that opinion. From the opener Outside, Inside and then Little Hands>Orange
Blossom Special to the closing jam of Birdland, boys were on fire. The
set lasted over ninety minutes and forced the New Year's parade to start
a little late, but who cared. So we yelled happy New Year at 12:30 and
the meeting had to be a quick one. That first set was well worth it. The
parade was awesome and depicted the Earth's evolution from prehistoric
times to the space age. During the parade we got to hear the theme from
2001: A Space Odyssey and Steve Miller's Fly Like An Eagle. Although there
were no other incredible breakouts (as in last year's Abbey Road) this
was a solid set with a lot of fun including our theme song, Jellyfish.
The evening ended with Keller Williams joining the band for his tune Kidney
in a Cooler and Smile, which was very appropriate since I could not stop
smiling for the three night run.
Needless
to say, I had a great time in Portland. A special hello to the terrific
folks with whom I had the pleasure of working the table with, Jeff from
Oklahoma, Lisa from Southern California and Scott from Northern California.
It was wonderful meeting you guys and everyone else who joined us in Portland.
Hope to see a lot of you on Winter Tour.
Peace and
Hugs, Steve K (CO)
|
The
Fieldhouse
11/3/2000
[UMBC Fieldhouse Baltimore, MD]
As I was driving down the mountains the trees became vivid- they still
had their leaves. Simultaneously, radio stations started to become static
free and there was rock-n-roll music at last! (the tape player is broken
and we only get one radio station up here) And I was driving driving driving,
faster then I thought the little Subaru could go (ok, so it was downhill..)
and I was filled with a feeling of gratitude about my whole trip- the
welcoming fall temperature, the music on the radio, cheese that night,
looking forward to seeing family and friends that I had not seen in a
long time, I was just blissing out.
I was thinking
about how music carries the spirit. If this girl has any roots at all,
then some of them may be catholic and I remember very little of those
church experiences, but, I do remember the priest saying one refrain "lift
up your hearts, lift them up the the Lord" and I was thinking that
is what music does. When people are singing and dancing and playing music
we are being lifted up and closer to the heavens. This applies to the
music I don't even like, I now just imagine the heart opening of the singer.
Wow. Anyway, so I guess 3 and 1/2 hours later I am home again, home again
in the *charmed* city that is Baltimore. For awhile I was just sitting
in Fells Point looking at the harbor, like the wharf rat that I am- hahaha
and I saw hundreds of jellyfish swimming all around...it was amazing.
I later learned that since it hadn't rained in awhile the water was very
acidic and they like that.
I then
drove over to UMBC for the show...I was nervous because I had never worked
a table before and I thought I would be the only sober person in the house.
I also thought that all of my friends from the area would be weird seeing
me be clean and sober, working the table (I can be so self-centered!)
But, they may remember the last Incident I attended I was so whacked out
on mushrooms that I hid in my tent and couldn't even hear the music. At
that point in my life I didn't even think that I had a problem- I just
thought I wasn't taking enough drugs... or the right ones.
So, I go
in early and set up the table (by the way- the SCI staff are ALWAYS so
kind) and when the doors open people start milling over to the table and
lo and behold some sober people are there!!! Some guys who have been in
the program awhile were like "is this like the wharfrats?" and
I gladly say YES. Bill I. is there, and I remember him from the last time
I was in the program, we sometimes went to the same meetings. Then I meet
Mike from Richmond (?), and even though he is there with friends he offers
to hang out at the table and help. I was so grateful, for that meant I
could have bathroom breaks. Bill was taping the show, so he was off doing
that for the first set. After the lights went down I remembered why I
was there.......to get my boogie on!
They opened
with Walk this Way- what a great cover for them. Sometime during the first
couple of songs I run into Scott and Hung from DC. I don't know why it
didn't even occur to me that they would be there, but, it was really good
to see them. The venue was very nice and the sound was perfect from where
we were. For most of the night there was plenty of dancing space. The
highlight of the first set for me was definitely Little Hands, ah! the
most ethereal jam. I kind of wish they played more pure bluegrassy stuff
like the hobo song, but, it was all beautiful...sci's music and lyrics
are so positive and uplifting. I won't do a song by song b/c I don't have
many versions to compare these to, it all sounded real good, how about
that?
We had a
small meeting at set break, that was really cool. So glad to be a part
of. I found at this show I was able to just be myself and be comfortable.
I was able to look people in the eye and be a human among humans (even
though I'm really an alien) and not judge anyone and be completely sober.
A freakin' miracle. I am SO grateful to have sober friends who love the
music I do.
Thank you all!
Much Love
and hooray for *sober* incidents!!
Gretchen (who is now among the appalachian folk and waiting for the snow
to fall)
|
FIRST
OF FALL TOUR
I just came
back (3:00 am) this morning after a wonderful four show run. The band
is just playing out the door. It is nice to see Kyle, Keith and even Travis
taking expanded roles in the vocals. I think the energy is even more balanced
between the guys. There are so many new songs and some great versions
of covers out there.
The band's
version of Thom Thumb Blues in Ann Arbor would have made Dylan cry. They
went and took that gem and threw a great Cheese style jam in the middle
of it. Last night's Walk This Way's schizophrenic trips between funk and
bluegrass was just stupendous. Last night, the band continued to show
us its funkier side, as if they were continuing an ongoing conversation
that started in Bloomington. It was also nice to see them return to their
Bluegrass roots. I think they averaged close to 50% of the song range
in that genre.
The venues
were really cool. I think the vibe at Taft (Cincinnati) was the highest.
The band rose to the occasion and the venue gave us an added bonus gift
of those "prism" glasses that give you the free trip with no
slip. Last night's venue (The Kent State Ballroom) was absolutely crazy.
It was like seeing the band at a high school gymnasium. You could go to
the front and dance. The only bummer was they set up chairs, which got
in the way. I am going to enjoy the feel of that show for an eternity.
When I first
saw the boys a few years ago, they were playing small bars and everyone
could come up and feel the band. I know that as the scene expands, we
won't get to do that as much. So cherish what we can. Being a veteran
of the jam bam scene and a long time sober person, I would like to add
the following observations. The scene still feels rather clean. Not a
lot of heavy drug used that we have become so accustomed to at Phish and
the later years of the Dead. The crowd (a bonus for me) had a good mix
of some older folks.
I was glad
to get to do a little service work at the shows. Helping to run the table
at my home show in Ann Arbor and doing the same last night at Kent. I
really got to become friendly with the beautiful people that put this
band on the road. Dan, Amy, JC you're all great and we appreciate you.
Nadia, we would be lost without all you're help. You are truly a blessing.
I only hope that our little part of the scene expands. Our meetings have
been small. That is cool also. It allows us to share in the intimacy that
stills radiates in the bands' scene. Because the scene is still on a smaller
scale, I had the opportunity to really reach out and touch some people,
while working the table. I have met some people that really support what
we are doing. I also met some people they may have some questions about
where they are in their substance abuse. The seed was planted. Just like
it was for me all those years when I walked by the Wharf Rat table while
I was still out there. When I got some sanity and clarity, I knew right
where I had to go in order to be at a show. With that I close. I thank
you all for being there for me. I could not truly enjoy the shows without
the common bond of our fellowship. As a token of my gratitude, I have
donated a huge tie dye that I hope will become the official Jellyfish
table cover. When you see it, just know that someone out there (me) really
loves you all.
Thanks
and namaste MIKO Ferndale, MI
|
JELLYFISH
ROCK COLORADO AMPHITHEATRE!!!
[Morrison,
Co.]
I've seen shows all over the country, and still am convinced that Red
Rocks is the nicest venue there is. If you're ever in the Denver area,
it is a public park with plenty of great hiking and the amphitheater is
open to visitors year round. You can walk out onto the stage and get an
incredible view of Denver and imagine what it's like to be a rock star.
When one of my favorite bands happens to be playing there, it is especially
magnificent. Sure it has its share of minor hassles; the roads to the
parking lots are often not opened on time, the hike from the lots can
be strenuous, there's always weather to deal with at 8000 feet, but I'm
not complaining because once you settle in,there's no place like it. And
so it was on June 30th when SCI headlined the hallowed venue for the first
time. Just two years ago I was able to walk up to the Fox Theatre in Boulder,
capacity 700, and there'd still be room to dance and hoop. Now there were
7000 of us at the Rocks and it felt just as intimate (sitting in the 7th
row helped).
I got out
of my car with ten yellow helium-filled balloons and a sign to let everyone
know where the meeting would be. At Red Rocks, the only place you can
set up a table is directly across from the beer line, so Nadia and I opted
for the top row instead. It was so windy that afternoon that by the time
I placed them at the top row of Red Rocks, there were only five balloons
left. A police officer asked what I was doing, and although he thought
it was a great idea, declined to offer any assistance in fighting the
wind and taping the balloons down. By show time, the wind had died down.
Bunny Wailer and the Solomonic Reggaestra opened the show and got us all
in the mood for a "spiritually high time". But, we were all
waiting for the main event, and the boys were up for it as much as the
crowd was.
From the
opening notes of Restless Wind to the set closer Search, the energy was
sky high. Then came the challenge. If you've ever tried to quickly walk
up to the top (row 69) of Red Rocks, you know what I mean.
There were
seven of us at the meeting, including two folks from out of state, one
from Idaho and one from Kentucky. Many of us shared about how mistaken
we were in thinking about how difficult we thought it would be to enjoy
our musical trips without drugs or alcohol. We let our disease completely
take over our thought process.
Back down
to row 7 for the second set where they opened with Roundabout , the Yes
tune that was recorded in 1971 when I was a junior in high school and
had just started getting high. A two hour second set concluded with a
hot encore of Breathe and Texas. The thing I am most grateful for is that
I can get up the next day and remember the show and the wonderful times
I experienced.
I am so
grateful to be clean today. See you at the next show.
Peace and
Hugs, Steve K. Denver, CO
|
JELLYFISH
MEET INTERNATIONALLY
[QUEPOS,
COSTA RICA]
We had a TOTALLY epic Jellyfish meeting in Costa Rica! Friday night, I
was to busy to get any Jellyfish vibe kicking. But Saturday, I was determined
to find other clean and sober music fans. Because Jellyfish are not yet
known in Costa Rica, I hung up a big sign with a circle & triangle
on a pole at Rancho Allegre on Saturday night. I know that we are not
affiliated with any 12-step organization, but it was the only thing I
could think of to get sober people's attention, without saying: "CLEAN
& SOBER FREAKS MEET HERE!!" I didn't know if people would be
weird about it, so I tried something a little more anonymous.
Everyone
who was at the Jellyfish meeting was in AA anyway, so it was no worries.
As the locals would say, "Pura vida!!!" Anyway, it said "Meet
here at intermission" & "Vamos a encontrarlos aqui en el
tiempo intermedio" so people could read it in English and Spanish,
which was super cool. Of course I forgot to take a photo...ugh! In attendance
were: Jennifer, Frank, Baily & his girlfriend & myself... Except
for myself, no one had been to a meeting at a concert before. We talked
about GRATITUDE & loving life. I told the new Jellyfish to look for
yellow balloons & other sober groups like the Phellowship, Gateway
& Wharfrats if ever they head to the States. It felt good to carry
the message in a foreign land!!!
Nadia P.
Boulder, CO
|
NAVY
PIER CHICAGO HOSTS CLEAN SOBER FANS
[CHICAGO,
IL]
Even though my days of "touring" are limited, I always
find time to catch shows in my neighborhood. I recently had the HONOR
and PRIVILEGE to host the Jellyfish table for not one, but two SCI shows
in my home of Chicago. Preparing with assorted candy and a bag of yellow
balloons, I raced to Navy Pier to meet several of my sober friends who
I've gotten to know over the years. After setting up (thanks Nadia), I
realized that, for me, there is no other way to catch the boys but clean
and sober. Hosting a "sober table" is service work that keeps
me accountable to me and others that might need the table. I also found
out that there is something special about yellow balloons. I don't know
what it is, but every time I turned my back -BAM- balloon gone. Blow up
another -GONE. ( The definition of the word insanity applies here). For
future reference, bring lots of balloons.
The show
was unbelievable. We had a beautiful day, beautiful people, and beautiful
fireworks. The city of Chicago was celebrating Summer Solstice. The meeting
was small but our brother Nate from the burbs celebrated 6 years of sobriety.
KUDDOS NATE!! What a birthday gift.
Night two
was crazier than the first. After scouring Chicago's northwest suburbs
I found the only place in the state ( I'm almost sure) that sold yellow
balloons. Not only did they sell yellow balloons, but they were a quarter
a pack. WHAT A DEAL! Being a good malcontented alcoholic, I proceeded
to buy them all. Fourteen bags. For those keeping score, that's 350 yellow
balloons. I'm sicker than most folks. Upon entering, I noticed all the
happy smiling faces that I had left only hours before. The place was electric,
full of positive vibes and karma. SCI kicked into full gear and so did
the dancing. Security was even "getting down" a little. Noticing
that I still had 365 yellow balloons left I made a commitment to blow
up one balloon for every one that I had paid for and sucked down years
before. What a mistake. I handed yellow balloons to every person that
wanted one. Five minutes later- THEY WERE EVERYWHERE. It really was a
sight to see. 300 yellow balloons floating in the crowd was a good reminder
of why I was here and what my purpose was.
Today, I
don't have to participate or behave in a manner that I once did. I have
been graced with a choice. That choice is to maintain a life-style free
of drugs and/or alcohol. It's also a lot of work. I have to do daily things
that normal people don't have to do. In fact, the only thing that I know
about "normal" is that it's a setting on my washing machine.
Life is good in my days of sobriety and I have been gifted with way more
than I bargained for. Today, I'm an active part in my community (that's
scary) Who would have thought...? Well, I could write for hours. "There's
no wine with my cheese today and it's the only meeting I go to where SCI
is the house band. Hope to meet you all someday.
Happy, Joyous
& Free,
Brian B. Crystal Lake, IL |
