Countdown to Phish: Day 23

Phish loves to play on top of things: giant flying hot-dogs, air-traffic control towers, the Ed Sullivan Theater...you name it.

This was a cool day: A Monday morning, the first day of summer: June 21, 2004. We were feeling great after 2 nights in Brooklyn & an epic two-night run at SPAC (my favorite shows of Phish's '04 tour).

With 4 down and 4 ahead for the June run, we turned the car west towards breakfast and a leisurely drive out to Deer Creek. Wait, nope! Text message says "Detour: NYC for a taping of the Letterman Show!" Screeeeech, back on the thruway, let's hit it!

We followed those lines going south, raced through the city traffic, ditched the car, and sprinted through the mid-town sidewalks till we finally caught our breath at W 53rd St. We joined the impromptu audience filling up a solid block of Broadway across from the Ed Sullivan theater. Sure enough, Phish was ready to rock on top of the marquee, with Trey grinning down at us excitedly as if it was the most natural thing in the world. Of course, why not?

They opened with the triumphant chord progression of Scents and Subtle Sounds (which aired later on the Late Show) and then continued on with a 25 minute set, what a treat.

Here's the evidence, play it Leo!