Vegoose Day 2b - the SMOOTH Day
After the tourney and some lunch, Ramsey drove us out to Sam Boyd. It was in the neighborhood of 5:00, so we again missed most of the festival. We took the highway, so we got to see the city lit up, including the downtown area. It was rather cool. Ramsey dropped us off right in front of the gate, and we went right in, after “paying” Ramsey with some poker chips Todd had found in a drawer in the hotel room.
This time, we walked into the festival grounds that were set up behind the stadium. We got a beer and then began checking out the Jack Johnson show. The music was good, but not exactly right for the mood. So we walked around a bit, checking out the costumes. There was one particular hottie that caught our eye (especially Todd's eye). A young blond chick was dressed up as Alice from Wonderland fame. Her dress was really short, and her lovely legs were clad in these white stockings. I think Todd was actually drooling. The sad thing was Alice was hanging all over this wookie. What a waste of a hottie. I figured that he was either a trustifarian, or he had some really good drugs. Either way, it was quite the disappointment.
Having our fill of eye candy, it was time to get into the stadium and find Jerry and see the Widespread Panic show. Jerry was sitting in the same corner as before, with his same group of friends. So we hung out and listened to a really cool show. Trey Anastasio even came out and played with the band.
10/30/05 (Sun) VeGoose - Sam Boyd Stadium - Las Vegas, NV
Set 1: Disco > Space Wrangler > Henry Parsons Died, Don't Wanna Lose You > Last Dance > Sleeping Man, I'm Not Alone > North, Ribs And Whiskey, Solid Rock > Give, Slippin' Into Darkness* > Thin Air (Smells Like Mississippi)** > Jam** > Drums*** > Hatfield > Fixin' To Die****, Tall Boy > Chilly Water E: Goin' Out West, None of Us Are Free
There was only one person missing, Jerry's girlfriend Jen. She was back at the Excalibur, sick. Because of this, Jerry wasn't going to the Phil Lesh and Friends show at the Joint at the Hard Rock Casino. Being the nice guy that he is, he sold us the tickets. As he was heading back to the strip with his friends, we had to follow. So we left before Widespread was finished.
We went out into the lot, and saw the exact opposite as the day before (remember I said this was the SMOOTH day.) There were buses, limos and cabs lined up in the parking lot. As we approached the lot, there were limo/town car drivers standing there trying to get fares. We ended up grabbing a town car with two other dudes and we were on our way.
The ride was rather amusing. The dude that was riding in the front seat was completely wasted. His head kept lolling back and forth and he would mumble responses to his buddy. At one point, we had to tell his friend to try to get him awake, because he was almost falling into the driver. Plus, the smoothness factor was continuing. There was some construction on Tropicana (Didn't they know there were thousands of people seeing a show at Sam Boyd? I guess construction planning idiots are everywhere.), so the driver found a side road and avoided the whole mess. We beat Jerry and his friends (who were driving) to the Excalibur by a good 20 minutes. We got a drink at the bar and watched the costumed hookers and normal hotties walk by.
I disliked the Excalibur. It was kind of dumpy. The lighting was low, and it very depressing. When Jerry arrived, we went up to his room to get the tickets. The dumpiness factor continued. The room was tiny – even with two queen beds (which is why my friends always stay at the suites at the Rio – I am a convert.) Jen was in bed sick – she could barely speak. We got our tickets and a cookie, and caught a cab back to the Rio to freshen up.
One of the problems I found with the Casinos is the ATM fees. If you wanted $100, it would cost you $9.90. If you wanted $200, it cost you $19.90. I knew that there were branches of my bank in town, but the problem was how to get to them. We really needed the cash. We asked our cab driver if he knew where one of our two banks were. Fortunately, he eventually did remember, and we were set for cash for the rest of the trip.
Entering the Hard Rock, we found the place to be jam packed with activity. There were more hot women in costume there than anywhere else we had been. Boobs and legs everywhere! We walked around the outer perimeter (the place is a big round room) and found our way to the Joint. We actually cut in line, although we didn't realize it at first.
The Joint is standing-room only concert venue. I t holds about 1400 people, and it was filled to capacity that night. We got a beer and waited for the show to start.
The first set was absolutely killer! The whole band was tight and crisp.. Joan Armstrong sounded great, and Phil was on fire. Here is the first set:
Set 1: Good Times (there is that Good Times theme again), Friend Of The Devil, Brown Eyed Women, Pride of Cucamonga, Hardest Part, Peggy-O, Viola Lee Blues > Next Time You See Me > Viola Lee Blues
Every single song was tight. And the sound in the Joint is awesome: crisp, clear and LOUD!
At set break, we headed outside for a smoke and some fresh air. Afterward, we headed down one of the side corridors to the bathroom. Casinos usually have great bathrooms. The Hard Rock was the exception to that rule. The lines were long and the bathroom not the very clean. Upon urination completion, we headed back up the long corridor. We passed a dude wearing a great costume. He was dressed up as Napoleon Dynamite, and was crouched over like he was just kicked in the junk. Great stuff. Just after that, we heard some shouting “Make a hole! Make a hole!” And four security guards came rushing down the crowded corridor. When we got to the end of the corridor, there were another five or so guards heading the same way – one with a German Shepard. I just couldn't get out of the way. Eventually we got back to the Joint (after a brief detour by the line to the VIP room – I was drooling over this oriental hottie's big boobies.) Just as we were re-entering the door, I heard a shout of “Make Way!” One of the security guards was dragging out this normal looking dude by his armpits. I nearly got crushed as he was dragged by, yelling out in panic. That was an inauspicious start to the second set, which was:
Set 2: Cumberland Blues, Loser, Sweet Carolina, Uncle John's Band, Turn On Your Lovelight, The Wheel > Jam > No More Do I, Let It Ride, China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider
We returned just as Cumberland was starting. That song was really good, and it looked like the great music was going to continue. And it did, until The Wheel. Phil repeated the second verse and never did the third verse. The jam coming out was discombobulated, and No More Do I was performed really slow. The China Cat>Rider sucked. By this time, Todd's back was killing him, and my legs and feet were in pain. I thought that the show was over – odd without an encore – and I was ready for it to be over. Todd later said he thought there would be a third one, and there was:
Set 3: Birdsong, Everything I Do, St. Stephen > Death Don't Have No Mercy > Cryptical Envelopment > The Other One, China Doll, Unbroken Chain, What Sin Replaces Love, Gimmer Shelter, E: Box of Rain
From what I read when I got home, the third set must have been pretty good, because no one mentioned anything about the ugly end to the 2nd set. Sometime during the show between sets, Phil told Jimmy that he was overplaying (if anyone was overplaying, it was Phil in the 2nd set.) Jimmy basically or literally – not sure which – said “Fuck You!” and now he is out of the Fall tour.
Anyway, we went outside to wait for a cab. The line was quite long, and there were hotties and hookers everywhere – all slutted up in costume. So, at least there was some eye candy to look at. (Especially that Dorothy who was sitting near the beginning of the cab line. OMG!!!) Finally we were back in the room, and I was asleep soon after.
This time, we walked into the festival grounds that were set up behind the stadium. We got a beer and then began checking out the Jack Johnson show. The music was good, but not exactly right for the mood. So we walked around a bit, checking out the costumes. There was one particular hottie that caught our eye (especially Todd's eye). A young blond chick was dressed up as Alice from Wonderland fame. Her dress was really short, and her lovely legs were clad in these white stockings. I think Todd was actually drooling. The sad thing was Alice was hanging all over this wookie. What a waste of a hottie. I figured that he was either a trustifarian, or he had some really good drugs. Either way, it was quite the disappointment.
Having our fill of eye candy, it was time to get into the stadium and find Jerry and see the Widespread Panic show. Jerry was sitting in the same corner as before, with his same group of friends. So we hung out and listened to a really cool show. Trey Anastasio even came out and played with the band.
10/30/05 (Sun) VeGoose - Sam Boyd Stadium - Las Vegas, NV
Set 1: Disco > Space Wrangler > Henry Parsons Died, Don't Wanna Lose You > Last Dance > Sleeping Man, I'm Not Alone > North, Ribs And Whiskey, Solid Rock > Give, Slippin' Into Darkness* > Thin Air (Smells Like Mississippi)** > Jam** > Drums*** > Hatfield > Fixin' To Die****, Tall Boy > Chilly Water E: Goin' Out West, None of Us Are Free
There was only one person missing, Jerry's girlfriend Jen. She was back at the Excalibur, sick. Because of this, Jerry wasn't going to the Phil Lesh and Friends show at the Joint at the Hard Rock Casino. Being the nice guy that he is, he sold us the tickets. As he was heading back to the strip with his friends, we had to follow. So we left before Widespread was finished.
We went out into the lot, and saw the exact opposite as the day before (remember I said this was the SMOOTH day.) There were buses, limos and cabs lined up in the parking lot. As we approached the lot, there were limo/town car drivers standing there trying to get fares. We ended up grabbing a town car with two other dudes and we were on our way.
The ride was rather amusing. The dude that was riding in the front seat was completely wasted. His head kept lolling back and forth and he would mumble responses to his buddy. At one point, we had to tell his friend to try to get him awake, because he was almost falling into the driver. Plus, the smoothness factor was continuing. There was some construction on Tropicana (Didn't they know there were thousands of people seeing a show at Sam Boyd? I guess construction planning idiots are everywhere.), so the driver found a side road and avoided the whole mess. We beat Jerry and his friends (who were driving) to the Excalibur by a good 20 minutes. We got a drink at the bar and watched the costumed hookers and normal hotties walk by.
I disliked the Excalibur. It was kind of dumpy. The lighting was low, and it very depressing. When Jerry arrived, we went up to his room to get the tickets. The dumpiness factor continued. The room was tiny – even with two queen beds (which is why my friends always stay at the suites at the Rio – I am a convert.) Jen was in bed sick – she could barely speak. We got our tickets and a cookie, and caught a cab back to the Rio to freshen up.
One of the problems I found with the Casinos is the ATM fees. If you wanted $100, it would cost you $9.90. If you wanted $200, it cost you $19.90. I knew that there were branches of my bank in town, but the problem was how to get to them. We really needed the cash. We asked our cab driver if he knew where one of our two banks were. Fortunately, he eventually did remember, and we were set for cash for the rest of the trip.
Entering the Hard Rock, we found the place to be jam packed with activity. There were more hot women in costume there than anywhere else we had been. Boobs and legs everywhere! We walked around the outer perimeter (the place is a big round room) and found our way to the Joint. We actually cut in line, although we didn't realize it at first.
The Joint is standing-room only concert venue. I t holds about 1400 people, and it was filled to capacity that night. We got a beer and waited for the show to start.
The first set was absolutely killer! The whole band was tight and crisp.. Joan Armstrong sounded great, and Phil was on fire. Here is the first set:
Set 1: Good Times (there is that Good Times theme again), Friend Of The Devil, Brown Eyed Women, Pride of Cucamonga, Hardest Part, Peggy-O, Viola Lee Blues > Next Time You See Me > Viola Lee Blues
Every single song was tight. And the sound in the Joint is awesome: crisp, clear and LOUD!
At set break, we headed outside for a smoke and some fresh air. Afterward, we headed down one of the side corridors to the bathroom. Casinos usually have great bathrooms. The Hard Rock was the exception to that rule. The lines were long and the bathroom not the very clean. Upon urination completion, we headed back up the long corridor. We passed a dude wearing a great costume. He was dressed up as Napoleon Dynamite, and was crouched over like he was just kicked in the junk. Great stuff. Just after that, we heard some shouting “Make a hole! Make a hole!” And four security guards came rushing down the crowded corridor. When we got to the end of the corridor, there were another five or so guards heading the same way – one with a German Shepard. I just couldn't get out of the way. Eventually we got back to the Joint (after a brief detour by the line to the VIP room – I was drooling over this oriental hottie's big boobies.) Just as we were re-entering the door, I heard a shout of “Make Way!” One of the security guards was dragging out this normal looking dude by his armpits. I nearly got crushed as he was dragged by, yelling out in panic. That was an inauspicious start to the second set, which was:
Set 2: Cumberland Blues, Loser, Sweet Carolina, Uncle John's Band, Turn On Your Lovelight, The Wheel > Jam > No More Do I, Let It Ride, China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider
We returned just as Cumberland was starting. That song was really good, and it looked like the great music was going to continue. And it did, until The Wheel. Phil repeated the second verse and never did the third verse. The jam coming out was discombobulated, and No More Do I was performed really slow. The China Cat>Rider sucked. By this time, Todd's back was killing him, and my legs and feet were in pain. I thought that the show was over – odd without an encore – and I was ready for it to be over. Todd later said he thought there would be a third one, and there was:
Set 3: Birdsong, Everything I Do, St. Stephen > Death Don't Have No Mercy > Cryptical Envelopment > The Other One, China Doll, Unbroken Chain, What Sin Replaces Love, Gimmer Shelter, E: Box of Rain
From what I read when I got home, the third set must have been pretty good, because no one mentioned anything about the ugly end to the 2nd set. Sometime during the show between sets, Phil told Jimmy that he was overplaying (if anyone was overplaying, it was Phil in the 2nd set.) Jimmy basically or literally – not sure which – said “Fuck You!” and now he is out of the Fall tour.
Anyway, we went outside to wait for a cab. The line was quite long, and there were hotties and hookers everywhere – all slutted up in costume. So, at least there was some eye candy to look at. (Especially that Dorothy who was sitting near the beginning of the cab line. OMG!!!) Finally we were back in the room, and I was asleep soon after.
posted by Frankl | 9:46 AM
3 Comments:
Did you see Jimmy and Phil's conversation, or are you guessing at what happened? I'm just curious because I was there and I did not see this interaction. Thanks!
That is just what I heard from a friend who always seems to know these things (and people who hang behind the scenes as well.) Even if not exactly true, I think it is a interesting little story to include in my post.
Cool! I was just curious as there is litterally no word on why the split between Jimmy and Phil happened, and it's a really interesting theory.
Thanks!
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