(this post is also connected to a photo posted for this show)

Hey Friends!

For any of you who attended the Spectrum run in Philly in the fall of 1988, this may seem familiar. (see photo in fan photos for this show) As was par for the course for me in those days, I arrived in Philly with my closest friends a day or so before the show. There was a park across the street from the venue that became home for everyone for about a week! It was such a special place and I knew from showing up how special it would.

As we pulled up and found the sacred parking spot right at the park, the saw that the first inhabitants of this massive field (that would soon be home to thousands and thousands) was this tee-pee set up by the rainbow family. Soon after this photo was taken, as many more folks were starting to arrive, a rainbow circle was formed in the middle of the field and about a hundred or more people joined hands in a circle and set an intention of peace and positive vibes for this space and all of the people who would come here. We joined our voices in toning and moved around in the circle singing some sacred songs and putting out intentions to the universe.

As we all know, the scene was threatened around this time as so many people were now showing up to shows - many people doing so more for the scene and the party than the music. So, this prayer and intention was sending out a blessing to all so that we would be respectful of each other, the land, and all who we encountered on our journey there.

I was deeply touched by this and felt like it spoke to the feelings I was having at the time of wanting to "leave only footprints" and be a presence of love and healing vs. destruction and chaos.

The days to come during these shows proved to be a "battle" of these energies as there were many displays of peace and community as well as many occurrences of destruction, abuse, and violence.

I give thanks to have been aligned with friends and community that were helping to keep the scene filled with love, collective responsibility, and focused on what was most important - the music!

Hope you enjoyed the ride too!

With Peace,

Brother "A"

Hey Jodester!

Thank you for the acknowledgment and your post as well.

I was debating on whether to mention the OD or not but now that the cat is out of the bag.....

I am not sure what of this is true or not, but hearing you speak of the OD supports what I was tuned into at the time. I believe there may have actually been a couple or even 3 fatalities or injuries leading to death or near death at those shows.

Sadly enough, I believe that at least two of them were nitrous related as well.

I know that one person that was doing nitrous standing on this concrete platform near the pond in the park passed out (as people do on nitrous) and fell backwards into the water. Everyone else was so high and freaked out that no one acted to help. Not sure if that person died or what happened to them.

I also remember hearing that someone was hit by a car in a nitrous related incident. I have seen people do weird things when on nitrous and one of them I witnessed a few times was people going into a raged stupor. I guess this person was out of it and made a mad dash heading right for traffic. Again, not sure of the outcome of it but what I remember being said at the time was that these people perished or were seriously injured from those incidents.

I do remember (from my point of view) that this was the absolute peak of nitrous. There were so many tanks at that park that all night long you could here them whisping in the background. It simply became a constant background noise that never seemed to stop. There were balloons everywhere.

I was never a fan of nitrous and I feel I chose to not go there because I saw the "hippie crack" effect it was having on people. It was sad to see how dark and "screw-you-over-ish" the scene got because of something like nitrous and the obsession with drugs.

As with any scene (and as with life in general), the path you choose to walk is the experience you will have. Despite being aware of all of that stuff happening and having it come up in your face every now and again, I chose to align myself with people who were over flowing with love, singing songs until the sun came up, and sharing the joy of being alive and appreciating all there was to be grateful for by being right where we were!

Truly Grateful,

Brother A

Interesting at shows how the nasties come out (in every way) when the goodies are away. When the hour gets late enough and the percentage of nice people drops off and then u start to see the jonesers start to act up. It was never so bad at GD shows as what I witnessed at Phish shows however, thats for sure! A different mentality had emerged by then. Wanna be gangstas! Lil' posse pussies who had no real morals and not enough character to stand on their own. But the more of the darkness I see the more I feel strengthened in my path and determined to stay in the light! It's all learning! If we choose to be open to the lessons offered. Blessings! J

Are you kind?

when we pulled up to th parking lot looking to get in get a spot...a cop (kinda arrogant) says there will b no camping in parking lot this year...we're looking a lil' lost at this time...til he points a all this grass across th street, in a asshole way he tells us were to camp there....ughh no, dont throw us in th briar patch...lol.....great time