Big Pimpin

Woke in NJ. Got beer. 15 cases after yesterday which was the best day of beer sales in over 10 years on tour. Got to the lots around 1:45. Sat for an hour waiting for the lots to open. Opened at around 2:45. Busy all day. Sold 15 cases. Saw a couple cops give tickets for vending. They were $100 tickets but this was not enough to cause us to pack up. We were making $100 in around 30 mins. Wired I felt like I was selling drugs always looking over my shoulder for the cops. At one point I had to make an ice run. Walked 2 block to a store. WOW. Had no idea we were in such the Ghetto. I forgot I had a t-shirt that was a take off of the Wu-Tang Clan. One guy said nice shirt and looked down and realized I was in the Ghetto with a Wu-Tang shirt on. Luckily I was on the east coast.

6-18-04 Set I
Pretty standard 1st set. Tweezer was a nice closer of the set. Around 15 mins. of very focused jamming. As the lights went down the Coney Island amusement Park lights could be seen behind the stage. Very cool looking with the cyclone lights flashing above the band. First set also featured a few very drunk, annoying people behind us. Talked through the entire first set. Made me realize how many other people were talking, even during songs like Stash. I don't remember it being like this in the past. Maybe people have changed and many are there no longer for the music but for the party. Realized, truly for the first time, maybe it is time to stop.

Set II
Wilson
DWD - Interesting to hear the crowd cheer for the line "Waiting till I can finally say, this has all been wonderful but now I am on my way." Again very focused jammin but didn't really go any place.
Surprise Phish has a guest and it is JAY-Z!?! They do 2 songs of Jay-Z's. 99 Problems and Big Pimpin. Nor really sure what to make of that. Surprised that the crowd knew a lot of the Jay-Z lyrics. Who would have guessed. Heard 2 rumors about this one. 1. Phish paid Jay-Z since they were in Brooklyn. 2. Jay-Z owns the stadium and so made the appearance. Tend to think the 2nd one more true since I doubt Phish would pay someone like Jay-Z.
Chalkdust - This varied very far from the theme. Reminded me of the one from 'IT'. Highlight of the show.

After the show we sold our beer and relaxed awhile then got out of NYC. Wow. I forgot how big this city is. San Francisco is so small. I am use to driving at night but this kind of driving took a lot out of me. The streets where so narrow and even at 2 in the morning just a ton of traffic. Slept around 1 hour from Albany.