Kevin Shewan 
Glastonbury Festival 27th June 1997 

Ah, Glastonbury Festival my favourite festival ever, I've only missed two
since 1984 and one of them was when I got married! Anyway, it had been
glorious sunshine for the last four festivals, the last time it rained was
1990 and there hadn't been a real mudfest since 1985. So the rain and mud
came as no surprise - to me anyway. 

Phish were the phirst band on, a fact celebrated in their advert in the
programme. I made my way down to the front and stood with about 50-60
other heads, ankle deep in mud. Ten minutes before the band came on stage
the heavens opened and the heaviest shower of the weekend fell. Some of
the assembled phans were obviously touring with the band and weren't
exactly dressed for the inclement weather! The band obviously weren't
prepared for the weather either, Mike seemed to be wearing every item of
clothing he had with him - it was amazing he could reach his bass never
mind play it!. The first time Trey opened his mouth to sing he got it
filled with rain and Page was seen furiously blowing into his hands
after the first song. 

Incidentally it was during Phish's set that I finally realised that I am
indeed a "Phishhead". Everyone who knew me found me during their set!
"Straight down the front he'll be there!"

Phish opened with Wilson, (Glastonbury is about 40 miles from Stonehendge)
and about 30 of us were chanting "Wilson". I did notice the first line
seemed to amuse an English fan down the front. (He was wearing a Prodigy
T-shirt and I never did work out if he was interested in the band or just
carving out a spot he could watch the headliners from 12 hours later!) 

Wilson was followed by CDT and then into Stash - rather brave I thought
doing two audience participation songs with so few phans there but we few
clapped along - if nothing else it kept our hands warm. At one point Mike
stood at his microphone looking as if he should be singing but keeping his
mouth shut with an "I'm not opening my mouth for anyone in this rain" look
on his face. This version of Stash seemed to have a very loud vocal with a
quiet instrumental backing during the verse, of course this could have
been the PA system. 

The first and only new song of the set followed in the shape of Dog Stole
Things - I'm really starting to like this song as a stand alone number.
This was followed by a rousing Poorheart which got us all dancing ( at
least those of us who could still lift their feet out of the MUD. Taste
was next up and had a jammy bit in the middle (as would Character Zero
later) and then a unexpected Bouncing which was really nice. Character
Zero was the set closer and sadly no encore despite our shouts (I think
the festival has a strict encore policy). At least they didn't get mud
thrown at them like some later bands did! 

Once the set was over it stopped raining and the weather brightened up!
Other highlights from the weekend were Kula Shaker, Sheryl Crow and David
Byrne singing "Once in a Lifetime" Once off the site on the Monday I had
to buy some new clothes to take to Amsterdam..... 

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