A little bit of plague? Some last-minute scrambling to avoid sleeping in your car? A few air-conditioned shuttles?
That's just par for the course for Phish fans, who braved some travel headaches, health hazards and housing hullabaloo for the jam band's annual Labor Day weekend shows at Dick's Sporting Goods Park.
This month concerns about fleas and prairie dogs infected with the pneumonic plague forced the venue to cancel camping outside the venue, where some 3,000 people planned to set up for the weekend. Parking lots also were closed, diverting show-goers into an overflow lot down the street at Northfield Stapleton Mall.
The late-breaking news caused thousands of people to change their plans, but stressing about sleeping is not what the Phish experience is all about.
Karin Weule thought she'd be camping for the shows when she planned her trip from New Mexico. As she contemplated sleeping in her car, a friend heard about her predicament and connected Weule with a relative who had an open bed.
"My philosophy is: Surrender to the flow," Weule said as she unloaded a box full of brightly colored crocheted hats from her trunk. "That's the beauty of the band. It's unconditional love."
On Friday afternoon, Phishheads from across the country slowly trickled into the mall parking lot. One man strummed on a guitar, while others sipped on IPAs and chatted about their favorite shows.
Dan Mansfield learned about the camping ban when his credit card suddenly was refunded.
"I was like, 'Noooo!'" Mansfield said with a laugh.
But he quickly turned the unfortunate news into a timely scheme. Mansfield stood up straight and displayed his creation: bright blue T-shirts with a picture of a rabid prairie dog in a tie-dyed bandanna. The shirts read "Plague Side, Rage Side," a play on a popular Phish motto (the band's pianist, Page McConnell, is positioned stage right during live performances.)
"I was bummed at first," Mansfield said as he hawked the T-shirts to fans in the lot. "But you can't go through life being bummed."
Mike Torretti took a sip of his beer as he watched Mansfield show off his creation. A Breckenridge resident, Torretti has been to more than 60 Phish shows, including one at which he and his friends trudged eight miles to the venue because of flooding.
"This is par for the course," Torretti said. "We'll roll with it and have a great time."
Phish fans said the band always brings it, but especially when they know their fans have been through a lot.
Without ample parking at the stadium, fans boarded coach shuttle buses to take them to the show. The transportation setup appeared to be running smoothly, and security reported no issues.
Outside the stadium, vendors sold beer and merchandise, steaming hot gyros and brightly colored dresses. Fans lined up to buy tickets, while others sat beside their cars in lawn chairs, soaking in the pristine Denver weather. One group laughed about the whole scene, making jokes about the "Plague Year!"
Chris Sherman of Broomfield said the street with all the vendors — known as "Shakedown Street" — was a "little lamer than usual," citing lower energy from the lack of camping.
Next to him, William Crane agreed. "But it's still going to be a great show," he added.
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