Humboldt State University.  Environmental Resources Engineering and partying 101.  A little bit too much of the latter, but I suppose that isn't that too far from the norm...although it would only get worse as the semesters went by.  Being 300 miles from San Francisco, the concert scene was, at best, pathetic.  I was forced to drive long distances to see any decent bands.  Of course, for Pearl Jam, it was no option.  The 96 tour rolled around and the only show within 2000 miles was about 700 miles away...in Seattle.  Got my fan club tickets, and away I went--coincided with a visit to a friend in Spokane, WA, and a Neil Young Show at the Gorge, in George, WA.  I didn't miss too many days of class if I can recall, only about three or four.  I have so many fond memories of this trip...skating with Amy and her roomate in Spokane, searching for my car in the drizzling rain and mud after Neil in Gorge Ampitheater parking lot, going up the space needle...and of course seeing my boys up on stage again (with the Fastbacks once again opening!  wahoo!).  Plagued by equipment trouble (lights, guitars, broken strings...) they still put on a kick ass show...featuring Stoney on Mankind.  Although, I must say...as has come to be the norm for me now on these concert treks...the concerts themselves, while magical, are only part of the equation.  Now, when I plan a trip, I have more in mind...the calmraderie, the sights, the atmosphere of the fans and surroundings and mutual love and that anticipation all of us "lifers" or "hardcore", if you will, get...knowing the intro music is going to be an instrumental Baba O'Reily or some strange animalistic chant or...Now, for me, the trip to get there is almost as important as the fact of being there.