Been a member here for 20 years(!)

[crosen4140]

Just wanted to say hi to y'all, and express my gratitude and appreciation for the kindness and joy this community has and continues to foster, as well as the spectacular information found in every corner of the site.

Unfortunately, my days of sweatin' tix (Calling Ticketmaster(!)), driving/flying to multiple shows a tour, anxiously awaiting the next song and feeling like a guru while guessing the upcoming song by guitar switches and tuning strums, Summer evenings made endless by a Seek Up opener, snowy Winter shows and Christmas Song, sending blank CDs and postage to who knows who then awaiting their burned return, and, somehow, all of it always telling you that you're present in what will become good old days with absolute certainty - are days, long gone. Days, so good, and now, good and old.

Living as we did then, wild, alive, and cognizant of how that present will endure, it's deeply fulfilling to check back in on memories as they transport you back to the indelible smells, sounds, and breezy feels of carefree joy.

I can still feel lost in a space-without-time as BFFT joined in for what became a mind-erasing #41 in Ottawa on a Canadian 4/20 (2002).

I can still feel the rain and heavens opening up on command during Two Step at Giants Stadium. Both band and storm viciously battling to find my ears. The unspeakably unifying energy amongst everyone as we shuffled out of the stadium en masse, soaking wet, filled with lightning, only to emerge to pastel skies with curtains of virga carrying the sunset's glow long past the horizon near and far.

I can still feel my feet waiting in line at Newbury Comics on Boston's Newbury Street for the midnight drop of BTCS when I most certainly should have been studying for finals.

And, well, thanks to this band and the wonderful community, I can feel everything that once was all over again.

I've largely lurked here for more years than I was an active participant. And, I'm abashed to admit, that I haven't been here in years for much more than scanning setlists. Frankly, I'm not entirely certain what brought me here to see my join date. Maybe it was the rain..

Nevertheless, gratitude abounds, memories alight, and long night of listening to old mixes lies ahead.

Thank you all for always helping this class of '97 kid remember where he came from.

If it's been a while since you've listened to these, maybe go give a listen to this very short list some of my absolute favorites:

- #40 Yoshi's
- Two Step in the Rain (6/11/01)
- Captain - D&T Radio City (3/22/03)
- Shotgun - Any performance
- BWBF--> Typical Situation Trax 9/1/92 (I have no idea where my copy is. I think I had one..)

If you've read this far, thank you for navigating my stream of consciousness reminiscence. And, if you seek out my mini playlist for a listen, I'll see you there

Here's to another 20..

*Mods - feel free to move this if I've posted incorrectly, and my apologies if so*

[Erich]

Glad to see people still here after two decades.

[coldengrey12]

Very close to the 20-year date for me

Joined because I wanted to use the ol' FTP server to grab some recent shows before I saw them at SPAC

[joeyray34]

Great post and thanks for sharing. I joined in 2005 to just find tickets to msg show as a gift to myself for law school graduation. Have met so many friends and made so many memories from interactions with people I met here. Cheers!

[whiskers11]

Anybody have that 92 show? Trying to download from the site but not having any luck with seeding.

[Vacubsfan]

Originally Posted by whiskers11

Anybody have that 92 show? Trying to download from the site but not having any luck with seeding.

Here you guys go...

https://mega.nz/folder/0roWVKiL#DmDUSbcTPjsSEiaymI_TMw

[djamieb]

Awesome post! That was such a great read, bud. Very poetic reflection, and it transported me back to those days & memories in the same era, as well. Thanks for sharing!

[BMattyD]

Thank you for sharing! I came here from dmbml->nancies.org->greystreet.org->antsmarching.org (maybe something missing in there, it was bumpy for a while).

I love this community!

[Erich]

Ants 20 year club thread in nDMBc from last year.

[Erich]

Originally Posted by BMattyD

Thank you for sharing! I came here from dmbml->nancies.org->greystreet.org->antsmarching.org (maybe something missing in there, it was bumpy for a while).

I love this community!

Sounds like my trek, though I never went to greystreet.org.

[TSTJL40]

Wow...has it really been almost 20 years?

[Route_2]

I like the way you write, OP.

[paulg83]

Beautifully said, and a much needed reminder that for all the complaining we do in here we should be eternally grateful for what this band has provided for our lives.

[kmb40oz]

Been coming here daily for years. Great community and board to read. This band is truly special in how it binds its fans together. I'm not a "DMB Family" type fan and have often been critical of them over the years but with all great art, critique is necessary. It's amazing how time reshapes opinions, I hated Everyday when it came out and now that album has some of my favorite songs to hear live on it. I think the one thing to keep in mind with this band is that we are FANS, we are fanatical, passionate, and irrational. This board allows us to spew our opinions and statements blindly into the ether.

I just listen to Angel at Folsom with the Lovely Ladies, years ago I would have cringed and hated the song, but with a different set of eyes and ears, it is a nice groove and decent song.

Just some rambling thoughts of an ol time fan who still has the passion and desire for this band.

[Jamima2fl]

Good times

[BMattyD]

Originally Posted by crosen4140

Thank you all for always helping this class of '97 kid remember where he came from.

From one class of '97 kid to another... Well written! I remember having the energy to be in the pit, dancing with everyone like tomorrow would never come!

My favorite memory was 2021 in Charlotte, one of the first shows after the Covid lockdown. The crowd felt like family. It was amazing, and gave me an even greater appreciation for the community.

I just saw them last weekend in Charleston N2, but now I'm old enough to appreciate having a seat to call my own for the evening. Luckily, the WH was kind enough to put me close to the stage

[C.S.]

It's always a bit wild when I think about this place being one of my longest visited sites on the net.

[Matt]

Pretty happy that the site's had the longevity that it's had. Running it solo certainly has its challenges (all aspects - server, code, app, etc) but it's incredibly enriching.

[StirrinMyCoffee]

Thanks for your post. I went to the solo show in NYC last night and took a friend whom I'm not that close with but has also been going to shows for 20+ years. While waiting in line he described his most important concert experience being that '01 Giants stadium Two Step, which sounds so damn incredible. And then in reading your post, the way you described it gave me goosebumps, like I was there. Thanks for bringing me in!

[djamieb]

Originally Posted by Matt

Pretty happy that the site's had the longevity that it's had. Running it solo certainly has its challenges (all aspects - server, code, app, etc) but it's incredibly enriching.

Matt, thank you so much for all you do!! You are deeply appreciated, pal. And I didn't actually realize that you were now running it solo. Wow! Kudos! I'm really grateful for all your hard work. Thank you!

[C.S.]

Originally Posted by Matt

Pretty happy that the site's had the longevity that it's had. Running it solo certainly has its challenges (all aspects - server, code, app, etc) but it's incredibly enriching.

It is appreciated, thanks for all the years of work!

[Mikeap]

Decided to look up my join date and realized I'm a month away from my 20 years. Then I had a flashback to creating the account as I was sitting around with my wife in early stages of labor. So my account here is a day older than my oldest kid. I had always considered Nancies.org my home, but appreciate the info provided on here. Here's to the next 20 years!

[coyn113]

21 years here
21 Cheers here!

absolutely wild to think its been 21 years since i jumped on this site. I haven't met a ton of fellow ants, but the ones i have, have all been awesome folks.
Thanks to anyone who has traded/ sold a ticket, shared a beer or even a fist bump.

[coldblueice]

21 club


i’ve just been trying to find dmbml this whole time. is that site down or something?

[trinity4r1]

i was around then i wasn't around but now i'm kinda back for this tour anyway, i must have migrated w anyoneseenthebridge or one of the other boards