Pinball Wizards

The Pinball Lounge was one of the coolest installations at Phish's Super Ball IX, a visual and aural feast of bright lights and buzzers that made you feel like you were in a pinball game. Designed by Burlington artist Kat Clear, it was a full service nightclub designed like a pinball game, with flipper seats and bumper tables. In the back near the bar were rows of vintage pinball games, one that was allegedly "stolen" by Fishman to bring backstage because he liked it so much. I was emotionally upset Mrs. Pac-Man was zapped by an electrical malfunction early in the weekend (I love her), but oh well, did I really want to spend a whole afternoon trying to score with Mrs. Pac-Man? After the show each night, Heloise Williams of Heloise and the Savoir Faire would come in and sing some of her electro-rock with a troupe of "pregnant" dancers, and it was reported to me that Sunday night a ragin' hip-hop party continued into the early morning. Overall, it was one of the must-see attractions at the festival.