Hot Chocolate Rain: Night Six Of Phish Baker’s Dozen Residency – Recap, Setlist & The Skinny
By Ben Greenfield Jul 28, 2017 • 8:57 pm PDT
A week after beginning their 13-show Baker’s Dozen residency at Madison Square Garden, Phish kept the heat up in their sixth show in the arena Friday night. The evening’s free pre-show donut was double chocolate flavored, inspiring covers of Tay Zonday’s “Chocolate Rain” and Hot Chocolate’s “You Sexy Thing.” In between, Phish extended their streak of exceptional jams, while keeping the setlists fresh with other covers and rarities — six shows into the run, not a single song has been repeated.
Phish once again opened the show at their a cappella mics, but tonight, the first note was delivered not by a voice, but by a finger: Page McConnell’s, which triggered a loop of the backing track to Tay Zonday’s viral 2007 classic, “Chocolate Rain.” The band cracked themselves up as they jerked away from the mics between lines, mimicking Zonday. Drummer Jon Fishman remained at the front of the stage for the beginning of “Ass Handed.” An extra spirited “Free” provided the night’s first improvisation, and the first “Weigh” since August 9, 2015 provided its first bustout. After an upbeat and well-played “Undermind” came a rare stand-alone version of “The Oh Kee Pa Ceremony.” The song, which had been missing for just over a year, was cleanly executed.
A quick take on the Chilling, Thrilling rocker “The Dogs” was followed by 2017’s first “Destiny Unbound.” The latter song’s jam featured a slick groove, even if the composed portion was a bit shaky. A stirring “Divided Sky” was followed by McConnell’s first lead vocal duties of the night, on “Things People Do.” Finally, “Sand” closed the set with its strongest improvisatory statement, as the band delivered the latest major-key bliss jam in a run that has seen many of them.
The Mighty Diamonds’ “Have Mercy” kicked off the second set, playing the role of set opener for the first time. The “Chalk Dust Torture” that followed was a juggernaut, winding its way from buoyant melodic rock to pointy funk and finally, to an uplifting peak. The band then returned to the night’s theme, with Mike Gordon hitting (some of) the high notes of Hot Chocolate’s 1975 hit, “You Sexy Thing.” Mike’s vocals weren’t the only things that stretched in the song, which enjoyed an extended space-funk jam, led by some exquisite effects-laden bass over guitarist Trey Anastsio’s ethereal loops.
The jam out of “Mercury” started out dark and plodding before the band returned to the “You Sexy Thing” refrain. Energized, they made a turn into a major key before heading into “Backwards Down the Number Line.” That song and the Velvet Underground’s “Rock And Roll” stamped a pair of exclamation points on the end of a powerful second set. Trey picked up his megaphone on his way back to the stage for the first “Fee” since July 20, 2016. He asked the crowd to “have a chocolate donut and catch your breath.” Finally, the band ended the show where they started it, at the a cappella mics — but instead of a thematically appropriate cover, they sang David Bowie’s “Space Oddity.”
Phish returns to MSG tomorrow for night seven of the Baker’s Dozen residency. A webcast is available via LivePhish.com.
The Skinny
The Setlist |
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Set 1: Chocolate Rain [1], Ass Handed, Free, Weigh > Undermind > The Oh Kee Pa Ceremony, The Dogs > Destiny Unbound, Divided Sky, Things People Do, Sand Set 2: Have Mercy, Chalk Dust Torture [2], You Sexy Thing [3] > Mercury -> You Sexy Thing > Backwards Down the Number Line > Rock and Roll Encore: Fee [4], Space Oddity
This show was night six of Phish’s Baker’s Dozen run at Madison Square Garden and consisted of a chocolate donut theme. Donuts with a dark chocolate glaze with chocolate cookie crumb were given to fans arriving at the venue and the show featured the Phish debuts of Chocolate Rain and You Sexy Thing. Chocolate Rain was performed a cappella and featured Page on a midi controller keyboard. Chalk Dust Torture was unfinished. Fee featured Trey on megaphone. Fee’s lyrics were changed to “have a chocolate donut and catch your breath.” |
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The Venue |
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Madison Square Garden [See upcoming shows] |
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20,789 |
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44 shows |
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The Music |
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11 songs / 8:11 pm to 9:29 pm (78 minutes) |
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8 songs / 10:02 pm to 11:33 pm (91 minutes) |
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19 songs |
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2002 |
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18.41 [Gap chart] |
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Chocolate Rain (Tay Zonday), You Sexy Thing (Hot Chocolate) |
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Chocolate Rain, Ass Handed, Weigh, The Oh Kee Pa Ceremony, The Dogs, Destiny Unbound, Sand, Have Mercy, You Sexy Thing, Rock and Roll, Fee, Space Oddity |
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Weigh LTP 08/09/2015 (74 Show Gap) |
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Chalk Dust Torture 24:22 |
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Ass Handed 1:08 |
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Junta - 2, Lawn Boy - 1, A Picture of Nectar - 1, Rift - 1, Billy Breathes - 1, Farmhouse - 1, Undermind - 1, Joy - 1, Big Boat - 1, Misc. - 4, Covers - 5 |
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The Rest |
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78° and Mostly Sunny at showtime |
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Koa 1 |
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Capacity: 20,789 Donut Flavor: Double Chocolate |
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