Chairman Of Cactus’ Boards: Watch Page McConnell Join Mike Gordon For ‘Cities’ At Higher Ground

Mike Gordon and his five-piece band ended their first tour since the pandemic last night with a sold-out, hometown show at Higher Ground. Gordon’s Phish bandmate keyboardist Page McConnell emerged late in the second set to contribute to a cover of Talking Heads’ “Cities” and a take on the Mike-penned “Mull” on Sunday in Burlington.

Gordon, keyboardist Rachel Eckroth, guitarist Scott Murawski, drummer John Kimock and percussionist Craig Myers wrapped two weeks on the road at Higher Ground last night. Eckroth filled-in for longtime Mike Gordon keyboardist Robert Walter who was touring Europe with Roger Waters.

The 14-show excursion came in support of Mike Gordon's recently released Flying Games album. The 13-track collection, Mike’s first solo album since 2017’s OGOGO, was well represented at Higher Ground by the aforementioned “Mull,” “Connected,” “Back In The Bubble,” “Tilting,” “Pure Energy” and more.

Rachel Eckroth was showcased on a cover of Rufus & Chaka Khan’s “Ooh I Like Your Loving” and “Circling,” a song she wrote in collaboration with Donny McCaslin and Evan Cannata. Tim Lefebvre — Eckroth’s husband, and McCaslin’s bandmate in the ensemble David Bowie put together to record Blackstar — co-produced the latter with his wife for Donny’s 2020 single.

Mike Gordon welcomed fellow Vermont resident Page McConnell to stage after “Ooh I Like Your Loving” during last night’s first set. McConnell shared keyboard duties with Eckroth on both “Mull” and “Cities.” Scott Murawski sings the Mike Gordon band’s version of the Talking Heads classic which keeps the same tempo as the original as opposed to the more groovy takes Phish performs. McConnell tore it up on Clavinet while Eckroth focused on organ.

Check out Page McConnell with Mike Gordon and Company on “Cities” via fan-shot video below:

“Cities” closed last night’s first set. The closing stanza saw the quintet mix Flying Games cuts with takes on John Cleary’s “Got To Be More Careful,” Max Creek’s “Jones” and Phish’s “Carini.” Gordon, Eckroth, Myers, Kimock and Murawski returned for a “Sweet Emotion” encore. The five-piece does not have any future dates currently on the books.

Phish begins a lengthy summer tour on July 11 in Huntsville, Alabama.

Setlist (Unconfirmed with Phish.net’s dscott)

Set One: Connected, Back In The Bubble, Before You Gotta Go, Circling, Tilting, Ooh I Like Your Loving, Mull*, Cities*

Set Two: Pure Energy, Got To Be More Careful, Guilty Pleasures > Revolution Of The Mind, Jones > Carini

Encore: Sweet Emotion

* – w/ Page McConnell on keyboards