Mike Gordon Reunites With Marco Benevento & Offers Debuts At Solo Tour Opener In Woodstock

Mike Gordon launched his first extensive solo tour since 2023 on Friday night in Woodstock, New York. The Phish bassist and his five-piece group worked eight Mike Gordon debuts into a show at the Bearsville Theatre that also featured an extensive sit-in from keyboardist and local resident Marco Benevento.

Gordon is joined in the latest iteration of the project by guitarists Bob Wagner and Xavier Lynn, keyboardist Robert Walter and drummer John Morgan Kimock. The lineup was debuted by Mike Gordon last May during a one-off concert in New Orleans.

The band opened their March tour with a version of “Tilting” that led into a first-time cover of The Kinks’ “You Really Got Me.” Another MG debut followed when the band performed the Bob Wagner-penned song “Sad and Lonesome.” Marco Benevento, who previously toured with Gordon in multiple projects, emerged after the ensuing “Connected” to add double keys to a set-closing run of “Peel,” “Spanish Moon” and “Mull.”

Gordon and his band kicked off the second set by premiering their take on “Fling Your Head,” a Gordon-written song Phish rolled out during the first night of their 2026 Riviera Maya destination event in Mexico. Xavier Lynn then stepped in to the spotlight to lead the MG debut of “Convince Me.”

The quintet kept the closing stanza going with a performance of the Phish classic “Meat” before serving up debut takes on The Greyboy Allstars’ “Happy Friends,” Wagner’s “Universe Is Calling” and Toots And The Maytals’ “Pomp And Pride.” Gordon then looked to his latest solo album, 2023’s Flying Games, for “Guilty Pleasures” and tacked on a rousing rendition of Phish staple “Carini” to end the frame.

Mike Gordon honored The Band, who originated from Woodstock, by punctuating the night with a “The Shape I’m In” encore. Wagner handled lead vocals on the eighth and final MG debut of the night.

Watch full-show video posted to YouTube on the Larry Rulz 5 channel below:

Setlist (via Phish.net)

Set One: Tilting > You Really Got Me [1], Sad and Lonesome[1], Connected, Peel [2], Spanish Moon[2], Mull[2]

Set Two: Fling Your Head[1], Convince Me[1], Meat, Happy Friends[1], Universe is Calling[1] > Pomp and Pride[1], Guilty Pleasures, Carini

Encore: The Shape I’m In[1]

• [1] Mike Gordon debut.
• [2] Marco Benevento on keys.

This show featured the Mike Gordon debuts of You Really Got Me, Sad and Lonesome, Fling Your Head, Convince Me, Happy Friends, Universe is Calling, Pomp and Pride, and The Shape I’m In. Peel through Spanish Moon featured Marco Benevento on keys. Mike and Bob teased Dueling Banjos in Peel.