Phish Concludes Magnaball Festival In Watkins Glen – Setlist & The Skinny

The final day of Phish‘s Magnaball festival at Watkins Glen International race track in Watkins Glen, New York proved the old axiom “Never Miss A Sunday Show” correct. Festival Phish is a different animal than the “regular season” as the quartet took a patient and improv-heavy approach to nearly all of the 22 originals they rolled out over the course of two lengthy sets to the delight of the capacity crowd.

Phish came out of the gates with the high energy “Punch You In The Eye” and then dusted off the evening’s lone bust out – “Buffalo Bill.” The Anastasio/Marshall original is a rare treat that has only been performed 17 times since 1992. The quartet last played the reggae-tinged quickie on June 22, 2012 in Cincinnati, 134 shows ago. A concise “A Song I Heard The Ocean Sing” led into a loping “Limb By Limb” and the Fuego track “Waiting All Night.” The “Theme From The Bottom” that followed was an example of the more loose and free approach Phish takes at festivals as the jam featured a slow and plodding build. Keyboardist Page McConnell’s organ solo in “Maze” was where the action was at as the foursome connected on a frenzied peak for which it was hard to discern one instrument from another. It was then back to Fuego for “The Line” before arguably the tour’s best “Stash.” Though never fully breaking into Type II territory, the band did take a few excursions off the beaten path with impressive results. “Reba” contained a gorgeous and patient jam since no one was in a rush to go anywhere. “I Didn’t Know” gave guitarist Trey Anastasio a chance to thank some of the many people whose hard work contributed to a wonderful weekend in Watkins. A “Character Zero” encore brought the sight of nearly 30,000 festivalgoers pumping their fists into the sky.

“Martian Monster” both opened and closed an instant classic and seamless second set. The band and audience got a huge kick out of the “Your Trip Is Short” sample that is part of the Chilling, Thrilling Sounds Of The Haunted House favorite. “Martian Monster” flowed elegantly into “Down With Disease” thanks in part to bassist Mike Gordon. “Disease” scored on both the quality and quantity scales with the 15+ minute version featuring a blissful peak out of dark, funky madness. Anastasio then led a spot-on transition into “Scents And Subtle Sounds.” Unlike the Philadelphia version, Phish focused on the minor-key and more dark elements of song during its end jam. The two 2015 takes on “Scents” were extremely different from each other with Magna’s of the evil variety as compared to the gorgeousness of Philly’s. 30,000+ were already satiated but that didn’t stop Phish from keeping it coming throughout the second set. “What’s The Use?” made its third appearance of the tour and the quartet seemed more comfortable with the progression and added little nuances to each section. At one point the band reached near silence as they delicately played the song’s head and you could hear a pin drop as fans hung on every note.

A particularly beautiful “Dirt” filled the ballad slot giving band and fans a breather in the middle of the 70+ minute closing stanza. While “Mike’s Song” didn’t feature the recently busted out “second jam,” the quartet crushed each segment leading into another concise “Fuego.” If “Twist” hadn’t already won Tour MVP status before Magnaball, the Watkins version sealed the prize. The “Twist” contained a deliciously weird ZZ Top like run at its chords which garnered huge applause from the crowd. Once the Vermonters returned to the regular “Twist” pace, they completed yet another masterful segue into the “Weekapaug Groove” we were all waiting for complete with a jam based on Led Zeppelin’s “Immigrant Song.” “Weekapaug” was another heavy hitter for which Phish took a patient and full band improvisational approach. Just when the jam was hitting its peak, the quartet swerved back into “Martian Monster.” Thankfully there was no roof at the race track or else it would’ve come off when “Martian Monster’s” reprise began. “You Enjoy Myself” served as the evening’s lone encore and didn’t feature much of a guitar solo. A huge fireworks display went off when Phish started “YEM’s” vocal jam. Nineteen years after Clifford Ball the Phish organization pulled off another weekend fans won’t soon forget. The band returns to the stage over Labor Day weekend for three shows at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado.

Setlist…

[via Phish.net]

• Venue Type: Outdoor Racetrack / 30,000
• Previous Shows at Venue: 5 Shows – 07/01/2011, 07/02/2011, 07/03/2011, 08/21/2015 and 08/22/2015
• Number Of Songs / Length – First Set: 12 / 8:10 p.m. – 9:44 (94 Minutes)
• Number Of Songs / Length – Second Set & Encore: 10 / 10:21 p.m. – 12 a.m. (99 Minutes)
• Total Number of Songs / Covers / Originals: 22 / 0 / 22
• Biggest Bustout: Buffalo Bill – 134 Shows (Last Time Played – 06/22/2012)
• Average Song Vintage: 1997
• Debuts: N/A
• Tour Debuts: Buffalo Bill
• Weather: 71°F and Sunny at ticket time
• Guitar Used By Trey Anastasio: KOA #3, aka Ocedoc
• Average Song Gap: F12.09
• The Spread: Junta – 1, Lawn Boy – 1, Picture Of Nectar- 1, Rift – 1, Hoist -1, Billy Breathes – 2, Story Of The Ghost – 1, Farmhouse – 2, Undermind – 2, Fuego – 3, Misc. – 7
• Longest LivePhish Track / Shortest LivePhish Track: Buffalo Bill 2:09 / You Enjoy Myself 20:22
• Audio: Live Phish

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