Phish Brings Barn Burner Show To Binghamton On This Date In 1992
Listen to the band’s standout performance from this date 33 years ago today.
By Scott Bernstein Mar 20, 2025 • 6:20 am PDT
If I had to make a list of the five Phish shows I’ve listened to most over the past +20 years, the band’s performance from this date in 1992 at The Forum in Binghamton would most certainly make that list. The band’s March 20, 1992 show in the Southern Tier was a scorcher from start-to-end and may just be the pinnacle of Phish’s early days as a national touring act.
The highlights are numerous and come from the get-go as guitarist Trey Anastasio's machine gun skills were on full display during the “Reba” that followed the “Wilson” opener. Anastasio was in a wild mood throughout and threw in plenty of banter and even changed the “Brother” lyrics to reference the large space between the band and audience as an “alligator pit.”
Spring ’92 was also a high point for “Rift” as Trey unleashed inventive solos throughout each take of the song during the run, with Binghamton a shining example. The guitarist also starred on first set renditions of “Fluffhead” and “Run Like An Antelope.”
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Phish’s second set at The Forum in Binghamton featured a dream setlist with a performance to match. An old-school “Mike’s Song” into “I Am Hydrogen” into “Weekapaug Groove” suite kicked off the second set on this night and the “Weekapaug” contained some of the most ferocious riffing from Trey I’ve ever heard. The Vermonters showed off just how tight they were during these road warrior days by stopping on a dime and throwing in a few measures of a waltz within “Weekapaug.”
Up next was a weird and awesome take on “Sanity” with band and crew members names shouted out as part of the intro and a crazy vocal jam at its conclusion.
Spot-on versions of “The Sloth,” “Mango Song,” “Cavern” and “Uncle Pen” led into a beautiful “Harry Hood.” Keyboardist Page McConnell's interplay with Anastasio in “Hood” helped push the guitarist to glory. Drummer Jon Fishman had his turn up front for Syd Barrett’s “Terrapin” which was bookended by covers of Foreigner’s “Cold As Ice” as the band liked to do instead of “Hold Your Head Up” in Winter/Spring 1992. Fish utilized electric bagpipes instead of vacuum on this night.
“Possum” came next and saw the foursome teach the crowd their “secret language” which was on display during the “Weekapaug.” In a cool move, Phish – though playing “Possum” – used portions of “David Bowie” as a sound bed for the language instructions. The group then said farewell with a “Lawn Boy” and “Fire” encore.
If you want an example of Phish at their tightest, you need to hear this show. Listen to full show audio of Phish’s visit to Binghamton from 33 years ago today thanks to From The Aquarium:
Setlist (via Phish.net)
Set 1: Wilson > Reba, Brother [1], Glide > Rift, Fluffhead > Maze, The Lizards, Mound > Run Like an Antelope [2]
Set 2: Mike's Song > I Am Hydrogen > Weekapaug Groove [3], Sanity [4], The Sloth, The Mango Song > Cavern, Uncle Pen, Harry Hood, Cold as Ice > Terrapin [5] > Cold as Ice, Possum > Secret Language Instructions [6] > Possum [7]
At the beginning of Brother, Trey said "this is the alligator moat up here, so make sure you don't fall into it." and later the song's lyrics to reference the "alligator pit." Antelope contained a Jean Pierre tease from Trey. Fish was on trombone for parts of Antelope (which also included a Simpsons signal). Trey teased Roundabout before Mike’s Song and uttered the line, “Help me… I’m melting and I can’t solidify!” Weekapaug contained Long Tall Glasses vocals, Oom Pa Pa and Random Note signals, and a brief On Broadway tease from Trey. Sanity's intro featured various nicknames of the band and crew being shouted, while the end contained a vocal jam with more names being called out. Fish used the Bag-Vac during Terrapin. The Secret Language Instructions featured introductions of the Simpsons, Random Note, Turn Turn Turn, and All Fall Down Signals with Bowie being played in the background and included a Can't You Hear Me Knocking tease from Trey. Possum subsequently contained two Simpsons signals and an All Fall Down signal.
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[Updated from original March 20, 2016 publication date.]
