Phish Dick’s Sporting Goods Park Denver 2016 Night Three – Setlist & The Skinny

Vermont jam quartet Phish concluded their annual Labor Day Weekend run at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado on Sunday night. The quartet treated a sold-out crowd to an all-killer, no-filler affair heavy on otherworldly contributions from all four members of the band, especially during the wild hour that started the evening’s second set.

Phish came out of the gates with a ragged “The Moma Dance.” The high-energy start to the show continued with “Chalk Dust Torture,” which joins “Blaze On,” “Fuego,” “Ghost,” “Wolfman’s Brother,” “555,” “Harry Hood,” “46 Days” and “Twist” as the most played songs of the summer with seven plays a piece. The straight-forward “Chalk Dust” was followed by the first-ever “Mike’s Song” > “Wingsuit” > “Weekapaug Groove” suite. Guitarist Trey Anastasio channeled David Gilmour in “Wingsuit” and showed off his MuTron effect during his “Weekapaug” solo, complete with “San-Ho-Zay” teases.

The set rolled on with the summer’s third rendition of Jon Fishman’s “Party Time,” which makes 2016 the first year since 2012 the band played the title track of their 2009 outtake collection at least three times. A potent “Bathtub Gin” came next featuring blazing leads from Trey. The heavy hitters kept coming with a typically dark and dirty “Split Open & Melt,” though this one didn’t contain as much dissonance as usual. Phish settled in on a funky groove for their third straight extended “Tube,” though as with Chula Vista and Lockn’ they never broke form. “Character Zero” had served as encore each time it was played in 2016 until Sunday, when it served as the first set closer.

While Phish only played two covers over the course of the first five sets of the run, they opened the Sunday’s second set and the final set of this year’s visit to Dick’s with “Crosseyed & Painless.” Anastasio led the charge with fiery riffage over the typical “Crosseyed” backdrop, until he and bassist Mike Gordon led a transition to a blissful major key. Trey played one pretty, melodic lick after another, while keyboardist Page McConnell added electric piano accents and Gordon dropped brown notes. This butter jam was one of the improvisational highlights of the run. Trey then made a move back to a minor key and utilized a reverse delay effect in which it sounded like the notes were coming out of his guitar backwards.

Out of the anthemic “Crosseyed” came “Steam.” Anastasio nicely fit teases of the Talking Heads cover within the scorching rendition of “Steam.” When the band had their fill of “Steam,” the guitarist initiated a move towards “Piper.” This “Piper” started with a shred session from Anastasio before he moved over to Fish’s Marimba Lumina continuing a trend we’ve seen all summer. Page, Fish and Mike made up for Trey’s absence with frentic playing during the wild second segment of “Piper.” Gordon dropped out and picked up drum sticks to bang on his fight bell, leaving McConnell as the only member of Phish playing melodies during the “Drums” segment. The keyboardist joined in the action by picking up a pair of drum sticks as well as he banged on a portion of Jon’s kit. The longest “Drums” section at a Phish show since August 2, 2009 (293 shows) gave way to a completely different jam, with a powerful peak and “Crosseyed” quotes. Phish’s improvisational feast post “Drums” was another improvisational highlight of the run, especially when all four band members started singing “still waiting.” As if the set wasn’t filled with enough jam songs out came “Light.”

On a weekend filled with unusual moments, the usually high-octane “Light” was brought down to near silence. Phish jammed on a beautiful progression at this slow and deliberate pace. Just when it seemed the quartet would keep the mellow pace, Fish exploded into a powerful beat which Trey used to climax. And yes, there were more “Crosseyed & Painless” quotes and teases to be had as “Light” continues to be a sure bet for outstanding, full band improvisation. Out of the madness “Lizards” emerged. The well-played Gamehendge classic was followed by a euphoric “First Tube” set closer. And wouldn’t you know it the band fit both “Crosseyed & Painless” teases and jams into “First Tube.” As fans awaited the band’s return they chanted “Still Waiting.” Anastasio used the opportunity at the start of the encore to thank the crew before launching to “Walls Of The Cave,” yet another powerful rocker with yet more “Crosseyed & Painless” teases and quotes.

Next up for Phish is a Fall Tour that spans October 14 – 31.

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