Phish Finale In Philly – The Mann Night Two Setlist & The Skinny

Phish completed their two-night Philadelphia run with a bang Wednesday, with a show that delivered thrilling improv in both sets. The first set included customary jam vehicles like “Stash” and “It’s Ice,” and also featured an unusually exploratory version of “Cities.” After the setbreak, the band got right back to it, stretching five songs over 76 minutes, 20 of which were occupied by a magnificent “Twist.”

The night got started with “AC/DC Bag.” The 16 shows since its last appearance in Miami made this the song’s longest gap since 2000. The “Free” that followed was notable for its return to Tuesday night’s “Martian Monster” teasing. The staccato-infused calypso of “Ya Mar” and “Sample in a Jar” came next. The tour’s first “Cities” went big: the band entered a deep space-funk groove, in which Page McConnell’s clavinet and Trey Anastasio’s Mu-Tron chords were complemented by some rapid-fire basslines from Mike Gordon. Things didn’t end there, as Trey began soloing, reaching a satisfying peak in what instantly became one of the most exciting pieces of first-set improv of the year.

The jamming kept coming, with a “Stash” that swirled patiently upward, with excellent interplay between the musicians throughout its pensive, deliberate jam. “Birds of a Feather” contained some inspired guitar work from Trey en route to a fiery peak. With three jam songs behind them, the band slowed things down with “The Line.” “It’s Ice” — which has followed “The Line” in three of its last five appearances — came next, and included a ferocious, Page-led funk groove in the breakdown. The roaring crowd was rocked into the setbreak with “Character Zero.”

“Bathtub Gin” opened the second set for just the second time in the last 16 years. This frenzied but straightforward version turned out to be the appetizer for the second set’s main courses. “No Men in No Man’s Land” started funky, but ended up in rock territory, as the band built to a climax that more closely recalled “Kill Devil Falls” than the song that spawned it. But things were only getting started. The jam out of “Twist” first went spacey, with Fish holding down the beat as the other three collectively navigated through the fog. Listening intently to each other, they moved to a major key, with guitar lines from Trey that recalled The Siket Disc. As the jam seemed to be fizzling out, Fishman picked it back up with a new, slower beat, and his bandmates followed him into a major key progression that led to an ecstatic, brilliant peak.

Having unleashed an easy contender for jam of the summer, the band launched into rarity “Scents and Subtle Sounds,” complete with the song’s intro segment, which hadn’t been seen since Super Ball IX. The jam eventually found a minor key, with the band vamping on a two-note lick over which Trey played some nasty leads before bringing the song to a mostly a cappella version of its conclusion. The set came to an end with “Harry Hood.” The “Hood” jam never broke its structure, but was none the worse for it, including some beautiful melodic guitar work and some passionate work on the ivories from Page. Page’s piano came right back for the “Loving Cup” encore, bringing the Philadelphia run to a rousing close.

Phish returns to the stage on Friday night in Raleigh.

Setlist…

[via Phish.net]

• Venue Type: Outdoor Amphitheater / 14,000
• Previous Shows at Venue: 8 Shows – 07/18/1992, 07/16/1993, 07/01/1994, 06/25/1995, 06/26/1995, 07/08/2014, 07/09/2014, and 08/11/15
• Number Of Songs / Length – First Set: 10 / 8:04 p.m. ET – 9:25 p.m. ET (81 Minutes)
• Number Of Songs / Length – Second Set & Encore: 6 / 10:01 p.m. ET – 11:24 p.m. (83 Minutes)
• Total Number of Songs / Covers / Originals: 16 / 3 / 13
• Biggest Bustout: Scents and Subtle Sounds – 35 Shows (LTP 08/03/2014)
• Average Song Vintage: 1995
• Debuts: N/A
• Tour Debuts: AC/DC Bag, Cities, Scents and Subtle Sounds
• Weather: 82°F and Partly Sunny at Showtime
• Guitar Used By Trey Anastasio:: KOA #3, aka Ocedoc
• Average Song Gap: 9.13
• The Spread: Lawn Boy – 1, A Picture Of Nectar – 1, Rift – 1, Hoist – 1, Billy Breathes – 2, Story of the Ghost – 1, Farmhouse – 1, Undermind – 1, Fuego – 1, Misc. – 3, Covers – 3
• Longest LivePhish Track / Shortest LivePhish Track: Twist 22:42 / Sample in a Jar 3:57
• Audio: Live Phish

Poster…

Coins…