Phish Goes Cover-Less In Canandaigua

The CMAC Performing Arts Center in Canandaigua, NY -which was known as the Finger Lakes Performing Arts Center until recent years -opened its doors in 1983. That same year Phish formed on the campus of the University of Vermont in Burlington. Tonight, both institutions came together for Phish’s fifth appearance at the Canandiagua shed and first since 2010.

[Divided Sky]

Phish came out of the gates with the rare original “Buried Alive.” The short instrumental has only been performed 25 times in the last 20 years and had been on the shelf since August 31, 2013 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, CO. Another unusual occurance came next as “Twist” appeared in the first set of a two-set Phish show for the first time in nearly a year. This evening’s “Twist” was of the fiery, straight-forward variety. “Heavy Things” completed a double dose from Farmhouse, while a jam-less “Halley’s Comet” dropped into a “Bathtub Gin” that had a long and orgasmic climax. It had seemed “Wingsuit” found a spot as a palate cleanser of sorts after big second set jam vehicles at SPAC, The Mann and Randall’s. Tonight, however, “Wingsuit” came in the middle of the first set as the band continues to toy with the placement of songs old and new. Then, Phish launched into the second “Divided Sky” of 2014, just as the sun set over the venue. As noted by Mike Hamad, the CMAC “Divided Sky” contained an unusually high seven improvised choruses, while for comparison’s sake the version at SPAC only had four. Next up was “Wombat,” a song which was the last of the 10 Fuego tracks to receive its fourth live performance. Phish impressively extended the tune’s funky improv making for perhaps the most interesting version yet. A “David Bowie” that featured a patient and exquisite build brought the first set to a close.

Beautiful isn’t a word you use to describe many versions of “Down With Disease,” but the adjective works just fine to describe the first ten minutes of the “Disease” that opened Tuesday’s second set. Phish modulated to a major key at the start of the jam and embarked on another blissful excursion, the kind we’ve seen so many of during the first 10 shows of the summer. The band then moved on to explore a more rocking and funk-laden landscape. Guitarist Trey Anastasio alernated between powerful rhythmic stabs at his Languedoc and anthemic riffs throughout the second segment of the ‘Daigua Disease. All told, the 20+ minute “Down With Disease” scored high on both the quality and quantity scales thanks to two vastly different yet equally engaging sections within the jam. Just as Trey was beginning his solo in the “Back On The Train” emerged out of “Disease,” the band veered into the first “NICU” of 2014. The Vermonters kept the tour debuts coming with “Gotta Jibboo.” (Speaking of tour debuts, tonight’s the night we start adding a field for “Tour Debuts” to The Skinny) Anastasio was ably assisted by keyboardist Page McConnnell in deliberately building the “Jibboo” to a joyous peak.

Outstanding Page/Trey interplay was also at the heart of the “Theme From The Bottom” that followed. “Meatsick,” the evening’s fourth and final tour debut, led into “Fuego.” The title track has now been performed at each of the five cities Phish has visited so far this tour with a bonus NYC version played as a Tonight Show Web Exclusive. Surprisingly, there was no break from “Fuego”s structure this time around before it gave way to “The Wedge.” The “Run Like An Antelope” set closer was notable for the numerous “Fuego” teases Trey, Page and bassist Mike Gordon worked into every section of the standout jam. Anastasio also teased “Meatstick” and “St. Thomas” during the “Antelope” and substituted “Diego” for “Marco” Esquandolas in the verse. “Character Zero” has been a popular choice for an encore in 2014 as tonight the Billy Breathes served that role for fifth time this year. Trey was sure to work more “Fuego” and “Meatstick” teases into his “Zero” solo. In a return to a form we saw earlier this summer, the quartet did not play any covers in Canandaigua. Phish Summer Tour 2014 continues tomorrow night in Clarkston, MI.

Setlist…

[via Phish.net]

Venue Type: Outdoor Amphitheatre / 15,000
Previous Shows at Venue: 07/28/1992, 07/14/1994, 06/22/1995 & 06/29/2010 -4 Shows
Number Of Songs / Length – First Set: 10 / 7:36 p.m. -9:00 p.m. (84 Minutes)
Number Of Songs / Length – Second Set & Encore: 10 / 9:27 p.m -10:56 p.m. (89 Minutes)
Total Number of Songs / Covers / Originals: 20 / 0 / 20
Biggest Bustout: Buried Alive -29 Shows (LTP -08/31/2013)
Average Song Vintage: 1997
Debuts: N/A
Tour Debuts : 4 -Buried Alive, NICU, Gotta Jibboo, Meatstick
Weather: 73° and Sunny at show time
Average Song Gap: 7
The Spread: Junta -2, Lawn Boy -2, Rift -1, Hoist -1, Billy Breathes -2, Farmhouse -4, Fuego -4, Misc. -4,
Longest LivePhish Track / Shortest LivePhish Track: Down With Disease 20:45 / Buried Alive 4:00
Audio: Live Phish