Phish Kicks Off 2018 Dick’s Sporting Goods Park Run – Recap, Setlist & The Skinny

After Phish’s Curveball festival was forced to cancel,fans went through the stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance and Dick’s. The band’s now annual Labor Day Weekend run of shows in Commerce City, Colorado quickly took on even more than normal significance with Curveball’s unfortunate demise. Friday’s first of three shows wasn’t going to make up for the disappointment of a few weeks ago, but for those on site or webcasting from around the country it was a chance to put that fiasco firmly in the past, as the focus could now turn to the new music being made over the holiday weekend.

Guitarist Trey Anastasio, keyboardist Page McConnell, bassist Mike Gordon and drummer Jon Fishman took the stage for the first time in three weeks, opening the first set of this year’s Dick’s run with a sharply played “Free.” Trey’s first selection of “Harry Hood” in the first set of a show since 2010 resulted in a nicely executed edition of the classic that saw Page elaborating on Fender Rhodes as the song built to a rousing conclusion. Next up was the ever more prevalent and warmly received instrumental “What’s The Use?” during which lighting director Chris Kuroda bathed the audience in a sea of blue lights. “Blaze On” followed, paving the way for the foursome to improvise in a highly energetic fashion led by Trey’s chunky lead work.

With “Ghost” came another first-set-feeling-like-a-second-set vibe as the common second half jammer (that’s showing up in set one with more regularity) got brought out and launched a standout sequence of improvising. Mike laid down a melodic line near the start of the improvisation that Trey and Page thoughtfully answered with equally melodic additions to the jam. Fish held a steadily driving rhythm that pushed toward a climax before Mike implemented a tone that for a few moments produced a feel reminiscent of “Weekapaug Groove.” Page blasted through on Clavinet as the foursome collectively increased momentum and seamlessly segued into “Crosseyed & Painless.”

The flawless transition into the funky Talking Heads cover, which is another second set staple, produced more aggressive Clavinet work as the quartet rode the cover’s velocity for several minutes of the prevailing jam before bringing the tempo down a notch into a bluesy groove. A sharp jolt back to “Crosseyed” capped the impressive sequence that dissolved into a wash off sound. Out of the ambiance came “Simple” and another shorter bit of tight interplay between the four on stage. “Cavern” thumped the first set of the weekend to a close.

“No Men In No Man’s Land” brought the show back from setbreak. Soon Trey was laying back to let Page explore his array of synths and Mike match with similar textures through effects-drenched basslines. A tight turn into the fierce rocker “Carini” gave Mike more space to lay out a thunderously melodic foundation for the other three to complement and build upon. Trey came around with a nimble riff while Fish scaled back his pattern and Page pulsed along intensely on Rhodes. The egalitarian interplay continued for several passages as each of the four contributed equally to the direction of the jam, collectively navigating through a series of high points.

The set continued with the multi-part “Mercury” primarily staying within its form but still delivering a few minutes of intricate and intense interplay. “Light” lit up the Colorado air next, as the foursome took their time digging into the jam that followed. Trey’s screeching notes echoed over Fish’s ever-changing but steady beat, churning and cultivating into a variety of areas as they built to one enormous mountain-topping ending to the set. At the onset of the encore, Page triggered the Chilling Thrilling samples of “Martian Monster” meaning the rest of the night’s trip would be short — but not before a romp through the rocker “Julius” to fully close out the show.

Phish plays Dick’s again on Saturday and Sunday. Webcasts are available via Livephish.com.

Want more Phish stats?

Visit JamBase’s The Skinny Hub

More Skinny

Phish From The Road Photos

Posters