Phish Makes A ‘Sightless Escape’ On Night 3 In Mexico

Phish carried out the penultimate show of this year’s Phish: Riviera Maya destination event on Friday night in Cancún, Mexico. The band unpacked a pair of +20-minute jams — one in each of the evening’s two sets — and busted out a rarely played song from guitarist Trey Anastasio’s Ghosts Of The Forest project.

Countering the previous night’s first set and its “distinct lack of jamming,” Phish found their improvisational footing with an expansive mid-first-set “Wolfman’s Brother.” Trey laughed his way through a slight vocal flub but was soon leading an impressive jam with serious intent.

The “Wolfman’s” jam moved along steadily with stable propulsion and ongoing interplay rooted in drummer Jon Fishman’s expert dynamics. Some of the robotic, otherworldly-sounding effects were sprinkled into the conversation. Those were abandoned midway into the sequence, clean tones and keyboardist Page McConnell’s vibrant piano taking hold and reaching a sweet melodic cohesion.

Trey’s forceful diversion into a blues-rooted motif pushed the jam into a new terrain, which they tread for several passages before transitioning into a more groove-oriented area. Entering another distinct realm, the jam turned dark and menacing, with Trey cycling through looping riffs to evoke a repetitive droning effect matched by Page’s synthesized sounds. A hint of “Mike’s Song” infiltrated the final passage leading into the end of “Wolfman’s.”

Prior to the “Wolfman’s Brother” excursion, Friday’s first set began with the McConnell-written, organ-driven instrumental “Cars Trucks And Buses.” The frequent show-opener was followed by a song that thrives in the two-slot, “The Moma Dance.” The night’s first substantial taste of improv was the laid-back, fresh and funky little jam squeezed inside “Moma.”

Phish then played “Sigma Oasis,” the uplifting title track to their 2020 studio album. A well-delivered “Tube” followed with just enough extra juice to fill a margarita.

After the previously detailed jammed-out “Wolfman’s,” the foursome got lost in “Maze,” spinning the well-worn staple into a manic frenzy finish. The first of two songs from Phish’s 2024 studio album Evolve played on Friday night, came next in the form of Anastasio’s tender “Lonely Trip” (which also served as the title track to the guitarist’s 2020 solo album).

Bassist Mike Gordon then led the charge into set break with the standby set closer “Possum” bringing the first half of the show to an energized conclusion.

Read on after The Skinny for the rest of the recap and more.

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The other Evolve track to make Friday’s setlist was the second set starting “Oblivion.” Originating with the Trey Anastasio Band and debuted by Phish in 2023, “Oblivion” has made solid footing within the quartet’s live repertoire through last night’s 17th performance. The song’s rhythmic center was the root of the prevailing jam, which was the first of several highlight-worthy in set two.

The beginning of the jam was calm and collected, equal parts melody and groove. Page introduced colorful textures while Mike and Fish held down the opposing low end, continuing in this fashion for the remainder of the 15-minute section.

“Sightless Escape” then made a rare and unexpected setlist appearance, having only been played by Phish twice before, in 2023 and 2019. The song was part of Trey’s Ghost Of The Forest canon, played often throughout that tour in Spring 2019.

The third “Sightless Escape” (and first in 53 shows) was a fun diversion from the band’s regular rotation of songs and contained a potently concise jam within. Trey assertively steered the jam, with his Ghosts Of The Forest bandmate Fish drumming along in tandem.

With waves crashing nearby on the beach, “Prince Caspian” was called upon next and its “afloat upon the waves” and other nautical lyrics synchronized with the setting.

Set two kept rolling with “Fuego” leading to the second +20-minute jam of the night. The title track to Phish’s 2014 studio album has over 20 jam chart entries on Phish.net, with Friday’s 23:03 version making it the fourth-longest to date.

The initial improv sequence remained within the “Fuego” region for some time while the foursome found a foundation to build from. Experimental and unusual sounds emitted from the stage on Friday during the “Fuego” jam. Structurally shape-shifting between Page’s array of synths and Trey and Mike’s eclectic palette of effects, Fish’s compulsive pattern anchored the intense interplay. Deep into the jam, the band made a tight turn to return to the “Fuego” form and bring the excellent rendition to a solid landing.

“Beneath a Sea of Stars Part 1,” another song originating with Ghosts of the Forest, drew a cheer when Trey sang the opening lyrics referencing the fine weather and crashing waves. A straightforward and rocking “Chalk Dust Torture” picked up the pace after the quiet ambience of the prevailing song. Set two ended with McConnell heading “Most Events Aren’t Planned” from his Vida Blue solo band.

Upon returning to the stage, “Saw It Again” was selected, earning an encore spot for just the fifth time. The audience at the Moon Palace was then told what space smells like as “Say It To Me S.A.N.T.O.S.” brought an end to the concert.

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Phish: Riviera Maya concludes tonight, Saturday, February 1 with an earlier 6 p.m. ET showtime. Purchase livestreams via LivePhish.com.

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