Phish Rings In 2016 At Madison Square Garden – Setlist & The Skinny
By Andy Kahn Jan 1, 2016 • 9:49 am PST

Thursday night Phish returned to Madison Square Garden for their second performance in as many days, ringing in the New Year at the historic New York City venue for the ninth time in the bandâs career. The Mecca of entertainment in NYC, once again The Garden provided fertile ground for the foursome to deliver three celebratory sets for those in attendance and watching at home. As expected, 2016 was welcomed with a traditionally impressive spectacle featuring a second stage and elaborate visual display.
Speculation inside the arena started growing prior to the showâs start as a large white cone hung from the MSG ceiling and part of the seating below was roped off in preparation of this yearâs gag. Set one got off to a feisty start via âThe Moma Danceâ filling the opener role for the first time this year and the quick transition to âPossumâ helped boost the energy in the room as Page McConnell went to work on the organ and Trey Anastasio unleashed a rapid succession of guitar notes. Bassist Mike Gordon and drummer Jon Fishman laid a solid foundation during a nicely jammed version of âWolfmanâs Brother.â After a bit of on stage deliberation Trey counted off âBirds Of A Featherâ and the foursome took off on a brief but intense tangent.

The acappella start to âI Didnât Knowâ summoned Fish (introduced by Trey as âthe man Mulcahyâ) down stage to provide the final vacuum solo of 2015. The song concluded with the audience singing along with the band, prompting Fish to ask the crowd to sing one more song. âHappy Birthdayâ was then sung for his daughter Ella who turned 14 years old yesterday. An edgy âMartian Monsterâ reminded everyone their trip was short but nonetheless maniacally funky. A blissful peak highlighted a well executed âReba,â accentuated with whistling at its conclusion. The first set drew to a close with the energy elevated once again by a ripping rendition of âWalls Of The Cave.â
The middle set initiated with a vibrant âThe Wedgeâ followed by more audience participation in the form of âWilson.â An abrupt start to âA Song I Heard The Ocean Singâ soon gave Anastasio a platform for intense soloing. Gordon stepped up to lead the group through his bouncy âYarmouth Roadâ as the second set strolled on. âKill Devil Fallsâ shifted back to a rocking vibe as Anastasio led the group into an extended ambient portion of sprawling improv enlivened by Gordonâs sub-bass notes and McConnellâs plunky synth work. The most extensive jam of the night to that point eventually segued into âPiperâ which was abruptly abandoned in favor of âTwistâ boasting more exploratory group interaction, particularly during a secondary, multifaceted jam segment. A ferocious, tension-filled and richly melodic passage emerged as the highlight of the set ending âTwistâ jam – and was one of the most memorable moments of the night.

After the second intermission, set three began with the 2015 debut original âNo Men In No Man’s Landâ and the band playing in the round on a small stage set up at the back of the arena under the looming white cone in the space previously sectioned off. As a sublime jam emerged, white sheets were lowered from the cone, creating a translucent hourglass-shaped tent for the band to play under. Lighting director Chris Kuroda illuminated the second stage with gorgeous visuals as Phish continued jamming deeper into ambient territory. The resulting effect was similar to one of the bandâs famed âsecretâ improvised festival sets like the IT Tower Jam or this summerâs Drive-In Set at Magnaball.

A cacophony of light, sound and haze filled the back of the arena as the final seconds of 2015 were counted down and the familiar notes of âAuld Lang Syneâ rang out with the band having made their way undercover back to the main stage. Like the opener, another 2015 debut âBlaze Onâ kept MSG rocking and bouncing under a sea of colorful balloons and confetti. Also like the opener, âBlaze Onâ expanded into a beautifully sublime jam, the band taking a delicate route to a soaring peak while still keeping an arena full of people utterly captivated. A typically sinister âCariniâ quickly dove back into a mellow, blissed-out jam that again demonstrated patience and cohesive progressions. âDavid Bowieâ brought about more relaxed playing prior to the songâs raging climax. A breather came from the combination of âThe Horseâ > âSilent In The Morningâ and âBackwards Down The Number Lineâ brought the third and final set to an end with Anastasio thanking the audience. A punchy pairing of “Tube” and “Cavern” brought the festive night to a joyous end.
Phish has another sold-out show at Madison Square Garden again tomorrow, Friday, January 1.
The Skinny
The Setlist |
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Set 1: The Moma Dance > Possum, Wolfman's Brother, Birds of a Feather, I Didn't Know, Happy Birthday to You [1], Martian Monster, Reba, Walls of the Cave Set 2: The Wedge > Wilson > A Song I Heard the Ocean Sing, Yarmouth Road, Kill Devil Falls [2] > Piper > Twist Set 3: No Men In No Man's Land > Auld Lang Syne > Blaze On > Carini > David Bowie, The Horse > Silent in the Morning > Backwards Down the Number Line
During I Didn’t Know, Trey introduced FishĂ as “The Man Mulcahy.”Ă The crowd sang the last verse of I Didn’t KnowĂ and Fish then asked the crowd to join him in singing Happy Birthday toĂ his daughter, Ella. KDF was unfinished. The third set began with the band on a second stage beneath a funnel-shaped screen suspended from the ceiling. As the band jammed, part of the screen descended and became an hourglass shape surrounding the stage, on which a series ofĂ images were projected.Ă As the jam continued and the countdown to midnight approached, the band returned to the main stage. |
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The Venue |
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Madison Square Garden [See upcoming shows] |
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20,789 |
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32 shows |
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The Music |
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9 songs / 8:27 pm to 9:37 pm (70 minutes) |
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7 songs / 10:04 pm to 11:05 pm (61 minutes) |
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10 songs / 11:39 pm to 1:05 am (86 minutes) |
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26 songs |
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1997 |
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9.19 [Gap chart] |
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N/A |
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N/A |
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Happy Birthday to You LTP 07/26/2013 (96 Show Gap) |
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No Men In No Man’s Land 21:23 |
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The Horse 1:24 |
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Junta - 1, Lawn Boy - 1, A Picture of Nectar - 1, Rift - 3, Hoist - 1, Billy Breathes - 0, The Story of the Ghost - 2, Farmhouse - 2, Round Room - 1, Undermind - 1, Joy - 2, Fuego - 0, Misc. - 9, Covers - 2 |
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The Rest |
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45°F and Cloudy at showtime |
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Koa 3 / Ocedoc |
Phish From The Road Photos âŚ
Posters

Poster by Sam Chivers

Poster by David Welker

Poster by Status Serigraph

Poster by Dan Mumford
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