Phish Riviera Maya Finale From Mexico: Day Three – Setlist, Videos & The Skinny

With no future shows currently scheduled it’s unclear what the rest of 2017 has in store for Phish following the final night of second annual installment of their destination event at the Barceló Maya in Riviera Maya, Mexico. Whether conscience of that fact or not, the foursome left little in the tank following Sunday’s south of the border finale that featured a first set highlighted by an unexpected song sequence and selection as well as long flourishes of improvisation and an equally adventurous and fully loaded second set.

A stumbled start to Stevie Wonder’s “Boogie On Reggae Woman” was laughed off by Trey Anastasio as he led the quartet through the funky cover to open a show for the first time. The unexpected opener was followed by an atypically placed early first set “Simple” > “Tweezer” pairing. The former didn’t venture far from its structure, while the latter opened up into a steadily constructed portion of standout group improvisation. A leisurely stroll through “Roggae” progressed the set along with Anastasio filling the windy air with a pointed solo. The rarely played Undermind rocker “Nothing” was busted out for the first time since August 16, 2015 marking just its seventh ever time making a Phish setlist.

Trey infused “Little Drummer Boy” into the start of the subsequent “Ghost” that paved the way for more first set improv as the rhythm section of bassist Mike Gordon and drummer Jon Fishman set a dynamic groove and Page McConnell rattled his piano as he and the guitarist navigated the escalating jam. Mike was in charge of the calypso “Ya Mar” cover with its usual organ solo from Page and the trailing “Stealing Time From The Faulty Plan” featured more searing soloing by Trey. A tight run through “Rift” came ahead of “Fluffhead,” and the quartet successfully weaved through the multi-part fan-favorite to bring the meaty first set to an end.

Phish utilized “Down With Disease” to once again open a second set, quickly jumping into more intense jamming as Chris Kuroda lit up the palm trees surrounding the stage. The “Disease” jam found a steady rhythm and slid effortlessly into the start of “No Men In Man’s Land” that kept the improv hose flowing to a frenzied peak. Another silky smooth segue ushered in Allen Toussaint’s “Sneakin’ Sally Through The Alley” and a turn toward dark and dirty funk. Landing on a sustained drone, Page interjected samples from “Shipwreck“ before a transition to “Possum” that had more Chilling, Thrilling Sounds Of The Haunted House samples added by the keyboardist.

The sinister opening riff of “Carini” was dotted with “crashing surf and jagged rocks” quotes from “Shipwreck” as McConnell continued to embellish. The jam that then developed saw Trey firing note after note from his Languedoc will Fish laid a mellowing foundation. The drummer’s hi-hat intro to “David Bowie” also had “Shipwreck” elements ahead of the full on blistering rendition of the Junta classic. Big hitting favorites kept coming as the foursome lit into “Harry Hood” and worked into a lively, swinging jam that broke out of the usual “Hood” progression before circling back to the song’s anthemic ending with Trey thanking the audience and telling them the band would see them “pretty soon.” One more veteran of the band’s repertoire was offered for those who made the trek to Mexico as “Slave To The Traffic Light” initiated the encore. A show and weekend-capping performance of the always energetic “Tweezer Reprise” brought the festivities in Riviera Maya to an end.

Watch official footage of the opening of each set in the two videos below:

[Boogie On Reggae Woman]

https://www.facebook.com/phish/videos/10154032107781290/

[Down With Disease]

https://www.facebook.com/phish/videos/10154032328796290/

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