Phish Summer Tour 2019: Merriweather Post Night 2 – Setlist, Recap & The Skinny

On Sunday, Phish closed out the second show of their two-night stand at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland with a six-song second set and a four-song encore that will not soon be forgotten. This was the band’s 19th time playing on the venue’s stage since their first appearance there in 1992.

Coming out of the gates blazing, the band kicked things off with the second “Carini” show opener of this tour. An undeniable crowd pleaser, the tune had folks rushing around the pavilion, hurrying to find their seats as the 7:28 p.m. start time seemed to have crept up on a few. This jam followed the standard “dark turned light” blueprint of most “Carini” performances these days, delivering a beautiful blissful bit for the better half of the song. The first “My Soul” since the Baker’s Dozen came next, closing a 66 show gap, followed by another debut of the year, “Rift,” which closed a 27 show gap — the longest the song had not been played in all of 3.0.

2019’s first taste of “Gumbo” was served up hot, complete with a ripping solo from guitarist Trey Anastasio before the band came to a full stop, pausing for a full 30 seconds before the Chairman of the Boards, Mr. Page McConnell brought it back, closing the tune out in its signature sultry style, while Trey teased “My Soul” behind him. Without skipping a beat, Anastasio lit into another tour debut of “It’s Ice,” closing that song’s longest gap of 3.0 (47 shows). Continuing with the “cool” theme, this year’s first “Winterqueen” made her appearance, delicately and deliberately delivering delight. A fairly standard version of bassist Mike Gordon’s “Yarmouth Road” came next before “Shade.” Phish’s debut of Ghosts-of-the-Forest tune, “Halfway Home” preceded “The Wedge” before a firey “Run Like An Antelope” closed the set out with a bang.

Keeping up that same energy after setbreak, the band returned to the stage and didn’t waste any time before bursting into this year’s first version of Talking Heads’ “Crosseyed And Painless.” While initially intense, the aggression faded quickly to enter an airy, blissful state before smoothly turning into “Everything’s Right.” Following a similar pattern, this tune started off funky and dark until the point of liftoff around nine minutes in, after which things became significantly more light and ethereal. Anastasio alluded to the previous song with a short “still waiting” jam before offering up more soaring peaks. Gordon shook folks to their cores with his infamous “brown note” as Page added some interesting sounds to the cacophonous crescendo right before the seamless segue into the second Ghosts of the Forest song of the evening, “Ruby Waves.” This version was almost three minutes longer than its debut with Phish earlier in the week in Toronto. Rising jubilantly from the noise, this heavily rhythmic and percussive offering showcased powerhouse drummer Jon Fishman as he drove the beat, while Anastasio quoted “Crosseyed And Painless” again over what sounded to be almost a “Weekapaug Groove” jam. The energy and power contained within this jam are undeniable and a certain highlight of the evening.

Following a round of “woos,” Anastasio transitioned naturally into a fun and playful version of “Twist,” featuring even more “Crosseyed And Painless” quotes before dropping into a very solid version of the space funk dance party that is “2001.” Closing out the second set for its first time ever, “Blaze On” offered up a number of euphoric peaks before the band exited the stage.

Opening up the encore for the first time in its 27 year history, “Maze” made it’s 2019 debut in exquisite form, with Anastasio nailing the sometimes tricky, note-heavy peak. Slowing things down significantly, the band then made their way into “Waste” which Anastasio also delivered on ahead of the silly sing-along, “Sanity.” And just when things seemed to be over “Wilson” sprung up, capping a rare four-song encore that closed the night and run out in style.

The band has a night off before continuing their tour at Darling’s Waterfront Pavilion in Bangor, Maine on Tuesday.

Halfway Home Captured by M G

Sanity

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