From ‘I Didn’t Know’ To ‘Guy Forget’: Phish Keeps It Rolling On Night 2 In Noblesville

Phish performed the middle show of a three-night run at the Ruoff Music Center in Noblesville, Indiana on Saturday. The concert at the venue fondly remembered as Deer Creek featured a gratifying array of classic and newer originals, fun antics, classic rock covers, a rarely played fan-favorite and more.

A vintage “Mike’s Groove” set the first set in motion. The “Mike’s Song” opener saw the band dive into a concise and focused jam that barrelled into the airy instrumental “I Am Hydrogen.” Bassist Mike Gordon then slapped the funky intro to “Weekapaug Groove,” setting off a completion of the classic trifecta as drummer Jon Fishman’s snappy rhythms propelled the energetic song.

Like it did on opening night of the tour, a typically rocking “Character Zero” made an unexpected early first set appearance, getting the call after the “Mike’s Groove.”

Tapping into his Ghosts Of The Forest project, guitarist Trey Anastasio initiated the introspectively empowering “Drift While You’re Sleeping.” Keyboardist Page McConnell spun around his rig, touring from instrument to instrument through the multifaceted composition.

Page and Trey engaged in a manic back and forth between swirling organ and stabbing guitar during the frenzied presentation of “Maze” that followed. Lighting Director Chris Kuroda’s visual enhancements during “Maze” supplemented the song’s rising intensity.

Time then came for the arrival of the first vacuum solo of Phish Summer Tour 2024. Fish was summoned to the front of the stage while his bandmates sang the intro to “I Didn’t Know.” Fish laid down on the stage and used his vacuum as a pillow while Trey called him “a man who’s been sleeping at the front of the stage while his twin plays the drums in the back.”

“Would you please welcome all the way from Saskatchewan,” Trey exclaimed, “The Little Beast Boy himself, Moses Brown! Moses Eats! Moses DeWitt!”

Trey hopped on drums while Fish delivered his vacuum solo and Trey later namechecked Mike during the song’s vocal outro.

A skillfully administered “Reba” would be the penultimate song of the first set. The song’s light-hearted lyrical section gave way to its sublime instrumental section in a delightful demonstration of shifting dynamics.

The increasingly less infrequently played cover of Jimi Hendrix’s “Izabella” made its first Phish setlist of 2024 as Trey shredded his way into set break.

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

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Phish activated the second set with “Chalk Dust Torture.” The opener just barely crossed the noteworthy 20-minute threshold (LivePhish timing 20:18). An example of the melodically focused improvisation prevalent this summer, the “Chalk Dust Torture” jam solidified around distinct motifs, like a guitar riff introduced by Trey that Page answered and expanded, while Mike supplemented the discourse and Fish expertly anticipated each new turn of phrase. The conversational nature of these types of jams recalls the band’s early “Hey Hole” practice exercise.

The discussion among band members moved on to a new topic in the form of a seamless transition into “Plasma.” The smooth segue behind them, “Plasma” gave footing to a jam that oozed along, seeping out of the musicians with patience and a delicate touch. Gordon’s mid-jam switch to a synthy bass effect shifted the textural quality while maintaining the measured pace.

The lyrically and musically heavy “Monsters” emerged from the jubilant end of the “Plasma” jam. “Monsters” was the only song from the band’s new album Evolve to make Saturday’s setlist.

Fish was in the spotlight again for the subsequent cover of Talking Heads’ “Crosseyed And Painless,” keeping the pulsating beat and singing lead on the Remain In Light standout. In the midst of the funky “Crosseyed” the loosely structured “Guy Forget” emerged, making just its fourth Phish setlist. A brief detour back to “Crosseyed” trailed the unexpected rarity.

“Fuego” was chosen as the final song of the second set. The band had one more passage of improvisation to offer, diving into another melody-centered excursion with Trey riding hot classic rock riffs through to an exhilarating finish.

Last night’s encore consisted of a cover of “Rock And Roll,” marking the first time The Velvet Underground song off Loaded was played by Phish this year. Concluding the show +20 minutes earlier than on Friday night, the one-song encore brought an end to night two at Deer Creek.

Phish’s three-night run at Deer Creek concludes with another concert tonight, Sunday, August 4. Watch livestreams of Phish’s entire 2024 Summer Tour via LivePhish.com.

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