Phish Showcases Improvisational Prowess With 40-Minute ‘Carini’ & ‘Wave Of Hope’ Pairing In Manchester

Phish returned to SNHU Arena on Saturday for the second of three shows in Manchester, New Hampshire to start their summer tour. Last night’s concert featured outstanding centerpiece jams within each set, interesting song placements and a high level of performance from the Vermont-based foursome.

After going 16 years between debuting “Free” and using the song as an opener, Phish has often used the lead single from 1996’s Billy Breathes to get the show on the road. Last night’s “Free” opener gave way to a spot-on version of “Reba.” The band nailed the composed section before Trey Anastasio and Page McConnell engaged in exemplary call-and-response to start the jam by chasing melodic ideas on “Koa 1.5” guitar and electric piano, respectively. The quartet patiently built the “Reba” jam to a rolling boil to the delight of the capacity crowd.

Next, McConnell fronted the group on “Halfway To The Moon.” Then, bassist Mike Gordon stepped up to the mic to deliver the a cappella vocal intro to “Halley’s Comet.” While the Richard “Nancy” Wright-penned number wasn’t taken deep, “Halley’s” featured a massive peak.

The “Stash” that followed was the highlight of the first set, thanks to its adventurous and expansive jam. Anastasio led a move to a major key early in the improvisation. Phish connected on an anthemic and blissful progression they rode to glory. Drummer Jon Fishman kept the beat compact throughout the memorable Type 2 “Stash” as Anastasio’s fretboard fireworks flew ahead of a return to finish the song.

Phish’s funk proclivities were displayed for the subsequent “Meat.” Gordon sounded fantastic on lead vocals and bass, as the Vermonters cracked each other up during the Mike-written song’s breakdowns. An unusually-placed “Down With Disease” punctuated the opening stanza, marking the first time the Hoist classic had appeared in the slot since their 20th Anniversary Show at Boston’s FleetCenter on December 2, 2003. Trey laughed off a vocal miscue before a “Disease” jam that while not particularly long, covered plenty of ground.

Upon their return, Phish looked to Anastasio’s Ghosts Of The Forest project for the first-ever “Drift While You’re Sleeping” second set opener. The band devoted the next 40 minutes to an awe-inspiring pairing of “Carini” and “A Wave Of Hope.” Both songs were well-jammed with diverse improvisations.

Phish expertly explored evil and pretty soundscapes within the “Carini” jam. The ode to former crew member Pete Carini was a Team Phish affair with all four members contributing equally to the otherworldly exploration. “Carini” was infused with multiple key changes and saw McConnell shift between Clavinet, electric piano, grand piano and synth. Anastasio employed “Punch You In The Eye”-like muting over a nasty progession before a more beautiful foray heavy on harmonics paved the way for a drop into “A Wave Of Hope” to wrap the first +20-minute jam of the tour.

More bliss and egalitarian improvisation were the hallmark of the New Hampshire “Wave Of Hope.” Phish varied tempos throughout the 16-minute jam, which showed what four musicians who have been performing together for over 40 years can do at their best. McConnell led the way on a groovy segment that wasn’t too far removed from “Fire On The Mountain,” as Fish provided a galloping beat, Anastasio focused on rhythmic work and Gordon kept the jam moving forward. Trey then utilized his ring modular for computer-like beeps and bloops as the band reached near silence.

“Billy Breathes” emerged from out of the chaos to provide a breather. Anastasio’s voice sounded scratchy on opening night but he recovered nicely on Saturday, if a little pitchy on the beloved ballad. Phish then provided a dance party via “Also Sprach Zarathustra,” aka “2001.” Trey fit in a few “Let’s Go Blue” teases, though if anyone in Manchester replied by chanting “Potvin Sucks!” ala Rangers games at Madison Square Garden, they couldn’t be heard distinctly on the livestream.

Just weeks after the 25th anniversary of their lone tour of Japan, Phish revved into “Meatstick” to keep the second set going. The band sang the Japanese lyrics and pulled off the choreographed dance within a song closely associated with the June 2000 run. “Meatstick” bled into the potent Ghosts Of The Forest cut “About To Run,” which preceded the high-energy and typically “Possum” set closer.

Phish wrapped Saturday night’s concert with a three-song encore. First, McConnell helmed a cover of Jimi Hendrix’s “Bold As Love.” From there, the band delivered a straight-forward “David Bowie” before saying farewell with Gamehendge favorite “Wilson.”

The foursome closes their three-night stand at SNHU Arena on Sunday night. Livestreams of all of Phish’s Summer Tour 2025 concerts are available via LivePhish.com.

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Photos by Jamie Soja

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