Phish Revives ‘Ass Handed’ Before Historic ‘Carini’ At Merriweather

On Sunday, Phish played the second of two shows at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland, capping off the second week of their summer tour. The band picked up where they’d left off the previous night, treating the crowd to bustouts, jams in unexpected places and the longest “Carini” ever played.

There are few better ways to set the mood for an outdoor summer show than with a show-opening “Undermind,” and this upbeat version was followed by an equally vibey “Back on the Train.” The latter included a slightly extended groove section followed by a build to a piercing peak.

After a moment, Jon Fishman grabbed his microphone and told the crowd, “It’s true: you do!” before getting to his point: “You get your ass handed to you every day!” Appearing for the first time in three years, “Ass Handed” served not just as a bust out, but as an excuse to jam: dark and nasty at first, then light and breezy. Overall, it was a memorable excursion, much longer by far than any previous trip through the Fishman-penned novelty song masterpiece.

A standard order “Moma Dance” followed. Next up was “Fast Enough for You,” making its first appearance in a year. The tour’s first “NICU” led into the set’s second extended jam vehicle: “Oblivion.” The Evolve tune featured a jam that wove seamlessly between major and minor keys, dark and light, melodic and rhythmic, before a perfect transition into the set-closing “Possum.”

After the set break came the “Carini” — or maybe more appropriately, THE “Carini.” This version lasted around 40 minutes, beating the next longest rendition of the tune by over 10 minutes. Thankfully, it was as good as it was long. From the jump, this jam exhibited a degree of focus that the band hadn’t quite achieved in the first set’s excursions. This was Phish doing what they do best: find a theme that sounds composed; let it run its course; find another theme; repeat. This formula took them through several tight rock sections, a bit of biting funk and finally, a jubilant hose jam with a powerful climax.

Next, the band took quick passes through “No Men in No Man’s Land” and “Beneath a Sea of Stars.” It almost seemed like they had exhausted all their ideas in “Carini,” and had no jams left in them. But “Ruby Waves” disproved that notion in a hurry, as the band dove into a deep, psychedelic space. A punchy “Backwards Down the Number Line” closed the set.

The band reemerged for a take on the Beatles’ “I Am the Walrus,” the evening’s first cover. They followed it up with a rousing “First Tube,” with Trey doing some guitar-waving theatrics before bringing the night to a close.

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Phish Summer Tour 2026 moves to Syracuse on Tuesday for a concert at the Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater at Lakeview. Livestreams of Phish Summer Tour 2026 shows are available with a LivePhish With subscription.

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