Phish Enjoys Themselves With Tiny Trampoline & All At ‘Tiny Desk Concert’ Debut

Phish swung by NPR Music’s headquarters in Washington D.C. last week as part of their big media push to promote their new album, Evolve. The quartet made their Tiny Desk Concert debut with the resulting video out today and in typical Phish fashion only played one song from the LP as part of their 35-minute performance.

While “The Phish from Vermont” appeared for the first time on the video series, guitarist Trey Anastasio offered a solo set at Bob Boilen's desk in 2015 and bassist Mike Gordon teamed with drummer Jon Fishman as part of a Tiny Desk (Home) Concert during the pandemic. Additionally, Anastasio was recruited by NPR as a judge of the first Tiny Desk contest.

Anastasio, Gordon, Fishman and keyboardist Page McConnell kicked off their set with “Sigma Oasis,” the title track to their previous studio album. The guitarist weaved in a tease of the theme song from NPR’s All Things Considered news program — a song Phish reworked as “All Things Reconsidered” for their 1993 album Rift — into the opener and then played it again after the “Sigma Oasis” to make sure the audience caught it. Next came “Evolve,” the lone cut featured on the new Phish album performed by the band at NPR Music HQ.

Phish utilized a stripped-down setup and explained the space was similar to the area where the band rehearsed in their early days. After they had “warmed up a bit” and Anastasio excitedly showed off a tiny trampoline, the four-piece launched into the classic “You Enjoy Myself.” The “YEM” was a concise version but did include Anastasio and Gordon’s trampoline routine. Fish, Mike, Trey and Page picked up small percussion instruments as they started the vocal jam and marched into the crowd.

One of the most highly-anticipated Tiny Desk Concerts in the series’ history ended with a “tiny” two-song encore. Phish paired oldies “Sample In A Jar” and “Chalk Dust Torture” to close the session.

Watch Phish’s Tiny Desk Concert below:

Phish opens their 26-date summer tour on Friday at Xfinity Center with their first of three shows at the Boston area venue. Scroll below for a full list of dates.