Phish Tour 2021 – Setlist, Recap & The Skinny: The Gorge

Phish tour resumed on Friday at The Gorge in Washington state, following a two-week, mid-Summer Tour 2021 break. The band’s return to the scenic outdoor venue was the first to require proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a recent negative test in order to attend the show. Those Växt and tested in attendance, and others livestreaming from couch tour, were treated to a pair of first set bust outs and a second set underscored by a nearly 17-minute “Camel Walk.”

Taking the stage for the first time since the death of The Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts, Phish honored the legendary musician by opening the show with a cover of “Torn And Frayed,” which they first played on Halloween 2009 when they covered all of Exile On Main St. Upon completion, guitarist Trey Anastasio welcomed the crowd and then counted off “No Men In No Man’s Land,” which spawned an invigorated jam as the foursome worked up early-show energy.

“Leaves,” which was recorded for last year’s studio album, Sigma Oasis, was performed for the first time after appearing in three setlists in 2017, ending a 102 show gap between plays. Following the “Free”-esque ending of the bust out, drummer Jon Fishman false-started “Split Open And Melt,” which led to a funny exchange between he and Trey, the latter making clear his intent to play “Melt.” The band then properly started the song, paving way for Trey to employ a siren loop reminiscent of the late-1990s during the methodical and spacey jam. The intriguing improvisation led to an effortlessly smooth transition into the ending of “Melt.”

The fourth “Tube” of the summer came next. The brief “Tube” jam saw keyboardist Page McConnell playing a pretty part on his Wurlitzer over the groove laid out by Fish and bassist Mike Gordon. Trey again addressed the audience, noting how incredible it was to be together, and setting up the next song, asked Page where he had been all week. The keyboardist responded by kicking off the Joy rarity, “I Been Around.“ Another rarity, the rocking “Ha Ha Ha” was busted out for the first time since the final night of the Baker’s Dozen run at Madison Square Garden in August 2017, ending a 105 show gap between setlist appearances.

Gordon then led the second offering of his recently debuted original, “Mull.” The song gradually and steadily grew into a bluesy jam, as Trey showed off a few nifty guitar moves. The pace was downshifted for the slower sentimental tune “Shade.” Trey once again spoke to the audience, noting they were “as close as we get” before launching into “Alaska.” The first “Alaska” of the summer was followed by “Golgi Apparatus” as the joyous set one closer.

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

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“Sigma Oasis” was selected to start the second set. Staying within the structure of the song, the concise jam it produced was driven by Trey’s searing, drawn-out notes. Without stopping, Phish dropped into the “What’s The Use?” as lighting director Chris Kuroda set the scene for the poignant instrumental, first blanketing the stage in darkness before injecting swirling layers of blue and violet over the band and audience. The quartet meticulously glided through “What’s The Use?,” building to a dramatic climax.

Next up was the rollicking “Blaze On,” which led into a groovy improvisation and Trey using his chunky synth effects that were complimented by Page’s ethereal sounds. The jam slowed to a point where it became an ambient sonicscape, out of which came the first notes of the reflective “Lifeboy.”

The tenderness of “Lifeboy” was followed by the funk of “Camel Walk.” The Phish classic was stretched out well beyond its common length, as the band continued the groove past the song’s usual stopping point. The unexpected Type II improv churned out a rolling boil of funkiness rooted in Mike’s deep bassline and Page’s futuristic theatrics. The backend of the jam fused around an uplifting melody introduced by Trey, leading to a delightful conclusion.

With a note still ringing, the guitarist then blasted the opening riff of “Chalk Dust Torture.” Friday’s high octane delivery of “Chalk Dust” was at the onset a near-the-end-of-the-set jolt that, while not as monumental as other recent versions, soon transitioned into a calming jam as the four musicians expertly communicated through the succinct sequence. “Slave To The Traffic Light” was chosen for the closer, the longstanding original once again properly punctuating a quality set. The first night at The Gorge ended with a “Drift While Your Sleeping” encore, capping the show with the reflective, multifaceted Ghosts Of The Forest tune.

Phish performs at The Gorge again tonight. Livestreams are available via LivePhish.com.

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