Trey Anastasio Band Debuts & Busts Out Covers In Brooklyn

Phish guitarist Trey Anastasio brought the Trey Anastasio Band back to the historic Kings Theatre in Brooklyn last night for the second of two shows that kick off the group’s Fall Tour. Opening night saw TAB debut three covers and Saturday’s performance included another cover debut as well as the return of a cover the band hadn’t played since 2003.

Anastasio and the current TAB lineup opened up with “Sometime After Sunset.” Surprisingly, the opener wound up being the evening’s only song off Paper Wheels, the guitarist’s soon-to-be-released new studio album. Instead, TAB delivered two career spanning sets that included a handful of covers. One of the evening’s biggest surprises came towards the end of the first set, when TAB lit into a cover of George Harrison’s “What Is Life.” Not only had the Trey Anastasio Band never played the former Beatle’s solo hit from 1971 in the past, but the guitarist hadn’t performed the song with any of his projects including Phish.

“Curlew’s Call” kicked off a second set that saw most of his major solo studio albums represented. “Flock Of Words” and “Mr. Completely” came off Trey’s self-titled 2002 LP, “Shine” gave a taste of the 70 Volt Parade period that included the album of the same name as did the lengthy “Goodbye Head” off 2006’s Bar 17, while “Architect” repped the 2012 album Traveler. The second set ended with the return of the Jennifer Hartswick-sung “Dazed And Confused.” TAB played the Led Zeppelin cover four times during Spring Tour in 2003 and not again since until Saturday night. “Push On ‘Til The Day” served as encore. Next up for the Trey Anastasio Band is a two-night stand at Brooklyn Bowl Las Vegas October 30 and 31.

Watch TAB debut “What Is Life” as shot by Sammy Steinlight:

Here’s fan-shot footage of “Dazed & Confused” thanks to LTTKMT:

Setlist (via Phish.net)

Set One: Sometime After Sunset, Cayman Review, Mozambique, O-o-h Child, Burlap Sack and Pumps, Wherever You Find It, Pigtail, 1977, Night Speaks to a Woman, What Is Life[1], Small Axe, Tuesday

Set Two: Curlew’s Call, Plasma, Shine, Simple Twist Up Dave, Flock of Words, Goodbye Head, Architect, Mr. Completely, Dazed and Confused

Encore: Push On ‘Til the Day

[1] TAB Debut.

Notes: “Cayman Review” contained a “Streets of Cairo” tease by Trey. This show featured the TAB debut of “What Is Life” (George Harrison).