Trey Anastasio Incorporates Intimacy & Improvisation At Solo Acoustic Tour Stop In Washington, D.C.

On a quiet Washington, D.C. evening, inside the gilded walls of the Warner Theatre, Trey Anastasio gave a performance that felt less like a concert and more like a deeply personal conversation — one held in song, story, and reflection.

The Warner, with its golden-veined marble and mythic ornamentation, has long been a place where history echoes. On this night, those echoes belonged to Trey.

For nearly three hours, he sat with his acoustic guitars, weaving together an eclectic tapestry of songs from across his vast musical life — Phish staples, solo material, and rarities — all laid bare in the glow of one of D.C.’s most cherished venues.

Taking the stage shortly before 8 p.m., Anastasio opened with “More” before easing into “Lost In The Pack,” the latter pulled from his 2020 pandemic-era solo record Lonely Trip. From there, he took a moment to acknowledge both the city and the moment.

“It’s feeling very poignant or something,” he told the crowd. “This is my second-to-last stop on this tour…It’s deep here. We’ve played so many concerts in this beautiful town, going all the way back to 1989 at The Roxy.”

Trey’s ability to foster a warm, conversational atmosphere is one of the great strengths of his solo acoustic shows. With nothing more than an acoustic guitar, a looping rig, and his signature storytelling, he moved effortlessly between songs and reflections.

His setlist was a blend of Phish classics, solo material, and emotional ballads — all reinterpreted through the lens of a stripped-down performance that highlighted both his musicianship and vulnerability.

One of the evening’s most touching moments came when Anastasio honored a request from an 8-year-old fan who’d posted online. He played both “What’s Going Through Your Mind” and, for the first time ever in an acoustic setting, “Walls Of The Cave.”

That spirit of connection with the audience extended throughout the night, whether through the communal sing-along during “Oblivion,” the explosion of energy during “Wilson,” or the tender silence that filled the room during “Waste.”

The first half of the show featured Trey solo on guitar, showcasing looping techniques to build rhythmic beds for improvisation. Later, pianist Jeff Tanski joined him onstage, elevating the performance with lush accompaniment on tracks like “Pebbles and Marbles,” “Petrichor,” and “In Long Lines.” Together, they transformed songs like “The Squirming Coil” and “You Enjoy Myself” into sprawling, emotional finales that felt uniquely suited to the duo’s stripped-back setup.

The Warner’s stunning acoustics allowed every nuance to shine—whether it was the delicate phrasing of “Brian and Robert” or the subtle harmonic shifts in “Mountains in the Mist.” Even high-octane staples like “Split Open and Melt” and “Harry Hood” were reinvented with fresh dynamics and introspective tones.

For longtime fans, it was a chance to hear beloved songs from a new angle. For newcomers, it was an invitation into Anastasio’s world — open-hearted, humorous, and brimming with gratitude. Trey’s solo acoustic performance in D.C. wasn’t just a showcase of musicianship, it was a reminder of the power of presence, both his and ours, in the shared space of live music.

Trey Anastasio’s solo acoustic tour has been full of highlights and his D.C. show was a standout. It was a night of joy, memory, and unfiltered musical connection. In a room built to honor the past, Trey gave a show that will live long into the future.

Photos by Stu Kelly

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Walls of the Cave	00:00:00

Channel	adam maradian
Band	Trey Anastasio (See 283 videos)

Audio (Taped by Jeff Prater)

Setlist (via Phish.net)

Set: More [1], Lost in the Pack[1], What’s Going Through Your Mind[1], If Again[1], Theme From the Bottom[1], Brian and Robert[1], Oblivion[1], Limb By Limb[1], Mountains in the Mist[1], Evolve[1], Blaze On[1], Sample in a Jar[1], Strange Design[1], Monsters[1], Walls of the Cave [2], Snowflakes in the Sand[1], Waste[1], Possum[1], Wilson[1], Pebbles and Marbles [3], Petrichor[3], In Long Lines[3], Bouncing Around the Room[3], Split Open and Melt[3], Harry Hood[3]

Encore: The Squirming Coil[3], You Enjoy Myself[3]

Note:

• [1] Trey solo acoustic.
• [2] Trey solo acoustic; first acoustic Trey performance.
• [3] Trey acoustic and Jeff Tanski on piano.

More through Wilson were performed by Trey solo acoustic. The remainder of the evening was Trey on acoustic and Jeff Tanski on piano. This show featured the first Trey acoustic performance of Walls of the Cave.