Trey Anastasio Performs ‘Ray Dawn Balloon’ For The 1st Time Since 2002

Trey Anastasio's solo acoustic tour hit the Alabama Theatre in Birmingham on Saturday night. The Phish guitarist delved deep into his repertoire to begin the encore, dusting off “Ray Dawn Balloon” for the first time in over 22 years.

Anastasio kicked off the 29-song performance with Phish staples “Blaze On” and “Free” along with the solo gem “When The Words Go Away.” Trey then broke out the Ghosts Of The Forest instrumental “If Again,” which he last performed during The Beacon Jams run at The Beacon Theatre on November 6, 2020. The guitarist followed by discussing his past performances in the area and shared fond memories of touring with Col. Bruce Hampton and the Aquarium Rescue Unit.

The two-and-a-half hour main set rolled on with one Phish classic after another, including “AC/DC Bag,” “46 Days,” “Theme From The Bottom,” “Lifeboy,” “My Friend, My Friend” and more. Anastasio spoke about the time he and Phish bassist Mike Gordon saw Pink Floyd perform live in Birmingham and shared a story of meeting boxer Mike Tyson at a hotel in the area.

A member of Tyson’s entourage mentioned that Trey was in a band. “Are you guys the Red Hot Chili Peppers?” Tyson asked Anastasio. “Yes we are,” Anastasio replied to the boxer. The guitarist then sang a bit of “Give It Away” before introducing “Oblivion” as a song debuted in nearby Huntsville.

Keyboardist Jeff Tanski came out towards the end of the main set to accompany Anastasio on “Rift.” Tanski stuck around for “Bouncing Around The Room,” “It’s Ice,” “Petrichor,” “What’s The Use?,” “Billy Breathes,” “Split Open And Melt” and “Slave To The Traffic Light.”

When Trey and Jeff returned for the encore they performed the aforementioned “Ray Dawn Balloon.” The beautiful instrumental had been shelved since November 1, 2002. Anastasio, Les Claypool and Stewart Copeland recorded a full-band version of the song, complete with lyrics, titled “Radon Balloon” for their lone Oysterhead album, The Grand Pecking Order. Trey and Jeff went back to the Phish catalog to end the show with “If I Could” and “The Squirming Coil.”

Watch fan-shot video of Trey Anastasio’s solo acoustic show in Birmingham below:

Setlist (via Phish.net)

Set: Blaze On [1], Free[1], When the Words Go Away[1], If Again[1], AC/DC Bag[1] > Prince Caspian[1], 46 Days[1], Brian and Robert[1], Snowflakes in the Sand[1], Back on the Train[1], Oblivion[1], Chalk Dust Torture[1], Theme From the Bottom[1], Lifeboy[1], My Friend, My Friend [2], Monsters [3], Ghost[1], Wilson[1], Rift [4], Bouncing Around the Room[4], It’s Ice[4], Petrichor[4], What’s the Use?[4], Billy Breathes[4], Split Open and Melt[4], Slave to the Traffic Light[4]

Encore: Ray Dawn Balloon[4], If I Could[4], The Squirming Coil[4]

• [1] Trey solo acoustic.
• [2] Trey solo acoustic. No “Myfe” ending.
• [3] Trey solo acoustic; first acoustic Trey performance.
• [4] Trey acoustic and Jeff Tanksi on piano.

Blaze On 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 Monsters and the first Ray Dawn Balloon since November 1, 2002. Trey quoted Give It Away after Back on the Train. My Friend My Friend did not contain the “Myfe” ending.