Trey Anastasio Trio Plays First Of 2 In Chicago

On Friday night Trey Anastasio continued his first tour with the Trey Anastasio Band trio since 1999 by pulling into Chicago to begin a two-night run at the historic Chicago Theatre. Big Red along with bassist Tony Markellis and drummer Russ Lawton continued to mix Phish tunes with songs they originally debuted together back in ’99 as well as familiar material from his solo catalog.

The threesome kicked things off at the 3,600-seat venue with “Party Time,” playing the title track from the Joy box set bonus disc for the second straight show. Anastasio & Co. looked to the familiar “Gotta Jibboo” next, which dates back to the trio’s initial tour together and would eventually make its way into Phish’s repertoire. “Undermind” found its way into the setlist for the second show in a row with “Dirt” getting the trio treatment for the first time next. Then came “Night Speaks To A Woman,” a Trey Anastasio Band staple. “Ocelot,” which TAB has played regularly since Trey brought it over to his solo band in 2011, was trotted out for the first time on this tour. Trey Anastasio Band workhorse “Burlap Sack And Pumps” followed with “Everything Is Right,” which was debuted roughly a year ago by the band at The Capitol Theatre bringing the opening frame to a close.

“Soul Planet” got the band’s second set of the night going. “Aqui Como Alla,” which was revived last December during TAB’s appearance at Warren Haynes’ annual Christmas Jam for the first time since 2001 followed as they segued the Marc Ribot cover into “Blaze On.” “Miss You,” which Trey had previously played exclusively on an acoustic guitar on his own tours got its first proper TAB electric treatment. The back half of the set featured “The Way I Feel,” with “Back On The Train,” another tune which had traditionally been played acoustically by Anastasio during solo outings getting its second-ever electric send up. A new and an old song in the Trey Anastasio Band catalog closed things out with “No Men In No Man’s Land,” which they debuted on the opening night of the tour and fan-favorite “Sand” bringing the set to an end.

Anastasio, Markellis and Lawton returned to the stage for a two-song encore as they delivered a cover of Los Lobos’ “When The Circus Comes” alongside the TAB tune “Tuesday.”

Watch a pair of fan-shot videos captured by Kevin Higley and check out the full setlist below:

Videos

[Burlap Sack & Pumps]

[Dirt | Captured by Kevin Higley]

Setlist (via Phish.net)

Set I: Party Time, Gotta Jibboo, Undermind, Dirt, Night Speaks to a Woman, Ocelot, Burlap Sack and Pumps, Everything’s Right

Set II: Soul Planet, Aqui Como Alla > Blaze On, Miss You, The Way I Feel, Back on the Train, No Men In No Man’s Land, Sand

Encore: When the Circus Comes, Tuesday