Phish returned to George, WAs famed Gorge Amphitheatre last night for the first of two sold-out shows. Like the groups previous stands at the Gorge, the show took on the feel of a weekend festival, with many fans without cell phone reception camped out on site. The group opened its set with a pairing of the standard rocker Down With Disease and the new pop nugget Ocelot, before opening up to include the first version of the latter-day, multi-part composition Pebbles And Marbles since the bands return. A rocking Possum’ followed and the groups second take on the Farmhouse ballad Sleep since 2003 followed.
Then to surprise of almost all in attendance, the band preceded a experimental Stash and a run from Sneakin’ Sally Through The Alley into Cavern with Mike Gordon’s Destiny Unbound. The song was among the rarest Phish originals for over a decade and was not played by the Vermont Quarter from 1991 until 2003. The song surfaced again this past June at Bostons Fenway Park and appears to be working its way back into rotation.
Phishs second set focused on lengthy jams, with many citing the segue from The Moma Dance into Light and Taste as an early set highlight. Fluffhead, Joy, a Bathtub Gin that faded into Harry Hood and the lone encore of Slave To The Traffic Light rounded out the set. Phish will return to the Gorge this evening.