_Stuart Levine_

Phish returned to the road last night in Chicago to open up their short pre-Baker’s Dozen summer tour dates at Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island, the band’s first of three straight performances at the venue. Phish kicked off the run with a solid offering of live staples and the debuts of four tunes, including a new a capella cover for the quartet.

The summer tour’s first opener ended up being “What’s the Use,” the first time the Siket Disc instrumental has ever kicked off a show, then Phish quickly moved into the breezy Big Boat cut “Breath and Burning” to get things moving. First-set favorite “Wolfman’s Brother” followed, allowing the band to stretch their improvisational legs for the first time this summer.

After that opening trio, Phish shed their instruments and approached the microphone together for the a cappella debut of “In the Good Old Summer Time,” an appropriately themed Tin Pan Alley tune that dates back to 1902. Another first-timer followed, as the quartet returned to their respective posts for “Everything’s Right,” a Trey Anastasio/Tom Marshall song that Anastasio debuted with his solo band this past April at the Capitol Theatre. Phish began to hit their stride with “Limb By Limb,” which preceded the bluegrass quick-hitter “Nellie Kane.” The set then closed out with “Theme From the Bottom” and the feel-good “Blaze On.”

After the break, Phish returned to the stage in force with an extended take on “No Men in No Man’s Land,” which saw the band dig into the understated funk of the tune and stretch it for over 15 minutes. That jam led into “Fuego,” which in turn led the set into “My Friend, My Friend.” The Chilling, Thrilling Sounds cut “Your Pet Cat” followed, leading the band in and out of their version of TV On the Radio’s “Golden Age.”

The third cover of the night was another Anastasio/Marshall joint, a ballad called “Leaves,” which brought the tempo down before the band ratcheted things up once again in the form of crowd-favorite “Harry Hood,” which transitioned into the Rolling Stones classic “Shine a Light.” The second set was then rounded out with the high-energy “Julius”

For the two-song encore, Phish returned to the stage with yet another debut, the reggae-infused original “Love is What We Are,” which was followed by a “Golgi Apparatus” that closed out the tour opener.

See the full setlist below as it appears in our Box Scores section, along with some video highlights from the night, including clips of three of the four debuts. Phish return to the Northerly Island stage tonight for round two of their three-night run.

Phish
Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island Chicago, IL

Set I: What’s the Use? > Breath and Burning, Wolfman’s Brother, In The Good Old Summer Time*, Everything’s Right* > Limb By Limb, Nellie Kane, Theme From the Bottom > Blaze On

Set II: No Men In No Man’s Land > Fuego > My Friend, My Friend > Your Pet Cat > Golden Age > Your Pet Cat, Leaves^ > Harry Hood > Shine a Light, Julius

Enc: Love Is What We Are^ > Golgi Apparatus

Notes:
*Debut
^Phish debut

Source: Phish.net