Photo from @phishfromtheroad on Instagram, by Jake Silco

On Dec. 28. Phish began their four-night New Years Eve run at Madison Square Garden. The show featured a new original debut, a new cover, high energy jamming throughout and a goofy take on “Ass Handed.”

Phish began their first set with a debut of a new original, just as they did at their most recent show in Charleston. The new song, sung by Trey Anastasio, was entitled “Evening Song.” Next came a grooving version of “No Men In No Man’s Land,” followed by the first highlight of the evening, “Down With Disease.” Seeing “Disease” this early in a show is unusual; of the last 25 performances of the song, only one has been played in the first set (Sept. 1, 2018 at Dick’s), aside from performances at Bonnaroo and Fenway Park, both of which were only one set (Fenway’s due to a rain delay). The jam section was powerful, featuring incredible lead playing from guitarist Trey Anastasio and driving rhythmic work from drummer Jon Fishman. It was clear during this jam that the band meant business.

Next came an apt debut cover, “20-20 Vision,” originally recorded by Gene Autry. “Ghost” followed, featuring another quality jam segment, before the band dropped into the funky “Gumbo.” “Rift” and “Weigh” tested Anastasio’s guitar chops before the band delivered the bust-out of the night, “Dog Faced Boy,” last played Oct. 24, 2016 (114 show gap). “Twenty Years Later” featured a sinister, hyper-slow outro, followed by the frenetic funk of “Tube.” The Kasvot Vaxt favorite “Say It To Me S.A.N.T.O.S.” closed the energetic first set.

The second frame began with “Everything’s Right,” which, while clocking in at only 14 minutes, feature sprawling type-two jamming. The jam explored darker, muddy textures, with bassist Mike Gordon taking full advantage of his effects pedals. Next came a patient rendition of “Beneath a Sea of Star Part 1,” with beautiful interaction between Anastasio and keyboardist Page McConnell. “Set Your Soul Free” ramped the energy back up, and the improvised section included an “On Broadway” jam, beginning with a tease from Anastasio. The band then transitioned into a rollicking “Gotta Jibboo,” followed by an unusually placed (but of course quite welcome) “Free.” “Piper” featured sublime jamming, similar in energy to the “Disease.” The band was firing on all cylinders, working as a unit to build intensity.

“Drowned” began a particularly raucous section of the show. The jam featured “Guy Forget” quotes from both Fishman and Anastasio, bordering on an actual performance of the song. “Ass Handed” began in normal fashion, but upon completion, Anastasio started up a chord progression that sounded suspiciously like “Chalk Dust Torture Reprise” (which was recently resurrected in Charleston). The groove and structure of the song was identical to “CDT Reprise;” it had the same I-IV-ii-V chord progression. However, the lyrics were changed to those of “Ass Handed,” and the song was played in the key of G, rather than “CDT Reprise’s” key of E. Like in Charleston, Anastasio took the opportunity to introduce the band during the goofy song. “Character Zero” closed out the set. For the encore, the band opted for “A Life Beyond The Dream” followed by the uptempo “Rocky Top.”

Phish returns to Madison Square Garden tonight. Check out the full setlist from Dec. 28 below, and check out videos of the set openers via Phish’s YouTube channel.

SET I: Evening Song*, No Men In No Man’s Land, Down with Disease, 20-20 Vision^, Ghost, Gumbo > Rift, Weigh, Dog Faced Boy, Twenty Years Later > Tube > Say It To Me S.A.N.T.O.S.

SET II: Everything’s Right > Beneath a Sea of Stars Part 1 > Set Your Soul Free -> Gotta Jibboo > Free > Piper, Drowned, Ass Handed > Ass Handed Reprise% > Character Zero

ENCORE: A Life Beyond The Dream, Rocky Top

*Debut.
^Phish debut.
%Same chord structure and feel as “Chalk Dust Torture Reprise,” with key changed to G and lyrics involving “Ass Handed.”