On Nov. 27, Trey Anastasio performed the final installment of his ‘The Beacon Jams’ series, a set of eight livestreamed shows from New York City’s Beacon Theatre. The show was highlighted by performances of Phish staples “Carini” and “Slave to the Traffic Light,” TAB classics “Mozambique” and “Simple Twist Up Dave,” and more.

Prior to the show at the Beacon, Anastasio once again aired a special, pre-recorded performance by him and Phish keyboardist Page McConnell. The two performed “Brian and Robert” from the porch of Phish’s The Barn studio in Vermont.

The show itself began with the debut of a new song titled “Just A Touch.” It started with Anastasio playing acoustic guitar backstage at the Beacon, backed up by vocalists (and horn players) James Casey, Jennifer Hartswick and Natalie Cressman. The quartet then walked out to the stage while still playing and completed the new song.

Next, the full band launched into Phish’s “Carini,” marking the full-TAB debut of the song. The rendition contained spirited and dark jamming, with Casey’s baritone saxophone punctuating the timbre of the performance. After thanking fans for donating to the Divided Sky Fund, Anastasio led the band through “Mozambique,” “Burn That Bridge” and “Cayman Review.”

Before “Speak to Me,” Anastasio explained the new truss rod cover on his Languedoc guitar’s headstock, which features an image of his cat Joey. After the song, Anastasio thanked more folks for their donations, including Relix publisher Peter Shapiro. He then encouraged those watching to join in on pots-and-pans percussion for “Love Is What We Are.”

Anastasio they moved to the acoustic for an arrangement of “Pebbles and Marbles” which featured the Rescue Squad Strings (Katie Kresek and Maxim Moston on violin, Rachel Golub on viola, and Anja Wood on cello) and the horn players. While the arrangement began without drummer Russ Lawton, keyboardist Ray Paczkowski, bassist Tony Markellis and percussionist Cyro Baptista, as the song shifted to its jam section, those musicians joined in (and Anastasio switched back to his electric guitar).

After the pairing of “Drifting” and “Night Speaks to a Woman,” Anastasio reacted to a comment about an early-2000s TAB show which had to be stopped early due to the venue literally beginning to fall apart due to the high energy. The band then eased into “Liquid Time.” However, just a few moments into the song, Anastasio stopped the band and told a story about his time in house arrest, during which he wrote “Liquid Time” (and “Time Turns Elastic”). The band then restarted the song.

Next, the guitarist led the full band through an emotional rendition of “Fast Enough for You” that featured deft soloing from Anastasio. After a short but sweet “Shine,” Anastasio led the band through a trio of “Show of Life” > “Ether Sunday” > “Simple Twist Up Dave.” He then returned to his acoustic (and brought out the Rescue Squad Strings) for a beautiful arrangement of Phish’s “Slave to the Traffic Light.” Like the “Harry Hood” from earlier in the run, the song began with just Trey on acoustic and the strings, but as they arrived to the jam segment, Anastasio switched to his electric and led the band through a gorgeous improvised segment.

Anastasio then thanked everyone involved at the run (including another Relix shoutout) and launched into a fitting finale: “First Tube.” He then left the stage as the rest of the musicians participated in a percussion jam. A dance troupe was performing in the lobby along with the jam. As the guitarist exited, he handed out masks that read “Love.” The Beacon awning read: “Thank You Heather McDougal and to our frontline heroes for everything you do.”

Check out the full setlist from the final ‘Beacon Jams’ below! (Via phish.net.)

Trey Anastasio
Nov. 27, 2020
The Beacon Theatre, New York, N.Y.
Set: Just A Touch [1], Carini [2], Mozambique, Burn That Bridge, Cayman Review, Speak to Me, Love Is What We Are, Pebbles and Marbles [3], Drifting > Night Speaks to a Woman, Liquid Time [4], Fast Enough for You[2], Shine, Show of Life > Ether Sunday > Simple Twist Up Dave, Slave to the Traffic Light [5], First Tube [6], Jam [7]

[1] Debut; began with Trey on acoustic guitar accompanied by James, Jennifer, and Natalie on vocals in a stairwell in the Beacon and finished with them on stage.
[2] Full TAB debut.
[3] Began with just Trey on acoustic guitar with The Rescue Squad Strings and the TAB horns before switching to electric guitar and the rest of the band joining in.
[4] Stopped for Trey to talk and restarted.
[5] Full TAB debut; began with just Trey on acoustic guitar with The Rescue Squad Strings and the TAB horns before switching to electric guitar and the rest of the band joining in.
[6] With The Rescue Squad Strings.
[7] Percussion jam with Trey exiting the Beacon.