Photo by @rene_huemer

Yesterday, July 26, Phish brought their two-night stint at the TD Pavilion at the Mann in Philadelphia to a close, after an opening evening that reflected the weather–a storm turning to clear skies–the Vermont quartet dished out favorite after favorite for night two in the City of Brotherly Love; including “Backwards Down the Number Line” in celebration of their brother, lighting director, Chris Kuroda’s birthday.

After already familiarizing themselves with the venue the night before, Phish kicked off the show with a jam of “Mike’s Song,” which contained “Boogie On Reggae Woman,” marking the first time the band had ever melded the two together. After returning back into “Mike’s Song,” they flowed into “I Am Hydrogen” and then a fluid “Weekapaug Groove.” The show’s launch showcased Phish’s comfort in the beautiful venue as they succinctly simmered for a moment as they took in the sight, caught their breath and played “Army of One,” which was last heard at The Garden on April 22, 2022,,, and just 27 times total, then “Mound.” However, Phish didn’t keep things low to the lawn for long as “The Moma Dance” came into the fray, lifting their collective improvisational prowess and finding its way into “Prince Caspian.” Trey Anastasio then shouted out Kuroda’s birthday before the band moved into the dedicated “Backwards Down the Number Line.” The favorites kept coming as they rounded the frame out with “About to Run” and a set closing “Fluffhead.”

The second set started with “Set Your Soul Free,” raising expectations with the potential of serving as the night’s standout jam; however, as “Carini” stepped out of the shadows into the spotlight with its multi-part jamming and fascinating composition, the band made it clear set two had more in store. Approximately five minutes into the song, Anastasio’s chord jamming transitioned into expert soloing, with Page McConnell dishing out exceptional synth accompaniment. The band appeared to be heading toward a blissful peak as Mike Gordon and Jon Fishman kept the tempo on the mellower side. Rather than pushing harder, Phish opted for exploring a quieter, more contemplative space.

Notably, this darker, patient playing style has become more prominent since the Trey Anastasio Trio shows in Denver. Around the 11-minute mark, Phish delved into a slightly darker, funky groove, showcasing full band communication at its best. Then 18 minutes in, another peak emerged, resulting from this fantastic period of musical exploration. “Joy” came next and served as a safe haven for the musical vibrations and set the scene for a laid-back “Golden Age.” Without pause, they flowed into a penultimate “Golgi Apparatus” and a frame closing “Harry Hood.”After a short break, they returned for an encore featuring “Life Beyond A Dream” and a rollicking “Run Like An Antelope.”

With Philadelphia in the rearview, Phish are now preparing to head to New York City for their highly anticipated seven-show run at Madison Square Garden. Watch all remaining shows of Phish’s Summer Tour 2023 via LivePhish in 4K or HD + 48 hours of unlimited replay here.

Phish
TD Pavilion at the Mann – Philadelphia
July 27, 2023

Set I: Mike’s Song > Boogie On Reggae Woman -> Mike’s Song > I Am Hydrogen > Weekapaug Groove, Army of One, Mound, The Moma Dance^[1] > Prince Caspian > Backwards Down the Number Line, About to Run, Fluffhead

Set II: Set Your Soul Free > Carini > Joy > Golden Age > Limb By Limb > Golgi Apparatus > Harry Hood

Enc.: A Life Beyond The Dream, Run Like an Antelope

[1] Unfinished

Fish teased I Am Hydrogen at the end of the first Mike’s Song. The Moma Dance was unfinished. Backwards Down the Number Line was played for Chris Kuroda’s birthday.