Photo by Jake Silco

Last night, Phish united fans from far and wide at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., to contribute to flood recovery efforts in Vermont and Upstate New York. The show, thoughtfully webcast for free in partnership with The WaterWheel Foundation collected donations throughout the event in support of the ongoing recovery endeavors, also marked Phish’s first apperance at the venue since 2019 and was peppered with nods to The Wizard of Oz in conjunction with the film’s 84th anniversary.

The concert kicked off with an energetic rendition of “Kill Devil Falls,” followed by a vibrant “Moma Dance” – the fluid exploration washed over the sloped and elevated space. The show continued to evolve as guitarist Trey Anastasio showcased his prowess with a melange of riffs, masterfully shifting between tones leading to a subsequent “Ocelot.” The band maintained momentum with “The Wedge” and an exceptional rendition of “Mull,” on which drummer Jon Fishman’s skillful work on the hi-hat shone. Next came, “Punch You in the Eye” after nearly a year’s absence, before “Sand” came into the fray with “We Welcome You to Munchkinland,” a theme from The Wizard of Oz peppered throughout. The jam gradually evolved to embrace the reference, culminating in a euphonous and unexpected peak that diverged from the song’s typical style. The set then concluded with a spirited performance of The Velvet Underground’s “Rock and Roll.”

As the second frame–which was comprised of just five songs–unfolded, drummer Jon Fishman sported a playful, munchkin-inspired hairstyle along with a custom water drop muumuu. Phish then treated the audience to a pleasing rendition of “Evolve” before delving into “A Wave of Hope.” Anastasio’s looped staccato bend led the way and the performance ventured through diverse musical avenues. The band’s inclination for extended jams continued with an exceptional rendition of “Simple,” which ventured into ethereal darker soundscapes enhanced by bassist Mike Gordon’s exploratory bass lines and Anastasio’s intricate sonic layers. A deconstructed and jagged “Fuego” jam followed, leading to the climactic closure of the set with “Chalk Dust Torture.” Notably, during “Chalk Dust Torture” Anastasio engaged the audience again with a playful nods to “We Welcome You to Munchkinland.”

For the encore Phish dished out a calming “Wading in the Velvet Sea,” featuring keyboardist Page McConnell on lead vocals, leveling the field. The night concluded triumphantly with the lively “Say It To Me S.A.N.T.O.S.” As the band left the stage as the original version of “We Welcome You to Munchkinland” played over the loudspeakers.

Phish is poised to return to the Broadview Stage at SPAC for a second night with another webcast for fans to enjoy the musical journey on Youtube and LivePhish.com. Watch the full webcast below.

Phish
Broadview Stage at SPAC – Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
Aug. 25, 2023

Set I: Kill Devil Falls, The Moma Dance, Ocelot, The Wedge, Mull > Punch You in the Eye, Sand, Rock and Roll

Set II: Evolve, A Wave of Hope -> Simple > Fuego -> Chalk Dust Torture

Enc.: Wading in the Velvet Sea, Say It To Me S.A.N.T.O.S.

This performance was a benefit for Vermont and Upstate New York flood recovery efforts and was a free webcast with all proceeds via donation going to those efforts. Coinciding with the 84th anniversary of The Wizard of Oz being released in the United States on the date of this show, Trey teased We Welcome You to Munchkinland several times in Sand as well as at the end of Chalk Dust Torture, Fish wore his hair with a single pigtail sticking out of the front of his head like a munchkin for the second set, and We Welcome You to Munchkinland was the postshow music. Trey also teased Dave’s Energy Guide on Sand.

Prior to the performance, Trey and Page treated Foundation guests to a duo set featuring performances of “If I Could”, “Brian and Robert”, “Sleep”, “Talk”, “Strange Design”, “Mountains in the Mist”, and “Sample in a Jar.`”