Photo by @jesse_faatz

On Sunday evening, Phish’s 2023 summer tour concluded with an unconventional show Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. After an extended weather delay rather than their customary two-set performance, the band delivered a single frame, which they promised would be a “long-ass set” on social media.

This departure from the two-set format sharply contrasted with the prior evening’s standout show, which boasted a six-song encore and a six-song second set, prompting some fans to label it as a three-set show. Sunday’s performance also coincided with the one-year anniversary of a 2022 concert in Commerce City, featuring a single “long-ass set,” adding an element of karmic balance to the mix.

The evening commenced with intermittent lightning flashes on the horizon, causing delays in opening the stadium gates. After a two-hour wait, fans finally entered Dick’s, anticipating a single-set Labor Day Weekend celebration set to commence at 9:25 p.m. MT.

While surpassing the previous night’s performance proved challenging, the last-minute scheduling change due to weather conditions ensured that Sunday’s show would not reach the same heights. Nevertheless, one set of Phish at Dick’s was a cherished experience for fans as they savored their final taste of summer 2023.

Any plans the band had for a “special” night seemed to vanish with the 11th-hour schedule adjustment. Trey Anastasio, Jon Fishman, Page McConnell, and Mike Gordon appeared acutely aware of the limited time, opting for relatively concise renditions of well-known tracks. Of the 18 songs performed, 13 had been featured the weekend prior at SPAC, resulting in a show that failed to attain the soaring heights of many summer 2023 performances.

Regardless, standout moments emerged: “Down With Disease” featured an extended 16-minute performance driven by Fishman’s vigorous drumming, Anastasio dished out fretboard fireworks on “Kill Devil Falls,” and the band performed “Gumbo,” possibly a nod to the late Jimmy Buffett. The energy surged during “2001,” “Fuego,” “Runaway Jim,” and “Twist,” but they all were unable to stretch and flow given the limited time – even “About To Run,” known for its gradual flow, concluded in just over five minutes.

After “Harry Hood” and “More,” the “long-ass” set drew to a close, and the band returned for an encore comprised of “First Tube” and “Tweezer Reprise.”

While it may not have been the epic summer tour finale fans hoped for, 2023 had been an exceptional year for Phish. Weather delays and scheduling changes notwithstanding, the summer tour has been remarkable.

https://youtu.be/6C2O_zMabPw

Phish
Dick’s Sporting Goods Park º Commerce City, Colo.
Sept. 3, 2023

Set: Sigma Oasis > Down with Disease, The Moma Dance > Kill Devil Falls, Free > Everything’s Right, Roggae > The Wedge, Gumbo > Also Sprach Zarathustra > Fuego > Runaway Jim > Twist, About to Run, Harry Hood > More

Enc.: First Tube > Tweezer Reprise

This show started late and consisted of only one set due to a lengthy weather delay.