Photo Credit: Alive Coverage

Welcome to a new era in live music entertainment.

Last night, April 18, Phish took their concert experience to greater heights, appearing for the first time at the state-of-the-art, tech-savvy Sphere in Las Vegas. Night one of their four-part inaugural Sin City run fused the band’s distinct ability to improvise and stun their audience, not only on a sonic level but visually, sequencing imagery that resembled conjurings of dreamlike scenarios propelled by favored picks from across their beloved repertoire.

As if to quell concerns brushing the realities of their historic second slot at The Sphere, Phish reminded themselves and their audience, “Everything’s Right,” before psychedelic imagery of the passing countryside engulfed the screens beside and above the band, rotating in different directions as Trey Anastasio, Mike Gordon, Page McConnell and John Fishman delivered “Back On The Train.” “Wolfman’s Brother” took the third spot before “Maze” brought forth another wondrous visual display: trippy band stills stacked one on top of the next. 

The initial set continued with the band’s run-through of “Leaves,” last played on Oct. 15, 2023. The arrival of several lanterns complemented the song choice, mimicked on the dome screens, with an added channel of water and cascading paper beams illuminated by Sphere-produced moonlight. The newer number, “Life Saving Gun,” saw a stack of old-school rabbit ear televisions displaying live video of each band member separately. As the jam progressed, the screens seemed to twist and turn to the music. 

To follow, Anastasio called out the backbeat, pinpointing Fishman’s domineering approach to the kit. He added he “loves any song with a Jon Fishman percussion rinse” and suggested the uniqueness of the venue from the band’s perspective. “Dirt” hugged forest scenes, with a purple-tinged sunset ascending through the foliage. Ultimately, the Vermont foursome shut down the first set after completing “Carini” only to open its back up during the latter frame on “Sand.” 

Launching into “Tweezer,” a series of colorful cars also began speeding behind and above the band, which morphed in size and shape, with blinking headlights revealing flashing patterns. Continuing with light play, “My Friend My Friend” featured live spotlights of each member, capturing their silhouettes, which were projected across the dome. Phish took their audience seemingly outdoors during “Mike’s Song” as if they were performing before a body of water with a rotating sculpture on the far edge of the reservoir. 

“Lifeboy” saw the sun’s descent, with rotating sculptures and stars lighting up the room. Like the start of a new day, the sun peaked during “Weekapaug Groove,” prior to the arrival of the final pieces of the set, fan favorites “Blaze On” and “Fluffhead.” For their encore, Anastasio started and ended on acoustic guitar during the band’s take on “Farmhouse,” paired with, well, a farmhouse, starry night, and green aurora effect, before “Run Like An Antelope” merged into the conclusion of night one. 

During Anastasio’s conversation with Sirius XM’s Phish Radio host, Ari Fink, the artist hinted at the mind-altering intent of the band’s Sphere shows, “What we’re trying to go for at The Sphere is, I’m gonna use the word psychedelic ’cause it was so psychedelic yesterday. A slight step forward in the psychedelic live jam music experience. That’s what I heard yesterday.” Fink responded, “Hey, we love it. We love it,” and Anastasio extended, “You know, like, whoa.” Listen now.

For folks who stepped out during the live show, some might have been surprised that the concert at play was not streaming in the atrium. Instead, ambient instrumentals engulfed the room, raising questions as to where the music originated from. In a Relix exclusive, Trey Anastasio opened up and shared, “All the music in the lobby is loops and layers generated from my guitar. It’s a style of guitar music that I love creating, but there has never been an outlet before. I was so thrilled that this opportunity arose. The music was crafted to exist in the atrium, and some of it was playing in the sphere itself as well when people entered.”

View photos from night one of Phish’s Sphere residency below, provided by Alive Coverage, Rene Huemer and Rich Fury.

Phish 

The Sphere – Las Vegas 

April 18, 2024 

Set I: Everything’s Right, Back On The Train, Wolfman’s Brother, Maze, Leaves, Life Saving Gun, Dirt, Carini

Set II: Sand, Tweezer, My Friend My Friend, Mike’s Song, Lifeboy, Weekapaug Groove, Blaze On, Fluffhead

Enc.: Farmhouse+, Run Like An Antelope

Notes:

+ With Trey on acoustic guitar at the beginning and end

Setlist via Phantasytour.com.