Photo Credit: Steven Rood 

On Friday, May 10, Trey Anastasio pulled through St. Paul, Minn. for the second stop in his summer tour with Classic TAB. Exceeding high expectations set by Thursday’s tour opener in Chicago, which included debuts of three brand-new tracks, Anastasio staged a stripped-back set loaded with surprises. Alongside the tried and true trio of bassist Dezron Douglas, drummer Russ Lawton and keyboardist Ray Paczkowski, Trey treated the crowd at the Palace Theater to some stirring acoustic treatments, a treasured alternate treatment of “Llama” and yet another track debut.

Anastasio and company kicked off its engagement with the artist’s solo original “I Never Needed You Like This Before,” first heard on his 2020 pandemic dispatch Lonely Trip. The band played on with Phish’s “Undermind,” followed by a treatment of “Heavy Things,” which saw the frontman switch over to an acoustic guitar, and Anastasio’s 2022 original “hey stranger.” At the midpoint of the first set, Trey let loose his fourth debut of the series so far, sharing an unheard track titled “Long Long Time” after introducing “What’s Going Through Your Mind,” ”Poppy It” and “Demons” on Thursday. Shortly following, TAB closed out the first frame with the expansive grooves of 2019’s “About to Run.”

The band returned to the stage for the second frame with the alternate slow funk arrangement of Phish classic “Llama,” which has become Anastasio’s preferred approach for TAB performances. More essentials from the pioneering jam outfit followed, including “Twist” and the rarity “Stealing Time From the Faulty Plan,” which led into another acoustic pick-up for “Shade” and the set-closing “Sands.” When the band returned to the stage for an encore, Trey led the charge with a solo acoustic version of “Strange Design,” then delivered the performance to its conclusion with “Wolfman’s Brother” and “A Life Beyond the Dream.”

Anastasio and Classic TAB’s performance at St. Paul’s Palace Theater is available to stream now via Live Phish. For tickets and more information on the band’s upcoming performances through the summer, visit trey.com/tour/.

Read on for the complete setlist from Friday night.

Trey Anastasio and Classic TAB
Palace Theater – St. Paul, Minn.
5/10/24

Set I: I Never Needed You Like This Before, Undermind, Heavy Things*, hey stranger, Long Long Time+, The Greater Good, Blaze On, About to Run
Set II: Llama^, Sweet Dreams Melinda, Twist, Quantegy, Stealing Time From the Faulty Plan, Shade*, Sand
Encore: Strange Design#, Wolfman’s Brother, A Life Beyond The Dream

Notes:
* Trey on acoustic.
+ Debut.
^ Performed in an alternate arrangement.
# Trey solo acoustic.

Setlist via phish.net.