On Saturday night, Trey Anastasio resumed the live tenure of the Beacon Jams. The revival of his 2020 concert concept, which benefits the Divided Sky Foundation, brought the Phish frontman back to New York City’s Beacon Theatre for two sets that slinked between solo acoustic performances, electric standouts, and string-backed arrangements featuring the Rescue Squad Strings (Rachel Golub, Katie Kresek, Maxim Moston, and Anja Wood). At other times, the maestro welcomed aid from pianist Jeff Tanski and the horn section, invigorating select compositions with the proper oomph to keep people talking.

From the top of the night, Anastasio took the stage with members of his own self-titled project: drummer Russ Lawton, bassist Dezron Douglas, keyboardist Ray Paczkowski, percussionist Cyro Baptista, trombonist/vocalist Natalie Cressman, tenor saxophonist/vocalist Kenneth Whalum, and trumpeter/vocalist Jennifer Hartswick. The collective of musicians selected Paper Wheels’ “Speak to Me” to initiate the night before pressing into the instrumental “Olivia.” Next, they presented a pop-stained “Pigtail,” before ultimately proceeding with a sweeping take on “Set Your Soul Free.” 

Before the arrival of “Petrichor,” The Rescue Squad Strings and Tanski took the stage for the first time during night two. The unit on artists and the horn section coursed the multi-layered Big Boat number, before shifting on stage representation ahead of the Ghosts of the Forest original, “About to Run.” The strings unit returned and invigorated “Evolve,” drawing reference to Phish’s latest studio work. Instrumental, “The Inlaw Josie Wales,” coincided with the return of Tanski, whose instrumentation was matched with the strings section’s takeover during standard, “Water in the Sky.” 

The string instrumentalists helped guide “Valentine” before the acute effect of “Sand” coursed the set to a close. Fan favorite, “Wolfman’s Brother,” led the charge of the second set and trailed into “Oblivion.” A high point occurred during “Pebbles and Marbles” with the bandleader starting acoustic and trading it for electric, in an epic shift of tone and powerful precision. “A Wave of Hope” merged with “Last Tube,” before the string unit retook their slots on stage and added to Ghosts of the Forest’s “In Long Lines.” 

For the final batch of set two material, the ensemble worked through selections, including “Shine,” “Money,” “Love and Change,” “Simeon,” and ultimately, a frame closing, “Ghost.” The evening’s encore found a solo Anastasio on stage for an acoustic take on “Snowflakes in the Sand,” before bringing out the strings for “Brian and Robert” and the night’s final piece, “Say It To Me S.A.N.T.O.S.” 

The third and final night of the Empire State concert series started with the first public TAB performance of “Just a Touch,” a callback to its tried-and-true debut at the first-ever Beacon Jams on Nov. 27, 2020 (which Trey discusses in a recent Relix interview). During last night’s delivery, Anastasio played the number with accompaniment from Whalum, Hartswick, Cressman, as well as 2020 Beacon Jam participant and guest, Jo Lampert. And, only the latter stuck around and assisted Anastasio during “Cayman Review.” 

Sunday’s first set included takes on “Back on the Train” and “Simple Twist Up Dave,” before moving into “Slave to the Traffic Light,” which ventured into new terrain, performed by TAB for the first time in a public setting. During the band’s performance of the aforementioned song, Anastasio played acoustic and electric guitar, showcasing his instrumental dexterity on top of the strings, alongside Tanski’s contributions. “Let Me Lie” brought Rescue Squad Strings and Lampert back before another personnel swap on “Heavy Things.”

“Undermine” came before a potent take on “Love Is What We Want,” featuring Lampert’s vocal addition. Before submitting the totality of the first set, Anastasio led select players through “Burlap Sack and Pumps,” “Shade” featuring the Rescue Squad Strings, and a frame closing “46 Days.” Set two found its footing on “No Men In No Man’s Land,” followed by “Steam.” “Lifeboy” called for the inclusion of the Rescue Squad Strings. From the aforementioned acoustic delivery, Lampert reappeared to help her old friend out on “Drifting.” 

The second and final set of this chapter of the Beacon Jams included “Night Speaks to a Woman,” “Liquid Time,” and “Tube.” The latter called back Lampert, who ultimately swapped spots with the Rescue Squad Strings and Tanski, who were there for “If I Could.” “Curlew’s Call” arrived before sending it home during the second set finale, “You Enjoy Myself,” with aid from all the night’s guests in grandiose fashion, and lyric play with adjustment: “boy, woman, god, shit.”

The beginning of the evening’s encore featured a solo acoustic performance of “Brief Time” before the arrival of the Rescue Squad Strings, Tanski, and Lampert during Big Boat’s “More.” For the last delivery of the 2025 Beacon Jams, Anastasio went with “Push On ‘Til The Day.” 


Following the lauded Beacon Jams, Anastasio will rejoin his Phish bandmates beginning December 28, for the highly anticipated onset of their annual New Year’s Eve tradition. Tickets remain on sale for Phish’s four-night celebration at Madison Square Garden.

Trey Anastasio 

Beacon Theatre – New York City 

Saturday, November 29, 2025 

Set I: Speak to Me, Olivia, Pigtail, Set Your Soul Free, Petrichor [1], About to Run, Evolve [2], The Inlaw Josie Wales [3], Water in the Sky [4], Valentine[2], Sand

Set II: Wolfman’s Brother, Oblivion, Pebbles and Marbles [5], A Wave of Hope, Twist > Last Tube, In Long Lines[2], Shine, Money, Love and Change, Simeon, Ghost

Enc.: Snowflakes in the Sand [6], Brian and Robert [7], Say It To Me S.A.N.T.O.S.[2]

Notes:

[1] Just Trey on acoustic guitar, the Rescue Squad Strings, Jeff Tanski on piano, and the horns (who provided additional vocals).

[2] With the Rescue Squad Strings.

[3] Just Trey on acoustic guitar, the Rescue Squad Strings, and Jeff Tanski on piano.

[4] Just Trey on acoustic guitar and the Rescue Squad Strings.

[5] Trey on acoustic and electric guitar, the Rescue Squad Strings, and Jeff Tanski on piano.

[6] Trey solo acoustic.

[7] Just Trey on acoustic guitar and the Rescue Squad Strings. Aborted and restarted.

Trey Anastasio 

Beacon Theatre – New York City 

Sunday, November 30, 2025 

Set I: Just A Touch [1], Cayman Review [2], Back on the Train, Simple Twist Up Dave, Slave to the Traffic Light [3], Let Me Lie [4], Heavy Things[2], Undermind, Love Is What We Are[2], Burlap Sack and Pumps, Shade [5], 46 Days

Set II: No Men In No Man’s Land, Steam, Lifeboy [6], Drifting[2], Night Speaks to a Woman, Liquid Time, Tube[2], If I Could [7], Curlew’s Call, You Enjoy Myself [8]

Enc.: Brief Time [9], More[6], Push On ‘Til the Day

Notes:

[1] First public TAB performance. Just Trey on acoustic guitar and Kenneth, Jennifer, Natalie, and Jo Lampert on vocals.

[2] Jo Lampert on vocals.

[3] First public TAB performance. Trey on acoustic and electric guitar, the Rescue Squad Strings, and Jeff Tanski on piano.

[4] With the Rescue Squad Strings and Jo Lampert on vocals.

[5] With the Rescue Squad Strings.

[6] Just Trey on acoustic guitar and the Rescue Squad Strings.

[7] Just Trey on acoustic guitar, the Rescue Squad Strings, and Jeff Tanski on piano.

[8] With the Rescue Squad Strings, Jeff Tanski on piano, and Jo Lampert on vocals. Lyrics changed to “boy, woman, god, shit.”

[9] Trey solo acoustic.

Setlist and notes via phish.net.