Photo by René Huemer via Phish’s Facebook page

Phish returned to Raleigh, NC’s Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek last night. It was the Vermont Quartet’s first time at the classic Southern shed in four years, and the group continued their summer trend of stretching out their more tightly woven material in unexpected places.

The night kicked off with “Buried Alive,” an instrumental that often signifies a special, energetic evening, and then segued into the concert’s first surprise, an exploratory, 16-minute version of the usually compact Billy Breathes rocker “Character Zero.” From there, Phish paused for an always welcome “Llama” and then the newer, more composed “Mercury,” which led into an unusually jammy “Sample in a Jar” and this year’s first version of “Destiny Unbound”–a Mike Gordon-penned tune that was once shelved for most of the 1990s. The 15-minute “Sample in a Jar” not also felt in line with this summer’s unofficial theme but also called back to the 2017 Baker’s Dozen run, where they opened their “jam-filled night” with an extended version of the Hoist single.  “Guyute” and “Golgi Apparatus” closed out the first set.

Phish continued to turn in pockets of tight improvisation throughout their second set. An 18-minute version of the always reliable “Harry Hood” kicked things off and then the band launched into a 21-minute take on “Fuego,” which stretchered into an unusually long, 18-minute variation on the beautiful “Gamehendge” tune “The Lizards” and, finally, seamlessly dipped into the set-closing rocker “A Wave of Hope.” “Fuego,” a selection which felt apropos given the heat index yesterday, also included some lyrical references to the 27th anniversary of Phish’s fourth official festival, Camp Oswego, which kicked off on July 17. 1999 and is remembered for its extreme temperatures.  

The show’s final moments were also filled with some fun selections. In a unique move, Phish followed up a rare four-song second set with a four-song encore. They kicked off the segment with the bouncy Junta favorite “Fee,” though Trey Anastasio had to put down the megaphone he often sings through on the cut when he noticed it was not working. They then recalibrated and started “Meatstick,” letting the dance number dissolve into this year’s first take on old-school favorite “The Mango Song.” Their first 2026 cover of Jimi Hendrix’s “Izabella” closed the night.

Phish will appear at Columbia, MD’s Merriweather Post Pavilion this evening. They have also relaunched their always wry ’90s newsletter Doniac Schvice, which was discontinued in 2000, as a digital offering in advance of their upcoming five-show run at New York’s Madison Square Garden. These will be the band’s 92nd-96th shows at the famed arena.

Here’s a look at look at last night’s setlist via Phish.net

Friday, July 17, Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek, Raleigh, NC

Set I: Buried Alive > Character Zero, Llama, Mercury > Sample in a Jar > Destiny Unbound, Guyute, Golgi Apparatus

Set II: Harry Hood, Fuego[1] > The Lizards -> A Wave of Hope

E: Fee[2], Meatstick > The Mango Song, Izabella