Last night, the Trey Anastasio Band officially reopened Jersey City, NJ’s historic Lowe’s Jersey Theatre, a former 1929 movie palace that has been under different stages of renovation for decades and recently received a $130 million facelift thanks to Harris Blitzer Sports and Entertainment. Snacktime and DJ Nancy Wang previewed the space during a private event on Wednesday and Anastasio, who grew up in New Jersey, played the first public show yesterday.
Partway through his first set, Anastasio strapped on Bob Marley’s 1979 “Babylon by Bus” Yamaha SG-1000 guitar, one of the reggae icon’s primary instruments during his years with the Wailers which was later used at his Tuff Gong Studios from 1979 to 1981, to play a few songs. Anastasio first used the instrument on the original “Love Is What We Are,” which has not been released on a studio album and then busted out his first take on The Wailers’ “Soul Rebel” since July 1, 2017. He then utalozed the guitar, one of only three electric guitars Marley owned, on the TAB staple “Money, Love and Change” and “Everything’s Right,” a number that hugs the Phish and Trey Anastasio Band catalogs.
According to Anastasio’s Divided Sky Foundation, “This special moment was made possible through our partnership with @family_guitars, whose generous support is helping Divided Sky Foundation expand music programming and create new opportunities for guests to experience the healing power of music in recovery. We’re grateful to Family Guitars and Trey for bringing together music history and a shared commitment to helping people build meaningful lives in recovery.”
During his soundcheck, Anastasio also tried out another guitar once owned by a hero when he riffed on Frank Zappa’s early 1960s Gibson “Roxy” SG. That opportunity was also provided by Family Guitars.
Trey Anastasio Band will perform at Washington, DC’s The Anthem this evening.
Here’s a look at last night’s setlist via Phish.net
Friday, November 13, 2026, Lowe’s Jersey Theatre, Jersey City, NJ
SET 1: Ghost, The Moma Dance, Mozambique, Pigtail, 46 Days, Drifting, Love Is What We Are, Soul Rebel, Money, Love and Change, Everything's Right
SET 2: Set Your Soul Free, In Rounds > No Men In No Man's Land, Monsters, Simple Twist Up Dave, Sand > Valentine
ENCORE: A Life Beyond The Dream, Twist > Carini
Love is What We Are through Everything's Right featured Trey on Bob Marley's 1979 Yamaha SG-1000 guitar. Soul Rebel was performed for the first time since July 1, 2017.
