Phish
The opening night of the jamband legends Madison Square Garden, New Years Eve Residency saw Phish....Oh wait, this is April?!? Omicron postponed the events that were supposed to happen in the winter, leading up to the New Year, until the spring. Phish opened its 'New Years Run' on Wednesday 4/20 at MSG under rising Covid rates yet again in NYC. Hopefully the residency won't turn into a super spreader event as fans from all over descended on the Mecca.
Some extended venue stands from the band will kick open the door and it felt that way with a rocking "Carini>Possum" opener, but the quartet (Trey Anastasio - Guitar, Mike Gordon - Bass, Page McConnell Keys, Jon Fishman - Drums) seemed to just be getting their feet wet in their favorite arena as opposed to blowing it out. The first set was awkward overall as "Moma Dance" went spacey instead of funky and "Leaves" dulled the bright lights of the city.
First set highlights were a relaxed "Strange Design" and a strong "Stash" while the second set felt the same, a touch clunky, as the band was working up to their 4 night run with a slow burn. "Sigma Oasis" and "Down With Disease" never took flight as the band ebbed and flowed around the extended workouts.
The best parts of the second set were in "Twist" where the band moved away from the songs structure towards a more fluid jam and the end of "Reba" where the quartet locked in and sounded the best they would all night.
Closer "Drift While Your Sleeping" wasn't the exultation that it could have been as the band is saving some of their biggest songs for the shows to come. A duel encore of the bass heavy "Gumbo" and the sleek "Slave To The Traffic Light" wrapped up the night on an old school vibe as fans were happy to begin this four night run from one of the best live bands going.
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