Phish began the most anticipated run of its fall tour with an old-school affair peppered with a few new songs and a few rare covers. The band opened the first of three nights at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City with an a capella rendition of “The Star Spangled Banner,” the first since Phish’s visit to Encore Park in Alpharetta, GA on its summer tour. The set followed with only the third version of Traffic’s “Light Up or Leave Me Alone” since the band’s reunion in 2009, along with an extended improvisation on the Talking Heads’ “Cities.”

The second set was highlighted by a series of fluid segues from “Punch You in the Eye” into “Sand,” “Carini” and “Prince Caspian” that included the improvisational meat of the show. This combination of songs featured a highly exploratory version of “Sand” and the third appearance of “Carini” on the fall tour – a song that seems to have found its way into the regular rotation. Phish also busted out Taj Mahal’s “Corrina” for the first time since last year’s New Years run in Miami.

This was the first show of Phish’s three night Halloween run taking place at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. The band will perform the next two nights at the venue, including a show on Sunday that will follow in the band’s Halloween tradition of covering another bands’ entire album. Please click here for more on the history of Phish’s Halloween shows.

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

10/29/2010 Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, NJ

Set 1: The Star Spangled Banner, My Soul, AC/DC Bag, Ocelot, Sample in a Jar, Light Up Or Leave Me Alone, Sugar Shack, Timber (Jerry) > Bouncing Around the Room, Axilla > Rift, The Moma Dance > Cities > 46 Days

Set 2: Punch You In the Eye > Sand -> Carini > Prince Caspian$this->footnoteID(‘1’,’‘), Corinna, Piper > Theme From the Bottom > Golgi Apparatus > Slave to the Traffic Light > Fluffhead

Encore: Loving Cup

[1] Unfinished

Notes: Caspian was unfinished. A brief When the Circus Comes tease preceded Corinna.