Phish returned to Worcester, MA’s DCU Center for the second show of its New Year’s Eve Run last night. The show featured the return of one rarity as well as the live debut of a few new originals.

After opening its set with the Joy rocker “Kill Devil Falls” and the first cover of “My Mind’s Got a Mind” of the year, Phish jumped into a unique version of “Alaska” that featured quotes from for Alaska Governor Sarah Palin on a talk box. Trey Anastasio wrote “Alaska” before Palin was appointed the Republican Vice Presidential Nominee and, apparently, the song has never been the same for the guitarist. In 2008, Anastasio assured the crowd at New York’s Roseland Ballroom that he wrote “Alaska” “before her” and, in the Festival 8 Express, Tom Marshall admitted that Palin “ruined” the song for Anastasio. Soon after, Phish offered its first cover of Taj Mahal’s “She Caught the Katy and Left Me a Mule to Ride” since July 21, 1998. Before that bust out, Phish had not played the song since 1988.

Later in the first set, Phish debut two new original songs. The first was “Pigtail,” a new song Anastasio/Marshall collaboration. (Anastasio asked the crowd to cheer in honor of his old songwriting partner when Phish debuted the number.) Phish also debuted the Anastasio/Marshall original “The Birdwatcher,” a song Phish first recorded as a barbershop quartet vocal exercise in 2004. Anastasio played the song in Sirius Jam_On during Phish’s break, and Phish officially released the song on Party Time in 2009. Anastasio reworked the song as electric shuffle for his solo band earlier this year, though last night’s version of the song felt more inline with its recorded barbershop quartet counterpart.

Phish’s second set consisted of a serious of seamless segues, including an extended jam from “Back on the Train” into “Limb by Limb.” In addition, The Vermont Quartet performed both “Frankie Says” and Neil Young’s “Albuquerque” for the first time this year. Phish will return to New York’s Madison Square Garden on December 30.

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

12/28/2010, DCU Center, Worcester, MA

Set 1: Kill Devil Falls, My Mind’s Got a Mind of its Own, Alaska$this->footnoteID(‘1’,’‘), She Caught the Katy and Left Me a Mule to Ride, Wolfman’s Brother, Pigtail$this->footnoteID(‘2’,’‘), Stash, Bouncing Around the Room > Rift, Stealing Time From the Faulty Plan, The Birdwatcher$this->footnoteID(‘3’,’‘)

Set 2: Carini > Backwards Down the Number Line > Back on the Train$this->footnoteID(‘4’,’‘) -> Limb By Limb > The Wedge > Frankie Says > Albuquerque, Harry Hood > Bug

Encore: Shine a Light

[1] Trey used a device that played Sarah Palin quotes.
[2] Debut.
[3] Phish Debut.
[4] Streets of Cairo tease from Trey.