Photo by Richard Glasgow © Phish 2012 via Phish’s Facebook page

Phish kicked off a two-night run at Portsmouth, VA’s nTelos Pavilion this evening. The entire show was webcast online and continued the playful tone of Phish’s Atlantic City run. During “I Didn’t Know,” Trey Anastasio asked Jon Fishman to tuck his shirt—which in reality is his dress. Fishman compiled and his “tuck” became a running joke throughout the night. The group changed the lyrics of several songs to include the word “tuck” and, in a rare move, the group brought a few audience members onstage to “tuck” during Fishman’s “Lengthwise.” Adding to the uniqueness of the show, Phish performed “Babylon Baby” from Mike Gordon’s 2010 solo album Moss for only the second time (they played the song sonce in 2011).

Later in the night, Anastasio started wielding a light saber he pulled out of the crowd, leading to a flurry of online comments that the guitarist had returned to “Jedi status” (before Phish’s first hiatus fans started using the word “Jedi” to describe Anastasio’s guitar playing abilities and antics).” At the end of their second set, all four band members tucked in their shirts. Furthering the evening’s comical feel, both Anastasio and Mike Gordon sported sombreros onstage during “Mexican Cousin.”

Perhaps foreshadowing the evening’s party vibe, earlier in the show trumpeter Carl “Geerz” Gerhard joined Phish onstage for “Party Time.” Though this was Gerhard’s first appearance with Phish since the 1998 Hampton, VA shows recorded for Hampton Comes Alive, he has a long history with the band. In the ‘80s, Gerhard played a few jazz gigs with the musicians as the Johnny B. Fishman Jazz Ensemble, and he later performed with Phish in both the Giant Country Horns and the Cosmic Country Horns. Gerhard also sat in with the group a handful of times on his own.

Phish will return to Portsmouth, VA Wednesday night.

Here’s a look at the evening’s setlist via Phish.net

Tuesday, June 19, 2012, nTelos Pavilion, Portsmouth, VA

Set 1: Sample in a Jar, Party Time [1], Simple > Axilla, Tube [2], Kill Devil Falls, Water in the Sky > Horn, Babylon Baby, Bathtub Gin > Stealing Time From the Faulty Plan, I Didn’t Know [3] > Run Like an Antelope [4]

Set 2: Back on the Train > Rift, Split Open and Melt [5] > The Mango Song > Backwards Down the Number Line, Limb By Limb, Shine a Light, Lengthwise [6] -> Maze [7], Cavern > Fire [8]

Encore: Mexican Cousin [9] > Slave to the Traffic Light

[1] Carl “Geerz” Gerhard on trumpet.
[2] By crowd request.
[3] Trey requested that Fish tuck in his shirt; Fish complied.
[4] Alternate lyrics: “Tuck, tuck, tuck, tuck” and “Tuck in your dress man, you’re out of control!”
[5] Alternate lyric: “Split open and tuck!”
[6] With alternate lyrics “When you’re tucked, I sleep lengthwise,” “you suck at tucking,” Trey wielding a light saber, and “Tuck” audience member appearances on stage.
[7] Included Trey playing his guitar with his light saber.
[8] Alternate lyric: “Let the Tucker take over!”
[9] Mike and Trey sported sombreros.