Jambands.com - Need We Say More?

Published: 2012/07/09

Photo by Dave Vann © Phish 2012 via Phish’s Facebook page

Phish closed the first leg of their summer tour with a four-hour performance at Saratoga Springs, NY’s Saratoga Performing Arts Center last night. The group has brought back numerous rare covers and Phish originals during the first leg of the band’s tour—and the trend continued until the end of the run. Yesterday’s tour-closing performance featured Phish’s first cover of ZZ Top’s “La Grange” since September 22, 1999 as well as the first “Driver” since December 30, 2010. Pushing the number of different songs played this summer to an impressive 207, Phish also performed the Billy Breathes suite “Swept Away > Steep” and the dark jam “Kung” for the first time this summer.

Fans have taken The Vermont Quartet’s varied setlists as a sign that the band is having fun together this summer. Page McConnell confirmed those speculations before the band’s encore when he addressed the crowd. The keyboardist thanked the crowd and crew, told the audience how nice it was to be back at SPAC and also reiterated how much fun the band was having on the road this summer. The evening also included several expanded jam segments. A first set “Split Open and Melt” stretched past the 11-minute mark, and Phish’s second set was over two hours in length. Trey Anastasio joked about “Light”’s lyrics during a 13-minute take on the number, while extended versions of “Kill Devil Falls,” “Harry Hood” and especially “Piper” showed that the band is gelling on an improvisational level too. The tour came to a close with 20-minute take on “You Enjoy Myself.”

The second leg of Phish’s summer tour will kick off at Long Beach, CA’s Long Beach Arena on August 15.

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

Sunday, June 8, Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Springs, NY

Set 1: AC/DC Bag > My Soul, Camel Walk, Sample in a Jar, Wilson > Party Time, Gumbo, Nellie Kane, Driver, Foam, If I Could, Split Open and Melt > La Grange

Set 2: Axilla > Light > Twist > Kill Devil Falls [1] > My Friend, My Friend [2] > Swept Away > Steep > Piper > Free > Kung > Harry Hood [3] > Cavern > David Bowie

E: You Enjoy Myself

[1] Theme from Jeopardy! tease.
[2] No “Myfe” ending.
[3] Kung quote.

Notes: La Grange was played for the first time since September 22, 1999 (301 shows). Kill Devil Falls contained a Jeopardy! theme tease and Hood contained a Kung quote. My Friend My Friend did not contain the “Myfe” ending. Page thanked the fans and crew for a great tour prior to You Enjoy Myself.