Official LE St Louis Poster by Andrew Vastagh

Phish returned to St. Louis, MO last night for the first time since 2009 last night for their first show at Chaifetz Arena. The show’s first set has a decidedly old-school feel, and it only featured one song written after 1993 (the Joy track “Ocelot”). Phish also busted out “The Curtain” for the first time since last summer’s Super Ball festival
and for only the second time since 2000. At more recent shows, the band has favored “The Curtain With,” which contains a final section which was reworked as “Rift” in the early ’90s.

Last night, “The Curtain” moved into another onetime rarity, “Peaches en Regalia,” and then, “Mound” and “Sample in a Jar.” The set came to a close with two songs sung by Mike Gordon, “Possum” and Bob Dylan’s “Quinn the Eskimo.” Earlier in the set, Phish also performed “I Didn’t Know,” one of two songs written by Phish friend Nancy in the ’80s (an article on the songs creation is available on Relix.com).

Phish’s second set contained a number of segues, including a run from “Frankie Says” into “Undermind,” “Sand,” “Walk Away,” “Limb By Limb,” “Julius” and “Also Sprach Zarathustra.” “Undermind,” “Sand” “Limb by Limb” all featured deep pockets of improvisation between the songs’ composed sections. The show also marked the first time Phish has played “Frankie Says” since December 28, 2010 and only the third time the band has played the Ghost track since the band reunited in 2009. Oddly enough, the other time performed “Frankie Says” was in St. Louis in 2009.

Phish will perform in Oklahoma for the first time this evening.

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

Tuesday, August 28, Chaifetz Arena, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO

Set I: Punch You In the Eye > Runaway Jim, Ocelot > Reba, I Didn’t Know, The Curtain > Peaches en Regalia > Mound > Sample in a Jar, The Sloth, Camel Walk, Possum > Quinn the Eskimo

Set II: Chalk Dust Torture > Frankie Says -> Undermind -> Sand -> Walk Away, Limb By Limb > Julius > Also Sprach Zarathustra, You Enjoy Myself

E: Shine a Light

Notes: Before the vacuum solo in “I Didn’t Know” Trey introduced Fish as “The John Coltrane of the vacuum cleaner.”