Phish returned to the Glens Falls Civic Center for the first time since Halloween 1994 last night. The band kicked off the show with major bust out of “Back in the USSR,” a song that harked back to “The White Album” set during their last show at the venue and the set the crowd off in an explosion of energy. It was the third time that Phish had ever played the tune, and the first time in 687 shows (December 6, 1994).

While some fans hoped that “The White Album” opener would lead into a full performance of the classic Beatles album, their hopes were quickly dashed as the show continued with “Stealing Time From the Faulty Plan,” “Water in the Sky” and “Undermind.” A solid “David Bowie” and “Golgi Apparatus” followed before the band went into “Gumbo,” Page McConnell tearing it up on clavinet. “Yarmouth Road,” a new track that was first played during summer tour, then made its first fall appearance. “Camel Walk.” “Horn,” “Limb by Limb” and “I Didn’t Know” preceded a great “Split Open and Melt,” which closed out the strong first set.

Trey Anastasio also referenced Phish’s 1994 Halloween musical costume during “I Didn’t Know.” As Jon Fishman stepped up to play his vacuum cleaner, Anastasio egged Fishman on to streak—as he did during that famed Halloween show—by saying, “We’ve all be waiting 19 years to see if he will do it again.”

The set break was more interesting than usual for fans that that watched the show via the LivePhish webcast. Those on couch tour were treated to a short video that—perhaps as a joke—hinted at a performance of Huey Lewis and the News’ 1984 album Sports this Halloween.

The second set also began with a reference to Halloween shows past, as Phish got going with a take on The Velvet Underground’s “Rock and Roll” (the band covered Loaded during their 1998 Halloween show). “Seven Below” and “Alaska” followed before the group went into a stellar “Twist” that many cited as the night’s highlight. The 14-minute song featured some more power drill-playing by Mike Gordon (now a staple of the tour), as well as a decent amount of type II jamming. After an extended version of the ballad “Wading in the Velvet Sea,” the crowd-pleasing “Harry Hood” that followed really paid off. The band then went into a decent, uncharacteristically set-closing “Chalkdust Torture.”

As he returned for Phish’s encore, Anastasio told the crowd that the civic center was one of his favorite places to play in the world and reminded the crowd how special Upstate New York was to the band. Things came full circle as the show wrapped up with another White Album classic, “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.”

Phish will return to the stage this Friday as they return to the DCU Center in Worcester, MA for a two-night run. Please visit Relix.com for more Halloween cover predictions.

Here’s a look at last night’s set vis our Box Scores page

Wednesday, October 24, 2013, Phish, Glens Falls Civic Center, Glens Falls, NY

Set I: Back in the U.S.S.R.*, Stealing Time From the Faulty Plan, Water in the Sky, Undermind, David Bowie, Golgi Apparatus, Gumbo, Yarmouth Road, Camel Walk, Horn > Limb By Limb, I Didn’t Know, Split Open and Melt

Set II: Rock and Roll > Seven Below > Alaska > Twist^, Wading in the Velvet Sea > Harry Hood > Chalk Dust Torture
Enc: While My Guitar Gently Weeps

Notes: *Last time played 12/6/94
^Mike on power drill

Source: Phish.net