Following a scorching Randall’s Island run, most expected Phish’s show in Canandaigua, NY to pick up where the band left off, particularly on the final night, with their longest “Chalk Dust Torture” ever and expansive takes on “Light” and “Tweezer,” among others. This would not be the case, however, as Phish would stick close to the script for the most part at CMAC Performing Arts Center.

Opening with just the sixth “Buried Alive” in the 3.0 era, this show had all the makings of a sleeper show early on, with the opening tune transitioning into an early “Twist.” From there, things would lean towards the standard side of Phish, as “Heavy Things,” “555,” “Halley’s Comet” and a “Bathtub Gin” that didn’t live up to its Randall’s counterpart comprised most of the first set. Phish would close the frame with a pair of standard takes on oldies and newbies in “Wingsuit,” “Divided Sky,” “Wombat” and “David Bowie.”

With very little improv in the first set, Phish came out roaring to start the second set with a “Down with Disease” that surpassed its Randall’s Island counterpart, hitting the twenty-minute mark and picking up on the various jamming themes established during the weekend run of shows. While the jam did seem to come to an abrupt ending, the trio of “Back on the Train,” “NICU” and “Gotta Jibboo” followed, shifting the show into funk territory before “Theme From the Bottom.”

The end of the set reads fairly standard but comes with a great deal of fun as “Meatstick” loosened up the crowd before yet another “Fuego.” This version of the title track contained very little improv, unlike previous versions played earlier in the tour. “The Wedge” preceded “Run Like An Antelope” which once again saw the band having fun as they teased several tunes played that evening including “Meatstick” and “Fuego.” The encore of “Character Zero” would also contain teases of those two songs.

Next up for Phish is a show at the DTE Energy Music Theatre tonight before the band takes to Northerly Island in Chicago for another three-night run.

Here’s a look at the setlist as it appears in our Box Scores section:

Phish
CMAC Performing Arts Center, Canandaigua, NY

Set I: Buried Alive > Twist, Heavy Things, 555, Halley’s Comet > Bathtub Gin, Wingsuit, Divided Sky, Wombat, David Bowie

Set II: Down with Disease* > Back on the Train > NICU > Gotta Jibboo > Theme From the Bottom > Meatstick > Fuego > The Wedge > Run Like an Antelope

Enc: Character Zero

Notes: *Unfinished

Source: www.phish.net