_Photo via @PhishFTR_

Phish returned to Seattle with their first true show in the city since 1996 (they’ve routinely performed at the Gorge in nearby George, WA) as they took the stage at Key Arena last night for the second time in the band’s history.

The band took the stage to an energetic crowd and appropriately delivered a high-level take on “Cavern.” The tune that followed revealed one of the few tributes the band would pay to a local Seattle hero as they launched into “Wilson,” a song that has taken on a life of its own at the Seattle Seahawks games thanks to quarterback Russell Wilson.

While the first set’s highlights would be few and far between, “The Moma Dance” that came early on provided a loose, funky moment for the band but energy suffered with the following run of “The Line,” “Sugar Shack” and “Lawn Boy.” The band would turn it back up with a plinko-style “Wolfman’s Brother” and frantic “Sparkle” before the highlight of the set came in the “Bathtub Gin” closer that built to a satisfying peak in the end.

Although set one seemed uneven and disjointed at times, the quartet’s finale saw a more focused, cohesive effort. Opening with “Down with Disease,” the band jumped into some brief improv before moving into “Golden Age.” The TV on the Radio tune once again featured some lyrical trouble from Anastasio as he struggled through most of the verses. The “Fuego” that followed was tight and well-played, signaling a segment that would see the group lock in tighter than they had all night. A run of “Light,” “Cities,” “46 Days” and “Sand” would see the best playing of the night as they would touch on ambient, funk and rock jamming throughout.

Following a “Backwards Down the Number Line,” Trey Anastasio stepped to the mic to say they had one more Seattle tribute to make as they closed the set with Hendrix’s “Bold As Love.” A fun, rocking encore of “Meatstick” and “Character Zero” brought the night to a close.

Next up for Phish is a two night run at the intimate Santa Barbara Bowl in Santa Barbara, CA. Both shows will be webcast via LivePhish.com.

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

Phish
Key Arena, Seattle, WA

Set I: Cavern, Wilson > Rift, The Moma Dance, The Line, Sugar Shack, Lawn Boy, Kill Devil Falls, Wolfman’s Brother, Sparkle > Bathtub Gin

Set II: Down with Disease > Golden Age > Fuego > Light->Cities > 46 Days > Sand > Backwards Down the Number Line, Bold As Love

Enc: Meatstick > Character Zero