As Phish approaches the finish line of their summer tour, they looked to close strong at their second of three shows at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. They would do just that, once again delivering two sets full of highlights and jams from the quartet.

The first set was highlighted by some loose, energetic playing, most notably in the opening “No Men in No Man’s Land” as well as the following “Martian Monster” which continues to be a crowd favorite. After some newer tunes like “Stealing Time From the Faulty Plan,” “555” and “Winterqueen,” which featured a delicate, touching solo from Anastasio, the band moved into their first heavy improv number of the night in “Split Open and Melt.”

Almost immediately, the “Melt” took on a brooding, dark vibe as Anastasio muddied up his guitar tone to drag the jam to the depths. The 12-minute “Melt” provided the centerpiece of the first set as the group not only took it out but also smoothly and gracefully returned to the theme with the type of cohesion that has been on display throughout this tour. The set closed with more well-played versions of “Limb By Limb,” “Roggae” and a rocking “Character Zero.”

From the opening notes of the second set-opening “A Song I Heard the Ocean Sing,” Phish wasted very little time, making the most of every song played. While the opening number didn’t get the improv treatment, the following “Chalk Dust Torture” did, however, stretching to 17-minutes and featuring some of the most patient playing of the night. The band joined forces to create one of the most compelling jams of the evening before moving into “Twist,” another standout on this tour.

One of the more pleasant surprises in the second set came with the following “Mercury,” which made its third appearance this summer and first since the band’s Alpine Valley run. The catchy new tune featured a patient, well-played jam before returning to the end of the song and transitioning into “Light.” While “Light” didn’t reach the heights others have on this tour, it did once again continue a patient, cohesive theme established in the set before transitioning into the soaring “Wingsuit” and the straightahead “Rock and Roll” closer.

Before the encore, Anastasio took to the mic to say “let Leo pick,” referencing the “Let Fish Suck” bit from the previous night. When the guitarist looked to Page McConnell, the keyboardist took to the mic to thank the crowd for coming and mention that the band would now play a song that means a lot to him, “Sleeping Monkey.” They would then move into a “Harry Hood” and “A Day in the Life” for a rare three-song encore before exiting the stage.

Phish returns tonight to close out their summer tour.

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

Phish
Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City, CO

Set I: No Men In No Man’s Land, Martian Monster, NICU, Stealing Time From the Faulty Plan, Bouncing Around the Room, 555, Winterqueen, Split Open and Melt, Limb By Limb, Roggae > Character Zero

Set II: A Song I Heard the Ocean Sing > Chalk Dust Torture* > Twist > Mercury^ > Light > Wingsuit, Rock and Roll

Enc: Sleeping Monkey^^ > Harry Hood > A Day in the Life

Notes:
*Unfinished.
^Fish on Marimba Lumina.
^^Trey announced “Let Leo pick” before the encore, and Page thanked the crowd while the band began to play Page’s selection, Sleeping Monkey.

Source: Phish.net