Phish returned to the Saratoga Performing Arts Center in Saratoga Springs, NY, last night for the first of their three-night run at the venue. The show marked the band’s return to the venue after skipping the summer tour staple last year. A heavy storm delayed doors for the second time this summer, but fans were later treated to a high-energy effort that featured yet another new tune along with some live favorites and classic Phish covers.

The evening got out to a roaring start with “Stealing Time From the Faulty Plan” before the band brought out “The Birds,” with plenty of “They attack!” sound bites, for the first time since its debut in their Chilling, Thrilling Halloween set of 2014. The tour debut of “NICU” preceded Phish’s typical down-tempo cover of Talking Heads’ “Cities” that built to a satisfying solo from Trey Anastasio. “David Bowie” was then brought out for the second time this year, the first coming in Mexico and serving as a tribute to the then-recently deceased legend.

The band kept the energy flowing with a “Free” that showcased some of Mike Gordon’s melodic bass work before he lead the band into the bluegrass staple “Uncle Pen.” Not even nearly done with the extended first set, the group then turned to Page McConnell for “Halfway to the Moon” before the lone debut original for the night, the enthusiastic “Let’s Go.” “Waiting All Night” slowed things down and preceded the perceived set-closing run of “Bathtub Gin” and “Golgi Apparatus,” but Anastasio noted that their was just enough time to squeeze in another tune, and “The Squirming Coil” brought the first frame to an end.

The jams began to come out in full force with the second set opener “Sand,” which segued into the chunky rock of “Carini” and an impressive “Chalk Dust Torture,” whose heavy jam brought Anastasio over to Jon Fishman’s marimba lumina and Gordon over to join McConnell on keys before the guitarist and bassist returned to their usual instruments to kick off “Prince Caspian.”

The mid-tempo groove of “Bug” led into a higher-energy cover of the Rolling Stones’ “Shine A Light.” After a “My Sweet One” that featured a drum solo from Fishman, the quartet launched into “Sleeping Monkey,” which ended with the closing lyric from “My Sweet One,” punctuated by a quick tease of Destiny’s Child’s “Say My Name.” A run of “Also Sprach Zarathustra” and a burning cover of Jimi Hendrix’s “Fire” brought the set to a close before the band returned to the stage for a “Character Zero” encore.

Watch a couple videos from the night below. Phish continue their SPAC run tonight and tomorrow.

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

Phish
Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Springs, NY

Set I: Stealing Time From the Faulty Plan, The Birds > NICU, Cities, David Bowie, Free, Uncle Pen, Halfway to the Moon, Let’s Go*, Waiting All Night > Bathtub Gin > Golgi Apparatus, The Squirming Coil

Set II: Sand > Carini > Chalk Dust Torture^ > Prince Caspian > Bug, Shine a Light, My Sweet One, Sleeping Monkey^^ > Also Sprach Zarathustra > Fire

Enc: Character Zero

Notes: *Debut
^Trey on Marimba Lumina and Mike on keys
^^with the last lyric of My Sweet One and a Say My Name quote

Source: www.phish.net