Phish opened up their two-night Alpharetta, GA, run at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre in Encore Park last night, delivering a strong six-song second set after a first set consisting of several more recently debuted tunes.

The night kicked off with “A Song I Heard the Ocean Sing” before a spirited “AC/DC Bag” led into the bluesy “Back on the Train.” “Blaze On” was the first Big Boat cut of the night and delved into some extended improvisation before Mike Gordon led the way on “Sugar Shack.” Next was one of Page McConnell’s new album contributions, the quick-hitter “Things People Do,” which preceded a simmering take on “Birds of a Feather” with Trey Anastasio leading the way with a precise guitar solo. The band then brought out two tunes that were recorded for but didn’t make it on to Big Boat, first “Mercury” then “Let’s Go,” which Gordon recently revealed that he and Anastasio pushed hard for but were overridden by producer Bob Ezrin. The first set then closed out with the laid-back crowd pleaser “Alaska” and a frantic, climactic “More.”

Set number two started to dig into the real meat of the night, as a 20-minute “Down with Disease” opened up the frame with some highlight jamming and saw Anastasio take his familiar place at Jon Fishman’s marimba lumina. “Carini” then led the group into some more gentle improvisation and paved the way for “Winterqueen” to mark the mid-set valley of energy. The always-funky “Ghost” abruptly led into an energetic, Gordon-led “Possum” before “Slave to the Traffic Light” rounded out the second set with a euphoric build and final climax. The band would the return to the stage for an encore staple, their cover of The Rolling Stones’ “Loving Cup.”

Watch some second-set highlights above and below, courtesy of Tom Rowles. Phish will close out their Alpharetta run tonight.

Phish
Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre At Encore Park Alpharetta, GA

Set I: A Song I Heard the Ocean Sing, AC/DC Bag > Back on the Train, Blaze On, Sugar Shack, Things People Do, Birds of a Feather, Mercury, Let’s Go, Alaska, More

Set II: Down with Disease* > Carini > Winterqueen, Ghost > Possum, Slave to the Traffic Light

Enc: Loving Cup

Notes:
*Trey on Marimba Lumina; unfinished.

Source: Phish.net