Phish continued their New Year’s Run at Madison Square Garden last night and once again kicked off the show without instruments, instead opting for an acapella opener of “Sweet Adeline,” the first performance of the song since the S show at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in 2011, spanning 200 shows.

From there, the band nodded to Frank Zappa with “Peaches En Regalia,” the first since August 28, 2012 (164 shows) and serving as yet another in a bustout heavy first set. The next would come following a concise first set “Mike’s Song” as Trey Anastasio led the band through the Undermind ballad “Secret Smile,” marking its first appearance in the setlist since July 26, 2013 (141 shows). Ween’s “Roses Are Free” made its 2016 debut and the quartet mixed in older tunes like “Poor Heart” and “Brian and Robert” with rockers like “46 Days.” Page McConnell’s “Beauty of a Broken Heart” appeared as well in the first set, marking its first play since July 25, 2014.

The highlight of the first set came with the final pairing, as the band built an atmospheric “Theme From the Bottom” into the “Split Open and Melt” finale that featured all of the brooding, minor-key jamming of a solid “Split” before the band brought it back to the main theme.

To kick off the second set, Mike Gordon got things going on “Down with Disease,” signaling the first deep improvisation of the evening. The band utilized solid interplay to build an ethereal soundscape with Anastasio alluding to “What’s the Use?” numerous times throughout before finally launching into the anthemic instrumental. A standard “Fuego” kicked the energy up (complete with more “What’s the Use?” teases) and “Meatstick” allowed the band to stretch their more humorous legs.

It was the cut “Twenty Years Later” that served as a highlight of the second set, with the band dipping into the tune’s dark, ominous instrumental section and ultimately finding their way into “Kung,” marking its first play since being the centerpiece of the New Year’s Gag in 2012. Anastasio worked in the lyrics to the song while the band continued “Twenty Years Later,” building both songs to their rightful climaxes.

Much like “Meatstick” did earlier, “Makisupa Policeman” emerged to give the band a bit of a humor break following the intensity of “Twenty Years Later” and “Kung.” The band referenced going to “Fish’s house,” leading to all members huddling around the drummer for a jam that included Anastasio on Marimba Lumina and McConnell and Gordon joining Fishman on the drums. From there, it was back to business with a delicate, euphoric “Harry Hood” that built on the four-way interplay the band started earlier in “Down with Disease.” A single encore of “Julius” brought the night to a close.

“Kung” was the 252 different song Phish has performed in 2016, breaking a previous record for the most songs performed during a single year by the band. (The Vermont Quartet played 251 songs in 2010.) Phish returns to the Garden tonight.

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

Phish
Madison Square Garden New York, NY

Set I: Sweet Adeline*, Peaches en Regalia > Mike’s Song > Secret Smile^ > Weekapaug Groove, Roses Are Free^^, Poor Heart, 46 Days, Brian and Robert$, Beauty of a Broken Heart$$, Theme From the Bottom > Split Open and Melt

Set II: Down with Disease% > What’s the Use? > Fuego > Meatstick, Twenty Years Later > Kung$$$ > Twenty Years Later > Makisupa Policeman, Harry Hood

Enc: Julius

Notes:
*Last time played 8/28/12
^Last time played 7/26/13
^^Last time played 9/4/15
$Last time played 8/9/15
$$Last time played 7/25/14
$$$Last time played 12/31/12
%Unfinished

Source: Phish.net