Phish’s annual day Labor Day run at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park kicked off last night as the band shifted the scene to outdoors after thirteen summer shows at Madison Square Garden.

The night was full of improv at every turn as the band continued the precedent set at the Baker’s Dozen with a 15-minute opening “Blaze On” that featured some fretboard exploration from Trey Anastasio before the band landed into the Mike Gordon-led “555.”

“Breath and Burning” picked up where its Baker’s Dozen version left off, with the band adding some flourishes of improv to the song for another standout version before “Theme From the Bottom” and a dark, funky “Free” that again showcased the patience the quartet started with the opening number.

“Tube” again touched the ten-minute mark with a patient funk section while the relaxed “Roggae” allowed the group a moment to breathe before the anthemic “More” setlist closer.

Phish needed just five songs in the second set, diving right into a driving “No Men in No Man’s Land” that quickly descended into an ambient, spacey section with Anastasio and Page McConnell working every aspect of their respective rigs to create an atmospheric section that spanned the majority of the jam before Anastasio grabbed ahold of it for some guitar fireworks finale.

The energy kept up with “Carini,” following up the 24-minute “No Men” with a 21-minute version of the song that featured a harder edge than the previous tune before the band once again forayed into a quieter, patterned jam with all four members contributing and flourishing off one another.

Anastasio then called for “Ghost,” yet another jam vehicle in the set as the tune fell short of the 20-minute mark but featured a fiery jam that served as the punctuation to the previous two songs as the band piled peak upon peak for a tense and ultimately rewarding rendition as they slid into another celebration, “Harry Hood.”

This time, “Hood” again featured some full band interplay before bringing the song to its soaring conclusion. “Cavern” closed the five-song set and the band returned for a three-song encore of “The Horse” and “Silent in the Morning” before a rousing “Character Zero.”

Phish return to the stage tonight.

Here’s a look at the setlist:

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

Set I: Blaze On, 555, Breath and Burning, Theme from the Bottom > Free, Tube > Roggae > More

Set II: No Men in No Man’s Land > Carini > Ghost > Harry Hood > Cavern

Enc: The Horse > Silent in the Morning > Character Zero