After distributing cosmic, LED wristbands with a cryptic, space-themed message, Phish subverted expectations when they transformed the stage at Madison Square Garden not into a space ship, but rather into an intergalactic pirate ship.

As their fellow space pirates adjusted the sails, the S.S. Phish rang in the new year with “Soul Planet,” a live debut for the band. Trey Anastasio Band had played the track four times prior in late 2017, most recently as an encore in Oakland on 11/4/2017. (Trey also played the song during an acoustic solo performance on 11/2/2017.)

Keeping the theme Phishy, a custom Jolly Roger flag flew above the band, cannons were shot into the crowd by buccaneers with names like Hood and McGrupp, and set three contained mostly water-themed songs. Following the traditional “Auld Lang Syne,” tracks like “Free,” “A Song I Heard The Ocean Sing” and “Prince Caspian” were chosen for their specifically aquatic nature. The band encored with longtime cover “Loving Cup.”

Highlights from earlier in the night include a particularly funky section of “You Enjoy Myself,” where Trey put his guitar down and danced. The band also chose an atypical show opener of “Carini”>“Suzy Greenberg”>“My Friend, My Friend” before an extended set two jam of “Fuego”>“Gotta Jibboo”>“Golgi Apparatus”>“What’s The Use?”>“You Enjoy Myself.”

There are currently no additional Phish tour dates announced.
Check out last night’s full setlist below:

Phish
Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
12/31/2017

Set I: Carini > Suzy Greenberg > My Friend, My Friend, Fluffhead, Reba, Poor Heart, 46 Days, Maze, Character Zero

Set II: Possum, Fuego > Gotta Jibboo > Golgi Apparatus > What’s the Use? > You Enjoy Myself

Set III: Soul Planet$this->footnoteID(‘1’,’‘) > Auld Lang Syne > Free, A Song I Heard the Ocean Sing > The Moma Dance, Prince Caspian, Wading in the Velvet Sea > First Tube

Enc: Loving Cup

[1] Phish debut.

Via Phish.net

Set one opener:

Set two opener: