By Noah Cole (@col_forbin)

So. Much. Anticipation. Phish’s first tropical destination show, the first all-inclusive Phish experience, the first show in Mexico. What would the band have in store to welcome 5000 of their friends to the Mayan Rivera?

Like most Phish experiences, the lead up to the event can be all-consuming with planning and questions – especially when nobody really knows what to expect for a first time event. The discussion on Facebook groups dedicated to connecting the thousands of fans following the lines going south rose to a fever pitch in the days before, as feeds were filled with selfies from smiling faces on flights from every possible point to Cancun. As people landed in the Cancun airport, they were whisked away on charter buses to one of six resorts – two at the host, Barcelo Maya Beach, and four in the surrounding towns.


Photo © Noah Cole

Photo by Rene Huemer © Phish From the Road

There were plenty of complaints about various aspects of people’s logistics – issues with getting coveted dinner reservations, realizing that your friends staying at other resorts couldn’t actually come see you other than at the show, that if El Chapo hadn’t been arrested, the cartel would have been better prepared for all the Phish fans in town. But after people settled from their trips and spent the day relaxing on the beach or in the pool – with ample supply of weak but free cocktails – concerns had melted away, and a blissful crowd of vacationers were ready for the main attraction.

Soundcheck. Photo © @CoventryMusic

The demographic for this show not surprisingly skews older, so the number of longtime fans with at least 100 shows under their belt was considerably greater than any other Phish show I’ve seen. It was also great to see a far greater gender equality than I’ve ever experienced at a Phish show – could there have been an equal number of men and women for the first time… ever?

It was hot and humid as Phish took the stage, in a venue that featured elaborately decorated palm tress (Fishman yarn bombs), sand sculptures, and Page Side Rage Side being temporarily renamed Page Side Wave Side.

Soundcheck. Photo by Rene Huemer © Phish From the Road

While a predictable but none the less a perfect choice given the setting, “A Song I Heard the Ocean Sing” opened this first Phish Mexico show, and gave CK5 his first chance to show the extra lights that lit the ocean. It was not stretched out, and ended fairly quickly, as did the “My Soul” and “Martian Monster” that followed, but they were tight crowd pleasers. “Ya Mar” saw Trey adding a bit of extra mustard to Page’s solo. “Halley’s Comet” was an audience sing along, before the evening’s first real transition with a drop into “Fuego.” Like the earlier songs in the set it was not especially long, but still well played.

1/15/16 Setlist. Photo © @CoventryMusic

Early attempts were made at keeping fans out of the water… but eventually there were dozens of fans wading even floating in the waters. “The Wedge” was an appropriate choice, as the band returned to the water motif established at the beginning of the set. “The Wedge” lyrics had been going around my head all day, as many of us lazed away the afternoon bobbing on the surface of the warm and wonderful sea.

"David Bowie" – Photo © @tweeprise

As friends will tell you, I remarked several times that this did not in fact suck – and Trey reminded of this in the first banter of the show. In addition to the wrist-banded Phish fans, at least one or two chartered boats and catamarans sat offshore and a few amazing standup paddle boarders from Cancun surfed the waters. The band was having so much fun watching the paddle boarders that Trey dedicated the really great “Theme From the Bottom” that followed to them. “Theme “ lead directly into a soaring “Free.” Everybody wondered how Phish would pay tribute to David Bowie, and in the end the song was passionately played version, but no words from the band about the thin white man as the set closed.

Photo by Rene Huemer © Phish From the Road

Once again continuing with the water theme, Phish kicked off the second set with an impassioned and rocking “Drowned” – the first version since 10/22/14 Santa Barbara – that reminded us that Phish does still play covers. “Drowned” segued into “What’s the Use?,” as Trey looked out to the boats and lights on the water. No surprise to see “Sand” pop up next, and the crowd boogied in the sand between their toes. Small drops or rain started to fall, and then the skies opened up and it started to pour as the band dropped into “Ghost.”

"Drowned" – Photo © @tweeprise

Given how hot and humid it was, the crowd welcomed the rain and it led to an intense “Ghost” jam and impressive work from CK5 that used the massive jungle raindrops as part of the performance. The rain let up a bit during a high energy “2001” and stayed dry and the band tore through “Wolfman’s,” a fun “Possum,” and then returned as Trey gave us the fifth cover of the night, “Shine a Light.” Despite a few lyrical flubs, it was a great ending to an excellent Phish show, which was capped off by a final cover, a rocking “Rock and Roll” to send us off into the humid Mexican night and dodge tropical rain showers.

"Sand" – Photo © @tweeprise

There were many threads in the show – from the nautical inspiration for some of the songs, to the return to covers after an all-original MSG run. But overall it felt that what Phish was really saying was welcome – our good friends. More fun is in store.


Photo © Noah Cole


Photo by Rene Huemer © Phish From the Road

If you liked this blog post, one way you could "like" it is to make a donation to The Mockingbird Foundation, the sponsor of Phish.net. Support music education for children, and you just might change the world.