In sports journalism, the worst thing that can happen to you is a late game comeback. It requires you to change your whole narrative and write past the deadline. You just couldn’t have seen it coming.

For Phish in the year 2024, this was a regular occurrence and a reminder of why we keep coming back over and over and over again. Because the possibilities are endless. The new year’s gag showed as such. What a refreshing change from last year where everyone knew what was coming, to this year no one even bothered to guess. It could’ve been anything.

And it really was anything. Literally lol. An EDM dance party at MSG after the countdown into 2025? Loops over loops over Mr. Completely? The band took what they learned from the Sphere and pushed it even further forward.

Because that’s what Phish is and what 2024 was about. After you’ve reached a logical conclusion, you wake up the next day and ask yourself, “What if this happened on top of that?”

All throughout this year, we heard different versions of Phish. People didn’t like hearing the same songs over and over again, but honestly I loved it because it meant the band got back to their headspace quicker. And that’s what we want anyways, right?

As a result, every song was open for a jam at anytime in a show. Fucking My Friend My Friend went from almost 20 mins tonight. While you kind of knew what to expect, this year you surrendered to the flow because what was the point? Being present and letting go of your day to day ego was far more important. You’ll be that person again in a few hours anyways.

2024 was an absolute banner year for Phish and probably their best year since 2015. If you said this was the best 3.0 year I might be inclined to agree with you.

The Mexico run gave us an all timer of a Chalk Dust. The Sphere reminded us that our band has no fear since they completely trust each other. Yeah there were limitations, but you gotta crack some eggs to make an omelette. And that was delivered to us on NYE at YEMSG. Oh right, and there was a whole ass festival?

I don’t want to go too far into each highlight. Just pointing them out to say it was a FUN year to be a Phish fan. In a day and age where everyone’s wondering if spending exorbitant prices on concerts is worth it, the band made it worth our while for a whole fucking year. And that’s why I love them for sure.

Happy new year, everyone! I hope you have a wonderful 2025.

The guy who made the sports journalism comparison said it best. Read his review in full it’s all really well said.

Just adding my two cents, I love that after 40 years this band is still stepping out of their comfort zone and taking risks. Last NYE, everyone predicted Gamehendge. Everyone got Gamehendge. Everyone fawned over Gamehendge. I love all those songs, but it felt so boring, like Phish was looking backwards and doing the nostalgia act thing that they usually swear against. I don’t think anyone had What’s Going Through Your Mind Jamtronica EDM gag on their prediction sheet, and to me that’s what I love about this band. They are so fucking good at doing what you least expect, and then having that thing surpass expectations. Bravo Phish. Well done.

Aside from the Gag, the whole night was a really complete NYE show. Usually the actual NYE show is kind of weak, not tonight. Even if a song didn’t go over 10 minutes, they just had an extra edge to them tonight. Listen back to that SANTOS closer, it might be the best version of the song ever.

2024 is one of the most complete and consistent years of Phish I’ve listened to in a long time. Happy to have been on this journey with you folks.

First NYE show for me. Got miracled an early bday present from my older brother - the same person who introduced me to this enigma of a band.

All I know, is that when they come, it'll be on pillow jets of motherfucking sound. I hear a lot of mixed opinions about this song and Evolve in general (I myself am a 3.0 follower). Sorry, but this is THE best, newest Evil Phish vehicle. This show solidified that.

Nothing on Evolve gets as swampy as PJs. Remember to lace up your jam boots folks. This one got into some dirty Stanley Kubrick type shit. Like wearing a velvet tuxedo with Timbs. I feel like we were being told something important, but we are too dumb to realise what they were saying.

Apart from that, the show was an absolute unit. A shithouse made of golden bricks. Sorry, I'm not too good at specifics and data and numbers and dates and comparisons and stuff. That stuff is cool, but it really doesn't matter all that much because we just witnessed this show.

Remember, sometimes you gotta fight fire with fire. Evil Phish takes us into the darkness, so we can better see the light.

Of sound. OF FUCKING SOUND.

Tonight was a show that I’ll never forget. No matter how many shows you go to, they always find a way to blow your mind and destroy whatever expectations may have going into it. The jams throughout the night and nye gag were unreal. Thank you Phish for continuing to give your fans nights like this one. Hopefully we still have many more years to come!!!

What the fuck

Since this is not a long enough statement to be considered a review, I’ll expand:

This is not a negative review - nor is it a positive review - it’s a review of genuine curiosity. There are only three words that came to mind and are still going through my mind (mindmindmindmindmind). Those three words?

What the fuck

Im sure we will all have a lot to say about this show. Its too long for me to go song by song so let me be brief.

I will understand if you say you hated that gag. But I think we do need to remember what the word "gag" is. No - Phish will not be doing EDM mashups with drum loops forever.

But it was dare I say fun - and different. I had no problems overall with it. If you try comparing that to Gamehendge though, of course you will be let down.

Enough about that 20 mins of the show though - there was plenty of good music tonight. The entire 2nd set is worth a listen and that Sand was a nice homage to 12-31-99 !

1st Set: B+
2nd Set: A
3rd Set: B

Score: 4.35

Tonight was a show that I’ll never forget. No matter how many shows you go to, they always find a way to blow your mind and destroy whatever expectations may have going into it. The jams throughout the night and nye gag were unreal. Thank you Phish for continuing to give your fans nights like this one.