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SET 1: Everything's Right, Tube, Ether Edge > Reba, Taste, Ruby Waves, A Life Beyond The Dream, Character Zero
SET 2: Down with Disease, Harpua[1] > The Man Who Stepped Into Yesterday[2] > The Lizards[2] > Punch You in the Eye > AC/DC Bag > Tela[2] > Llama > Wilson[3] > The Sloth[4] > Divided Sky[2]
SET 3: McGrupp and the Watchful Hosemasters > Colonel Forbin's Ascent[5] > Fly Famous Mockingbird[6] > Auld Lang Syne > Split Open and Melt[2], You Enjoy Myself > Loving Cup > Possum
ENCORE: Cavern > First Tube > Tweezer Reprise
Tube contained teases of the theme to The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Harpua was unfinished and contained a Vibration of Life tease. During the Harpua narration, Trey talked about some of the Harpuas and Phish shows at Madison Square Garden of the past 40 years, and a bed appeared from beneath the front of the stage with an actor playing Jimmy and a puppet version of Poster Nutbag. Trey then interrupted the song before the "I want a dog" lyric and said Jimmy had lacked a strong female influence over the years and introduced actress Annie Golden as Jimmy's grandmother. While consoling Jimmy, she told him it was time to tell the truth about the owner of Harpua. After telling Jimmy that the old man had given the puppet to Esther and helped Jimmy's cousin Reba make liquid meat, a vinyl record (with a rhombus on the cover) was brought forth and Jimmy's grandmother said "it's time... it's New Year's Eve and I can't let you ring another new year without knowing the real story of Gamehendge!" leading into The Man Who Stepped Into Yesterday and a glowing rhombus rising to frame the entire stage. The band then began the first performance of the Gamehendge saga since July 8, 1994 (1,194 shows), with Golden and Trey providing the narration and performers acting out the parts of Colonel Forbin, Rutherford, the AC/DC Bag, Tela, Errand Wolfe (later billed in post show credits as "The Wolf"), and the Sloth. The Man Who Stepped Into Yesterday, The Lizards, Tela, Wilson, Divided Sky, Colonel Forbin's Ascent, Fly Famous Mockingbird, and Split Open and Melt featured an off-stage backing chorus. The multi-beast and McGrupp were also performed by puppets. Tela performed acrobatics on wires during her song, with Jo Lampert (as the Wolf) providing additional vocals during Wilson. The Sloth's lyrics were changed to "I'm squeezing that Charmin. Thank you Mr. Whipple. I'm still squeezing that Charmin. Thank you Mr. Whipple." Colonel Forbin ascended the rhombus during Colonel Forbin's Ascent (which had lyrics changed to "weary body"), and a large Famous Mockingbird puppet (with a top hat) flew over the crowd during Fly Famous Mockingbird, which also featured Annie Golden on additional vocals. Before Melt, Trey asked Jimmy's grandmother if she knew that the mountain was a volcano, and the Lizards reappeared to dance to the ensuing Melt jam, eventually leaving the stage one by one as the rhombus was lowered again.
SET 1: Tweezer, Halley's Comet -> Set Your Soul Free > Rift, Cavern > Tweezer > Shade, Mike's Song > I Am Hydrogen > Weekapaug Groove
SET 2: Say It To Me S.A.N.T.O.S. > Also Sprach Zarathustra > Kill Devil Falls, Mercury > Light -> Waste, Drift While You're Sleeping, Backwards Down the Number Line
SET 3: Ghost[1] > Bohemian Rhapsody[2] > Ghost -> Jungle Boogie[3] > Wilson[4] > Auld Lang Syne[3] > Carini[5] > Theme from New York, New York[6] > Tweezer > Prince Caspian > Crosseyed and Painless > Piper, A Life Beyond The Dream, First Tube
ENCORE: Show of Life > Tweezer Reprise[7]
Page teased The Little Drummer Boy in the first Tweezer. Trey teased Super Bad in Weekapaug. The second setbreak music was comprised of songs referencing past Phish New Year's Eve gags. Before the third set began, a barbershop quartet appeared with a singing telegram for Phish. The telegram said that at the stroke of midnight it would be 40 years for Phish and to make a wish. Trey wished he had a time machine so they could do it all again. A cube descended from overhead and a time machine was revealed near Mike. The quartet activated the time machine and the cube played audio and video from past years of Phish. Dancers from various past new year's gags appeared on stage as well as a wombat (from October 31, 2013). The wombat broke the time machine and Ghost began with dancers and characters (like Father Time from December 31, 1999 and the Famous Mockingbird from December 31, 1992) continuing to appear from the band's past performances. Ghost featured Meatstick lyrics sung from the band as well as by dancers in different languages in a nod to December 31, 2010. The first Bohemian Rhapsody since December 31, 1996 (852 shows) featured the Late Show Gospel Choir singing on risers behind the band and Ghost quotes from Page and the choir with subsequent lyrics changed to reference Ghost. The first Jungle Boogie since December 31, 2003 (544 shows) featured the BD Entertainment Marching Band marching band along with the choir. The marching band and choir were also featured in Wilson where a platform above Trey that had appeared for the entire New Year's run descended and the clone that had been lying on the platform rose and was revealed to be a Tom Hanks actor from Cast Away. Inflated Wilson volleyballs were then tossed into the crowd. Only the final verse was sung in Wilson which contained Jungle Boogie quotes and was unfinished. During Auld Lang Syne, Phish briefly stopped playing and ate cake in front of the stage while the marching band and choir continued to perform. Carini featured several dancers in "naked dude" costumes emerging from a birthday cake in front of the stage and dancing and running around with security trying to catch them. The Theme from New York, New York was performed for the first time since December 31, 1997 (774 shows) and featured the naked dude dancers performing a kickline in front of the stage while adding vocals and Trey changing the lyrics to "if I could be naked there." Page teased Tweezer in Caspian. Piper contained Crosseyed quotes. During Tweezer Reprise, the wombat ran and danced across the stage. The post show music was Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, which was a nod to Phish playing their 72nd show at Madison Square Garden, tying Elton John.
No known setlist
This performance was canceled as a result of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 surge in New York City and was rescheduled for April 22, 2022.
SET 1: The Moma Dance, Tube, 46 Days, Time Turns Elastic, Free, Ghost > Slave to the Traffic Light, Cavern[1]
SET 2: Sigma Oasis > Down with Disease[2] > Miss You, You Enjoy Myself > Frankie Says > Mercury > Possum, A Life Beyond The Dream
SET 3: Blaze On > What's the Use?, Everything's Right > Auld Lang Syne > Everything's Right > Twist, Baby Lemonade > Hold Your Head Up[3], Harry Hood
This performance took place without an audience after the previously scheduled show at Madison Square Garden was canceled as a result of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 surge in New York City and was webcast as part of the Dinner and a Movie series. The show was advertised as taking place at The Ninth Cube. Time Turns Elastic was played for the first time since October 24, 2010 (390 shows ago). Ghost contained a 25 or 6 to 4 tease from Page and a tease of The Little Drummer Boy from Trey. Cavern's lyrics were changed to "before you slip into the bedroom." Down with Disease was unfinished. Baby Lemonade was performed for the first time since March 11, 1992 (1,312 shows ago). Hold Your Head Up featured Fish on Marimba Lumina, Baby Lemonade quotes from Trey, and a quote of The Birds from Page. Page teased Auld Lang Syne at the end of Harry Hood.
SET 1: Martian Monster > Buried Alive > AC/DC Bag > Halley's Comet > Prince Caspian > Sparkle > Axilla[1], Maze > Fluffhead > Rise/Come Together
SET 2: Punch You in the Eye > Wolfman's Brother > Light > Twist > Soul Planet > Mercury > Possum
SET 3: Send in the Clowns[2], First Tube[3], Auld Lang Syne[3], Sand[3], Drift While You're Sleeping[3], What's the Use?[3], You Enjoy Myself[3]
ENCORE: Tweezer Reprise[3], Rescue Squad[4]
Axilla featured the Axilla II ending and was followed by banter from all four band members continuing the pan story from the previous night’s show and ending with a mention of pan flute extraordinaire Zamfir. Richard Glasgow (a.k.a. Dickie Scotland) then came onstage appearing as Zamfir, holding both a pan flute and a pan. The third set opened with the Phish debut of Send in the Clowns, sung a cappella and with lyrics changed to Send in the Clones. For First Tube through Tweezer Reprise, each band member performed on separate moving platforms hoisted above the stage as dancers dressed as their clones performed onstage and provided additional vocals throughout the set and encore. Trey's platform became stuck for the majority of the set and he had to be rescued after Tweezer Reprise. Given that the band (Trey) could not leave the stage after You Enjoy Myself, there was no encore break and Tweezer Reprise was announced as the start of the encore. Rescue Squad was performed Trey solo (singing and playing Fish's drum set) while he was waiting to return to the stage.
SET 1: The Moma Dance, Stray Dog, 555, Sand, Lawn Boy, Steam > Chalk Dust Torture > What's the Use? > Play by Play, Waste, Ass Handed, Run Like an Antelope
SET 2: Down with Disease[1] > Farmhouse > Seven Below > Twist > Harry Hood > Passing Through, Harry Hood
SET 3: Mercury[1] > Auld Lang Syne, Say It To Me S.A.N.T.O.S., Simple > Saw It Again > Limb By Limb > Rock and Roll > Suzy Greenberg
ENCORE: The Lizards, Character Zero
Trey teased Auld Lang Syne In Antelope. Trey and Mike came out to start the third set dressed in metallic silver spacesuits. As Mercury progressed, acrobats appeared on stage in front of the band and were lifted up and down, each in their own (unbreakable) net. The midnight balloon drop consisted predominantly of silver balloons and streamers hung from the roof. During Say It To Me S.A.N.T.O.S., Trey and Mike were lifted up in the air (similar to the acrobats) while they performed the song and dancers appeared on stage with giant inflatable objects. DWD and Mercury were unfinished.
SET 1: Carini > Suzy Greenberg > My Friend, My Friend, Fluffhead, Reba, Poor Heart > 46 Days > Maze > Character Zero
SET 2: Possum > Fuego > Gotta Jibboo > Golgi Apparatus > What's the Use? > You Enjoy Myself
SET 3: Soul Planet[1] > Auld Lang Syne > Free, A Song I Heard the Ocean Sing > The Moma Dance > Prince Caspian > Wading in the Velvet Sea > First Tube
ENCORE: Loving Cup
This show featured the Phish debut of Soul Planet. Trey teased the Theme from S.W.A.T. in Carini. During Soul Planet, the stage was transformed into a massive pirate ship with sails blown by fans, cannons blowing confetti, and a Phish 'Jolly Roger' flag. Fans were given bracelets that illuminated different colors depending on where seated during pirate ship sequence. All of the songs after Auld Lang Syne centered around a water theme. A Song I Heard the Ocean Sing contained Shipwreck quotes. Moma included an Auld Lang Syne tease.
SET 1: Don't Bogart That Joint, Your Pet Cat > Kill Devil Falls > Back on the Train > My Soul, Lawn Boy, Divided Sky, Ya Mar, Character Zero, Walls of the Cave
SET 2: Also Sprach Zarathustra > Carini -> Twist > Piper -> Ass Handed > Piper[1] > Sand, Slave to the Traffic Light, More
SET 3: Petrichor[2] > Auld Lang Syne[3] > Suzy Greenberg[4], No Men In No Man's Land[5], Breath and Burning[4], Tide Turns[4], 555[4], Ocelot[4], First Tube[4]
ENCORE: Loving Cup[4]
Don't Bogart That Joint was last played on October 31, 2010 (238 shows). Piper fetaured Trey on Marimba Lumina and Mike on keyboards. The third set and encore featured James Casey on saxophone, Natalie Cressman on trombone, Jennifer Hartswick on trumpet, and Andres Forero on percussion with Jeff Tanski also on keyboards for Petrichor and Natalie and Jennifer adding vocals to Petrichor and No Men In No Man's Land. Petrichor through Suzy featured dancers on stage. During Petrichor the dancers had umbrellas and water marbles fell from above. Auld Lang Syne was accompanied by recorded cat and dog noises as cat and dog balloons and raindrop-shaped stress ball fell from the ceiling.
SET 1: The Moma Dance > Possum, Wolfman's Brother, Birds of a Feather, I Didn't Know, Happy Birthday to You[1], Martian Monster, Reba, Walls of the Cave
SET 2: The Wedge > Wilson > A Song I Heard the Ocean Sing, Yarmouth Road, Kill Devil Falls[2] > Piper > Twist
SET 3: No Men In No Man's Land > Auld Lang Syne > Blaze On > Carini > David Bowie, The Horse > Silent in the Morning > Backwards Down the Number Line
During I Didn't Know, Trey introduced Fish as "The Man Mulcahy." The crowd sang the last verse of I Didn't Know and Fish then asked the crowd to join him in singing Happy Birthday to his daughter, Ella. KDF was unfinished. The third set began with the band on a second stage beneath a funnel-shaped screen suspended from the ceiling. As the band jammed, part of the screen descended and became an hourglass shape surrounding the stage, on which a series of images were projected. As the jam continued and the countdown to midnight approached, the band returned to the main stage.
SET 1: Sample in a Jar, The Wedge, 555, Heavy Things, Wolfman's Brother, Halfway to the Moon, Bouncing Around the Room, Kill Devil Falls, Train Song, Waiting All Night, Axilla, A Song I Heard the Ocean Sing
SET 2: Birds of a Feather, Ghost > Theme From the Bottom -> Cities > Chalk Dust Torture, Martian Monster
SET 3: Dem Bones[1] > Auld Lang Syne > The Dogs > Tweezer > Simple > Limb By Limb, Bug > Backwards Down the Number Line, The Horse > Silent in the Morning > Julius
ENCORE: Golgi Apparatus > Tweezer Reprise
The Birds was teased and quoted during the segue between Theme and Cities. Trey teased Manteca in the Cities jam. The Phish debut of Dem Bones began a cappella, then Fish moved to vacuum. The song was then stopped because, Trey said, the vacuum had become stuck to Fish's face. Brian Brown and Lee Scott (Trey's guitar tech and Fish's drum tech respectively) came out to assist in trying to remove the vacuum and then went behind the stage with Fish to fix the problem, with Mike suggesting they switch it "from suck to blow." There was the sound of a small explosion and the lights went out. A giant inflatable Fishman then emerged from behind the stage and took off over the crowd, while the balloon drop, including Henrietta donut balloons, occurred and the band played Auld Lang Syne. Trey quoted Martian Monster during his speech at the end of Julius.
SET 1: AC/DC Bag > A Song I Heard the Ocean Sing > Wilson > Divided Sky, Ocelot, Sugar Shack, Halfway to the Moon > Fluffhead
SET 2: Glide, Llama, Colonel Forbin's Ascent > Fly Famous Mockingbird, Fuck Your Face, Reba, Icculus, The Lizards, Split Open and Melt
SET 3: Character Zero > Auld Lang Syne > Fuego > Light > Twenty Years Later > Bouncing Around the Room, You Enjoy Myself
ENCORE: Grind, Show of Life
After the conclusion of the first set, Trey and Page carried a keyboard-shaped cake out to the front of the stage (with a giant two-dimensional mountain behind it, this created a tableau of the cover of Phish's Colorado '88 release), and proceeded to slice and serve cake in honor of their 30th anniversary to fans near the front of the stage. After the cake was served, a video was played showing Fish collecting various props from the band's previous New Year's Eve concerts and driving a replica of the band's "JEMP" truck down to New York City. The truck from the video appeared in Madison Square Garden and was moved to the center of the floor. All of the songs played during both setbreaks were from the year 1983. The band performed the second set standing on top of the truck, using a stripped-down stage setup including hockey sticks for mic stands. Melt contained a DEG tease from Trey. During Grind, the "days lived" stated by the band referenced how old they would be when they returned for their 60th anniversary. During the encore break, a video montage of photographs and film from throughout Phish's history and previous New Year's Eve concerts was shown. After the encore, a video image was shown of a "Save the Date" card for Phish's 60th anniversary show (on December 31, 2043) with each band member digitally aged.
SET 1: Garden Party[1], Possum, Roses Are Free, Rift > Sample in a Jar, Alaska, Mike's Song > Walk Away, Weekapaug Groove, Character Zero
SET 2: Birds of a Feather, Ghost > Piper > Light > Also Sprach Zarathustra > The Horse > Silent in the Morning, You Enjoy Myself
SET 3: Party Time, Kung > Chalk Dust Torture > Auld Lang Syne > Tweezer Reprise[2] > Sand > The Wedge > Fly Like an Eagle[1] > Wilson, Lawn Boy[3]
This show featured the floor and stage covered with artificial turf (numerous plants also dotted the stage). Prior to the show, actors played garden sports including croquet, badminton, and mini-golf, while a few more "sunbathed" on a riser behind the stage. During the first setbreak, golfers came on stage and hit soft golf balls into the crowd. Light contained an Auld Lang Syne tease. You Enjoy Myself contained a Birds of a Feather tease. Trey, Page and Mike came out for the third set in golf carts and began hitting golf balls into the crowd. Fish then arrived on a golf cart wearing donut pants and shirt, an argyle vest, and a golf hat. Golf carts were brought back on stage during Kung, then began racing past the stage periodically during Chalk Dust. During the Chalk Dust jam, golfers began getting out of the carts, hitting balls into the crowd and dancing on stage. One of the golfers did the New Year's countdown from on top of a cart. Auld Lang Syne was accompanied by balloons dropping from the ceiling and ping pong balls fired from cannons. Tweezer Reprise featured Carrie Manolakos on vocals and a number of backup singers. The remainder of the third set and encore featured song titles focusing on a golf theme. Wilson was preceded by an animated Wilson golf ball on the venue's jumbotrons. Iron Man was preceded by Page coming to the front of the stage to wish the crowd Happy New Year and reference the start of the 30th year of Phish. In an apparent reference to Bob Hope, Page wore a blazer, USS Nimitz ball cap and carried a golf club. Driver was stopped and restarted.This show featured the Phish debuts of Garden Party and Fly Like an Eagle, the first full Phish performance of Iron Man (which was last played December 31, 2003, or 192 shows), and the first ever a cappella Lawn Boy.
SET 1: AC/DC Bag > Wolfman's Brother, Scent of a Mule, Stealing Time From the Faulty Plan, Lawn Boy, Gotta Jibboo, Farmhouse, Pebbles and Marbles, Ocelot > Fluffhead
SET 2: Party Time, Light[1] -> Golden Age > Theme From the Bottom, Heavy Things > Ghost > Sneakin' Sally Through the Alley > 46 Days > Suzy Greenberg
SET 3: Cavern, Steam > Auld Lang Syne > Down with Disease[2], The Wedge, Alaska, Wading in the Velvet Sea, First Tube
ENCORE: Slave to the Traffic Light
Fluffhead contained an Auld Lang Syne tease from Trey. Light featured Page on theremin. Prior to Steam, a steam kettle and hot plate went off on stage, with Trey acting like he was attempting to put out the steam. Shortly after the song began, steam also came from the floor near the soundboard area. An amp (with the steam kettle on it), a keytar, a bass, a vacuum, and a few lights were then lifted off the stage. A woman in the front of the stage tossed a “Steam” sign into the front row, then rose with a barricade and security guard before eventually being lifted up over the band. Several other aerialists (clothed in various casual attire, equipped with black backpacks emitting smoke and lights on their backs) subsequently rose up from the crowd and ascended and descended several times. The first aerialist counted down to midnight, at which point balloons were released from the ceiling. The aerialists later returned with lights in their hands for Down with Disease, which also featured Trey and Mike being raised up and back down a few times before finally rising several feet on hydraulic lifts. Steam contained a Spooky tease from Trey and Disease was unfinished.
SET 1: Punch You in the Eye > AC/DC Bag > The Moma Dance > Scent of a Mule, Burn That Bridge[1], Weigh > Ocelot, Beauty of My Dreams, Gone, Rock and Roll
SET 2: Wilson > 46 Days, Sand, NICU > Down with Disease[2] > Ghost, You Enjoy Myself -> Manteca -> You Enjoy Myself
SET 3: Meatstick[3], Auld Lang Syne[4], After Midnight, Backwards Down the Number Line > Piper > Free, Waste > Slave to the Traffic Light, Grind
ENCORE: First Tube
This show featured the Phish debut of Burn That Bridge. Ocelot, NICU and First Tube contained Auld Lang Syne teases. Beauty of My Dreams was played for the first time since July 22, 2003 (133 shows). Disease was unfinished. Manteca was played for the first time since October 30, 1998 (303 shows) and the ensuing YEM vocal jam contained Manteca quotes. Before midnight, several groups of multiethnic dancers appeared on stage and sang the Meatstick lyrics in their respective languages. The band joined the dancers and then stealthily disappeared from the stage, only to reappear at the other side of the arena in the giant hotdog from past NYE shows ('94 and '99). As a result, portions of the Meatstick were pre-recorded. Auld Lang Syne was sung with the Meatstick singers while Trey played guitar. Appropriately, the post-show music was Captain Beefheart's Tropical Hot Dog Night.
SET 1: AC/DC Bag > 46 Days, Water in the Sky, Bathtub Gin, Punch You in the Eye > The Moma Dance, Guyute, Swept Away > Steep, Demand > Seven Below, Lawn Boy, Julius
SET 2: Rock and Roll > Piper > Simple > Theme From the Bottom, Shine a Light, Ghost -> NO2, Suzy Greenberg
SET 3: Party Time > Auld Lang Syne > Down with Disease, Fluffhead, Joy, The Squirming Coil, You Enjoy Myself
ENCORE: Blue Moon[1], Loving Cup
AC/DC Bag and Ghost contained Auld Lang Syne teases. Swept Away and Steep were played for the first time since July 1, 2000 (145 shows). Demand was played for the first time since November 14, 1996 (394 shows). NO2 was played for the first time since July 13, 1999 (221 shows). Prior to the third set, a pedestal stating 2010 was placed on the front of the stage and a covered structure was placed behind Fish's drumset. During DWD, as the clock turned midnight, hundreds of balloons were released upon the crowd, fireworks went off on each side of the stage, and a disco ball was lowered onto the pedestal. After DWD, Trey opened the ball and Fish climbed inside. Trey and Mike, with some help from stagehands, proceeded to put the ball in a giant cannon aimed towards a giant net hanging from the rafters with an illuminated “X” on it. Page hit the trigger and purportedly "blasted" the ball through, not only the net, but also the roof of the arena. A searchlight appeared to come through the roof and was accompanied by helicopter sounds. With Fish apparently shot out of the venue, Trey asked if anybody knew how to play the drums and ended up finding Sarah, a girl from Pittsburgh. Trey asked how long she had played the drums and what her favorite song was and she responded with six months and Fluffhead respectively. Sarah was surreptitiously replaced by Fish, now wearing a dress identical to Sarah's and a black wig, who played the entire third set and encore, but Sarah came out at the end of the third set and bowed with the band instead of him. Blue Moon was a Phish debut and was performed as an instrumental while Trey thanked the entire crew. After the show, the disco ball was revealed to have "crashed" into a white car that had been parked in front of the American Airlines Arena with a sign on the windshield stating "This car was driven down from Vermont" and "fueled by maple syrup." After being “struck” by the “human cannonball,” the car was emitting smoke and leaking maple syrup and the entire area was cordoned off with police tape.
SET 1: Wilson[1] > Mike's Song > I Am Hydrogen > Weekapaug Groove, The Moma Dance > Guyute, You Enjoy Myself, First Tube > Tube[1]
SET 2: Stash, Seven Below[2] > Lawn Boy, Chalk Dust Torture -> Slave to the Traffic Light > Chalk Dust Torture
SET 3: Jungle Boogie[3] > Auld Lang Syne > Iron Man[4] > Runaway Jim > Simple > Reba[5], I Didn't Know > Feel the Heat[6] > Hold Your Head Up, Run Like an Antelope
ENCORE: Frankenstein
The brief conclusions of Wilson and Tube completed the versions from the previous evening. Weekapaug included Jungle Boogie lyrics and a Divided Sky tease; Weekapaug, YEM, First Tube, and Chalk Dust also included Auld Lang Syne teases. Seven Below was unfinished. The house music played over the P.A. during the second setbreak consisted solely of songs that referenced “cars” in their titles. As midnight neared during Jungle Boogie (a Phish debut), Fish’s drum kit was wheeled to the side of the stage. An Austin Cooper Mini automobile was lowered to the stage from above. The Miami Palmetto Senior High Band and cheerleading squad emerged from the car one-by-one, giving the impression that they were all in the car together. In reality, the car had touched down over a trap door in the stage and the guests came out from underneath. Also emerging were dancers similar to the bunny-women present at the IT Festival. The marching band joined in on the jam that emerged from Jungle Boogie. With the stage covered with marching band members and dancers (some even on top of Page’s baby grand piano), an emcee (dressed in an Eddie George, Tennessee Titans, #27 football jersey) counted the clock down to midnight. A massive balloon drop followed. Phish then led the marching band through an instrumental version of Iron Man (also a Phish debut). Reba did not have the whistling ending. For his “first song of 2004,” in honor of the Miami Heat, Fish performed the Phish debut of Feel the Heat, which contained Fame quotes from Trey and Fish. HYHU contained more references to “Henrietta’s Heat” as Fish took laps around the stage. Frankenstein was preceded by a Fluffhead tease.
SET 1: Piper, Guyute, NICU, Horn, Wilson[1], Mound, The Squirming Coil > David Bowie
SET 2: Waves[2] > Divided Sky, Lawn Boy, Carini, Rift, Harry Hood > Character Zero
SET 3: Sample in a Jar, Seven Below[2] > Auld Lang Syne > Runaway Jim -> Time Loves a Hero, Taste, Strange Design, Walls of the Cave[2]
ENCORE: Wading in the Velvet Sea
Phish returned from their hiatus with their first public show since October 7, 2000. The pre-show music alluded to the end of the hiatus with such songs as the theme from Welcome Back Kotter, Feels Like the First Time, Back in the Saddle Again, Reunited, and The Boys are Back in Town. The final selection was Foreplay/Long Time, during which time the band took the stage. Prior to Wilson, a scene from the Tom Hanks movie Cast Away was played in the arena (referring to Hanks’s character searching for his volleyball/companion named Wilson). Trey subsequently introduced Hanks to sing the final lyric. Major news media reported the Hanks appearance, but the guest singer was actually Page’s brother, Steve McConnell. Mound was played for the first time since November 19, 1996 (276 shows). Bowie included a DEG tease. This show included the debuts of Waves, Seven Below and Walls of the Cave. Appropriately, Seven Below began about seven minutes before midnight. During the song, the crew lowered a disco ball from the scoreboard and created a “snowfall” on stage. Dancers dressed in white as snow creatures took the stage and circled the band before dispersing into the crowd. Some of the dancers ascended ladders and donned stilts to become snow angels. At midnight, white balloons and confetti were dropped on the crowd. A little person remained on each front corner of the stage, popping balloons, while the snow angels continued to dance. Runaway Jim contained a Weekapaug tease from Page. Time Loves a Hero was last played August 11, 1998 (or 153 shows). Walls included a San-Ho-Zay tease from Trey. The evening was capped with perfect post-show music: Let’s Stay Together.
SET 1: Runaway Jim, Funky Bitch, Tube, I Didn't Know, Punch You in the Eye, Bouncing Around the Room, Poor Heart, Roggae, Split Open and Melt[1] -> Catapult, Back on the Train, Horn, Guyute, After Midnight[2]
SET 2: Meatstick -> Auld Lang Syne[3] > Down with Disease[4] -> Llama, Bathtub Gin, Heavy Things, Twist -> Prince Caspian > Rock and Roll, You Enjoy Myself[5], Crosseyed and Painless, The Inlaw Josie Wales[6], Sand -> Quadrophonic Toppling[7], Slave to the Traffic Light, Albuquerque[8], Reba, Axilla[8], Uncle Pen, David Bowie, My Soul, Drowned -> After Midnight Reprise, The Horse > Silent in the Morning > Bittersweet Motel, Piper -> Free, Lawn Boy, Hold Your Head Up > Love You > Hold Your Head Up, Roses Are Free, Bug, Also Sprach Zarathustra[9] > Wading in the Velvet Sea > Meatstick
This was the second show of the Big Cypress festival. Fish was introduced as 'Soda Jerk' during I Didn’t Know. Split Open and Melt and Disease were unfinished. Melt contained A Love Supreme teases. After the ensuing Catapult, Trey remarked: “Only at the largest concert in the world could we get away with playing a song like that.” After Midnight made its Phish debut. The late set, also known as “The Show,” began at around 11:35. “Father Time” was on stage, pedaling on an exercise bike that powered a large clock. The sounds of the clock’s gears could be heard through the sound system. About ten minutes before midnight, “Father Time” collapsed from exhaustion and the clock stopped. Then, a large fan boat entered the concert field and approached the stage. Early in its journey, the fan boat exploded away and revealed the hot dog used in the 1994 New Year’s stunt. While the band rode the hot dog to the stage, an instrumental version of Meatstick began to play over the P.A.. The band reached the stage and fed several meatsticks to Father Time, reviving him so that the clock could continue moving toward midnight. The band then took the stage and played Meatstick to begin The Show. Dancers were on stage prior to Phish reaching it. Auld Lang Syne and Disease were accompanied by fireworks. Heavy Things was recorded live and rebroadcast as part of ABC television’s New Year’s Eve coverage. In a humorous effort to confuse the home audience, Trey instructed the crowd to yell the word “cheesecake” in lieu of cheering at the end of the song. After twice giving the example of yelling the word once, Trey changed his mind and instructed the crowd to chant it, adding for them to say it like they were pissed. Trey then introduced the band for the rebroadcast and offered a message of peace and harmony for the world where he reminded people to drive in the right lane unless passing another vehicle. Meatstick was subsequently teased as the New Year approached in the central time zone. YEM included a vocal jam based around the word “cheesecake” and Trey altered the lyrics to Axilla and Albuquerque to reference the word. Inlaw Josie Wales featured Trey on acoustic guitar. Sand contained My Soul teasing from Mike and segued into the debut of Quadrophonic Toppling. Rock and Roll included an After Midnight tease. Love You included band introductions; Fish introduced Page before the song and Mike and Trey afterwards, and the band as “Phish 2000” (see November 2, 1990). Piper contained Bug teases from Page. 2001 began with the signature Hood drum roll. After the show closed with yet another version of Meatstick, the Beatles song Here Comes the Sun was piped through the crowd at sunrise. Two bustouts were played: Crosseyed and Painless (first since August 13, 1997, or 159 shows), and Love You (first since July 5, 1997, or 179 shows).
SET 1: 1999[1] > Mike's Song > I Am Hydrogen > Weekapaug Groove, Ghost -> Ha Ha Ha > Cavern
SET 2: NICU > Character Zero > Tweezer -> Cities > Wading in the Velvet Sea, Run Like an Antelope > Frankenstein
SET 3: Runaway Jim -> Auld Lang Syne -> Simple, Harry Hood > Tweezer Reprise, Llama
ENCORE: While My Guitar Gently Weeps
Prince’s 1999 made its Phish debut (appropriately) at this show and included dancers on stage and synchronized steps from Trey and Mike, who wound up lying on the stage with the dancers surrounding them. Weekapaug and Runaway Jim subsequently featured 1999 teases; Jim also included Auld Lang Syne teases. Hydrogen contained Albert teases from Trey. For this show, the Holiday Run dancers’ costumes included a devil, a prostitute, and a pimp. The band jammed Runaway Jim until just before the New Year. The dancers reappeared throughout the crowd and handed out thousands of glowrings to the fans just before a grand balloon drop and pyrotechnics display at midnight. The band counted the crowd into the New Year before busting into Auld Lang Syne. While some fans used the glowrings to start a Glowstick War during Hood, others used them to create long chain links of rings spanning the venue from end to end.
SET 1: Emotional Rescue > Ya Mar, My Sweet One > Beauty of My Dreams, Wolfman's Brother, Limb By Limb, The Horse > Silent in the Morning > The Sloth, Fire
SET 2: Timber (Jerry the Mule) > Mike's Song, Piper > When the Circus Comes -> Roses Are Free > Weekapaug Groove
SET 3: Also Sprach Zarathustra > Auld Lang Syne > Tweezer > Maze[1] > Prince Caspian > Loving Cup
ENCORE: Theme from New York, New York[2] > Tweezer Reprise
Ya Mar included an Auld Lang Syne tease. Maze contained a Birdland tease and was unfinished. Theme from New York, New York made its Phish debut during the encore. My Sweet One was played for the first time since December 14, 1995 (155 shows).
SET 1: Axilla[1] > Peaches en Regalia > Punch You in the Eye, Cars Trucks Buses, Stash, The Horse > Silent in the Morning > Divided Sky, Sample in a Jar > Tweezer Reprise
SET 2: Chalk Dust Torture > Wilson > Sparkle > Simple -> Swept Away > Steep > Harry Hood -> Prince Caspian > Character Zero
SET 3: Also Sprach Zarathustra > Auld Lang Syne -> Down with Disease > Suzy Greenberg, Run Like an Antelope, Bohemian Rhapsody[2], Julius[3]
ENCORE: Amazing Grace[3]
As the traditional Auld Lang Syne rang in the New Year, tens of thousands of balloons (reportedly a world record) fell from the rafters. This show marked the first Phish performance of Bohemian Rhapsody which, along with Julius and Amazing Grace, featured the Boston Community Choir. PYITE included Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough teases from Page.
SET 1: Punch You in the Eye, The Sloth > Reba[1], The Squirming Coil > Maze, Colonel Forbin's Ascent > Fly Famous Mockingbird[2] > Shine[3] > Fly Famous Mockingbird > Sparkle > Chalk Dust Torture
SET 2: Drowned -> The Lizards, Axilla (Part II) > Runaway Jim, Strange Design, Hello My Baby, Mike's Song -> Digital Delay Loop Jam
SET 3: Auld Lang Syne > Weekapaug Groove[4] > Sea and Sand, You Enjoy Myself, Sanity, Frankenstein
ENCORE: Johnny B. Goode
Reba did not have the whistling ending. The narration in Mockingbird discussed how Phish makes time in the Gamehendge Time Laboratory, which set up the New Year’s Eve stunt. The Phish debut of Shine featured Tom Marshall on vocals. Trey later teased Shine in Runaway Jim. Mike's Song contained a Dave's Energy Guide tease from Page. The second set ended with a Digital Delay Loop Jam out of Mike’s, and the third set opened with the Phish Time Factory machine. All four band members dressed as scientists playing with synths while lights flashed and Van de Graaff generators zapped. Fish was lifted up in a bed as Father Time and was reborn as the Baby New Year. Weekapaug featured Auld Lang Syne, Dreaming (Blondie), and Spooky teases and was unfinished. Mike and Trey teased Can't You Hear Me Knocking in Runaway Jim. This was the first performance of Sanity since June 24, 1994 (148 shows). This show was officially released as New Year's Eve 1995 - Live at Madison Square Garden.
SET 1: Golgi Apparatus > NICU > Run Like an Antelope[1], Glide, Mound, Peaches en Regalia, Divided Sky, Funky Bitch
SET 2: The Old Home Place > Maze, Bouncing Around the Room > Mike's Song -> Buffalo Bill -> Mike's Song > Yerushalayim Shel Zahav, Weekapaug Groove, Amazing Grace
SET 3: My Sweet One, Also Sprach Zarathustra > Auld Lang Syne > Chalk Dust Torture > The Horse > Silent in the Morning, Suzy Greenberg > Slave to the Traffic Light
ENCORE: Simple -> Auld Lang Syne
Trey played along to Gary Glitter's Rock and Roll Part 2, which was being played over the P.A., at the start of the first set. Antelope featured guest vocals from Tom Marshall. Divided Sky contained a brief Auld Lang Syne tease from Trey. Weekapaug contained a Can't You Hear Me Knocking tease as well as an Auld Lang Syne tease from Trey. Slave contained Crimes of the Mind teases. Before the lights went out for the third set, the audience “overheard” the band before the set. Fish wound up saying “I want a jumbo hot dog, large fries and shake” delivered on stage. The band came out, started up My Sweet One, and was interrupted by an announcer asking who ordered the food. The band pointed at Fish, who looked confused as huge props of a hot dog, fries and shakes descended from the ceiling next to the drum set. The band played 2001 while the hot dog landed. The James Bond Theme was then broadcast over the PA while technicians (wearing “Rocket Scientist” jackets) prepared the hot dog, and the band climbed in with their instruments and flew out over the audience, as balloons popped and feathers, confetti and “Phish NYE 1994” ping pong balls fell from the ceiling. Various music, including the Captain Beefheart song Tropical Hot Dog Night, was played over the P.A. as the hot dog space ship flew back and forth. Mike's maternal grandmother, Lillian Cherry, joined the band on stage for Chalk Dust with a shoe in her hand. This version of Bouncing appears on A Live One.
Soundcheck: Peaches en Regalia (x2), Funky Bitch, Ginseng Sullivan, Blues Jam
SET 1: Llama, Guelah Papyrus, Stash, Ginseng Sullivan[1], Reba, Peaches en Regalia, I Didn't Know, Run Like an Antelope[2]
SET 2: Tweezer > Halley's Comet > Poor Heart > It's Ice[3] > Fee[4] > Possum, Lawn Boy, You Enjoy Myself
SET 3: Auld Lang Syne > Down with Disease Jam > Split Open and Melt, The Lizards, Sparkle > Suzy Greenberg > Hold Your Head Up > Cracklin' Rosie > Hold Your Head Up, Harry Hood, Tweezer Reprise
ENCORE: Golgi Apparatus, Amazing Grace
Trey teased Fire (Ohio Players) in Stash and Tweezer. Ginseng Sullivan featured Trey on acoustic guitar, Mike on upright bass, Page on piano, and Fish on Madonna washboard and was preceded by a Roundabout tease. Antelope featured Tom Marshall on vocals. Tweezer contained an I Feel the Earth Move tease from Page and The Tra La La Song (One Banana, Two Banana) and Jean Pierre teases from Trey. It's Ice contained a Random Note signal. Peaches en Regalia was teased in It’s Ice, Possum, Suzy Greenberg, at the end of the second HYHU (by Trey on drums), and Golgi Apparatus. Trey sang the verses of Fee through a megaphone. Possum contained an Earache My Eye tease. The band put on wet suits during the end of the YEM vocal jam, which contained a HYHU tease. The third set was preceded by bubble noises through the PA and the band “diving” into the aquarium on stage. Auld Lang Syne was teased in the DWD Jam and Hood. Suzy also contained a Smoke on the Water tease and Hood also contained a brief Odd Couple theme tease from Page. The entire show was broadcast live (and rebroadcast the following day) on Boston's WBCN 104.1 FM.
SET 1: Buried Alive > Poor Heart, Maze, Bouncing Around the Room > Rift > Wilson[1] > Divided Sky, Cavern, Foam, I Didn't Know[2] > Run Like an Antelope[3]
SET 2: Runaway Jim, It's Ice > Sparkle > Colonel Forbin's Ascent > Fly Famous Mockingbird[4] > My Sweet One > Big Ball Jam > Stash, Glide, Good Times Bad Times
SET 3: Mike's Song > Auld Lang Syne > Weekapaug Groove, Harpua[5] -> Kung -> Harpua, The Squirming Coil > Diamond Girl[6], Llama
This show was broadcast live (and rebroadcast in its entirety the following day) on WBCN radio. In typical Phish fashion, to make the most of this opportunity, flyers were handed out to fans walking into the show that stated that the band had come up with a bunch of new 'language' signals designed to confuse the average radio listener. The signals would be written on signs and held up by Trey at various times throughout the night. The handout explained each signal. Wilson included a Simpsons signal, I Didn't Know contained a Yay/Boo signal, Antelope included a Random Note signal, the Mockingbird narration included a Mass Hysteria signal, and Harpua included a Lip-Flop signal. Wilson and the end of Divided Sky contained Jeopardy! teases from Page and Antelope contained an Auld Lang Syne tease from Trey. Brad Sands was hoisted above the crowd as The Famous Mockingbird (in a chicken costume) during the Mockingbird narration (about being taken underwater and turned into stone). The narration also contained teases of "Charge!" and the theme to Star Trek from Page. This was the first time that Mike’s and Weekapaug were played without Hydrogen in the middle as the band treated the audience to a fantastic New Year’s transition. The Mike’s combo included Trey counting down to the New Year and telling the crowd that they better make the last minute of the year a good one. Kung was played for the first time since November 2, 1989 (417 shows). This show featured the Phish debut (and only appearance) of Diamond Girl, which featured The Dude of Life on vocals. Dressed as an old man, The Dude entered and exited the stage pushing a lawnmower. Carolina was performed without amplification.
Soundcheck: It's Ice, Reba
SET 1: Possum, Foam, Sparkle[1], Stash, The Lizards, Guelah Papyrus, Divided Sky, Esther[1] > Llama, Golgi Apparatus
SET 2: Brother, Bouncing Around the Room, Buried Alive > Auld Lang Syne > Runaway Jim, The Landlady > Reba, Cavern, My Sweet One, Run Like an Antelope
SET 3: Wilson[1] > The Squirming Coil > Tweezer > McGrupp and the Watchful Hosemasters > Mike's Song > I Am Hydrogen > Weekapaug Groove
ENCORE: Lawn Boy > Rocky Top > Tweezer Reprise
Divided Sky was dedicated to Chris Gainty, who was seeing his first show since a car accident had left him in a coma five months earlier. Trey played with a voice box on stage that uttered curses during Sparkle, Esther, and Wilson. Trey teased Auld Lang Syne in Buried Alive. Antelope contained an Earache My Eye tease from Page and Nellie Kane teases from Mike. Weekapaug included Lion Sleeps Tonight teases. Prior to the encore, Trey mentioned the new Minkin painting Mike's mom had given to the band. Per Fish's request, Chris Kuroda subsequently used different lights on the painting. Lawn Boy featured Trey playing The Christmas Song during his solo. This show is available as an archival release on LivePhish.
SET 1: Suzy Greenberg > Divided Sky, I Didn't Know, The Landlady > Bouncing Around the Room, My Sweet One > Mike's Song > I Am Hydrogen > Weekapaug Groove, Buried Alive > Possum
SET 2: Golgi Apparatus, Stash, The Squirming Coil > Runaway Jim, Magilla, You Enjoy Myself, Rocky Top > Hold Your Head Up > If I Only Had a Brain > Hold Your Head Up > Run Like an Antelope
Trey teased Auld Lang Syne in Weekapaug. A recording of Auld Lang Syne was played between Weekapaug and Buried Alive. Management turned on the house lights before the band could decide on an encore, prematurely ending the show. The opening act was Chucklehead.
SET 1: I Didn't Know, You Enjoy Myself > The Oh Kee Pa Ceremony > AC/DC Bag, Auld Lang Syne > Run Like an Antelope, Bathtub Gin, The Lizards, Satin Doll > Highway to Hell
SET 2: Mike's Song > I Am Hydrogen > Weekapaug Groove, Ya Mar, Split Open and Melt, Fee > Divided Sky, Golgi Apparatus
ENCORE: Contact
This was the first Phish New Year’s performance. Trey and Mike wore tuxedos and top hats to commemorate the event. Fish came out for I Didn’t Know wearing a top hat and a g-string with tuxedo tails. The opening act was The Ululators.
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