Phish: 2009

March: 06 | 07 | 08
May: 31
June: 02 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21
July: 30 | 31
August: 01 | 02 | 05 | 07 | 08 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16
October: 29 | 30 | 31
November: 01 | 18 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 24 | 25 | 27 | 28 | 29
December: 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31

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. 

Dixie Cannonball and Gone were Phish debuts. During Love You, Fish mentioned Trey's announcement on December 28, 2009 that it was Fish's last vacuum solo "of the aughts," so he announced that he needed "someone dressed like me" to do it, brought audience member Rich onstage to do the solo, then gave him the vacuum. Antelope included numerous Boogie On teases, the Marco Esquandolas lyric had "Marco" replaced with "Rich, let's hear it for him," and subsequent lyrics were changed to "Been you to have any Electrolux?" Frankenstein featured Page on keytar. Corinna was played for the first time since February 24, 2003 (100 shows) and Tela was played for the first time since November 24, 1998 (238 shows). This gig featured ten songs not previously performed in 2009 inclusive of two debuts.

My Soul was played for the first time since October 7, 2000 (110 shows). During I Didn't Know, Trey announced that this would be the final vacuum solo of the decade. Makisupa's key words were "Woke up this morning, did just what I like, spent a whole two minutes listening to nobody but Mike." Mike took a subsequent bass solo during which the band (and shortly thereafter the crowd) chanted "Mike." Makisupa's lyrics were later changed to reference Mike's house. The band then started to repeat "Mike's house."

At the start of Ya Mar, a naked guy jumped onstage and ran around for a bit before being rounded up by security, prompting Trey to observe that "Naked Guy's" antics "took a lot of balls." During Ya Mar, Mike changed the lyrics to "he was a naked pa." Trey sang the verses to Light out of order. The sound for Mike's bass dropped out during Golgi leading Trey to label it the "trio version." During the ensuing Antelope, Mike took a bass solo to make up for the bass everyone missed in Golgi. Antelope also contained several lyric changes referencing the naked stage crasher.

Peaches was played for the first time since September 24, 1999 (188 shows). The lyrics to Antelope were changed to "Been you to have any Mike, man?".

Nellie Kane was played for the first time since July 1, 2000 (137 shows). Before Meat, Trey announced (in a reference to Meat's lyrics) that Mike had changed his name and is now "The Artist Formerly Known as Cactus" and "The Artist Presently Known as Prince."  Subsequently, during Meat, Trey introduced Mike as "Prince" and Fish as "Prince's alter ego on the drums, 'Princess.'" Free Bird was played for the first time since June 22, 2000 (144 shows) and was performed a cappella for the first time since December 29, 1998 (223 shows).

This show marked the Phish debut of Golden Age (TV on the Radio) and the debut of Tomorrow's Song. During Page's solo in Coil, the rest of the band left the stage.  Upon returning, Trey said that they had left for the encore and asked Page where he had been, leading into I Been Around. The Fire encore continued the tradition of Phish playing a Hendrix cover on the guitarist's birthday (11/27/92 and 11/27/96 being the other occasions).

Kill Devil Falls contained San-Ho-Zay teases from Trey. During Wilson, Trey implored Mike to take a "heavy metal bass solo" (and Mike complied). The lyrics to Antelope were changed to "Been you to have any Mike, man?" followed by another bass solo from Mike.

Cities was played in response to a fan with a sign requesting the song and featured alternative lyrics referencing Thanksgiving. Reba did not have the whistling ending. Disease was unfinished. Much of Weekapaug was played at a significantly slower pace than normal. Prior to ADITL, Fish teased the Weekapaug drumbeat.

This show was part of the three-show Festival 8. The first set, which started at noon, was billed as Phish's "first full-length acoustic set" (complete with complimentary coffee and Festival 8 themed donuts). The first set featured Trey and Mike on acoustics, Page solely on piano, and a unique stage setup that had Fish stage right with Page on the far left. Before Brian and Robert, Trey encouraged the crowd to sit down due to the "mellow" nature of the set; he added that they had never before played to a crowd that was sitting. Whether the crowd should stand up or sit down became a running joke throughout the set, until Trey confessed during Wilson that he only asked the crowd to sit down at the request of the crew and, in fact, he hates telling people what to do (and also hates sitting down). This show marked the Phish debuts of Invisible and Sleep Again. Fish performed a whistle solo on My Sweet One. The band briefly left the stage after McGrupp, returning to encore with Driver, Talk, and Secret Smile. The second and third sets were played later that evening. Reba lacked the whistling ending. Trey took a moment before Tweeprise to thank those who helped put on the festival.

This show was part of the three-show Festival 8. Playbills were distributed on-site (beginning at 12:30 p.m., 8 hours in advance) confirming that the second set (the band's "musical costume") would be the Rolling Stones' Exile on Main St. After Divided Sky, Trey acknowledged the beauty of the venue and announced that Page would now play a love song to the lawn since it was the first time they had played on grass in a long time. Antelope's lyrics were changed to  "Been you to have any Coil, man?" (The Coil was an art installation on the venue grounds.) Set 2 began with a video highlighting selections of the 99 classic albums displayed and then systematically eliminated on the phish.com web site leading up to the festival. Selections in the montage included snippets from Michael Jackson's Thriller, T.Rex's Electric Warrior, Metallica's Master of Puppets, Miles Davis's A Tribute to Jack Johnson, Fleetwood Mac's Rumours and The Doors (self titled), among others. All of the Exile on Main St songs were Phish debuts, except for Loving Cup and Sweet Virginia. All songs in the second set except for Casino Boogie, Torn and Frayed, and I Just Want To See His Face featured Dave Guy on trumpet, David Smith on trombone, and Tony Jarvis on saxophone. Tumbling Dice, Sweet Virginia, and Loving Cup through Soul Survivor also featured Sharon Jones and Saundra Williams on backup vocals. Trey introduced the horn section after Tumbling Dice and again after the completion of the costume, before saying "We are the Rolling Stones. See you later." Suzy Greenberg was played with Jones, Williams, and the horns. This show featured the first Sweet Virginia since September 26, 1999 (175 shows).

This show was part of the three-show Festival 8. Stash contained an L.A. Woman tease. During I Didn't Know, Trey announced that Henrietta would, for the first time in human history, suck and blow at the same time, in the shape of a figure 8. Disease was unfinished. During Bowie, Trey said, "I'm gonna give you a little hint about the Halloween album now."

SET 1: Water in the Sky, Sleep Again, Let Me Lie, Invisible, Back on the Train, Driver

SET 2: Jam, Undermind -> Devil With a Blue Dress On Jam, Starship Trooper Jam, Gone, Liquid Time


There were two soundchecks for Festival 8: an acoustic afternoon session, followed several hours later by a separate electric soundcheck that evening. The electric soundcheck was broadcast on Phish's on-site festival radio, JACK-FM 95.9 "The Bunny" as well as Sirus/XM Radio. The acoustic soundcheck was not broadcast and the song order may be incorrect. The short Devil With a Blue Dress On Jam included the chorus and part of a verse sung by Trey, as well as a Good Golly Miss Molly quote. The Starship Trooper Jam consisted of part of the Würm segment of the song. Before Liquid Time, Trey quoted Fuck Your Face and briefly teased Kids (MGMT); the jam out of Liquid Time dissolved into a vocal jam featuring the band members snoring and featured a Lengthwise quote from Trey. 

The Harpua narration centered on a depressed Jimmy calling on his Spirit Guide who happened to be a “funny little man wearing a dress” who spoke truth through song (in this case, I Kissed a Girl). This show featured the Phish debut of I Kissed a Girl (described by Trey as “so wrong on so many levels”).  After Harpua, Trey remarked to Fish that he was waiting for the day when Fish went to see Katy Perry and she performed a Phish song, prompting Fish to declare, “I don’t apologize to Katy Perry for that. I only apologize to [the audience].” Prior to the encore, Trey stated that it was hard to play the last show of the tour because they felt like they could just keep going.  Before starting the debut performance of I Been Around, Trey explained that they were playing it because he realized that it was the one song off of the upcoming album (Joy) that they hadn’t played live.

Before Ha Ha Ha, Trey chided Fish saying, “You should know this song, Fish, because you wrote this song.” After Ha Ha Ha, Trey said that he loved that song so much, that the time had come for the debut of Party Time, another Fish original that he loves even more. Before Tube, Trey said that he couldn’t hear what song a group of fans were shouting for, saying that it sounded like “Snoop.”  Trey then joked, “You said ‘Snoop’? He’s right back here, Snoop Dogg, everyone!” Finally, he started Tube, saying that he thought that was the song they were requesting. After Alaska, Trey offered some kind words for his guitar tech, Brian Brown, adding, “No Brian, no guitar.”

This show featured the first versions of Forbin’s and Mockingbird since September 30, 2000 (96 shows), which were performed without narration. During I Didn’t Know, Trey introduced Fish as “Recent Julliard Master’s Vacuum Program graduate, the one and only, Jon Moses Quagmire DeWitt Hampton.” DWD was unfinished. Piper included a Spill the Wine tease from Page. This show featured the first Psycho Killer since December 7, 1997 (284 shows). Psycho Killer was unfinished and disintegrated into a self-described, electronic “Pong” jam. During the post-Psycho Killer “Pong” jam, Trey initiated a dance contest saying that whoever could best dance to that music would “win something.”  After Catapult (while continuing the “Pong” jam), Trey asked, “Does everybody else love this song as much as I do?” and said that he was “waiting for the day when they play stuff like this on the radio.”  Icculus was last performed on July 18, 1999 (195 shows). The Icculus narration centered on the fact that “you crazy kids” just don’t read anymore.  The “Pong” jam reappeared during the YEM jam. The soundcheck included a jam with lyrics that were made up on the fly with Trey on bass (so that Mike could check on bass sounds from the audience) and Fish on drums. Trey briefly quoted Spill the Wine and The Pendulum during the soundcheck jam.

After Gin, Trey wished Happy Birthday to an audience member holding a sign for The Sloth, saying they would get to it eventually (they played it two nights later). Trey then wished his wife, Sue, a happy fifteenth wedding anniversary. Trey also said some words in remembrance of Les Paul, who passed away earlier that day. Trey said that Les was a hero to all of the band members for, among other reasons, continuing playing music into his nineties and that hopefully they would be playing into their nineties too. Finally, Trey dedicated the ensuing version of How High the Moon (last played on March 8, 1993 (714 shows)), to the memory of Les.  Trey changed the lyrics of Antelope to “Been you to have any splash cymbal solo, man?”, after which Fish took a splash cymbal solo.

This show featured the first Paul and Silas since November 29, 1998 (211 shows).  Trey explained that Paul and Silas was “sort of a request” for a fan he met the night before.  This show marked the debut of Windy City, which Trey indicated the band had been waiting to debut in Chicago.

This show marked the Phish debut of Middle of the Road. Page teased The Birdwatcher in Ya Mar. Prior to Mike’s solo in the intro of Antelope, Trey whispered, “Cactus, Cactus, Cactus gonna play it for you, Cactus.” The keyword for Makisupa was “did like Bobby Brown. I ate my breakfast and I laid back down.” Trey and Mike switched instruments during Makisupa. Trey teased Hedwig’s Theme during YEM. BDTNL was unfinished. During the soundcheck, Trey played an extended tease of the intro to Fly Famous Mockingbird.

Reba did not have the whistling ending. Undermind through Zero featured Bill Kreutzmann on drums.  Before the encore, Trey explained that Bittersweet Motel was being played at the request of his daughter, Bella.  After Bittersweet Motel, Fish remarked that he felt lonely again and needed the second drummer back.

Throughout the first set the band was using charades to communicate what song was coming next, prompting Trey to remark after Jibboo, “We do everything by hand signals now. There’s no more talking.”  After PYITE, Trey again referenced the hand signals, joking “That could be one of two songs, so we’ll see if he starts the right one.” During Antelope, Trey changed the lyrics to “Been you to have any slush?”  Disease contained an L.A. Woman tease from Trey, who also briefly teased Taste just before beginning Free, and was unfinished. Esther was played for the first time since September 30, 2000 (89 shows). Hood featured Dirt and Free teases from Trey.

Fluffhead was unfinished and contained a Dave’s Energy Guide tease.  Suzy contained Drowned and Crosseyed and Painless teases.  The Seven Bar Blues Jam from the soundcheck featured Trey on bass and Mike on guitar.

Soundcheck: Foam, Party Time, Sugar Shack, Beauty of a Broken Heart, Middle of the Road, Billy Breathes

SET 1: Divided Sky, Ocelot, The Wedge, Poor Heart, The Moma Dance, Horn, Stash, The Horse > Silent in the Morning, Possum

SET 2: Mike's Song > I Am Hydrogen > Weekapaug Groove, Ghost > Wolfman's Brother, Limb By Limb, Billy Breathes, The Squirming Coil > David Bowie

ENCORE: Loving Cup


This marked Phish’s first show at Red Rocks since August 7, 1996 (388 shows). Trey introduced Mike before the start of the second set, at which point Mike pretended to leave the stage, prompting Trey to introduce him a second time. Weekapaug contained a Celebration (Kool & the Gang) tease from Mike. Ghost contained a Praise You jam and a Windy City tease. Trey teased Piper before starting Limb By Limb.

During Brother, each of the band members’ children jumped into a bathtub placed at the side of the stage. Afterwards, Trey introduced them and wished everyone a happy Fathers’ Day. Funky Bitch was played in acknowledgement of a fan who had been holding up a sign requesting the song at this show and the previous one. Crosseyed and Painless included a brief, subtle tease from Page of the Grateful Dead’s Let It Grow. Trey teased Taste near the end of Disease, which was unfinished. Piper contained a brief Can’t You Hear Me Knocking tease. Frankenstein featured Page on the keytar and Trey on a five-neck guitar.

During Antelope, Trey changed the lyrics to “Been you to have any Hibachi?” The lyrics to Makisupa were changed to “Woke up this morning, pissing in jah cup / Woke up this afternoon, called my probation officer.” YEM contained a Gumsuckers March (Percy Grainger) tease from Page, was unfinished, and did not contain a bass and drums segment or a vocal jam.

After Limb By Limb, Trey introduced Fish as “Johnny B. Fishman” and quoted Johnny B. Goode, with Page also teasing "Charge!" before the quote. Split Open and Melt included a Can’t You Hear Me Knocking tease. Before the debut of The Connection, Mike introduced Trey as “Sweetie Pie” and Trey responded by blowing a kiss to Mike. There were severe thunderstorms during setbreak and, as a result, Page made an announcement that they were going to take a longer than usual break and that everyone on the lawn should return to their cars until the second set, which would not start until 11:00.

This show featured the first Walk Away since October 5, 2000 (80 shows). Disease was unfinished. After Grind, Trey remarked that Page blew the wrong note on the pitch pipe and had them all singing in the wrong key. They decided to perform another a cappella song and Trey joked that if they couldn’t get it right, Fish would sing Bike. Sure enough, Hello My Baby was no better and was aborted. However, true to his word, Trey announced that Fish will now sing Bike. For his part, Fish took the opportunity to welcome everyone to “the trainwreck portion of the show.” Bike was played for the first time since September 12, 2000 (95 shows).

This show, performed on the What Stage, closed out the 2009 Bonnaroo Festival. Before Mustang Sally, Trey remarked that he had seen a show at Jadwin Gym at Princeton University when was 12 (apparently referring to a 11/1/78 performance by Bruce Springsteen at this 3,000 seat venue, though Trey would have been 14 at the time), and added that Phish would now have an opportunity to play with one of his heroes, Bruce Springsteen. Springsteen joined in on guitar and vocals for Mustang Sally, Bobby Jean and Glory Days. Mustang Sally was played for the first time since August 5, 1988 (1,280 shows). This show marked the Phish debuts of Bobby Jean and Glory Days. Limb By Limb contained a Dave’s Energy Guide tease.

This show marked Phish’s first appearance at Bonnaroo. This “late-night set” on the What Stage began at approximately 11:00 p.m. Highway to Hell was played for the first time since February 26, 1997 (327 shows). YEM contained a brief Salt Peanuts (aka Basie Boogie) tease from Page.

SET 1: Dog Log, Ginseng Sullivan, Nellie Kane, Ocelot, Beauty of My Dreams, Funky Bitch


This was the soundcheck for Phish’s Bonnaroo performances.

Reba did not have the whistling ending. Hello My Baby was played for the first time since December 5, 1999 (140 shows). Frankenstein featured Page on keytar.

This show featured the Phish debuts of When the Cactus is in Bloom and Alaska. Before Dog Faced Boy, Trey explained that while living with Fish, he wrote Dog Faced Boy, Tube and Gumbo based on entries in one of Fish’s journals. During Dog Faced Boy, Fish left his drum kit and lay down in front of the stage because he didn’t need to sing the song. Lengthwise (performed a cappella) was played for the first time since July 28, 1998 (235 shows). Bold as Love was played for the first time since October 6, 2000 (74 shows).

After forgetting the lyrics to Fee, Trey remarked that “We knew this one backstage.” This show marked the debuts of Sugar Shack and Joy. Before the extended encore, Trey asked, “You guys in a rush to go anywhere?” He then talked about how much they had enjoyed the northeast run and that they wanted to play a few more songs before heading south (though he was careful to note that they love the south, too).

Let Me Lie made its Phish debut at this show. The first post-break-up Makisupa Policeman notably did not contain a “keyword.”

During I Didn’t Know, Trey introduced Fish as “Little Junior Moses Brown Heaps DeWitt” and commented that he was going to “suck all of the moisture out of the air.” During Ya Mar, Page teased It’s Raining, It’s Pouring. Trey teased Flat Fee prior to Disease, which was unfinished. Twist featured an Oye Como Va jam. This show marked the debut of Twenty Years Later.

Drowned featured After Midnight and Jumpin’ Jack Flash teases. Meatstick was played in a different key than normal.

Stealing Time From the Faulty Plan and Kill Devil Falls both debuted at this show, with the latter, remarkably, being played by request. This show featured the first If I Could since June 28, 2000 (103 shows).

The Star Spangled Banner was performed from the pitcher's mound. This show marked the debut of Ocelot and the Phish debuts of Light and Time Turns Elastic. Stash was preceded by Stash, It's Ice and Take Me Out to the Ballgame teases. Trey also teased Take Me Out to the Ballgame after Stash and again during Limb By Limb. After Time Turns Elastic, Trey jokingly announced, "That's our single." The Ballad of Curtis Loew was performed for the first time since August 2, 1993 (628 shows).


Sanity (not played since November 27, 1998 or 190 shows) ended prematurely right after the “world explodes” line (additionally, one of the large, white balloons that was hung from the rafters popped, as if on cue, as Trey sang "world explodes"). Disease was also unfinished. This show marked the Phish debuts of Undermind and She Thinks I Still Care. Frankenstein featured Page on keytar. Mike and Fish teased Seven Below in Twist. Before Contact, the band and audience sang Happy Birthday (last performed on July 25, 1999, or 165 shows) to Fish’s Dad, Leonard, and the end of Contact featured a Happy Birthday jam. During Tweezer Reprise, balloons were dropped into the crowd. The post-show music included "Sweet Virginia" from Exile on Main Street.

Reba did not have the whistling ending. Beauty of a Broken Heart made its Phish debut at this show. Guelah Papyrus was played for the first time since September 18, 2000 (78 shows) and ADITL was played for the first time since September 30, 2000 (70 shows). Weekapaug contained a DEG tease from Trey.

Phish’s first public performance since Coventry on August 15, 2004 started with Fluffhead, a song not played since prior to the first hiatus on September 29, 2000 (70 shows). Also of note, several large, white balloons were hung in a circle around the coliseum, lit up by an additional central lighting rig; the balloons (save for a few casualties) would remain for the entire run. Trey introduced Fish as “Dad” during I Didn’t Know. Train Song was not played since May 23, 2000  (111 shows) and Grind was not played since December 30, 1998 (183 shows). During Bouncing, some of the balloons were dripped into the crowd. This show featured the Phish debut of Backwards Down the Number Line. YEM featured a false start possibly as a nod to the January 3, 2003 restarted version.
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