Phish frontman Trey Anastasio brought the Trey Anastasio Band to The Observatory North Park in San Diego on Thursday for the first show of a winter tour that the band previewed last weekend with two performances in Port Chester, New York. TAB worked through material from various eras last night and fit in a few covers and Phish tunes as well.
The guitarist led the group through “Set Your Soul Free” to start ahead of the Natalie Cressman showcase “Mozambique.” Staples “Cayman Review” and “Curlew’s Call” came next along with the recently debuted by TAB “Love Is What We Are,” Phish classic “Magilla” and 70 Volt Parade gem “Dark & Down.” TAB then worked through the Jeff Holdsworth-penned “Camel Walk” and Anastasio’s “Rise/Come Together” before concluding the frame with nicely jammed takes on “Gotta Jibboo” and “Push On ‘Til The Day.”
Anastasio and company opened last night’s second set with the improvisational highlight of the show, “Everything’s Right.” Trey then shredded “Alaska” before percussionist Cyro Baptista and drummer Russ Lawton fit a drum duel into “Last Tube.” Up next was just the fourth “Greyhound Rising” since 2015 and Traveler track “Valentine.” It was then back to the Phish catalog for “Blaze On” ahead of a cover of Gorillaz’s “Clint Eastwood” featuring a rap from Jennifer Hartswick.
“Sand” ended the set and Trey began the encore by introducing members of his ensemble. Cressman then fronted the group on Ana Tijoux’s “1977.” Saxophonist James Casey had his turn in the spotlight on “Burlap Sack & Pumps” and then the night concluded with TAB classics “Ether Sunday” and “First Tube.” The latter featured an introduction from Anastasio who explained the genesis of the song was for the opening of Vermont club Higher Ground in 1998 and that he’d play it “five times a night if it was allowed.”
Setlist
Set One: Set Your Soul Free, Mozambique, Cayman Review, Curlew’s Call, Love Is What We Are, Magilla, Dark & Down, Camel Walk, Rise/Come Together, Gotta Jibboo, Push On ‘Til The Day
Set Two: Everything’s Right, Alaska, Last Tube, Greyhound Rising, Valentine, Blaze On, Clint Eastwood, Sand
Encore: 1977, Burlap Sack & Pumps, Ether Sunday, First Tube
