Phish returns to Mexico for the fifth installment of their Phish: Riviera Maya destination event featuring concerts tomorrow, Thursday, February 24 through Sunday, February 27. All four concerts will be broadcast live from Moon Palace Cancún via LivePhish.com with audio available for LivePhish+ subscribers shortly after the band leaves the stage.
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First held in 2016 at Barceló Maya Beach, Phish: Riviera Maya came back to the resort in 2017 and 2019 before moving to its current home and expanding from three to four concerts in 2020. If you want to listen to these shows, all 13 past Phish: Riviera Maya performances are available to stream with LivePhish+.
In addition to these shows, LivePhish+ subscribers can stream official soundboard audio of every concert since 2003, exclusive releases from the Phish archives, and a large collection of pristine audio featuring shows from the Trey Anastasio Band, Mike Gordon, Oysterhead and additional band member projects. Subscribers can also enjoy on-demand and ad-free streaming of select concert videos, can download shows for offline streaming, and can create playlists and share them with friends.
Hear the entire LivePhish catalog on your mobile devices, desktop computers, AppleTV (4th Gen.) and through SONOS. On the move and without internet access? Download shows for offline streaming. Plus, subscribers get discounts for tour webcast passes.
For examples of LivePhish+ offerings and to help get ready for Phish: Riviera Maya 2022, JamBase has teamed with the service to present a look at and audio from the five longest jams in the destination event’s history.
Set Your Soul Free: February 22, 2019 (26:22)
The two longest Phish: Riviera Maya jams came back-to-back to start the second set on February 22, 2019. Phish’s second of three Phish: Riviera Maya 2019 concerts was heavy on the killer and light on the filler with highlights including a rare “You Enjoy Myself” opener, the band’s first cover of The Rolling Stones’ “Emotional Rescue” in 233 shows and a seamless second set that began with a +26-minute “Set Your Soul Free.”
“Set Your Soul Free” was premiered by the Trey Anastasio Band on October 27, 2017 with Phish’s debut coming on July 20, 2018. The quartet has used the song as a gateway to expansive jams in many instances with one of the best versions delivered at Phish: Riviera Maya 2019. Phish covered plenty of ground with shifts, twists and turns throughout as drummer Jon Fishman propelled the improvisation with multiple tempo changes. While the “Set Your Soul Free” jam began in dark and eerie territory, the band would go on to connect on a pretty, major-key pattern complete with call-and-response action garnering woos from those on the beach. Guitarist Trey Anastasio led his bandmates to a mighty peak to put an exclamation on the top-shelf exploration before beginning “Mercury.”
Mercury: February 22, 2019 (22:05)
An incredible one-two punch to kick off the second set on February 22, 2019 concluded with a stellar “Mercury.” As JamBase’s Andy Kahn noted in a recap of the show, “Last played in the final moments of 2018, [‘Mercury’] came [after ‘Set Your Soul Free’]. They worked through the multi-part original added in 2015 on a path to an ethereal jam steered by Trey’s assertive soloing and Page’s countering piano work and bolstered by Mike and Fish’s responsive grooves. The exploration continued as the set crossed the 45-minute mark.”
“Mercury” hit a transcendent peak around the 16-minute mark as the band connected on a powerful and anthemic progression they rode to glory. Anastasio wailed away with force and conviction, using a dirty tone to perfection. McConnell moved from piano to organ and back again as Trey led a spot-on transition into the beloved “Slave To The Traffic Light” to the delight of the crowd.
I Always Wanted It This Way: February 21, 2019 (20:23)
The first night of Phish: Riviera Maya 2019 may be best remembered for bust outs of “Spock’s Brain” (last played July 30, 2003), “Who Loves The Sun?” (last played October 31, 1998) and “Spanish Moon” (last played October 31, 2010); but February 21, 2019 was also the night Page McConnell’s “I Always Wanted It This Way” finally lived up to its potential as a jam vehicle. The 20-minute version still stands as the longest “I Always Wanted It This Way” since its debut on October 15, 2016 in North Charleston, South Carolina.
Phish broke through the song’s typical structure around the eight-minute mark. The first movement of the jam was reminiscent of the “cow funk” days before Page and Trey linked up on a gorgeous pattern as Mike and Fish dug in on a fierce groove. Phish built to one masterful climax after another. McConnell then hopped on Clavinet as the foursome took a turn towards evil territory they explored to bring the all-time “I Always Wanted It This Way” to its conclusion.
Fuego: January 13, 2017 (19:53)
Phish kicked off their second Phish: Riviera Maya destination event on January 13, 2017 with a show featuring an expansive “Fuego.” The band kept the title track from their 2014 studio album rolling for just under 20 minutes to follow the pairing of “A Song I Heard The Ocean Sing” and “The Wedge” that started the evening’s second set.
The group blew past the song’s normal boundaries in a way they’ve done few times since debuting “Fuego” on Halloween 2013 in Atlantic City. Phish hit upon a gorgeous, light and airy pattern around the 12-minute mark before joining forces to build to a forceful peak. Page and Trey’s interplay was otherworldly as the keyboardist and guitarist pushed each other to great heights while Fish bashed out a strong beat and Mike anchored the improv with a thumping bass line. The four-piece followed the climax by breaking the jam down to near silence and transitioned into “Prince Caspian.”
Down With Disease: January 17, 2016 (19:48)
The finale of Phish’s inaugural destination event on January 17, 2016 was a barnburner featuring impressive jamming, a career-spanning setlist and what still stands as the group’s only take on “The Ocean” by Led Zeppelin. Phish’s second set began with a standout “Down With Disease.”
“Down With Disease,” the improvisational highlight of Phish: Riviera Maya 2016, started in arena rock fashion. Page then headed to electric piano as the four-piece united in a move toward a blissful major key segment. The keyboardist threw samples from Chilling, Thrilling Sounds of the Haunted House track “Shipwreck” into the mix as Phish continued to focus on the beautiful chord progression they landed upon earlier. Anastasio then led a subtle shift into more typical “Disease” terrain as Page kept the “Shipwreck” samples coming. Trey capped the unfinished version by opening the hose in unleashing one anthemic riff after another to huge cheers from the audience.
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