Fresh off two-night tour-opening run in Alabama, Phish continued its summer tour on Friday with the first of three shows at the Ameris Bank Amphitheatre in Alpharetta, GA.
The band opened up the throttle with “Kill Devil Falls” and then descended to the depths for “Theme From the Bottom”. The straightforward “Theme” gave way to the Page McConnell-led “No Men in No Man’s Land”, which was followed by a driving “Axilla, Part II” that Trey Anastasio dedicated to “the fans,” gesturing towards the large fans above the stage.
Phish – “Kill Devil Falls” – 7/14/23
Phish then delved into the first deep jam of the night with “Tube”. Trey and Page showcased their incomparable chemistry as Jon Fishman held down the groove with the help of Mike Gordon. After floating up into the celestial ether with bubbly major-key improvisation, the jam coalesced as Phish returned to the song’s bluesy ending, much to fans’ delight.
“Roggae” came next, with its swirling melodies and circus imagery. The psychedelic contemplation gave fans a chance to unwind before moving their feet to the more upbeat “Undermind”. A sprawling “Prince Caspian” brought the first frame to a close with impressive synth work from Page and some seriously psychedelic sound design from Trey.
An impressive “Ghost” jam opened the second set for first time since 2019, showing that the band was ready to go deep, and deep they went as they transitioned into a monster 20+ minute “Ruby Waves”. Each member of the band contributed something to the jam, from Page’s aggressive Moog synth to Fishman’s flowing groove, but it was the interaction between the musicians—the way they were all deeply connected, moving together as a musical unit through various sections and moods—that made the improvisation particularly special, and the crowd was sure to voice their appreciation.
Phish – “Ghost” – 7/14/23
The third debut in as many shows then arrived with the first “…And Flew Away” in Phish history. The track off Anastasio’s Lonely Trip album provided a respite after the improvisational oddysey of “Ruby Waves” and served as a bridge from one standout jam to the next, with a rare second-set “My Friend, My Friend” jam taking the penultimate slot. The song had not appeared in the second frame since 2018 and had only been jammed out once before.
Capping off an incredible, improv-heavy set, Phish brought it home with an electric “First Tube” before exiting the stage. The band returned at the crowd’s behest to cap off the night with a two-song encore comprised of the ponderous “If I Could” and a rocking “Possum”.
Phish returns to Ameris Bank Amphitheatre in Alpharetta, GA tonight, Saturday, July 15th and tomorrow, Sunday, July 16th. Stream the show via livephish, and visit the band’s website for more information including upcoming tour dates and ticketing details.
Phish – “…And Flew Away” – 7/14/23
[Video: ChakaHahn]
Setlist: Phish | Ameris Bank Amphitheatre | Alpharetta, GA | 7/14/23
Set 1: Kill Devil Falls, Theme From the Bottom > No Men in No Man’s Land, Axilla, Part II (Dedicated to the fans), Tube > Roggae, Undermind > Prince Caspian
Set 2: Ghost > Ruby Waves (Trey Anastasio), …And Flew Away (Trey Anastasio) (Phish debut), My Friend, My Friend (no “myfe” ending), First Tube
Encore: If I Could, Possum
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