Phish traveled to America’s Heartland on Friday to begin a two-night run at The Pavilion at Star Lake in Burgettstown, PA. After severe thunderstorms forced the cancelation of the band’s Wednesday show in Wilmington, NC during “Scents And Subtle Sounds” in the second set, Phish made it up to those (hopefully now dry) fans by completing the song in Pennsylvania.
The entire saga of Wednesday’s rain-stunted show at Live Oak Bank Pavilion at Riverfront Park in coastal North Carolina bore a striking resemblance to Phish’s washed-out show at Chicago’s Northerly Island, which happened exactly ten years to the day prior. After being forced to stop mid “Prince Caspian” in Chicago, the band returned the next day and picked up exactly where it left off and floated upon the waves with a full telling of the song. As a consolation for the cancelation, Phish even played three sets that next night (which was unfortunately not the case for fans in Pennsylvania on Friday).
Just like it was in Wednesday’s “Scents And Subtle Sounds”, Trey Anastasio‘s grin is audible through the soundboards. Only this time the band was able to complete the intricate Undermind composition before wrapping up the set (something that was actually their decision this time).
Friday’s Star Lake show also saw Phish continue the ongoing tradition of debuting a new song during each run of the tour so far. Midway through the second set, coming out of “The Final Hurrah”, Trey introduced “Pillow Jets” (or “On Pillow Jets” according to Phish.net).
A light, hop-skip-along song with bright lyrical imagery, the song’s soft vibe is epitomized by the refrain “Pillow jets of sound.” The jam, however, reached into some sinister territory as Trey balanced chugging power chords with cascading psych-rock guitar leads for a healthy 11-minute runtime.
Elsewhere in the show, newer compositions proved the stars of the program as “Sigma Oasis” and “Ruby Waves” brought home some of the biggest jams of the night, along with a first-set “Stash”.
Out in the crowd, reports circulated online of a heavy police presence outside and even inside the show. A post in a Facebook fan group showed one attendee who was allegedly confronted by police on the lawn during the show for smoking cannabis (which is still illegal in Pennsylvania and punishable by 30 days in jail for 30 grams or less of flower) and was subsequently searched.
Cops on the lawn looking for weed busts. How fucking sad @Pav_StarLake pic.twitter.com/siPhCygEH2
— Phishatmsg (@PhishatMSG) July 22, 2023
Phish returns to The Pavilion at Star Lake tonight, July 22nd, to finish off the two-night run. For tickets and a full list of tour dates head here.
Setlist: Phish | The Pavilion At Star Lake | Burgettstown, PA | 7/21/23
SET 1: Party Time, AC/DC Bag > 46 Days, Birds of a Feather, Bouncing Around the Room, Stash, Leaves, Maze, Scents and Subtle Sounds
SET 2: Sigma Oasis -> The Final Hurrah > On Pillow Jets > David Bowie, Cities -> Fuego > Ruby Waves
ENCORE: Character Zero > Slave to the Traffic Light
Trey teased San-Ho-Zay in Maze. The soundcheck’s My Soul contained a Monsters quote from Trey. Trey teases Back on the Train and Divided Sky after the rest of the band left the stage during the soundcheck.
The post Phish Completes “Scents & Subtle Sounds” From Rain-Stunted Wilmington Show On Night 1 At Star Lake [Videos] appeared first on L4LM.
