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The Howling Well: Phish Continues To Innovate For Night 5 At Madison Square Garden

August 3, 2023

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Phish settled in at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Wednesday for the fifth of seven nights at the storied venue. The quartet turned in a conglomerate show that saw them exploring different terrain on a batch of songs that the listener couldn’t help but notice had a fresh spin — some without any context due to their nascent nature — others utterly delightful in a sparkling new way.

In other words, the surprises abounded. But not necessarily in the way one might think think.

Phish climbed into “Possum” to bring night five down the road. Keyboardist Page McConnell took the 88s for a sparkling ride before kicking things over to guitarist Trey Anastasio to stir the pot. A swaggering start to be sure. Trey gave a Wednesday “Welcome Back,” before gravity brought the band to a glimmering “Guyute,” which also didn’t feel quite the same. I hope this happens once again.

“Axilla II” even had variations, rocking as always, but full of weepy organ swells from Page and bursting with cascading bass drives from Mike Gordon, all glued together by the whirlwind that is drummer Jon Fishman. The Apples in Stereo rarity “Energy,” bubbled up next and had a lot of space, room to breathe and expand, allowing Anastasio to soar over the ever-unfurling piano of McConnell and garden climbing bass from Cactus leading the band to a funk expansion.

Page then charged boldly into “Meatstick” with a spicy run on the synth. A top-shelf transition immediately entered the canon.

Another great segue followed like a shooting star as Trey kicked on his clavinet-like tone, toggled through a few different crunchy tones and blasted off into “It’s Ice,” landing the quartet into the composed classic sung by McConnell. The meteors continued to fall as “Blaze On” streaked through the sky to wrap up the first frame.

Read on after The Skinny for the rest of the recap and more.

The Skinny

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The Setlist
Set 1: Possum, Guyute, Axilla (Part II) > Energy -> Meatstick -> It’s Ice > Blaze On Set 2: Cavern ^[1] > Carini > Piper > The Well > The Howling > Taste > About to Run, Chalk Dust Torture Encore: Frankenstein ^[2], Slave to the Traffic Light ^[3] [1] Slow, funky version. [2] Page on keytar. [3] Lyrics changed to “see the best city.” Page and Trey teased Frankenstein in It’s Ice. Cavern was played in a slower, funkier manner than usual. Trey quoted The Well in The Howling. Frankenstein was played for the first time since December 7, 2019 (120 shows) and featured Page on keytar. Slave’s lyrics were changed to “see the greatest city.”
The Venue
Name	Madison Square Garden [See upcoming shows]
Capacity	20,789
Previously	76 shows 12/30/1994, 12/30/1995, 12/31/1995, 10/21/1996, 10/22/1996, 12/29/1997, 12/30/1997, 12/31/1997, 12/28/1998, 12/29/1998, 12/30/1998, 12/31/1998, 12/31/2002, 12/02/2009, 12/03/2009, 12/04/2009, 12/30/2010, 12/31/2010, 1/01/2011, 12/28/2011, 12/29/2011, 12/30/2011, 12/31/2011, 12/28/2012, 12/29/2012, 12/30/2012, 12/31/2012, 12/28/2013, 12/29/2013, 12/30/2013, 12/31/2013, 12/30/2015, 12/31/2015, 1/01/2016, 1/02/2016, 12/28/2016, 12/29/2016, 12/30/2016, 12/31/2016, 7/21/2017, 7/22/2017, 7/23/2017, 7/25/2017, 7/26/2017, 7/28/2017, 7/29/2017, 7/30/2017, 8/01/2017, 8/02/2017, 8/04/2017, 8/05/2017, 8/06/2017, 12/28/2017, 12/29/2017, 12/30/2017, 12/31/2017, 12/28/2018, 12/29/2018, 12/30/2018, 12/31/2018, 12/28/2019, 12/29/2019, 12/30/2019, 12/31/2019, 4/20/2022, 4/21/2022, 4/22/2022, 4/23/2022, 12/28/2022, 12/29/2022, 12/30/2022, 12/31/2022, 7/28/2023, 7/29/2023, 7/30/2023, 8/01/2023
The Music
First Set	7 songs / 8:03 pm to 9:14 pm (71 minutes)
Second Set & Encore	10 songs / 9:49 pm to 11:19 pm (90 minutes)
Total Songs	17 songs 15 originals / 2 covers
Average Vintage	2000
Average Song Gap	17.65 [Gap chart]
Debuts	None
Tour Debuts	Guyute, Energy, Frankenstein
Biggest Bustout	Frankenstein LTP 12/07/2019
Longest Song	Carini 16:10
Shortest Song	Frankenstein 4:54
The Spread	A Picture of Nectar – 2, Rift – 1, Hoist – 1, Billy Breathes – 1, The Story of the Ghost – 1, Farmhouse – 1, Big Boat – 1, Sci-Fi Soldier – 1, Misc. – 6, Covers – 2
The Rest
Weather	72° and Sunny at Showtime
Guitar	Koa 1

Buy / Download this Show

Phish launched set two with a groovier take on “Cavern,” prefaced by a unusual intro, reminiscent of the Island Tour version played on April 5, 1998. The band offered a laid back rhythm that saw a quick swerve into “Carini.” “Cavern” > “Carini,” a choice pairing to open the set.

“Carini” maintained its darker tone, until trickling into the major key. The jam-vehicle was developed, settled into and spread out as Trey circled — bringing things to a slow boil, finally peeling off echoing lines, coalescing on butterfly wings.

McConnell brought the synth back into the mix before the jam cooled down and filtered into “Piper,” which had Trey dancing, spreading excitement throughout the building. An excellent juxtaposition with “Piper” was “The Well.” The new tune made its third appearance, closing with a coda that boasted a torchy solo from Trey, who then served up the Sci-Fi Soldier staple, “The Howling,” but with a different slant as well, as it saw multiple quotes from “The Well.” “The Howling” set off a steady buzz around the venue.

The shimmering guitar strains of “Taste” came next. The Billy Breathes cut has seen eight plays since it was performed exactly six years ago to the day at MSG on August 2 at the Baker’s Dozen in 2017. Next, the explosive “About To Run” burst into the hallowed room, a fitting follower to both “The Well” and “The Howling.” To close the set, “Chalk Dust Torture” kept up a similar raucous mood.

With a “Frankenstein” tease during “Ice,” Page shouldering the keytar and heading to center stage all but ensured The Edgar Winter Group smokeshow would kick off the encore, knocking off a little dust from December 7, 2019.

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Frankenstein	00:00:00

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Channel	Larry Rulz 5 (See 5 videos)
Band	Phish (See 3,966 videos)

While the rambunctious closer would have been enough to send the crowd home (as well as Mike Gordon), the band had another great city song in store — the classic “Slave To The Traffic Light,” which saw a call back to the lyric change in the seven-night opening salvo, “Cities,” this time dialing up, “see the greatest city.” And don’t forget the zoo.

Phish heads back to MSG to begin the final two nights of the MSG run on Friday, August 4. Watch that show and the rest of Summer Tour 2023 via LivePhish.com.

Phish From The Road Photos

https://www.instagram.com/p/CvdmPeGOjMb/

Posters

https://www.instagram.com/p/CvaIL7tu5sv/

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Phish Summer Tour 2023 – The Skinny

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