Home Jambase Phish Plays 24-Minute ‘Sand’ On Night 2 At Dick’s

Phish Plays 24-Minute ‘Sand’ On Night 2 At Dick’s

September 2, 2023

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Phish returned to Dick’s Sporting Goods Park near Denver on Friday for their second of four annual Labor Day Weekend shows at the home of the Colorado Rapids. After filling the first set with tight versions of complex compositions, the band kicked out the jams with lengthy versions of “Sand,” “No Men In No Man’s Land” and “Scents And Subtle Sounds” in the second set.

The quartet selected “Wolfman’s Brother” to open and wasted no time locking into a funky groove. Drummer Jon Fishman propelled a tasty jam featuring hot licks from guitarist Trey Anastasio and Page McConnell offering staccato plinking on the Clavinet. After a quick run through “Sparkle,” Phish lined up “Bathtub Gin.” Anastasio and McConnell connected on an anthemic riff they used to begin a build to a crowd-pleasing climax. Trey cycled through variations of the riff as he wailed away while Fish and bassist Mike Gordon held down a steady and compelling pattern.

Phish looked to 2000’s Farmhouse next for a rollicking “Back On The Train.” Trey strung together one swampy lick after another to fill his feel-good solo. Page McConnell then stepped into the vocal spotlight for the first “Halfway To The Moon” at Dick’s since September 6, 2015. “Bouncing Around The Room” and “Stash” followed in the same sequence that opened A Live One, the band’s debut live album. Jon Fishman was all over the toms as the rich and melodic “Stash” jam began. Though Phish never painted outside the lines, the “Stash” featured outstanding interplay and plenty of sinister tones from Anastasio and McConnell.

Page McConnell went on the deliver the circus organ intro that signals “Esther.” The Trey Anastasio-penned Junta cut continues its return to regular rotation with seven plays in the last two years after disappearing from setlists for 112 shows between July 30, 2017 and August 28, 2021. Phish stuck with Junta material in closing a frame almost entirely filled with songs debuted 1999 or earlier with a straight-to-the-point, spot-on “David Bowie.” The “Bowie” fit a trend of the band making it through some of their most difficult compositions in super tight fashion.

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

The Skinny

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The Setlist
Set 1: Wolfman’s Brother, Sparkle > Bathtub Gin, Back on the Train, Halfway to the Moon, Bouncing Around the Room, Stash, Esther > David Bowie Set 2: Sand > No Men In No Man’s Land -> Llama, Mountains in the Mist, Scents and Subtle Sounds > Shine a Light Encore: Wilson > Split Open and Melt Page teased In the Mood after the soundcheck’s second Ether Edge.
The Venue
Name	Dick’s Sporting Goods Park [See upcoming shows]
Capacity	27,000
Previously	35 shows 9/02/2011, 9/03/2011, 9/04/2011, 8/31/2012, 9/01/2012, 9/02/2012, 8/30/2013, 8/31/2013, 9/01/2013, 8/29/2014, 8/30/2014, 8/31/2014, 9/04/2015, 9/05/2015, 9/06/2015, 9/02/2016, 9/03/2016, 9/04/2016, 9/01/2017, 9/02/2017, 9/03/2017, 8/31/2018, 9/01/2018, 9/02/2018, 8/30/2019, 8/31/2019, 9/01/2019, 9/03/2021, 9/04/2021, 9/05/2021, 9/01/2022, 9/02/2022, 9/03/2022, 9/04/2022, 8/31/2023
The Music
First Set	9 songs / 8:03 pm to 9:21 pm (78 minutes)
Second Set & Encore	8 songs / 9:56 pm to 11:29 pm (93 minutes)
Total Songs	17 songs 16 originals / 1 cover
Average Vintage	1996
Average Song Gap	11.53 [Gap chart]
Debuts	None
Tour Debuts	Shine A Light
Biggest Bustout	Shine A Light LTP 07/29/2022 (54 Show Gap)
Longest Song	Sand 24:12
Shortest Song	Llama 3:33
The Spread	Junta – 2, Lawn Boy – 3, A Picture of Nectar – 2, Rift – 1, Hoist – 1, Farmhouse – 2, Undermind – 1, Fuego – 1, Big Boat – 1, Misc. – 2, Covers – 1
The Rest
Weather	86° and Partly Cloudy
Guitar	Koa 1

Buy / Download this Show

The fifth “Sand” of the summer and third in six shows ignited the second set at Dick’s on Friday. Phish transitioned from the song’s usual dark, minor-key jam space to a blissful, major-key they patiently explored to the delight of the crowd. Trey and Page took flight after landing on an ascending progression and spread their wings as Mike and Fish laid into a compact groove. Anastasio peeled off a series of anthemic riffs to power “Sand” back to the evil, minor-key utilizing a wobbly tone while McConnell followed along on organ. Chris “CK5” Kuroda’s outrageous light show provided the perfect visual accent to the authoritative jam. The band arrived at a triumphant peak at the 20-minute mark with Gordon driving the hard rock excursion before Anastasio returned to the main theme to close out another incredible “Sand” at Dick’s.

Phish kept the energy high with “No Men In No Man’s Land.” A particularly speedy “NMINML” was the catalyst for another expansive jam. The band embarked on an interstellar excursion heavy on tension. Mike engaged a particularly cool effect that sounded like a rocket taking off as Trey shredded and Page layered in complementary sounds making for a huge release of the tension built earlier. Fish was a whirl of motion throughout proving why they named the band after him. “Llama” emerged out of the madness following the must-hear, two-song segment that started the set. Anastasio stacked potent runs during the fast-paced A Picture Of Nectar gem.

Photo by Phil Clarkin

The tender “Mountains In The Mist” offered both band and fans a chance to catch their breath. Phish then launched into “Scents And Subtle Sounds.” Unlike the version in Burgettstown earlier this summer, which came one show after “Scents” was cut short in Wilmington due to storms, the four-piece took their time with the jam at Dick’s. The gorgeous improvisation featured dynamic interplay between each member of Phish who united to make one huge soundscape. Anastasio eventually took control and unleashed fretboard fireworks galore egged on by Page’s electric piano vamping. The “Scents” jam faded to silence at which point Trey revved into Phish’s first cover of The Rolling Stones’ “Shine A Light” since July 29, 2022 — a span of 54 shows — to end the set.

Friday’s encore started off innocently enough with the high-octane “Wilson.” Phish then lit into the beloved “Split Open And Melt,” which had only been played in the encore one other time since 1991. Trey called to the aliens with one deliciously weird lead after another while layering a droning loop underneath. Page worked in evil synth tones as Mike added tension to the mix and Fish kept the jam moving with a pulsating beat. Phish crushed the ending of the memorable “Split” to bring another special night at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park to a close.

Phish returns to Dick’s tonight. Livestreams are available via LivePhish.com.

Photos by Phil Clarkin

https://www.instagram.com/p/CwsJ722MAu1/?img_index=1

Phish From The Road Photos

https://www.instagram.com/p/CwrW9BIuDLk/
https://www.instagram.com/p/CwrcXDXOrPk/
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cwre75pOxow/

Posters

https://www.instagram.com/p/CwndcEgOId1/
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cwna7kou75L/

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