Phish returned to the beach Friday night for the penultimate show of the band’s annual Riviera Maya destination event in Cancún, Mexico.
After warming up with a welcome set on Wednesday and riding the wave on Thursday, Trey Anastasio, Mike Gordon, Page McConnell, and Jon Fishman opened the show by letting loose on “Set Your Soul Free”. The quartet explored darker themes before ultimately settling into a blissful mood, transitioning to “Ghost” after a ten-minute opening jam.
Phish – “Set Your Soul Free” – 2/23/24
“Ghost” also included a solid but modest jam and led into “Fast Enough For You”, played for the first time since July 2022 and only the fourth time in the past ten years. Next came “Evolve”, from Anastasio’s pandemic-era album Lonely Trip, and “Mull”, off Gordon’s recent album Flying Games.
“46 Days” contained teases of “Mull” and flowed into a rocking “Kill Devil Falls” that saw the band breech type two territory and explore some wild sound effects. “Wading in the Velvet Sea” served as a serenade for the nearby ocean beofre “Sigma Oasis”, the title track to Phish’s more recent studio album, finished set one with a flourish.
2/23/24 Riviera Maya
@alivecoverage pic.twitter.com/ciudvBpjPI
— Phish: From The Road (@Phish_FTR) February 24, 2024
After a break, Phish blazed on, opening set two with a fiery jam before delving into the deep with the longest “Chalk Dust Torture” jam in the band’s history. The 40-minute exploration marked the second notable excursion of the weekend following a 35-minute “A Wave Of Hope” on Thursday.
Phish – “Set Your Soul Free” – 2/23/24
Coming up for air after “Chalk Dust Torture”, the band returned to the sea/nature theme with “Beneath A Sea Of Stars”, giving thanks that “we’re all here together and the weather’s fine” before taking a sentimental trip “Backwards Down The Number Line”. Fan favorite “Harry Hood” capped off the five-song second set. For the encore, Phish selected a pairing of Los Lobos’ “When The Circus Comes”—only the second cover of the weekend so far—and a raucous “Character Zero”.
2/23/24 Riviera Maya
— Phish: From The Road (@Phish_FTR) February 24, 2024
Phish: Riviera Maya 2024 continues with one final two-set performance on the beach. Order your webcasts for the remainder of the run here to tune in from home. Stream audio of this show and every Phish show since 2003 by signing up for LivePhish+ here. Check Live For Live Music throughout the week/weekend for coverage of the Phish fiesta down in Mexico.
Setlist [via Phish.net]: Phish | Moon Palace | Cancún, Quintana Roo, Mexico | 2/23/24
Set 1: Set Your Soul Free -> Ghost -> Fast Enough for You, Evolve, Mull > 46 Days > Kill Devil Falls > Wading in the Velvet Sea, Sigma Oasis
Set 2: Blaze On > Chalk Dust Torture[1] > Beneath a Sea of Stars Part 1 > Backwards Down the Number Line > Harry Hood
Encore: When the Circus Comes, Character Zero
[1] Unfinished.
Notes:
Trey teased Mull in 46 Days. Chalk Dust was unfinished and contained a Shipwreck quote. At the end of the show, Trey quoted Buffalo Bill from the film The Silence of the Lambs, saying “It puts the lotion on its skin.”
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