Phish has released “Oblivion”, the second single from its forthcoming 16th studio album, Evolve, due to arrive via JEMP Records/ATO on Friday, July 12th, 2024.
If the album’s title track, “Evolve”, represented the “love and light” portion of the modern Phish songwriting spectrum, the moody “Oblivion” aptly plays the foil. A wistful and ethereal intro quickly hitches a ride on Jon Fishman‘s punchy drum beat and Mike Gordon‘s trudging low end as Trey Anastasio‘s biting lead guitar riff lingers in the background. Page McConnell‘s array of accents help further set the gloomy scene while Anastasio’s particularly strong singing and some well-honed chorus call-and-response backing vocals provide sonic contrast, leaving the sum of “Oblivion’s” parts intriguingly suspended somewhere between the dark unknown and the surreal secrets that lurk within the shadows.
Much like “Evolve”, the Anastasio- and Tom Marshall-penned “Oblivion” has been finding its way into Phish setlists since the band’s 2023 summer tour opener in Huntsville, AL and has gone on to become a new staple of the group’s live repertoire over the ensuing months. It most recently got its tenth overall live Phish reading on April 21st to open the final set of Phish’s lauded Sphere run.
Related: As Phish Wraps 4-Night Sphere Run, Plasma Is The (State Of) Matter At Hand [Photos/Videos]
In addition to releasing “Oblivion”, Phish has detailed the full tracklist for Evolve, recorded in the fall of 2023 at The Barn and produced by Vance Powell and Bryce Goggin. Per a press release, “The album’s 12 songs were selected from arrangements shaped by the band’s live performances.”
Many of the included tracks (“Hey Stranger”, “Oblivion”, “Evolve”, “A Wave of Hope”, “Pillow Jets”, “Lonely Trip”, “Life Saving Gun”, “Ether Edge”, “Mercy”) have already made notable showings during live Phish shows. A number of the songs—including “Oblivion”, “Pillow Jets”, “Monsters”, “Ether Edge”, and “Valdese” (previously listed as “Valdise”)—were initially debuted by Trey Anastasio Trio during a summer 2023 weekend run in Denver. Several first appeared on non-Phish releases like mercy (“Hey Stranger”, “Mercy”), January (“Life Saving Gun”), and Lonely Trip (“Lonely Trip”, “Life Saving Gun”, “Evolve”), while one track, “Human Nature”, has yet to appear on any recordings or live setlists. “The Well”, yet another song first revealed by Trey Anastasio Trio in Denver and later incorporated into late-2023 Phish performances, will also be included as a bonus track on vinyl copies of Evolve.
Below, listen to the new Phish single, “Oblivion”, and check out the complete tracklist for Evolve.
Phish – “Oblivion”
Phish – Evolve – Tracklist
- Hey Stranger
- Oblivion
- Evolve
- A Wave of Hope
- Pillow Jets
- Lonely Trip
- Life Saving Gun
- Monsters
- Ether Edge
- Human Nature
- Valdese
- Mercy
- The Well (vinyl only)
While Phish is currently off the road, Anastasio remains busy on tour with Classic TAB. Next up on the ongoing Classic TAB tour is a three-night, mid-week run at Brooklyn, NY’s Brooklyn Steel (5/22, 5/23, 5/24). For ticketing info and a full list of upcoming Trey Anastasio & Classic TAB tour dates, head here.
Phish will resume road operations in mid-July for a 2024 summer tour featuring multi-night runs in Mansfield, MA (7/19, 7/20, 7/21), Uncasville, CT (7/23, 7/24), East Troy, WI (7/26, 7/27, 7/28), St. Louis, MO (7/30, 7/31), Noblesville, IN (8/2, 8/3, 8/4), Grand Rapids, MI (8/6, 8/7), Bethel, NY (8/9, 8/10, 8/11), and Commerce City, CO (8/29, 8/30, 8/31, 9/1). The band’s 2024 schedule also includes Mondegreen, Phish’s latest curated festival, due to take place at The Woodlands in Dover, DE from August 15th–18th. Click below for a full list of upcoming Phish tour dates. For ticketing details and more information, head here.
The post Phish Releases “Oblivion” Single, Details Full Tracklist For Forthcoming ‘Evolve’ LP [Listen] appeared first on L4LM.
