Phish just capped off an exciting year with their New Year’s Eve show at Madison Square Garden. As always, you could follow along at home via the LivePhish webcast or hang out here for tweets and setlist notes from the show. Here’s everything that went down at the show…
The first set kicked off with a rocking “Carini” that quickly fell into an upbeat, driving rock jam to get the crowd moving. “Suzy Greenberg” was up next and really kept the energy up. After a standard “My Friend My Friend”, the band kicked into one of their classics and earliest songs, “Fluffhead”. Once the line came — “Fluff came to New York” — it was pretty clear they were tickling all the right notes with the crowd who rewarded the band with a huge scream. Trey had a minor flub here and there as the song progressed but they made up for it just fine with Fishman’s over-indulgence on the “life is a bundle of joy” lines. LOL. It was very Fish-y. A well-delivered version of “Reba” was next and really stoked the folks who love the classic compositions. “Poor Heart” brought the energy back up and the tempo of the room bouncing and moving. “46 Days” was up next and got some mid-tempo rocking in, a pretty standard Type I jam was thrown in and definitely confidently delivered. “Maze” begins and had some great peak moments but the band got a little lost at times (in the uh-oh sorta way but oh well). Finally, a rocking “Character Zero” closes the set and the band walks off to huge applause after taking their little bow. Definitely a solid first start to the evening.
📷 by Jake Silco pic.twitter.com/85C5p147b4
— Phish: From The Road (@Phish_FTR) January 1, 2018
The second set kicked off with a classic intro “Possum” that got nice stretched out, nothing too crazy, but positioning nicely for another jam in “Fuego” up next. A great run through that one lead into a great jam, definitely an interesting groove to go back and re-listen to. “Gotta Jibboo” came next and delivered a nice uptempo groove for a bit, even well into the jam everything had kept together pretty well and the band was just forming as one on a cohesive rock groove. After a few minutes there, Trey started taking some leads that brought the band into more a major note ascending vibe. Definitely got the uplifting spirits back into the room. “Golgi Apparatus” was a great addition to the set, then the band delivered a totally sublime version of “What’s the Use?” that really got relaxed and quiet for a bit. Highly recommend re-listening to that one. Right as the band finished up, they launched into the set closer of “You Enjoy Myself” and let loose at the end, including a full trampoline bit and vocal jam along with a Trey-dances-by-himself segment. All in all, another great set of music and confidently delivered front to back.
📷 by Jake Silco pic.twitter.com/Zm3eBK9iI0
— Phish: From The Road (@Phish_FTR) January 1, 2018
For the third set, the band came out and launched into “Soul Planet”, a song that had previously never been played by Phish but got debuted during the last Trey Anastasio Band tour. As the song began, everyone’s bracelet lit up as an “ocean” of love. Thus go the lyrics of “Soul Planet”, then we see big sails start to drape down from the ceiling above the band. The stage is transformed to look like a big boat. Wind was then piped in and the sail was pushed to the side showing a huge Phish flag. “The ocean is love. Wind is the music.”
As midnight approached, the lighted bracelets started picking up in their intensity and the band jammed their way through the song. Then a guy carrying a disco ball stepped to the cannon positioned at the front of stage. Ah, the band was on a pirate ship.
Once the disco ball was “shot” into the crowd, the bracelets were lit up to act like an ocean was getting shelled. Big boom noises were happening, then the countdown happened in the form of huge boom noises. A huge confetti drop then happened and a huge sea of blue balloons was dropped on the crowd. As customary for the band, they played “Auld Lang Syne” while friends embraced and welcomed the new year. The rest of the set took on the life of a band on a pirate ship, with “Free”‘s “splashing in the sea” line or “A Song I Heard the Ocean Sing”. “Prince Caspian” and “Wading In the Velvet Sea” make an appearance where “Waves” does not, but alas, that’s where Phish will always keep us guessing.
The band encored with “Loving Cup” and sent fans on their merry way into the night…
Phish @ Madison Square Garden, NYC 12.31.17 (New Year’s Eve)
Set I: Carini > Suzy Greenberg > My Friend My Friend, Fluffhead, Reba*, Poor Heart, 46 Days > Maze, Character Zero
Set II: Possum > Fuego > Gotta Jibboo, Golgi Apparatus -> What’s the Use? > You Enjoy Myself
Set III: Soul Planet^ > Auld Lang Syne > Free, A Song I Heard the Ocean Sing > The Moma Dance, Prince Caspian, Wading in the Velvet Sea > First Tube
Encore: Loving Cup
Notes:
* – with whistling!
^ – As the song began, everyone’s bracelet lit up as an “ocean” of love. Thus go the lyrics of “Soul Planet”, then we see big sails start to drape down from the ceiling above the band. The stage is transformed to look like a big boat. Wind was then piped in and the sail was pushed to the side showing a huge Phish flag. “The ocean is love. Wind is the music.” As midnight approached, the lighted bracelets started picking up in their intensity and the band jammed their way through the song. Then a guy carrying a disco ball stepped to the cannon positioned at the front of stage. Ah, the band was on a pirate ship. Once the disco ball was “shot” into the crowd, the bracelets were lit up to act like an ocean was getting shelled. Big boom noises were happening, then the countdown happened in the form of huge boom noises. A huge confetti drop then happened and a huge sea of blue balloons was dropped on the crowd. As customary for the band, they played “Auld Lang Syne” while friends embraced and welcomed the new year.
Tweets
Happy New Year!! Here’s tonight’s LE poster celebrating the New Year’s Run at @thegarden by Ivan Minsloff. Edition of 1000. 18×24. At merch stands. #phish #gigposter pic.twitter.com/Ty2Z0FARky
— Phish (@phish) December 31, 2017
Preshow wristbands for the NYE gag #phish pic.twitter.com/U8BzPdLTJr
— Scott Marks (@bizarchive) January 1, 2018
Up close #phish pic.twitter.com/VwGW210PD3
— Scott Marks (@bizarchive) January 1, 2018
https://twitter.com/neddyo/status/947639495893151744
That Carini made me feel things in my naughty places. #phish
— Drew but Kissinger Clapped On 1 & 3 (@drewphish) January 1, 2018
https://twitter.com/secretcabdriver/status/947643380724654081
So many questions.
Last Carini opener? Last early Suzy? Last time Mike wore those pants?! What kind of pills did the banker have?! #yemsgneeds
— PeteLikesPhish (@PeteLikesPhish) January 1, 2018
Closing out 2017 with @phish at The Garden! What a way to end an amazing year at MSG! pic.twitter.com/07wA5AFJgP
— MSG (@TheGarden) January 1, 2018
https://twitter.com/fraxior/status/947657711289643008
https://twitter.com/PhishatMSG/status/947671325803507713
Beee-oooh-WERRRRRP
— week4paug (@week4paug) January 1, 2018
Jibboo has achieved liftoff #phish
— Overheard at Phish (@overheardphish) January 1, 2018
I spent about 80% of that Jibboo completely fixated on Mike. He is on fire. So many creative ideas flowing through him this run. Inspired stuff. #phish
— Drew but Kissinger Clapped On 1 & 3 (@drewphish) January 1, 2018
Holy hell. Maybe I’ve been smelling that east coast fluff, but hot damn is this band on one tonight.
— Ⓜ️🅰️🌈 (@SeaMacTweet) January 1, 2018
https://twitter.com/treyphanastasio/status/947676498961551360
https://twitter.com/neddyo/status/947681352266248193
https://twitter.com/neddyo/status/947684439668264961
Yacht rock setbreak got me in the perfect mood for ringing in the new year. Much love to all!!
— PeteLikesPhish (@PeteLikesPhish) January 1, 2018
Boy, man. pic.twitter.com/oqLXtEn1tt
— Katy Tur (@KatyTurNBC) January 1, 2018
Soul Planet pic.twitter.com/SEwouubpsJ
— Scott Marks (@bizarchive) January 1, 2018
Look like disco ball water mines. The red suits have names like Hood and McGrupp.
— J. Welsh (@Jwelsh8) January 1, 2018
Back of the ship #gardenpirates #phish pic.twitter.com/JxHNTF6NZW
— Scott Marks (@bizarchive) January 1, 2018
This band and this room were made for each other pic.twitter.com/NTuZNKpWRu
— Hot Takes Today Only (@PhanArt) January 1, 2018
📷 Rene Huemer #phish #PhishMSG #phishnye #NewYearsEve2017 pic.twitter.com/3Ha5T2bpRN
— Phish: From The Road (@Phish_FTR) January 1, 2018
