Phish returned to the stage last night at the Walmart AMP in Rogers, Arkansas, their first show since the pandemic shutdowns due to COVID-19.
The band opened the show and debuted the Trey Anastasio solo tune, “I Never Needed You Like This Before,” off his quarantine LP, Lonely Trip. There were some definite highlights in the playing at times, but most of the show felt a bit tentative and was clearly a band warming themselves back up to playing live again. “46 Days” and “Wolfman’s Brother” had some sauce on them in the first set, and I loved the “Fuego > Plasma” segments from set two. Plus that “Weekapaug Jim” was a bit wild.
As an aside, it looks like Sarah Huckabee Sanders was spotted at the show hanging in the VIP area.
https://twitter.com/AdamBlickstein/status/1420575857740066825?s=20
Check out the setlist and some video clips below.
Phish @ Walmart AMP, Rogers, AR 7.28.21
Set I: I Never Needed You Like This Before, Tube, Free, Bouncing Around the Room, 46 Days, Limb by Limb, Wolfman’s Brother, NICU, Drift While You’re Sleeping
Set II: Down with Disease > Simple -> Fuego > Plasma > Runaway Jim > Weekapaug Groove > Runaway Jim > Rift, If I Could, Rise/Come Together > Slave to the Traffic Light
Encore: Say It To Me S.A.N.T.O.S.
