Phish at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, CT July 23, 2024
I was introduced to Phish very early in their career. In 1988 I was going to the University of New Hampshire and the band was playing the Old Stone Church, in Newmarket, New Hampshire quite regularly. The band was very approachable, just some stoners in a band. It was obvious they would not be playing small venues forever. Fans were already following this band. Three years later I was leaving New Hampshire and the band were playing the 3000 capacity Field House and touring the country. From the word of mouth of college students and the borrowed marketing model from the Grateful Dead, this band rose to the top of the jamband world, playing to sold out arenas and festivals. Although I was never a diehard Phish Head, following them from gig to gig, I would always attend gigs in close proximity..On July 23, Phish played the first of a two night stop at the Mohegan Sun Arena, in Uncasville, Connecticut. The band was coming off a phenomenal three night stand at the Xfinity Center in Mansfield, Massachusetts. Expectations were high, and fans were excited to be at the relatively small 10,000 capacity Mohegan Sun Arena. Located smack dab in the middle of a casino the environment was charged before showtime. The band opened the show with the funky “Martian Monster” which hadn’t been played in nearly a year and is rarely a show opener. For the rest of the evening the band played a wide array of songs from their constantly expanding catalog. They mixed the old with the new and placed songs within the set at different positions than in the past. For example the band performed TV On The Radio’s “Golden Age” for the first time within the first set and stretched the song out for 15 minutes. The quartet kept the energy going with “Gumbo”, the Son Seals cover of “Funky Bitch”, and the rarely played “Guyute”. The band included “Evolve”, which was first played in 2021 but only officially released by the band two weeks prior. Finally the band serenaded fans with “Waste” and concluded the set with “Walls Of The Cave”. After all these years it still amazes me, the band has just concluded an energetic ten song 80+ minute set and we are barely halfway through the evening.
The band traditionally stretches out their songs within the second set. After an approximately thirty minute set break the band returned and played “Plasma”for over 15 minutes. From there the band jammed continuously through the set. A twenty minute “Kill Devil Falls” segued into “Carini” into the psychedelia of a 14 minute “Ruby Waves”. Later the set slowed down considerably with “Mercy”. Played for only the fifth time, this straight ahead selection felt out of place and sucked the energy out of the set. Thankfully the band rocked out the set with “Everythings Right”. Surprisingly it was the first time the band concluded the set with this selection. Unsurprisingly it fit perfectly. The buoyant song had the crowd up dancing and singing in unison and Trey Anastasio got to play rockstar. At its conclusion fans were upbeat and ready for the double encore of the rapid paced “Julius” and finally the heavy jammed “About To Run”.
Thirty five years later the band still sounds amazing! They are still arguably one of the best live bands. Nineteen songs spread out over two sets with almost 190 minutes of music. Of course, over time, things have changed. Sure, diehard fans can argue that today’s jams aren’t as exploratory as the past but the band does seem more driven. Are some songs going to fall flat, of course, but that happens with improvisational music. I would say that maybe now the band drives the jams rather than letting the jams ramble the band. Is that good or bad? You decide! Go to the shows with some friends, make some new ones, and enjoy this timeless band.
The band will continue touring across the United States over the summer including their own 4 day festival, labeled Mondegreen, taking place at The Woodlands in Dover, Delaware. Eight Phish sets will be played over four days. Phish’s curated festivals are a spectacle not to be missed!
I was there last night. I haven’t been in 11 years. They sounded amazing! Stop worrying about type 1 or type 2 jams, length of songs and even song choices. The fact that those guys can take a Vida Blue song and turn it into an absolutely rippin’ disco party out of NOWHERE is why they are the best live band in the world! I know this is a platform for discussion, critiques, etc. but they are an improvisational rock band. Are some song going to fall flat, of course. Are there going to be flubs, your d*** right. Will there be moments of pure insanity. Your f’n right there too! Go to the shows, rock the F out, enjoy time with old friends and make some new ones. This from a 42 year old guy who doesn’t have as much time for this anymore, but let out a ton of stress last night and remembered quickly what that feeling really IS.
Set 1: Martian Monster, Rift, Golden Age, Gumbo, Funky Bitch, Guyute, Undermind, Evolve Waste>Walls Of The Cave
Set 2: Plasma>Kill Devil Falls>Carini>Ruby Wavs>Piper>Mercy, Everything’s Right
Encore: Julius, About To Run
Enjoy our previous coverage here: Show Review: Phish at Oak Mountain 7/30
Check out Phish tour dates and more here on their website: https://phish.com