The second night of Phish’s 2025 New Year’s run at Madison Square Garden in New York City was a masterclass in pacing, improvisation, and surprise. Following the energetic opener on December 28, the band dialed in with a setlist blending fan favorites, potent jams, and a rare encore that lit up the crowd. For a group known as much for their spontaneity as their musicianship, this night was a vivid reminder that Phish can turn any evening into a multifaceted journey.
12/28/2024 MADISON SQUARE GARDEN New York, NY
On December 28, 2025, Phish began their highly anticipated four-night New Year’s run at Madison Square Garden with a performance that leaned heavily into fan-favorite staples, surprise revivals, musical fluidity, and a potent second set that echoed the band’s uniquely unhinged chemistry. Known for their creative peaks during these end-of-year residencies, Phish’s December 28th show didn’t just meet expectations—it gleefully danced past them.
This opening night at “The World’s Most Famous Arena” wasn’t about bombast or concept-heavy weirdness. Instead, the band seemed intent on grounding the crowd in the familiar while still stretching out sonically in all the right places. The show flowed like a reminder: Phish is always capable of reinvention, even while revisiting their most cherished repertoire.
10/27/2024 MVP ARENA Albany, NY
On October 27, 2024, Phish returned to the MVP Arena in Albany, New York, for a highly anticipated Sunday night show that quickly became the stuff of lore for fans. More than just another stop on their fall tour, this performance held deeper meaning — it was a benefit for the Divided Sky Foundation, Trey Anastasio’s initiative focused on addiction recovery and mental health. As a result, the evening was charged with a sense of purpose, vulnerability, and inspiration, layered atop the usual mix of jams, bust-outs, and sonic experimentation that makes Phish shows singularly magical.
The band delivered a two-set performance that felt both intimate and expansive, reflective and full of spontaneity. Fans witnessed rarities, psychedelic transitions, subtle nods to musical theater and classic Phish material, all capped by a four-song encore that seemed to summarize the emotional arc of the night.
Here’s a closer look at a show that felt tailor-made for those who needed healing as much as joy, and whose setlist continues to ripple through the fanbase:
10/26/2024 MVP ARENA Albany, NY
Phish’s return to Albany, New York, for a three-night stand in October 2024 was already circled on calendars by the most devoted followers. But what unfolded on October 26 — the second of the three shows at MVP Arena — exceeded all expectations. More than just another date on a fall tour, the show was a benefit for the Divided Sky Foundation, Trey Anastasio’s nonprofit organization focused on supporting individuals in addiction recovery. That mission gave the performance a spiritual undertone, and the band responded with a sprawling, emotionally textured performance that skillfully married the unpredictable spark of live improvisation with setlist depth and subtle nods to their collective history.
Over two vibrant sets and an encore that reached skyward, Phish delivered a show that felt timeless. There were bust-outs, teases, fearless segues, and a pervasive sense of intention that stitched the whole thing together. If you were there, you felt it. If you weren’t, you’ve likely heard the buzz already.
Let’s dive into one of the most memorable benefit performances the band has staged in years.
10/25/2024 MVP ARENA Albany, NY
In the swirling world of Phish fandom, where setlists are scoured like ancient texts and teases are dissected like hieroglyphs, some shows rise beyond mere performance. They become moments — spiritual bookmarks in the band’s ever-expanding timeline. The first night of the band’s three-night stand at Albany’s MVP Arena on October 25, 2024, was one such moment.
The show was already special before the lights dimmed. It was another benefit for Trey Anastasio’s Divided Sky Foundation, an organization devoted to supporting people in recovery from addiction — a mission rooted in Trey’s personal journey and embraced by the Phish community. But on this particular night, there was another, more somber current running beneath the surface: earlier that day, Phil Lesh — the iconic bassist of the Grateful Dead — had passed away.
Rather than issue a statement, Phish spoke through their music. And the opening notes of the show made it clear that the night would be a tribute, a celebration, and a catharsis.
09/01/2024 DICK’S SPORTING GOODS PARK Commerce City, CO
Every Labor Day weekend, fans from all corners of the country descend on DICK’S Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado for a ritual that has become as sacred as any in the world of live music: Phish at DICK’S. Since 2011, the band has turned this soccer stadium into a psychedelic playground, a testing ground for deep jams, bust-outs, inside jokes, and setlist trickery. It’s part grand finale, part laboratory experiment, and part family reunion — with a very loud, very weird soundtrack.
But even with high expectations and a deep catalogue to choose from, September 1, 2024, stood out. The fourth night of the annual run became an instant classic, delivering one of the most memorable shows of the 4.0 era with rarities, thematic callbacks, and a molten second set capped by a chaotic, long-awaited encore. There was no theme like “S” or “Fuck Your Face” this time — just pure Phish, fully in command and completely unhinged in the best way.
Let’s break down a night that reminded everyone why DICK’S is sacred ground in the Phish universe.
08/31/2024 DICK’S SPORTING GOODS PARK Commerce City, CO
As summer drew to a close and the Rocky Mountains shimmered under a golden sky, Phish continued their Labor Day weekend tradition at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado with a genre-blurring, tightly woven, and theatrically quirky performance on August 31, 2024. With dazzling musicianship, rare teases, unexpected transitions, and onstage antics that could only happen at a Phish show, this Saturday night installment delivered a masterclass in set construction and improvisational electricity.
From the opening notes of “46 Days” to the frenetic finale of “First Tube,” the band’s chemistry was locked in, offering fans a rollercoaster of funk, rock, psychedelia, and offbeat humor. This night showcased everything Phish lovers crave: extended jamming, tongue-in-cheek theatrics, deep-cut oddities, and an undercurrent of spontaneity that kept the audience guessing.
08/30/2024 DICK’S SPORTING GOODS PARK Commerce City, CO
For over a decade, Phish’s annual Labor Day weekend run at DICK’S Sporting Goods Park has become a hallowed tradition—a four-night exhale to summer, a finale that reliably delivers the magic of spontaneous musical interplay, deep-cut surprises, and crowd-winking humor. On August 30, 2024, the band kicked off the weekend’s festivities with a first night that leaned into mood, nostalgia, and tight musicianship, punctuated by rare bust-outs, a memorable encore, and an unexpected tribute to one of their own.
This opening night wasn’t about throwing everything at the wall—it was about setting a tone, establishing a vibe. Instead of bombast, Phish offered nuance, deep grooves, and a few lovingly polished gems dusted off for the faithful.
08/29/2024 DICK’S SPORTING GOODS PARK Commerce City, CO
As the sun dipped behind the Rockies on August 29, 2024, Phish launched their much-anticipated annual run at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado. This Thursday night opener marked the start of the band’s 13th consecutive Labor Day weekend residency at the venue — a tradition now woven into the very fabric of Phish lore. Known for unpredictability, deep jams, and setlist hijinks, Dick’s has become a high holiday on the Phish calendar, and 2024’s kickoff show delivered a crisp, patient, and thematically fluid performance.
From the first notes, it was clear that the band came ready to explore, blending tight funk, old-school punch, and modern texture into a cohesive narrative. With no gimmicks, no special guests, and no distracting production flourishes, this was simply Phish doing what they do best: tapping into the moment and pulling thousands along for the ride.
08/17/2024 THE WOODLANDS Dover, DE
SET 1: Mike’s Song > I Am Hydrogen > Weekapaug Groove, Theme From the Bottom > Blaze On, Gotta Jibboo, 46 Days, Evolve, Meatstick > David Bowie
SET 2: Also Sprach Zarathustra > Oblivion, Down with Disease > Tweezer > Scents and Subtle Sounds > Boogie On Reggae Woman, Carini
ENCORE: Backwards Down the Number Line, You Enjoy Myself, Tweezer Reprise
This was the third show of the Mondegreen festival. Mike teased Passing Through in David Bowie. DWD was unfinished. Trey teased La Grange and Eleanor Rigby in DWD and Eleanor Rigby in Tweezer.
08/16/2024 THE WOODLANDS Dover, DE
SET 1: Bouncing Around the Room, Kill Devil Falls > Peaches en Regalia, Free, Divided Sky, Tube, Mountains in the Mist, Reba, Twist > Character Zero
SET 2: My Friend, My Friend > No Men In No Man’s Land > Ruby Waves > Pillow Jets -> Your Pet Cat -> Ruby Waves > Ghost -> No Men In No Man’s Land > Fluffhead
ENCORE: Harry Hood > First Tube
SET 3: Woodlands Jam
This was the second show of the Mondegreen festival. Kill Devil Falls was unfinished. Reba did not contain the whistling ending. Trey and Mike teased Moby Dick at the end of MFMF, and it did not contain the “Myfe” ending. Before Hood, Trey told “that one guy over there in the white shirt” that they always do a secret set at these festivals and not to go back to the campground after the encore. For the “secret” third set, the stage was draped with a ribboned screen on which abstract images, trees, flowers and animals were projected, with the band playing behind. As the jam ended, the date and the words “PLAY” and “REC” appeared onscreen to give the appearance of looking through a camcorder’s viewfinder. After the band left the stage, the images flickered and ended, and the status changed to “STOP.”
08/15/2024 THE WOODLANDS Dover, DE
SET 1: The Moma Dance, Back on the Train, Wolfman’s Brother, Funky Bitch, Roggae, NICU, A Wave of Hope, Sand
SET 2: What’s Going Through Your Mind -> Chalk Dust Torture -> Light > Prince Caspian, Crosseyed and Painless, Lonely Trip, Everything’s Right
ENCORE: Saw It Again > Possum, Slave to the Traffic Light
This was the first show of the Mondegreen festival. Wolfman’s Brother contained Cissy Strut teases from Trey and Heavy Things teases from Fish. Mike teased Sneakin’ Sally during Caspian. Trey teased Crosseyed during Everything’s Right. Saw It Again contained additional lyrics from Trey referencing “a Phish festival from this point of view,” “two moons,” and “a gorilla in a Fishman dress.”
08/14/2024 THE WOODLANDS Dover, DE
SET 1: Jam -> Mystery Achievement -> My Sharona > Slow Ride > Day Tripper -> Midnight Rider > Starship Trooper > Stairway to Heaven
This was the soundcheck for Mondegreen. The Jam featured a Frankenstein tease from Trey, a Simpsons tease from Mike, a Psycho Killer tease from Trey, and a Hold Your Head Up jam. Trey quoted Oh Sherrie at the end of My Sharona. Starship Trooper (only the Würm portion was played) contained Big Black Furry Creature from Mars lyrics. Stairway to Heaven was the ending only.
08/11/2024 BETHEL WOODS CENTER FOR THE ARTS Bethel, NY
SET 1: I Never Needed You Like This Before, 46 Days, Bathtub Gin, Fikus, Theme From the Bottom > Timber (Jerry the Mule), Human Nature, Limb By Limb, Axilla > Sigma Oasis
SET 2: Buried Alive > AC/DC Bag > Fuego > Golden Age -> Simple, Life Saving Gun, Harry Hood
ENCORE: A Life Beyond The Dream, Say It To Me S.A.N.T.O.S.
Fikus was performed for the first time since November 7, 1998 (801 show gap). Mike teased Fikus in AC/DC Bag.
08/10/2024 BETHEL WOODS CENTER FOR THE ARTS Bethel, NY
SET 1: Back on the Train, Sample in a Jar, Hey Stranger, Dinner and a Movie, Halley’s Comet > Sand, Gumbo > Maze, Weigh, Cities > Run Like an Antelope
SET 2: Wilson > Down with Disease -> Waves > Twist > Kill Devil Falls > Beneath a Sea of Stars Part 1 -> Backwards Down the Number Line > Ghost > Tweezer Reprise
ENCORE: Wading in the Velvet Sea > Runaway Jim
Trey teased Call to the Post at the end of Weigh and The Line during Antelope. DWD was unfinished.
08/09/2024 BETHEL WOODS CENTER FOR THE ARTS Bethel, NY
SET 1: First Tube, No Men In No Man’s Land, Cavern, My Friend, My Friend, Bug, Julius, Also Sprach Zarathustra > Taste, Character Zero
SET 2: The Wedge, Tweezer > Pillow Jets -> Tweezer -> Piper -> Tweezer > Shine a Light, Chalk Dust Torture
ENCORE: Big Black Furry Creature from Mars, Gotta Jibboo > More
My Friend My Friend included a Fuego tease from Trey and did not contain the “Myfe” ending. Trey teased Norwegian Wood in Bug, There is a Mountain in the first Tweezer, and Yankee Doodle in Chalk Dust. The soundcheck’s Tequila was performed as an instrumental.
08/06/2024 VAN ANDEL ARENA Grand Rapids, MI
SET 1: Strawberry Letter 23 > Sigma Oasis, Peaches en Regalia, Tube, Theme From the Bottom > Stash, Train Song, Steam > Rift > Bathtub Gin
SET 2: Free, Sand > Ruby Waves > Harry Hood, The Moma Dance, Possum, Everything’s Right
ENCORE: Nellie Kane, Beauty of My Dreams, Carini
Peaches en Regalia was played for the first time since February 24, 2022 (115 shows). Nellie Kane was performed for the first time since August 6, 2021 (146 shows). Trey teased the theme from The Mary Tyler Moore Show in Sigma Oasis. Tube contained a tease from Mike of his Strawberry Letter 23 bassline and a Very Long Fuse tease from Page. Trey teased A Love Supreme in Ruby Waves. The Moma Dance through the end of the show featured Billy Strings on guitar. The lyrics of Moma Dance were sung twice, with the change “I still gaze and glimpse you” the second time. Billy teased Frankenstein in Moma Dance. Billy sang lead vocals on Possum. Nellie Kane and Beauty of My Dreams featured Trey and Billy on acoustic guitar, with Billy on lead vocals for the former and trading verses with Trey on the latter.
08/04/2024 RUOFF MUSIC CENTER Noblesville, IN
SET 1: Party Time, The Final Hurrah, Knuckle Bone Broth Avenue, Stealing Time From the Faulty Plan, The Dogs, Destiny Unbound > 46 Days, McGrupp and the Watchful Hosemasters, Wingsuit, Meatstick > Run Like an Antelope
SET 2: Ghost, Soul Planet > Billy Breathes, Split Open and Melt
ENCORE: Slave to the Traffic Light
Knuckle Bone Broth Avenue was played for the first time since June 1, 2022 (103 shows). Trey teased the Theme to the Mary Tyler Moore Show during Antelope. Billy Breathes was played for the first time since October 15, 2021 (129 shows). Mike quoted Stealing Time From the Faulty Plan in Split Open and Melt.