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.
Phish – 09/01/2024 – DICK’S Sporting Goods Park – Commerce City, CO
Night Four of the 2024 DICK’S Run
SET ONE:
Dog Log*, Runaway Jim, The Moma Dance > My Friend, My Friend**, Tube*** > Fluffhead****, Stash, Life Saving Gun***
(First time since 6/20/2012 – 464 shows)
(No “Myfe” ending)
(“She Blinded Me With Science” quotes)
(****Trey teased “We’re Off to See the Wizard”)
SET TWO:
Prince Caspian > Set Your Soul Free > Tweezer***** > Light > A Life Beyond the Dream, The Howling*** > More > Character Zero, Slave to the Traffic Light
(*****Fish teased “Sabotage”)
ENCORE:
Sabotage****** > Tweezer Reprise
(******First time since 7/7/2012 – 453 shows)
Set One: From Deep Rarities to Sci-Fi Funk
Dog Log (464-Show Bustout)
The show opened with an eruption of disbelief and joy: “Dog Log” — one of the deepest of deep cuts — had returned for the first time in 464 shows, dating all the way back to June 20, 2012. An ode to the unglamorous burden of dog waste removal, “Dog Log” holds cult status among Phish faithful. The band sounded tight and amused, clearly relishing the moment as the crowd roared. No one could’ve predicted this opener, and it instantly elevated the show to legendary status.
Runaway Jim, Moma Dance > My Friend, My Friend
Without missing a beat, the band tore into “Runaway Jim,” giving it an energetic workout with punchy guitar stabs and Fishman’s agile drumming. “Moma Dance” followed with its usual groove-heavy swagger, segueing into a crisp version of “My Friend, My Friend.” While this version omitted the sinister “Myfe” scream at the end, the tension in the arrangement and the clean execution made it a highlight.
Tube > Fluffhead
“Tube” is always a chance for Mike Gordon and Page McConnell to shine, and this version did not disappoint. Midway through the funk jam, the band slipped in vocal quotes from “She Blinded Me with Science,” giving it a sci-fi party vibe that bled over into the rest of the set. The segue into “Fluffhead” was sharp and unexpected. Trey teased “We’re Off to See the Wizard” during the build, giving longtime fans yet another breadcrumb for analysis. “Fluffhead” itself was played with care, its composed sections crisp and its climax emotional.
Stash, Life Saving Gun
A taut version of “Stash” followed, with Phish leaning into its Middle Eastern scales and high-tension jamming. Then came the relatively new but increasingly important “Life Saving Gun.” Like “Tube,” this version featured “She Blinded Me with Science” quotes and ended with Trey exclaiming “Dog Log!” — tying the set together with a bizarre but hilarious callback. This kind of thematic looping is pure Phish.
Set Two: Blaze, Bounce, and Bombast
The second set took off with a series of segues and improvisational flights that made the stadium feel like it might lift off.
Prince Caspian > Set Your Soul Free > Tweezer > Light
The set began with a soaring “Prince Caspian,” which stretched past its usual boundaries before transitioning into “Set Your Soul Free.” Here, the band shifted into a looser jam, with Trey spiraling upward over Mike’s steady thump. Without resolving the groove, they exploded into “Tweezer.”
This “Tweezer” was a centerpiece — dirty, playful, and full of left turns. Mike teased “I Know You Rider” early in the jam, and Fishman teased “Sabotage,” hinting at what was to come later. The jam oozed forward with glitchy synths and delay loops before morphing into “Light.” The transition was seamless, and the “Light” jam was filled with a bubbly melodic interplay that showcased Page’s deft touch.
A Life Beyond the Dream, The Howling > More > Character Zero
Out of the space came the uplifting “A Life Beyond the Dream.” Trey’s vocals were emotional, and the song’s lyrics — about healing, purpose, and growth — fit perfectly into the DICK’S tradition of catharsis.
Then came “The Howling,” which brought the weirdness roaring back. The jam got deep and gritty, and again featured “She Blinded Me with Science” vocal quotes — the third time in the night. Page leaned into the synths, and Mike’s bass snarled. It segued directly into “More,” offering optimism and brightness before launching into a rowdy “Character Zero.” Trey was all smiles, rock-star posing through the final notes.
Slave to the Traffic Light
Just when it seemed the set was done, Phish reached for “Slave to the Traffic Light.” Always a show-stopper, this version was patient and glowing. The band built the jam slowly, layer by layer, until the peak soared above the stadium lights, closing the set with grace and gravity.
Encore: Total Mayhem Unleashed
Just when everyone thought they had caught their breath, the encore began — and DICK’S went absolutely feral.
Sabotage (453-Show Bustout)
The opening chords of “Sabotage” hit like a brick through a window. The first performance of the Beastie Boys cover since July 7, 2012 (453 shows), it ignited the crowd into frenzy. Fishman’s scream vocals were chaotic and glorious, and the band was clearly loving every minute of the anarchic, high-octane delivery. Trey windmilled like a punk rock lunatic, and the stadium simply erupted.
Ghost -> Tweezer Reprise
Rather than end there, Phish somehow still had more to say. They dropped into “Ghost,” and the place transformed into a swirling dance party. The jam was tight, funky, and energetic — more about fun than exploration — but that was all the crowd needed. Then, just when you thought they might ride the groove into the night, Trey slammed into “Tweezer Reprise.” Fireworks burst. Heads exploded. Fishman, still riding the “Sabotage” high, threw in one more Beastie Boys scream for good measure.
Final Thoughts: DICK’S Delivers, Again
The September 1, 2024 show at DICK’S Sporting Goods Park wasn’t just another solid night of Phish. It was one of those shows that has it all — bust-outs, deep jams, humor, callbacks, song suite flow, emotional peaks, and complete chaos. It will be remembered as one of the most balanced, exhilarating, and unpredictable performances in recent DICK’S history — and that’s saying something.
The “Dog Log” opener and “Sabotage” encore alone would’ve made this night historic. But it was the glue in between — the sci-fi funk quotes, the seamless transitions, the emotional lifts, the knowing teases — that made this a fully realized Phish experience.
With every DICK’S run, Phish somehow manages to reinvent themselves without abandoning who they are. And on 9/1/2024, they reminded us why this band, four decades in, still matters more than ever.
They blinded us with science, crushed us with punk rock, brought the funk, and sent us home with joy.