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:

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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.

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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.

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