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:
Phish – 10/27/2024 – MVP Arena, Albany, NY
SET ONE:
Heavy Things, What’s Going Through Your Mind, Access Me*, My Friend, My Friend, My Sweet One, Limb By Limb**, Mountains in the Mist, Kill Devil Falls, Walls of the Cave
(*First time since 8/31/2019 – 185 show gap)
(**”We’re Off to See the Wizard” tease by Trey)
SET TWO:
Everything’s Right > Chalk Dust Torture***, Mercury, Wading in the Velvet Sea, Most Events Aren’t Planned
(***”Stash” tease during Chalk Dust)
ENCORE:
Gotta Jibboo, Waste > Bug > Character Zero
Set One: Nostalgia, Deep Cuts, and Healing Waters
The band took the stage in familiar surroundings — Albany has long been a second home of sorts for Phish, dating back to the fabled Knickerbocker Arena shows of the ‘90s. There was an electricity in the room even before the band strummed a note, and it only intensified as the first set kicked off.
“Heavy Things”
The night began with a bright and bouncy “Heavy Things,” a tune that’s often underrated but has a habit of warming up a crowd with its breezy melody and feel-good chorus. Page McConnell’s organ work kept the momentum flowing, while Trey’s solo glided with confidence. It wasn’t a statement opener, but it was the perfect prelude — a subtle reminder of how small joys can open the door to deeper emotions.
“What’s Going Through Your Mind”
Next came a left turn with “What’s Going Through Your Mind,” an increasingly rare Fishman-sung ballad that gave the early set a dreamy, surreal vibe. Its placement so early in the night signaled the band’s willingness to challenge expectations and dig into their back catalog.
“Access Me” (Bustout!)
Then came the real jaw-dropper — “Access Me.” Played for the first time in 185 shows (since August 31, 2019), the song’s return was met with a roar of appreciation from long-time fans. The tongue-in-cheek, off-kilter ballad from Undermind is one of Phish’s more polarizing tunes, but in this context — a night centered on recovery and introspection — it resonated. Trey’s delivery was deliberate and sincere, adding emotional weight to lyrics that might otherwise read as sardonic.
“My Friend, My Friend” into “My Sweet One”
Just as the crowd was settling into a contemplative mood, the band hit hard with the sudden burst of “My Friend, My Friend,” which has lost none of its sinister drama over the decades. The tension-and-release dynamics brought the audience to a fever pitch, which was perfectly diffused by the rapid-fire bluegrass punch of “My Sweet One.” This clever one-two punch reminded fans of the band’s uncanny ability to move from darkness to humor in a heartbeat.
“Limb By Limb”
One of the highlights of the first set came with a particularly inspired “Limb By Limb,” featuring a dazzling jam that took off on a patient build, guided by Fishman’s polyrhythms and Page’s shimmering keys. Trey slipped in a teasing quote of “We’re Off to See the Wizard,” a whimsical touch that somehow felt perfectly in tune with the dreamy, swirling jamscape.
“Mountains in the Mist”
The mood shifted again with a touching “Mountains in the Mist,” a ballad of emotional resilience that felt entirely fitting for a benefit show focused on healing. Trey’s vocals were tender, and the song’s reflective lyrics seemed to speak to the work of the Divided Sky Foundation. In a room filled with people on journeys of their own, this was a communal moment of pause and reflection.
“Kill Devil Falls” > “Walls of the Cave”
Closing out the first set was a raucous “Kill Devil Falls,” charging forward with fire and abandon before giving way to the towering “Walls of the Cave.” The set-ending combo brought intensity, tension, and resolution — a microcosm of the Phish live experience — and left the crowd buzzing for more.
Set Two: A Journey Through Light and Shadow
Where the first set had a song-by-song feel, the second set moved like a suite, beginning with expansive improvisation and carrying through with both cosmic adventure and emotional catharsis.
“Everything’s Right” > “Chalk Dust Torture”
A soaring “Everything’s Right” kicked off the second set in triumphant style. The jam was exploratory without losing its sense of direction, veering into jazzy territory before diving deep into darker modal themes. Without pause, the band launched into “Chalk Dust Torture,” which featured a “Stash” tease — a sly nod to the band’s jammier catalog, and a move that had the rail-riders grinning ear to ear. “Chalk Dust” itself felt like a statement piece, the jam reaching both anthemic peaks and eerie valleys.
“Mercury”
From there, Phish kept up the momentum with a crisp, focused version of “Mercury.” Always a showcase for compositional complexity and jam potential, this version emphasized precision and flow rather than deep exploration. Still, it felt like another cornerstone in a carefully constructed set, building the mood brick by brick.
“Wading in the Velvet Sea”
Then came the emotional centerpiece: “Wading in the Velvet Sea.” The room was still. The song, long a fan favorite for its simple beauty, took on even more power given the benefit’s cause. Trey’s solo here was understated and poignant, letting the notes breathe and echo, filling the arena with waves of sound that seemed to wash over every soul present.
“Most Events Aren’t Planned”
To close out the set, Phish delivered an inspired “Most Events Aren’t Planned,” the Ghosts of the Forest rarity that has found new life in Phish sets. It was a fitting coda — a song about embracing the unpredictable, trusting the flow of life, and being present for the mystery. It ended the set on a note that was spiritual and slightly cosmic, reminding everyone of how far they’d traveled together over the course of two sets.
Encore: A Four-Song Farewell
Few expected a four-song encore, but that’s what Phish delivered — and the choices told a story.
“Gotta Jibboo”
The encore began with a laid-back, groove-oriented “Gotta Jibboo,” a nod to the Trey Anastasio Band but a song that’s been wholly absorbed into the Phish canon. Its funky rhythm and celebratory tone set a joyous tone for the encore.
“Waste” > “Bug”
Then came “Waste,” a tearjerker if there ever was one, followed by “Bug.” Both songs offered a raw look at vulnerability and surrender — “Waste” speaking to quiet love and devotion, “Bug” embracing the chaos and letting go of control. Together, they felt like the emotional thesis of the night.
“Character Zero”
Finally, Phish closed with the always rowdy “Character Zero,” bringing the house to its feet and giving fans one last cathartic blast of energy. Trey was all smiles, the crowd screamed along, and the sense of community was tangible.
Final Thoughts: A Night of Music, Meaning, and Memory
What made the 10/27/2024 show in Albany so memorable wasn’t just the bust-outs or the jamming (though both were plentiful), but the emotional throughline of the entire evening. This wasn’t just a show — it was a statement. A benefit performance for the Divided Sky Foundation, the night embodied the themes of recovery, growth, and togetherness.
Trey has spoken often about the importance of music as a tool for healing, and this show proved that point in real time. Fans came together not just to hear rarities and ragers, but to support each other, to reflect on the passage of time, and to celebrate the victories — big and small — that make life worth jamming through.
As the band took their bows and left the stage, the room buzzed with gratitude. Some fans had gotten their first “Access Me” in five years. Others had found clarity in “Velvet Sea” or levity in “Jibboo.” But everyone, in their own way, had been part of something larger — a night when everything really was right, at least for a little while.