FULL BREAK DOWN OF PHISH’S RETURN TO

VZW AMPHITHEATRE AT ENCORE PARK

[Photo from Sunday via @Phish_FTR]

Phish Summer Tour 2013 headed south for tonight’s first of two shows at Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park in Alpharetta, GA. The Vermonters first visited the relatively new Atlanta area venue for a two-night stand in 2010 and returned in 2011 for another two-night stand. Last summer, Phish opted to play Aaron’s Amphitheatre at Lakewood in Atlanta – a venue they performed at eight times between 1995 and 2003. This summer the band is back in Alpharetta for their fifth and sixth shows at the modern shed.

For the second time in the last three shows Joy track “Kill Devil Falls” served as the opener. “Mound” continues its resurgence as a frequent visitor to Phish first sets with its seventh appearance since Super Ball in 2011 and 12th in total since the band’s return at Hampton in 2009. Unlike the version of “Mound” they performed at the last Alpharetta show on June 15, 2011 – which was broken up by a thunderstorm – Phish made it through tonight’s take without incident before moving on to “Bathtub Gin.” This “Gin” featured a straight-forward jam which built to a triumphant peak like many in recent memory. Keyboardist Page McConnell then took a moment to welcome the crowd and then led his band mates through “Army Of One.” Next, Phish offered a double-dose of classics from 1993’s Rift by way of “Rift” and “Horn.” “Horn,” a tour debut, was fresh in the band’s mind as they teased it a few times in the intro of the “Possum” that followed. “Pebbles And Marbles” has been a rarity in this era with only one performance a piece in 2012 and 2010 and two performances a piece in 2009 and 2011. The post-hiatus gem made its 2013 debut this evening. Another languid “Ocelot” led into “Cavern” and a typically ferocious “Run Like An Antelope” set-closer.

After a cover-less first set, Phish opened the second set with a cover of “Rock And Roll” by The Velvet Underground. The quartet continued a trend of transitioning dark minor-key jams into pretty major-key territory for a few minutes before returning to darkness in a funky way. As they made the turn back to minor-key jamming, guitarist Trey Anastasio inserted the main riff to “Heartbreaker” by Led Zeppelin and sang the first verse. After the impromptu “Heartbreaker,” the band went back to where they left off in the “Rock And Roll” jam. From there, Phish segued into “Makisupa Policeman.” Next up was “Chalk Dust Torture” which, like the “Antelope” that came earlier, was performed at the last show just two nights ago in Maryland. And just like the “Rock And Roll,” the deliciously abnormal “Chalk Dust” found Phish taking a dark jam into a pretty piece of improv fueled by Anastasio’s emotive licks. Once the jam started to fizzle, Trey hit the notes that signal the start of “Wilson.” The guitarist made sure to work a “Heartbreaker” tease into “Wilson.” Not content to let the energy wane in any way, “Tweezer” emerged. If you guessed that Anastasio would find a way to fit “Heartbreaker” teases into the “Tweezer” jam, you get two points. This potent “Tweezer” broke down into a synth-driven segue towards another “horse-less” “Silent In The Morning.” Following the “Silent” breather, the quartet revved up “Birds Of A Feather” and then returned to the ballad portion of the repertoire for the tour debut of “Joy.” Phish hadn’t forgotten about “Heartbreaker” though as Trey worked another tease into the intro of the tour’s fourth “Harry Hood.” Anastasio, the set’s sure MVP, trilled his way to “Hood” glory through yet another impressive version of the old warhorse. Even the “Character Zero” closer had a quick “Heartbreaker” tease, tying the whole set together. For the encore, Phish came out with their first Beatles cover of the tour, “A Day In The Life,” before the perfunctory “Tweezer Reprise.” The foursome return to Alpharetta tomorrow night.

Click here to view the full breakdowns of every show Phish has played in 2013 including setlists, recaps and our statistical rundowns.

Setlist…

[via Phish.net]

Here’s The Skinny from Phish’s return to Alpharetta…

Venue Capacity / Attendance / Type : 12,000 / 10,000 (estimate) / Outdoor Amphitheatre

: 12,000 / 10,000 (estimate) / Outdoor Amphitheatre Previous Shows at Venue : 4 Shows – 7/03/2010, 7/04/2010, 6/14/2011 and 6/15/2011

: 4 Shows – 7/03/2010, 7/04/2010, 6/14/2011 and 6/15/2011 Number Of Songs / Length – First Set : 11 / 8:11 p.m. – 9:34 p.m. (83 Minutes)

: 11 / 8:11 p.m. – 9:34 p.m. (83 Minutes) Number Of Songs / Length – Second Set & Encore : 13 / 10:06 p.m. – 11:35 p.m. (89 Minutes)

: 13 / 10:06 p.m. – 11:35 p.m. (89 Minutes) Total Number of Songs / Covers / Originals : 24 / 3 / 21

: 24 / 3 / 21 Biggest Bustout : Heartbreaker Jam – 90 Shows (LTP – 10/30/2010)

: Heartbreaker Jam – 90 Shows (LTP – 10/30/2010) Tour Debuts : Horn, Pebbles and Marbles, Heartbreaker Jam, Makisupa Policeman, Joy, A Day In The Life

: Horn, Pebbles and Marbles, Heartbreaker Jam, Makisupa Policeman, Joy, A Day In The Life Average Song Vintage : 1995

: 1995 Debuts : N/A

: N/A Weather : 85° and Partly Sunny at Showtime

: 85° and Partly Sunny at Showtime Average Song Gap : 11.88

: 11.88 The Spread : Lawn Boy – 2, Picture Of Nectar – 4, Rift – 4, Billy Breathes – 1, The Story Of The Ghost – 1, Round Room – 1, Undermind – 1, Joy – 3, Misc. – 4, Covers – 3

: Lawn Boy – 2, Picture Of Nectar – 4, Rift – 4, Billy Breathes – 1, The Story Of The Ghost – 1, Round Room – 1, Undermind – 1, Joy – 3, Misc. – 4, Covers – 3 Longest LivePhish Track / Shortest LivePhish Track : Harry Hood 11:57 / Horn 3:34

: Harry Hood 11:57 / Horn 3:34 Audio: Live Phish

Phish From The Road Photos…