A three-set affair was all that remained for Phish’s Madison Square Garden run as New Year’s Eve arrived and the band took full advantage with a theatrical end to the year that included friends new and old. 

To get things started, the band made it three for three on acapella openers, breaking out just the second performance of Little Feat’s “Don’t Bogart That Joint” to start the show. The song was last played of course on Halloween in 2010 when the quartet recruited a slew of guests for a cover of their Waiting for Columbus record. From there, another Halloween nod with Chilling, Thrilling‘s “Your Pet Cat” before a Trey Anastasio-driven segment of “Kill Devil Falls,” “Back on the Train” and “My Soul” followed.

The upbeat, fun first set continued as Page McConnell serenaded the crowd on “Lawn Boy” and “Ya Mar” made just its third appearance of the year allowing Mike Gordon some time in the spotlight. The first set rounded out with a rare, early run through “Character Zero” and the epic “Walls of the Cave.” 

Set two began with “2001” completing its busiest year since 2010 as the spacey, anthemic classic led into the rock riff of “Carini.” What the tune lacked in improvisation it made it up for in ferocity, as the band built the song to a harrowing peak, establishing a momentum that would carry tem through arguably their finest improv moment of the night, as the following “Twist” quickly deviated from its boundaries with the group relying on a space-funk groove thanks to Mike Gordon and Jon Fishman (complete with some “Low Rider” teases as well) before the drummer led the Garden on his tune, “Ass Handed.” 

As was consistent throughout the summer, the “Ass Handed” hijinks would continue in the following “Piper,” which somewhat resembled that of a slow-build version of the tune that was prevalent in the early Phish era. Fishman wove in the lyrics to the song over the intro to “Piper” before the band ultimately went into the song. The jam devolved into Anastasio once again hopping on the Marimba Lumina and Gordon joining McConnell on keys for a full-band breakdown jam. 

The funk would continue with a concise but fiery “Sand” that would quickly find its way to the soaring “Slave to the Traffic Light,” allowing Anastasio to take center stage with his commanding solo. The first Big Boat track of the night, “More,” brought the set to a close, signaling a trend that would continue into the third set. 

As midnight approached, Phish returned with the Big Boat epic, “Petrichor” with the help of TAB bandmates Natalie Cressman, Jen Hartswick and James Casey along with Hamilton percussionist Andres Forero (who played on a majority of Big Boat). As the tune reached its climax, performers dressed in suits and black masks took over the front of the stage complete with umbrellas (fitting with the line “and the rain came down and washed it all away”) that would ultimately end up floating above the stage as the group continued to play.

As fake rain pellets fell from the ceiling of the Garden, the performers returned and the ensemble took the crowd into midnight with a balloon drop that included rain drops as well as balloons shaped as cats and dogs. Watch below. 

As midnight passed, the following “Suzy Greenberg” was complete with dancers filling the stage and a confetti cannon going off as all guests remained throughout the rest of the show that included a heavy dose of Big Boat to start off 2017 as the band went into tight but concise versions of “No Men in No Man’s Land,” “Breath and Burning” and the album’s ballad “Tide Turns.” Other 3.0 originals, “555” and “Ocelot,” rounded out the set before Anastasio took the lead on “First Tube.” An encore of “Loving Cup” would wrap up the night and the touring year for Phish. 

Next up for Phish is their destination event in Mexico beginning January 13. 

Here’s a look at the setlist:

Phish
Madison Square Garden New York, NY

Set I: Don’t Bogart That Joint*, Your Pet Cat, Kill Devil Falls > Back on the Train > My Soul, Lawn Boy, Divided Sky, Ya Mar, Character Zero, Walls of the Cave

Set II: Also Sprach Zarathustra > Carini > Twist > Piper -> Ass Handed > Piper% > Sand > Slave to the Traffic Light, More

Set III: Petrichor^ > Auld Lang Syne^ > Suzy Greenberg^, No Men In No Man’s Land^, Breath and Burning^, Tide Turns^, 555^, Ocelot^, First Tube^

Enc: Loving Cup^

Notes: *Last time played 10/31/10
%Trey on Marimba Lumina, Mike on keys
^With horns and Andres Forero on percussion

Source: Phish.net