Phish festivals are known for a few key details: remote locations, stunning art displays, and the signature Ferris wheel. They almost always play an unannounced set during the festival, and Mondegreen was no exception. Day two at this Dover, DE-based encampment featured not two but three sets of jams. The third set was an extended, free-flowing jam with no songs or structure. Some of the best things in life are unplanned, and this secret set was no exception.
The music began with perhaps the most well-known Phish tune, 'Bouncing Around the Room.' A ten-minute 'Kill Devil Falls' followed, with drummer Jon Fishman settling into the pocket early in the evening. Next up was Frank Zappa's 'Peaches en Regalia,' a rarity in the Phish 3.0 era, which had ironically been played the week prior in Grand Rapids, MI. Nonetheless, fans were still thrilled to take in this well-known instrumental.
Bassist Mike Gordon elevated the song 'Free' with his signature bass thumps, which helped create a groove oozing with funk. The beloved original 'Divided Sky' followed in the fifth spot, offering plenty of joyous peaks. The crowd was particularly excited on this night and erupted during the signature pause that the band takes about two-thirds of the way through.
'Tube' followed the 'Divided Sky' bliss, briefly going deep before giving way to the melodic 'Mountains in the Mist,' which provided a much-needed chill moment in the heart of the first set. This transition was well-placed as the band headed straight into 'Reba.' Guitarist Trey Anastasio nailed the iconic guitar riffs, though this version notably did not include the usual whistling at the end. The music continued as the foursome dove into 'Twist' before closing the set with a raging 'Character Zero.'
The band returned after a very short break to crush the darker tune 'My Friend, My Friend.' After the monster version delivered in Bethel, NY the week prior, this eleven-minute heater was unexpected. This band has been consistently defying expectations for over forty years, so why stop now? Multi-instrumentalist Page McConnell came in strong on the piano. Anastasio and Fishman delighted the crowd with a 'Moby Dick' tease near the end of the track, just before the segue into 'No Men In No Man's Land,' which brought another outstanding jam into the mix.
A radiant jam into 'Ruby Waves' continued this non-stop sequence, which eventually gave way to 'Pillow Jets.' The band has been excited about this new tune, and on this occasion, they evolved the jam into a disco-funk groove. The funk then rolled into 'Your Pet Cat,' last played at Madison Square Garden on December 29, 2022. We love the juxtaposition between the music and the cat sounds in this playful song. This evening's version was fast-paced and fit seamlessly with the rest of this mashed-up set.
The band returned for a quick jaunt back into 'Ruby Waves' before diving into 'Ghost.' The jam eventually circled back into 'No Men In No Man's Land' before landing squarely in an eighteen-minute, face-melting 'Fluffhead.' This is why we traveled so far to see this band.
Before the encore, Anastasio took the mic and addressed 'that one guy over there in the white shirt,' saying, 'We always do a secret set at these festivals. Don’t go back to the campground after the encore.' After this announcement, a wave of excitement filled the air, almost tangible. However, there was still the encore to come, and the band did what they do best: they dropped into a mighty 'Harry Hood.' This raced into 'First Tube,' where Anastasio ceremonially hoisted his custom Languedoc guitar into the air.
The band stepped off stage, and magically, the stage was suddenly adorned with tinsel that covered the entire structure like a tablecloth. Phish began this ambient set with Anastasio on acoustic guitar. Projectors fired up from the soundboard, casting nature images that reflected off the tinsel. The visuals were courtesy of Moment Factory, who had collaborated with the band on their run at The Sphere in April 2022. This gave those who couldn't afford to attend a taste of what Phish at The Sphere felt like. Anastasio switched back to electric guitar before eventually finishing out this memorable set on acoustic.
Phish is gearing up for what is sure to be a legendary run at Dick's Sporting Goods Stadium in Commerce City, CO, beginning August 29, 2024. Tickets for night one are available via this link. Additionally, another Mexican beach getaway at the Riviera Maya is on the calendar for 2025. Click this link for more details.
Check out more photos from night two at Mondegreen. Also, view our prior coverage of the Phish Summer 2024 tour in Mansfield, MA, Noblesville, IN, Grand Rapids, MI, and Bethel, NY, as well as night one from Mondegreen.
Date: August 16, 2024
Venue: The Woodlands
Set One: Bouncing Around the Room, Kill Devil Falls2 > Peaches en Regalia, Free, Divided Sky, Tube, Mountains in the Mist, Reba3, Twist > Character Zero
Set Two: My Friend, My Friend4 > No Men In No Man's Land > Ruby Waves > Pillow Jets -> Your Pet Cat -> Ruby Waves > Ghost -> No Men In No Man's Land > Fluffhead
Encore: Harry Hood5 > First Tube
Set Three: Jam6
Notes:
1. This was the second show of the Mondegreen festival.
2. Kill Devil Falls was unfinished.
3. Reba did not contain the whistling ending.
4. Trey and Mike teased Moby Dick at the end of MFMF, and it did not contain the "Myfe" ending.
5. Before Hood, Trey told "that one guy over there in the white shirt" that they always do a secret set at these festivals and not to go back to the campground after the encore.
6. For the "secret" third set, the stage was draped with a ribboned screen on which abstract images, trees, flowers and animals were projected, with the band playing behind. As the jam ended, the date and the words "PLAY" and "REC" appeared onscreen to give the appearance of looking through a camcorder's viewfinder. After the band left the stage, the images flickered and ended, and the status changed to "STOP."
Set list via Phish.net
