Phish made history last night at New York City’s Madison Square Garden with a very special three-set concert culminating their sold-out New Year’s Eve run at the World’s Most Famous Arena. This year, fans were treated to a spectacular theatrical presentation of Gamehendge for the first time in nearly 30 years, a near-mythical song cycle rarely played in its entirety over the band’s four-decade career.
Based upon Phish guitarist Trey Anastasio’s college thesis, The Man Who Stepped Into Yesterday, the epic Gamehendge saga chronicles the adventures of Colonel Forbin, a retired colonel from Long Island, NY, who enters the land of Gamehendge to rescue a tome called the Helping Friendly Book from an evil dictator named Wilson. Gamehendge hasn’t been performed in its entirety since July 1994. While past renditions have featured Anastasio narrating the tale, last night’s once-in-a-lifetime production included a full cast of actors, dozens of dancers, aerialists, enormous puppets, a custom-built rhombus stage set, and a colossal flying mockingbird that flew around the arena. Gamehendge includes a number of beloved Phish favorites, including “The Lizards,” “Wilson,” “AC/DC Bag,” “The Divided Sky” and more.
Phish's New Year's spectacles have transcended mere performances, evolving into a beloved tradition that traces its roots back to 1992, when the band playfully elevated a crew member donned in a chicken suit above the stage during the rendition of their song "Fly Famous Mockingbird." Since then, these playful antics have transformed into grandiose extravaganzas, each year surpassing the last in creativity and splendor. From the audacious act of soaring through the arena astride an oversized hot dog in 1994 (an iconic prop now enshrined in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame) to the mesmerizing performance of their expansive multi-part opus "Petrichor,” during which dancers unfurled umbrellas and ushered in a cascade of joyfully descending cat and dog-shaped balloons, to the transformative experience on Earth Day 2022 (the date of Phish’s postponed 2021 New Year’s show) when the Garden was metamorphosed into a magical underwater universe.
Last year's celebration of Phish's 40-year musical journey took the revelry to new heights. A luminous time machine suspended overhead transported the audience through four decades of Phish's iconic gags, characters, and musical highlights. The celebration unfolded with a gospel choir, a spirited marching band, aerialists, and the surprising emergence of over 30 "naked guys" emerging from a towering 10-foot birthday cake. Each New Year's spectacle not only cements Phish's musical prowess but also showcases their unparalleled ability to craft immersive, unforgettable experiences for their fans.
Yesterday's performance (Phish’s 15th New Year’s Eve show at Madison Square Garden, as well as their 83rd overall date at MSG) wrapped up a busy 2023 for the band while also lighting the fuse on what already looks to be a momentous 2024, highlighted by a sold-out run at Sphere in Las Vegas this April. Each show at Sphere will feature a completely different setlist and visuals, making each one a truly unique audio-visual experience.
Phish will also host its first festival in nearly a decade from August 15-18 at The Woodlands in Dover, DE. More information, including ticket on-sale dates, will be announced soon.
PHISH - LIVE 2024
FEBRUARY
21 - Riviera Maya, Cancún, MX - Moon Palace Cancún (SOLD OUT)
22 - Riviera Maya, Cancún, MX - Moon Palace Cancún (SOLD OUT)
23 - Riviera Maya, Cancún, MX - Moon Palace Cancún (SOLD OUT)
24 - Riviera Maya, Cancún, MX - Moon Palace Cancún (SOLD OUT)
APRIL
18 - Las Vegas, NV - The Sphere (SOLD OUT)
19 - Las Vegas, NV - The Sphere (SOLD OUT)
20 - Las Vegas, NV - The Sphere (SOLD OUT)
21 - Las Vegas, NV - The Sphere (SOLD OUT)
AUGUST
15 - Dover, DE - The Woodlands*
16 - Dover, DE - The Woodlands*
17 - Dover, DE - The Woodlands*
18 - Dover, DE - The Woodlands*
* Festival
