Recap: Phish Makes Triumphant Return Back to Toronto

(Writer: Frankie Cavone)

After 6 long years, Phish made its return back to the Budweiser Stage in Toronto, ON for the first time since 2013 keeping it mostly mellow throughout the night. This was the band from Vermont’s fifth show of the tour after making stops in St. Louis, MO and Bonnaroo Music Festival in Tennessee.

(Photo: Frankie Cavone)

Phish started off the night with “AC/DC Bag” followed by “555” from their 2013, Fuego album. Next up the band selected “Ocelot” making its first appearance of the tour. After a brief jam in “Ocelot,” the band selected “Sample in a Jar” as its next tune which hasn’t been performed in 37 shows. After, Phish delighted the crowd with “Stash” which went into a minor jam. Then the band treated fans with “The Wedge” which led right into “Frost” a song from Trey Anastasio Band. “Halley’s Comet” was up to bat bringing the energy right up. During the song, guitarist Trey Anastasio emphasized the words “we got the title” showing the city of Toronto some love after their professional basketball team, the Toronto Raptors just winning their first NBA Finals championship only days ago.

Phish then debuted “Ruby Waves” from Anastasio’s latest side project Ghosts of the Forest which had a heavy extended jam at the end of the song. Getting late into the first set, it was time for Page McConnell to get away from the keyboard to treat Budweiser Stage to “Lawn Boy.” To end the set, Phish busted out “You Enjoy Myself” which had tight vocal jam.

(Photo: Frankie Cavone)

To start off the second set, the quartet from Vermont reached back into the Trey Anastasio Band repertoire with “Plasma.” Phish didn’t do too much exploring this time with the song but was segued into Kasvot Växt track “The Final Hurrah” which was extended due to a nice meaty groove by McConnell. “Wingsuit” was up next marking the second song played from the Fuego album that night. The song was a highlight from the night and finished up nicely.

After a standout “Golden Age,” the band jumped into the another McConnell driven song, “I Always Wanted It This Way.” After a brief “Prince Caspian,” Phish chose to play “If I Could” which led into “46 Days,” a standout from tonights performance. The song brought high energy getting the crowd fired up. Anastasio and bassist Mike Gordon were soloing face to face for a moment bringing much excitement throughout the venue reminding fans from the north how much the band missed the great up north. The encore of the night was “Drift While You’re Sleeping,” another track from Ghosts of the Forest. See below for full gallery and setlist from Phish’s performance at the Budweiser Stage.