Photo by René Huemer via Phish’s Facebook page

Phish kicked off their summer tour last night at Madison, WI’s Kohl Center. It was not only the Vermont Quartet’s first show in the college town of Madison since November 1998 but also their first show anywhere in The Badger State besides East Troy, WI’s Alpine Valley, their regular haunt, since that late ’90s show. The group jumped right into things, kicking off their first set with an extended, unfinished, 10-plus-minute “Chalk Dust Torture” that segued into another ’90s classic, an almost 14-minute “Ghost.” From there, the group offered a version of “Back on the Train,” a song that always feels fitting at the beginning of a run, that segued into the Billy Breathes single “Free.”

Next, Phish launched into a special “Mike’s Groove” sequence that opened with “Mike’s Song” and featured the emotional package of “The Man Who Stepped Into Yesterday > Avenu Malkenu” as well as a closing “Weekapaug Groove.” The inclusion of “Avenu Malkenu,” which Phish had not performed since April 21, 2022, was particularly notable—the liturgical Hebrew prayer, which is a key part of Jewish High Holidays services, is often recited during periods of mourning and last night’s show was Mike Gordon’s first public performance since his father, Store 24 founder Bob Gordon–who was Jewish–passed away in June. It also marked the first time since 2019 that Phish had played Trey Anastasio’s instrumental “The Man Who Stepped Into Yesterday” twice in a year; they paired it with “The Lizards,” as they do in Anastasio’s “Gamehendge” rock opera, at Sphere in April. The musicians then closed their first set another seamless run, this time from a 10-minute “A Wave of Hope” into “Character Zero.”

Phish continued to mix things up during their second set. They opened with “Run Like an Antelope,” the first time the song has kicked off a second set since 2016, and then paused briefly before offering a the meat of the second set, a seamless run from a 25-minute “Fuego” into an unfinished 11-minute “Life Saving Gun” and a 15-minute “Sand.” After a quick pause, they then closed things out with a 16-minute “Ruby Waves” that led directly into “Suzy Greenberg.” “Slave to the Traffic Light” and “Say It To Me S.A.N.T.O.S.,” two numbers that often serve as a show’s climax, were paired together as the night’s encore.

Phish will return to the Kohl Center this evening.

Here’s a look at last night’s setlist via Phish.net

Tuesday, July 7, Kohl Center, Madison, WI

Set I: Chalk Dust Torture[1] > Ghost, Back on the Train > Free, Mike’s Song, The Man Who Stepped Into Yesterday > Avenu Malkenu, Weekapaug Groove, A Wave of Hope > Character Zero

Set II: Run Like an Antelope, Fuego > Life Saving Gun[1] > Sand, Ruby Waves > Suzy Greenberg

E: Slave to the Traffic Light, Say It To Me S.A.N.T.O.S.

[1] Unfinished.

Chalk Dust Torture and Life Saving Gun were unfinished. Page teased Long Tall Glasses in Back on the Train. Avenu Malkenu was performed for the first time since April 21, 2022 (191 shows).