Phish Push "Piper" Past 20 Minute Mark for First Time Since 2004 During Night Two in Mexico

Phish Push “Piper” Past 20 Minute Mark for First Time Since 2004 During Night Two in Mexico

January 31, 2025

Photo: Peter Wallace

After easing into the first night of their latest stint in Mexico with breezy treatments applied to a bevy of fan favorites, Phish hung up their guitar straps and tucked away the drumsticks following their Jan. 29, 2025 stand, knowing they had initiated a buoyant start to their eighth annual destination concert vacation at Moon Palace in Cancún, Mexico, after capping night one.

Considering the timing of Phish’s arrival in Mexico following the start of the New Year, much of the material performed represented their initial rips of 2025, the first run-throughs of choice songs since the calendar year flipped, which in turn represented a sense of renewal for the players, who collaboratively seized all the right moments to ad lib, expand and add instrumental fringe atop when and where it fits. Particularly during the concert’s second half, when the foursome packed the frame with high-caliper improvisations, heeding a 21+ minute “Piper.”

“Blaze On” represented the night’s blistering entry point, complimenting the location and reason for the season: “You got your nice shades on, and the worst days are gone/ So now the band plays on, you got one life, blaze on.” Page McConnell and Trey Anastasio passed licks back and forth, assembling the Type I jam. “Plasma,” elicited Trey Anastasio’s snappy guitar licks before holdin’ back the emotion train and riding the next to the truth, “Halfway to the Moon,” sung by McConnell. The band built tension on “46 Days,” which allowed a pent-up bluster of instrumentals to emanate from the seashore location.

Phish nodded to their well-loved Farmhouse contribution, “Back on the Train,” before merging “Gumbo,” featuring a jazz latter nod from McConnell. A cover of Son Seal’s “Funky Bitch,” emerged next. As a follow-up, Phish pulled in “Roggae,” which allowed Page McConnell to space to tease “We’re Off to See the Wizard.” The Story of the Ghost song also paved the way for each member to add lyrics. In a nonstop press of might and instrumental vigor, Phish sequenced “Halley’s Comet” with “Runaway Jim” and “Caven” in epic effect, ending set one.

The band returned for the second half of the concert with the subliminal “Everything’s Right,” which was cushioned by 20+ minute “No Men In No Man’s Land.” Segues dominated set two’s jam-heavy format: a slow rendition of “Twenty Years Later” hooked the night’s centerpiece, “Piper.” Whereas set one was a relatively tried and true run-through of songs, “Piper” set the band up to make up for any jam shortcomings. All told, Thursday night’s “Piper” rivaled the band’s 2004 display played at SPAC.

The latter elongated number bled into “Taste,” but not before Anastasio nodded to The Beatles’ “Norwegian Wood.” Phish added “Shade” before “Wedge” was performed in a higher key than typical, prompting Anastasio to give instructions for the treatment applied “Character Zero,” “play that song in the key of A.”

The final song of Thursday’s second set found Anastasio quoting “Wipe Out” during the Billy Breathes’ set-ender. The band then delivered “Harry Hood” as their encore, which busted into its traditional climax to the elation of the vacationing audience.

Phish will return to the destination concert stage tonight. Venue doors open at 6 p.m.

Learn more about the event at phishrivieramaya.com, and read on for the full setlist from Thursday night.