The Trey Anastasio Band kicked off a brief fall tour at Portland, ME’s State Theatre last night. It was TAB’s first show in almost a year, when they wrapped up last year’s fall outing at New York’s Beacon Theatre over Thanksgiving Weekend with a reprise of COVID-era Beacon Jams. TAB has a long history with the State Theatre, dating back to 1999 when the guitarist ran through the room with his trio on his first-ever solo tour. He also used the venue to debut his Ghosts of the Forrest project in 2019, as he noted during last night’s show.
The ensemble’s current linkup consists of founding drummer Russ Lawton, longtime trumpeter Jennifer Hartswick, mainstay keyboardist Ray Paczkowski and trombonist Natalie Cressman, who joined in 2010, as well as bassist Dezron Douglas, who signed on in 2021 following Tony Markellis’ passing, and saxophonist Kenneth Whalum, who first subbed for James Casey in 2022 and officially joined after the beloved musician’s untimely death in 2023.
In addition, keyboardist Jeff Tanski, who has worked closely with Anastasio as an arranger and accompanied him on his recent solo acoustic tours, sat in on a version of Phish’s “Stash” last night. The tune has a curious place in the TAB catalog. Anastasio first brought the number over to his solo band at the Austin City Limits Festival in 2004, during his first and only show with the original incarnation of TAB after Phish’s breakup and before the guitarist formed a new solo act the following year. He performed the tune twice with a different version of TAB in 2006 and then didn’t play it with the horn-driven ensemble until last year. Of note, he’s continued to test out the A Picture of Nectar favorite with various orchestras and in solo acoustic settings with Tanski in that time.
Up next, TAB will return to Albany, NY’s Palace Theatre tomorrow.
Here’s a look at last night’s setlist via Phish.net
Tuesday, November 10, State Theatre, Portland, ME
Set I: Set Your Soul Free, A Wave of Hope, Mozambique, Love Is What We Are, Stash [1], Pigtail, Drifting, Simple Twist Up Dave, What’s Going Through Your Mind
Set II: The Moma Dance, Olivia, No Men In No Man’s Land, Simeon, Shine, Liquid Time, Sand, Valentine, Tuesday
Encore: A Life Beyond The Dream, First Tube
