Phish Riverbend Cincinnati Setlist and The Skinny

Phish Summer Tour 2012 continued tonight at Riverbend Music Center in Cincinnati. This large amphitheater on the banks of the Ohio River first hosted Phish on September 20, 2000. The first set saw a massive bust out and banter galore, while the second set stand out was a 14-minute Twist.

[Photo via TravelPod]

The band opened up with a ten-minute version of Wolfman’s and then covered Frank Zappa’s Peaches En Regalia – a 2012 debut. From there we saw one of the biggest bust outs of this era as Phish performed Shaggy Dog for the first time since October 29, 1995 (574 shows). The dog theme continued with Runaway Jim, complete with When The Saints Go Marching In tease, before the band lit into the tour debut of Light Up or Leave Me Alone (Traffic). Alaska finally returned to the first set tonight and Stash featured a straight forward but potent jam segment. Jon Fishman had some issues next as his miscues quickly derailed an attempt at Poor Heart and then the same thing happened in Moma Dance. Trey then mentioned that they would play a song that started with drums and Phish began the 2012 debut of Llama. The 2012 debuts continued with Buffalo Bill, a tune Anastasio said was had his favorite drum intro, and then Saw It Again. More banter followed as Big Red asked the crowd a trivia question about which song was LD Chris Kuroda’s favorite Phish song. The answer was David Bowie, which closed the set.

Down With Disease kicked off the second set. Just as the jam was expanding beyond the song’s boundaries, Trey started Guelah Papyrus, another 2012 debut. A standout version of Kill Devil Falls led into a spacey, ambient interlude before Twist began. This must-hear Twist featured an outstanding jam section that stands as an improvisational highlight of the tour thus far. The Halley’s Comet that followed didn’t receive the same treatment and dropped into Sand. A Trey-led segue connected the groovy Sand and the first Roggae of the year. Phish brought the set to a close with an unusually short Carini and repertoire staples Chalk Dust Torture and Golgi Apparatus. Fluffhead was the evening’s encore, the first time the song has been played in that slot since November 3, 1990 – nearly 22 years ago. Phish returns to the stage tomorrow in Burgettstown, Penn.

A full review “from the road” and photo set will follow tomorrow.

Setlist…

Set 1: Wolfman’s Brother, Peaches en Regalia, Shaggy Dog > Runaway Jim^[1], Light Up Or Leave Me Alone > Wilson > Alaska, Stash, Llama, Buffalo Bill, Saw It Again > David Bowie

Set 2: Down with Disease > Guelah Papyrus, Kill Devil Falls > Twist^[2] > Halley’s Comet > Sand ->Roggae, Carini > Chalk Dust Torture, Golgi Apparatus

Encore: Fluffhead^[1]

[1] When the Saints Go Marching In tease from Trey.
[2] Trial Before Pilate (from Jesus Christ Superstar) tease from Trey.

Notes: Shaggy Dog was played for the first time since October 29, 1995 (574 shows). Runaway Jim and Fluffhead contained When the Saints Go Marching In teases from Trey. Following Stash, Poor Heart and Moma Dance were quickly aborted due to Fishman mistakes. Trey suggested that they play a song that started with drums and Llama was subsequently played. Trey later said that Buffalo Bill was one of his all time personal favorites that starts with the drums. After Buffalo Bill, Trey said Fish was a master of songs that he starts himself. In the Bowie intro, Trey told the crowd that this was Chris Kuroda’s favorite Phish song (having Kuroda give a thumbs up to confirm), adding that “every day back stage, before we walk on, we say ‘Chris? What should we play tonight?’ and he only says one song. Every night.” Twist contained a Trial Before Pilate (from Jesus Christ Superstar) tease from Trey. This show featured the first Fluffhead encore since November 3, 1990 (1,124 shows).

[via Phish.net]

Here’s The Skinny for Phish at Riverbend Music Center

Venue Capacity / Attendance / Type: 20,500 / 15,000 (Estimate) / Amphitheater
Previous Shows at Venue: 2 Shows = 09/20/2000, 06/05/2011
Number Of Songs / Length – First Set: 12 / 7:43PM – 9:06PM (83 Minutes)
Number Of Songs / Length – Second Set & Encore: 11 / 9:31PM – 11:10PM (99 Minutes)
Total Number of Songs / Covers / Originals: 23 / 2 / 21
Biggest Bustout: Shaggy Dog – 574 Shows (LTP – 10/29/1995)
Debuts: N/A
Weather: 86° and Partly Cloudy at Showtime
Wardrobe: Trey – Grey T-Shirt and Jeans / Mike – Black T-Shirt and Jeans / Page – Navy Button-Down Shirt and Jeans / Fish – Dress
Average Song Gap: 35.26
The Spread: Junta – 3, Picture of Nectar – 4, Hoist – 2, The Story of the Ghost – 1, Farmhouse – 2, Joy -1, Misc. – 8, Covers – 2,
Longest LivePhish Track / Shortest LivePhish Track: Forthcoming
Audio: Live Phish