After nearly 29 years as a band Phish played their first show in Oklahoma this evening, when they visited Oklahoma City’s Zoo Amphitheatre. Located just outside the actual Oklahoma City Zoo, one of the city’s top attractions, the ampitheatre was built in 1936 by the civilian conservation corps and survived years of neglect to become the area’s premier outdoor venue.

[luckystrikes23 on Instagram]

Phish opened their first-ever Oklahoma gig with a concise Kill Devil Falls. After a hiccup-filled Rift, guitarist Trey Anastasio told the crowd how happy the band was to finally play Oklahoma. He mentioned that occasionally the members of the band make personal requests to the management of where to play and this was their call. Backwards Down The Number Line and Moma Dance were also short and sweet leading to Divided Sky which has shockingly become rare this year. The Junta track had only seen action once previously in 2012, back on June 20th in Portsmouth, leaving a 22-show gap between that performance and this evening’s take. Anastasio lit into his Wolfman’s Brother, 46 Days and Stealing Time From The Faulty Plan solos which each peaked quickly and powerfully. The same thing happened in Run Like An Antelope – the band didn’t take much time building the jam and instead focused on a vicious peak.

Setlist…

Set 1: Kill Devil Falls > Rift, Wilson > Backwards Down the Number Line > The Moma Dance > Divided Sky, Wolfman’s Brother > Axilla > 46 Days, Ya Mar, Stealing Time From the Faulty Plan > Run Like an Antelope

Set 2: Down with Disease > Birds of a Feather > My Friend, My Friend^[1] > Rock and Roll > Twist, If I Could > Light > Harry Hood > Character Zero > Suzy Greenberg

Encore: Slave to the Traffic Light > Loving Cup

[1] No “Myfe” ending.

Notes: My Friend My Friend did not contain the “Myfe” ending.

[via Phish.net]

For the 22nd time since Phish returned at Hampton in 2009, Down With Disease opened the second set. Disease took a beautiful turn towards a glorious major-key sequence a few minutes into jam. Keyboardist Page McConnell hopped on his Wurlitzer and took turns leading the improv with Trey during the beautiful segment before the jam faded and Birds Of A Feather began. Birds would’ve fit nicely in the first set as it too was a potent, straight-forward rocker. Just as Phish reached the end of My Friend, My Friend Anastasio started up Rock and Roll which featured a compact but adventrous jam segment. The quartet hinted at taking Twist for a spin, but it never really got cookin’.

After the high-energy start to the set it was time for a cool down period and If I Could filled the ballad slot. If I Could continues its return to the rotation, with tonight’s take marking the fourth version of the song this year. 2012′s Light jams have been all over the place and tonight’s was no exception as it was darker and more layered than most. Drummer Jon Fishman kept driving the beat, while his three band mates worked through a number of interesting patterns not staying on any one for too long as they hit lots of territory in just nine minutes – check this one out when you can. A standard Harry Hood came next and was followed by a typically rocking Character Zero. Phish has really tightened their rotation this leg as displayed by the third Suzy Greenberg second set closer in just eight nights. Trey struggled a bit through this one. In a move that was a surprise to no one, the quartet encored with Slave To The Traffic Light replete with its line about seeing “The Zoo” and a cover of The Rolling Stones’ Loving Cup. Phish completes Summer Tour 2012 this weekend in Colorado.

• Venue Capacity / Attendance / Type: 10,000 / 8,000 (Estimate) / Outdoor Amphitheatre
• Previous Shows at Venue: Phish has never played this venue before.
• Number Of Songs / Length – First Set: 12 / 7:35PM – 9:00PM (85 Minutes)
• Number Of Songs / Length – Second Set & Encore: 12 / 9:25PM – 11:00PM (95 Minutes)
• Total Number of Songs / Covers / Originals: 24 / 3 / 21
• Biggest Bustout: Divided Sky – 22 Shows [LTP - 6/20/12]
• Average Song Vintage: 1995
• Debuts: N/A
• Weather: 90° and Sunny at Show Time
• Wardrobe: Trey – Red and Blue Checkered Long-Sleeve Button-Down Shirt and Jeans / Mike – Black Sleeveless T-Shirt and Jeans / Page – Navy Blue Short-Sleeve Shirt and Jeans / Fish – Dress
• Average Song Gap: 5.08
• The Spread: Junta – 1, Lawn Boy – 1, Rift – 2, Hoist – 3, Billy Breathes – 1, Story of the Ghost – 2, Farmhouse – 1, Round Room – 1, Joy – 4, Misc. – 5, Covers – 3,
• Longest LivePhish Track / Shortest LivePhish Track: Divided Sky 14:54 / Axilla I 3:23
• Audio: Live Phish

Poster…

Scott Bernstein

Scott Bernstein co-founded Hidden Track in October 2006 and was managing editor until taking over as EiC in January 2008. Scotty also writes for Relix Magazine and curates YEMblog.com.

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