The third day of Phish’s three-day Festival 8 event started in relaxed fashion this afternoon with the long-awaited first full-length acoustic set that found the band expertly working through unplugged versions of classic Phish tunes and a couple of debuts. There was even a healthy dose of fun Phish banter when guitarist Trey Anastasio asked the crowd to sit down to enjoy the mellow tunes but later apologized saying that he hated telling people what to do and explaining that he couldn’t sit down if he tried.

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[All photos by Regan Teti Marscher]

The set started with three songs that were staples of Anastasio’s solo acoustic performances -Water In The Sky, Back On The Train and Brian and Robert. Each sounded as if they were written to be played unplugged and early on it was clear the band had spent a considerable amount of time rehearsing. Invisible, a song off Phish bassist’s Mike Gordon Sixty Six Steps release with acoustic guitar legend Leo Kottke, followed with Mike taking the lead vocals as he does on the album. Next, Page McConnell sang the first of two songs he’d sing during the set, Strange Design. McConnell has struggled hitting some notes this weekend, but not during Strange Design or the Army of One that followed a little later.

Most fans in the crowd remained seated at the beginning of the set until the first notes of The Curtain With rang out. Everyone rose to their feet to take in the biggest surprise of the set and the band reciprocated by nailing the tune that they struggled so mightily with at Coventry. The second Phish debut of the acoustic set was also a song from one of the band member’s side projects – Sleep Again. Sleep Again was debuted by Trey Anastasio’s 70 Voltz Parade ensemble in 2005 and was recorded for the infamous Shine album. Phish’s version sounded very similar to the Voltz version.

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After an ode to the past (My Sweet One), an ode to a bike (Let Me Lie) and one of the poppier songs in the band’s repertoire (Bouncing Around the Room), Mike Gordon stepped out to sing the sweet Train Song from 1996’s Billy Breathes album – a song that the band played during most of the mini acoustic sets in 1996. Wilson, another song you wouldn’t expect to hear the group perform unplugged, came next with Anastasio’s apology for asking fans to sit coming right before the “blat boom” bit. The set ended with a spot-on McGrupp and the Watchful Hosemasters, the second gamehenge tune in a row. READ ON for more about Phish’s first-ever acoustic set…

Another surprise was in store for concertgoers shortly after the band left the stage when they returned for the first mid-show encore in Phish history. The folks at Jam_On were so surprised they had cut away from the live feed and didn’t broadcast most of the Driver that kicked off the three-song encore. Reworked versions of Talk (transposed down at least one key) and Secret Smile followed before the quartet left the stage for good. Phish will return at approximately 5:30 local time for the first of two electric sets that will close out Festival 8.

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Phish
November 1, 2009
Festival 8
Indio, CA

Water in the Sky, Back On The Train, Brian & Robert, Invisible*, Strange Design, Mountains in the Mist, The Curtain With, Army of One, Sleep Again*, My Sweet One, Let Me Lie, Bouncing Around the Room, Train Song, Wilson, McGrupp

Encore: Driver, Talk, Secret Smile

Notes: Entire set acoustic. * -first time played

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