WILMINGTON — Stalwarts on the jam band scene, Phish made its Wilmington debut in July, performing two nights at downtown’s Live Oak Bank Pavilion.
Night one took place Tuesday, July 18, as the four-piece — Trey Anastasio, Jon Fishman, Mike Gordon and Page mcConnell — opened the show wishing Jim Pollock a happy birthday. The artist designed the band’s “Junta” album and has done concert posters and T-shirts.
The band launched into “Simple” before performing “Camel Walk.”
“That really got the show started,” photographer Tom Dorgan of MoonFrog Media said. Dorgan captured photos of the show.
Other highlights included “Steam,” “Cavern” and “Divide Sky,” before a break and set two — starting off with “Timeber (Jerry)” — kicked into gear.
The night ended with “The Howling” into “Suzy Greenbergh” and “left the crowd wanting more and getting excited for night number two,” according to Dorgan.
However, Wednesday, July 19, was cut short due to lightning, thunder and torrential rain.
Phish only got into a portion of the second set before having to evacuate the pavilion. They played through “Cars Trucks and Buses,” “A Wave of Hope,” and “When the Circus Comes to Town,” the latter originally by Los Lobos.
It was during a set break that a storm was brewing on the horizon and heading toward the outdoor venue.
“Things really started coming down during ‘Scents and Subtle Sounds,’ the fourth song of the set,” Dorgan said. “The song ended with Trey saying he didn’t want to stop but was being told they had do. Fishman quipped: ‘You know Taylor Swift didn’t stop.’”
Below are the setlists for both nights and the photos from night one.
Night one
Happy Birthday to You (Mildred J. Hill & Patty Hill cover) (Sung to Jim Pollock)
Simple
Camel Walk
Gotta Jibboo
Steam
Poor Heart
Cavern
The Divided Sky
Shade
Drift While You’re Sleeping (Trey Anastasio song)
Timber (Josh White cover)
A Song I Heard the Ocean Sing
Light
Mercy (Trey Anastasio song) (live debut by Phish)
Twenty Years Later
Backwards Down the Number Line
Bug
Say It to Me S.A.N.T.O.S.
Encore:
The Howling
Suzy Greenberg
Night two
Cars Trucks Buses
A Wave of Hope (Trey Anastasio song)
Funky Bitch (Son Seals cover)
Hey Stranger (Trey Anastasio song)
Lawn Boy
Back on the Train
When the Circus Comes (Los Lobos cover)
It’s Ice
Blaze On
Chalk Dust Torture
Oblivion (Trey Anastasio song)
The Wedge
Scents and Subtle Sounds (unfinished)
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