Phish made their debut at the iconic Forest Hills Stadium in Forest Hills, NY, on Tuesday, July 22, 2025. The legendary tennis-stadium-turned–concert venue is smaller than the average Phish stop and boasted the best concert fare we’ve seen so far. The foursome from Vermont delivered a vibrant show that included a fiery, twenty-eight-minute “Carini” in Set Two.
Forest Hills Stadium’s history is worth noting. Built by the West Side Tennis Club in 1923, it’s where Arthur Ashe became the first African American man to win the U.S. Open in 1968, among other significant moments. The venue also hosted concerts, including The Beatles’ famous two-night stand in 1964. After years of dormancy and an almost-sale to developers, the stadium was revived and reintroduced as a concert venue in 2013. Since then, it has hosted Santana, Neil Young & Crazy Horse, David Byrne, and more.
The music began with the band diving into the dance-inducing “The Moma Dance.” The mascots for the Queens-based New York Mets, Mr. and Mrs. Met, appeared on the side stage, to the delight of Mets fans in the crowd. A breezy transition flowed into “Rift.” Guitarist Trey Anastasio hit the notes perfectly, bringing smiles to keyboardist Page McConnell.
A twelve-minute “Sigma Oasis” followed, delivering a robust jam that became the highlight of Set One. The music flowed into a dark bassline complemented by dynamic beats courtesy of drummer Jon Fishman. Fishman’s recognizable snare propelled the band into an upbeat “Possum.”
Bassist Mike Gordon led the charge during the funk‑fueled “Wolfman’s Brother.” The quartet built up a textural jam that oozed with funk, featuring McConnell on the clav. That moved into a strong build by Anastasio. “Stash,” from their 1992 release Picture of Nectar, came next, followed by “Blaze On,” where Anastasio found a nice pocket in this Big Boat tune.
“Monsters,” a newer song, was played for the eleventh time in the band’s career. The mood mellowed at first before an on‑point, blues‑rock jam elevated the tune. Fishman continued to flex his muscles behind the kit. Anastasio delivered a passionate vocal finish, driving the song home. The set ended with the band busting out “I Am the Walrus,” a nod to the Fab Four, who played the same venue in 1964.
Set Two opened with an edgy, twenty-eight-minute “Carini.” Fishman drove the beat through a deep, bubbly jam while Anastasio pulled back, letting McConnell’s piano take the lead before the music drifted into an ambient space. That gave way to more synths along with a tight guitar rhythm. We highly recommend a re-listen of this layered version.
“Tweezer” kept the funk rolling, with Anastasio in full-on, face-melting mode. “What’s Going Through Your Mind?” came next and sustained the raging dance party. Gordon’s solid bassline paired perfectly with McConnell on the clav. “A Life Beyond the Dream” brought chill vibes to the crowd of 13,000. The set ended with vigor on “Harry Hood,” as McConnell once again shone brightly on piano while the band climbed those tasty peaks of this beloved jam vehicle.
The band returned to intense applause for the encore. They started with the vintage tune “Slave to the Traffic Light.” A well-placed segue shifted the direction into a smile-inducing “More.” They then tore into a rip-roaring “Tweezer Reprise,” sending fans home energized and ready for night two.
The post-show music included “Mama, I’m Coming Home” by rocker Ozzy Osbourne, who sadly passed away earlier in the day. Many fans lingered to form a massive sing-along that ended with a notable round of applause.
Phish is up next for a three night run in Saratoga Springs, NY at SPAC on July 25-27. Their tour ends briefly, as they return on September 13-14 in Birmingham, AL for a two night stand. They also have dates planned at in Alpharetta, GA and Hampton, VA, with the latter being sold out. They recently announced Riviera Maya 2026 that occurs in January 2026, which should bring excitement to those who are ready to plan their winter getaway with the band.
Check out more photos from the show! Also, view our prior coverage of the Phish 2025 summer tour in Boulder, CO on night one and three.
Date: July 22, 2025
Band: Phish
Location: Queens, NY
Venue: Forest Hills Stadium
Set One: The Moma Dance > Rift, Sigma Oasis > Possum, Wolfman's Brother, Stash, Blaze On, Monsters, I Am the Walrus
Set Two: Carini -> Tweezer > What's Going Through Your Mind > A Life Beyond The Dream, Harry Hood
Encore: Slave to the Traffic Light > More, Tweezer Reprise
