Article Contributed by Jamie Huenefeld
Published on 2026-07-21
Phish opened a two-night stand at Merriweather Post Pavilion on June 18, 2026 with a first set built like a letter to an old friend and a second set that never let up. The night leaned on both ends of the catalog, including a two hundred forty-one show bust-out of the Toots and the Maytals cover “Have Mercy” and a ninety-five show return of “Contact” on one side. Three cuts from 2024’s Evolve anchored set two and the encore were on the other. Deep jams in “Life Saving Gun” and “Free,” a rare “Lifeboy,” and a ten-minute “Run Like an Antelope” to close made for a deeply satisfying evening in Columbia, MD.
Phish kicked off the evening at the storied shed between the Baltimore and Washington, D.C. metro areas with “What’s Going Through Your Mind,” a 2023 debut and one of the newer songs from the band's book. Guitarist Trey Anastasio was sharp out of the gate and spearheaded a light and airy jam, while drummer Jon Fishman’s astute timekeeping drove the lively opener.
As the song wound down, the band began trading smiling glances. Multi-instrumentalist Page McConnell eased into the melody of “Contact” on the baby grand, which brought smiles to the audience. Bassist Mike Gordon sang the vintage tune off 1989’s Junta, a genuine bust-out that returned after a ninety-five show gap. It was last aired at Alpine Valley on July 26, 2024 on a night when “Contact” had also emerged from a ninety-five show absence, which created a neat piece of symmetry. This version was no slouch and featured a quick type-II jam that is a rare treat for a song that seldom sees notable improvisation.
The axles were greased and the tires rotated on this well-oiled machine, and they leapt into the quintessential “You Enjoy Myself” next. McConnell toggled between the Hammond and baby grand as he nailed the precise opening sequence, and Anastasio followed suit. The composed section led into the trampoline routine, where Gordon and Anastasio drifted slightly out of sync but still stuck the landing. McConnell dialed up the funk on the clavinet during the jam that followed.
The vocal jam featured some inventive clips from McConnell before petering out in favor of “Axilla (Part II),” off 1994’s Hoist. A dark, ethereal jam followed, with McConnell on the Wurlitzer, Gordon commanding, and Anastasio picking up the pace over Fishman’s driving beat. That bled into “McGrupp and the Watchful Hosemasters,” another statistical infrequency, with McConnell returning to the baby grand while Fishman held it steady.
Another wizard-like hinge delivered the night’s headline rarity, “Have Mercy.” The Toots and the Maytals reggae cover had not surfaced since February 22, 2020, which is a staggering two hundred forty-one show gap. The easy lilt gave Anastasio room to shine. McConnell then steered the band back into “McGrupp,” and they landed in a furrow that impressively pivoted into “Shade,” off 2020’s Sigma Oasis. Rather than close there, the quartet capped the set with “Runaway Jim." McConnell tucked a “Happy Birthday” tease into the final moments for famed phish artist Jim Pollock.
The band returned for set two with “Life Saving Gun,” one of three cuts on the night from 2024’s Evolve, the band’s sixteenth studio album. Gordon balanced Anastasio through a deep, layered jam thick with effects as Fishman leaned heavy on the cymbals, and the band sank its teeth into this one. This clocked in at over twenty five minutes on the LivePhish app, which is the longest version they have played yet. A stellar transition carried them into “Gotta Jibboo,” off 2000’s Farmhouse, with the four locked in and seemingly reading one another’s minds. McConnell’s baby grand added a layer of delicacy. They revolved into a more melodic flow that found way to “Ether Edge,” another Evolve track. Anastasio supplied the directing precision while Gordon thumped underneath. It all came together in a vibrant, energetic display, alongside longtime lighting director Chris Kuroda chasing the band’s every move with red-and-blue bliss. His rig was next level this evening.
From there the band drifted into a soundscape that felt underwater with McConnell back on the Moog synth, before easing into “Lifeboy,” off Hoist. This was another rarity played for only the fourteenth time in Phish 3.0. You don't get a refund but who would want a refund from this epic set. This version was short, but incredibly sweet.
Gordon then dropped into “Boogie On Reggae Woman,” by Stevie Wonder, and descended into full jedi-mode. The tasty thumps then morphed into “Free,” off 1996’s Billy Breathes. Anastasio unleashed a stellar blues-rock jam, Gordon unloaded a beastly low end and Kuroda highlighted every peak like nobody’s business, a fitting cap to an incredible set that had the crowd roaring.
The band stepped off stage and returned for a three-song encore that opened with “Monsters,” a third Evolve tune and a welcome breather after set two’s heat. Anastasio crushed the bluesy chords. That feel carried into “If I Could,” also off Hoist and was last played in Seattle on April 18, 2025. This old school song that debuted more than three decades ago reappeared after a sixty-three show gap. McConnell lent a level of elegance on the baby grand. Unable to send the crowd home just yet after the heat of the second set, the band unfurled “Run Like an Antelope.” McConnell again dropped clever samples during the build-up. This version packed all the feels into a tight ten minutes, including Anastasio’s always-tasty solo. The fans left as they shifted into the high gear of their collective souls.
Phish will play tonight Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater at Lakeview in Syracuse (July 21), then settle into Madison Square Garden in New York for a five-night stand (July 22, 24, 25, 27 & 29), amounting to shows ninety-two through ninety-six at the band’s spiritual home. This tees up a potential 100th Garden performance during the 2026 New Year’s run. From there, Phish will make its first trip to Fenway Park in Boston since 2019 for two nights (July 31 & Aug. 1), before closing the summer with the customary Labor Day weekend run at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado (Sept. 4-6). Full dates and ticket details are at phish.com/tours.
Check out more photos from the show!
Band: Phish
Location: Columbia, MD
Venue: Merriweather Post Pavilion
Date: July 18, 2026
Set One: What’s Going Through Your Mind, Contact, You Enjoy Myself > Axilla (Part II) -> McGrupp and the Watchful Hosemasters -> Have Mercy > McGrupp and the Watchful Hosemasters > Shade, Runaway Jim [1]
Set Two: Life Saving Gun > Gotta Jibboo -> Ether Edge > Lifeboy, Boogie On Reggae Woman > Free
Encore: Monsters, If I Could, Run Like an Antelope
