Article Contributed by Jamie Huenefeld
Published on January 1, 2026
Phish embarked on their 88th performance at Madison Square Garden on December 28, 2025, as part of a continuing ritual that has spanned over three decades. This ritual is so ingrained in the Big Apple psyche that guitarist Trey Anastasio recorded a greeting that was played in MTA subway stations and across social media. They certainly started this run swinging with a bust-out vintage tune and the longest version of “Theme from the Bottom” on record.
The high-intensity, groove-driven opener “Buried Alive” kickstarted the first set with bite. A lean yet punchy “AC/DC Bag” followed and brought a sharp and tasty opening jam. The mellow “Roggae” flowed next, which included a “Norwegian Wood” tease by Anastasio.
A tight and structured “Rift,” from their 1993 release of the same name, preceded an exploratory “Wolfman’s Brother,” which was driven by bassist Mike Gordon’s funky thumping. This known jam vehicle was left unfinished as the band hopped into “Punch You In the Eye.” Anastasio’s clever guitar effects and Page McConnell’s clav textures paired well with the spaceship-like lighting display that used the house lights and on-stage smoke.
They dropped into “Sigma Oasis” without warning — no runway, just lift-off. Gordon’s funk-forward bass line matched Anastasio initially. The jam petered out gracefully and folded into “Taste.” Drummer Jon Fishman adeptly added more cowbell to this classic tune, which landed triumphantly.
Anastasio then picked up an acoustic guitar, which is rare during a Phish show, and played “Sleep.” Performed for the first time since November 29, 2019 with a two hundred thirty show gap, Anastasio played alone, with McConnell adding vocals and light instrumentals. Frequent set closer “Run Like an Antelope” saw Gordon push the tempo as Anastasio climbed into prog-rock peaks. Lighting Director Chris Kuroda’s moving rig kissed the crowd as the floor launched into a bubble and confetti war, which ended the set for the 186th time. Out of control!
“Oblivion” opened set two with McConnell on the B-3 organ before dissolving into synth-driven deep space. Fishman stayed unshakeable while McConnell cooked on the synth, shaping the atmosphere. Gordon’s bass hit like punctuation, ushering in “Down with Disease.” Anastasio became locked in a serious pocket with McConnell back on the baby grand. Kuroda dispatched alien spotlights from the ceiling, which transformed the floor into a spaceship and turned the room inside out.
Gordon dug deep as they transitioned into “Simple,” which went dark and was layered, purple-drenched, and quietly menacing. Anastasio entered full Jedi mode with his unique blues-rock guitar blend, and Gordon acted as gravitational pull. Another segue into “Gotta Jibboo” surfaced with whale-call loops and organ swells.
The band channeled pantomime mixtures of heaven and earth as they launched into what is now considered to be the longest “Theme from the Bottom” yet, clocking in at over twenty-four minutes. An evil funk jam emerged with Gordon and McConnell piloting at times. Anastasio had almost arpeggio guitar lines, while Fishman crushed the whip-like cymbals. The dark jam led back into “Simple” with no seams and no announcement. What is a band without cymbals?
The set ended with a smooth exhale into “Everything’s Right,” as the room moved as one. The band returned to encore with “Slave to the Traffic Light,” which capped off a very memorable Night One.
Phish is back in action on January 28, 2026 for their four-night tropical run at the Riviera Maya in Riviera Cancun, Mexico. A few packages remain via this link. On April 16, they will return to The Sphere in Las Vegas, NV for a nine-show stand at this new, immersive venue. Tickets are sold out, but fans can utilize CashorTrade, the face-value ticket exchange site, to obtain tickets. Stay tuned to their tour page for upcoming announcements, like the 2026 Summer tour.
Check out more photos from the show!
Date: December, 28, 2025
Venue: Madison Square Garden
Location: New York City
Band: Phish
Set One: Buried Alive > AC/DC Bag, Roggae, Rift, Wolfman’s Brother[1] > Punch You in the Eye > Sigma Oasis > Taste, Sleep[2], Run Like an Antelope
Set Two: Oblivion > Down with Disease[1] -> Simple -> Gotta Jibboo, Theme from the Bottom[1] -> Simple > Everything’s Right
Encore: Slave to the Traffic Light
Notes:
[1] Unfinished.
[2] Trey on acoustic guitar.
Set list via phish.net
