Phish turns stormy Syracuse night into a communal celebration
Phish’s stormy Syracuse show a communal celebration
Review: A sold-out crowd danced through the rain before an early end to the Vermont band’s latest Syracuse concert.
Phish delivered two enthusiastically sprawling sets Tuesday before severe weather forced the popular jam band to cut its sold-out show at Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater at Lakeview short.
The Vermont quartet opened with “Turtle in the Clouds,” “Bug” and “Seven Below,” a seamless run that lasted nearly 40 minutes and immediately pulled the crowd into the band’s patient, shape-shifting improvisation.
Guitarist Trey Anastasio, bassist Mike Gordon, keyboardist Page McConnell and drummer Jon Fishman moved through the songs with the quiet communication of musicians who have spent decades learning one another’s instincts.
Phish’s third performance at the Syracuse venue also carried a hometown connection. Fishman, a Jamesville-DeWitt High School graduate, performed for a crowd filled with fans sporting variations of his signature red-and-blue donut pattern.
As lightning flashed across Onondaga Lake during “Ghost,” rain soon began pouring over the amphitheater. Rather than scatter, the crowd cheered, danced and sang along as the first set came to a dramatic close.
Phish returned with “Sand,” followed by a second set that included “Everything’s Right,” “What’s the Use?” and “Light.” The band later moved into “Also Sprach Zarathustra,” but another round of rain changed the night’s course. During “Blaze On,” Anastasio announced that the show would end early without an encore.
Phish closed the night with shortened versions of “Prince Caspian,” “More” and “Say It to Me S.A.N.T.O.S.” It was not the ending fans expected, but the weather only sharpened the sense that everyone had shared something fleeting, unpredictable and unmistakably Phish.
