[Update 6/3/25]: In honor of his 60th birthday today, Mike Gordon has released a full audio recording of recent performance at New Orleans, LA’s Joy Theater as part of Live For Live Music‘s Fest by Nite series during Jazz Fest.
In addition to debuting a new-look band lineup featuring guitarist/vocalists Xavier Lynn and Bob Wagner alongside mainstays Robert Walter and John Morgan Kimock, Gordon welcomed surprise guests Jon Cleary and Karina Rykman (who opened the show with her trio) to sit in during his set.
Stream or download Mike Gordon’s Joy Theater show via LivePhish here. Subscribe to LivePhish+ for unlimited access to thousands of Phish recordings and more. [Editor’s note: Live For Live Music is a LivePhish affiliate. Purchasing a download or ordering your subscription via the links on this page help support our work covering the world of live music. Thanks for reading!]
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Scroll down for a complete recap featuring photos, videos, and the full setlist from the show. Happy birthday, Mike!
[5/6/25]: After dropping by New Orleans’ legendary Tipitina’s to jam with George Porter Jr. and the all-star Daze Between Band, Phish bassist Mike Gordon debuted a new band and welcomed Karina Rykman and his “favorite New Orleans musician ever” Jon Cleary at the Joy Theater as part of Live For Live Music‘s Fest by Nite series during Jazz Fest.
The show kicked off with a high-energy opening set from Karina Rykman and her eponymous trio featuring Adam November on guitar and Chris Corsico on drums. Mike Gordon then took the stage with his refreshed lineup and, after a couple songs, quipped, “Having some new people to play with is a real joy,” playfully punning on the venue’s name. In addition to his longtime drummer John Kimock and keyboardist Robert Walter, Gordon was joined by two new bandmates, Bob Wagner and Ghost-Note‘s Xavier Lynn on guitar.
The two guitarists added a unique flavor to the one-off New Orleans show, with Lynn bringing jazz, funk, and gospel influences and Wagner leaning more toward country and Southern rock. They each sang lead on songs well suited to their musical personas, including a standout cover of J.J. Cale‘s “Call Me the Breeze” led by Wagner.
Another highlight was a super funky and tight “Meat”, which was one of two Phish songs to make the setlist. The other was a punny “Carini” encore featuring Karina Rykman, with the lyrics changed to, “Karina had a lumpy head.”
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Gordon took a moment during the set to express his love for New Orleans, saying, “This is my favorite city, and I don’t go around saying that.” He reflected on his last visit to NOLA when he recorded with Leo Kottke six years ago before introducing Jon Cleary, who sat in on the traditional “Up Above My Head” and his own “Got to Be More Careful”.
Check out the full setlist and click below to see photos from Mike Gordon at New Orleans’ Joy Theater courtesy of photographers Jay Strausser and Dave Vann.
Mike Gordon With Jon Cleary – “Up Above My Head” (Traditional) – 5/2/25
[Video: J4LM]
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Mike Gordon With Karina Rykman – “Carini” – 5/2/25
[Video: Lee Braay]
Setlist: Mike Gordon | Joy Theater | New Orleans, LA | 5/2/25
Set: Say Something, Connected, Call Me the Breeze (J.J. Cale) [1], Meat (Phish), I Don’t Believe You (She Acts Like We Never Have Met) (Bob Dylan) [1], Sughn Never Sets, Up Above My Head (Traditional) [1] [2], Peel, Got to Be More Careful (Jon Cleary) [2], Spanish Moon (Little Feat) [3], Guilty Pleasures
Encore: Carini (Phish) [4]
[1] Mike Gordon debut
[2] w/ Jon Cleary
[3] LTP 8/13/08
[4] w/ Karina Rykman
