For the second time in as many years, Phish performed an absolute monster summer tour performance at The Mann Center For The Performing Arts in Philadelphia, PA last night. The first of two shows, this monster was like no other, perhaps even hailing from another planet. Possibly Mars.

Opening with “Crowd Control”, as one does, the real highlights from the first set came in the performance, and reprises, of “Martian Monster”. Debuted during Halloween 2014, the band slipped in and out of the instrumental track amid a bust-out rendition of “Skin It Back” by Little Feat. With Mike Gordon on lead vocals, our trip was indeed short.

After Phish skinned back the Martian monster, they treated fans to a tour debut combo in “Vultures” and “Dog Faced Boy”. The latter segued into an intriguing first-set “David Bowie”, which was followed with “Farmhouse”. The “Martian Monster” wasn’t quite done with this first set, as the UFO made appearances in both “Scent of a Mule”, which featured Jon Fishman on marimba lumina, and “Ghost”. An a cappella “Grind” brought the first set to a triumphant close.

Set two was all fire, as evidenced by the 17 minute “Fuego” opener. Some extended jamming led the group into a cover of Velvet Underground’s “Rock and Roll”, where Page McConnell playfully changed the lyrics to “Philadelphia station”. That segued into the ever-funky “46 Days”, which in turn slipped into the tour debut of “Taste”. With its building chord progression, Trey Anastasio knocked this one out of the park.

After taking a brief respite, the group hammered down what would eventually segue through to the end of the set. “2001 > Sand > The Horse > Silent In The Morning > Cavern > Backwards Down The Number Line”. As one can imagine, the crowd was simply electric during this 30+ minutes of straight music. 

This band is playing at the top of their game, and its a pleasure to hear every note they have to offer. The band will do it all again, tonight, for the second night of their two-night stand at the Mann.

Setlist: Phish at The Mann Center for the Performing Arts, Philadelphia, PA – 8/11/15

Set 1: Crowd Control, Martian Monster > Axilla, Skin It Back -> Martian Monster -> Skin It Back, Vultures, Dog Faced Boy > David Bowie, Farmhouse, Scent of a Mule[1], Ghost, Grind
Set 2: Fuego > Rock and Roll[2] > 46 Days -> Taste, Also Sprach Zarathustra > Sand > The Horse > Silent in the Morning > Cavern > Backwards Down the Number Line
Encore: Julius
[1] Fish on Marimba Lumina.
[2] Lyrics changed to “Philadelphia station.”

Notes: Skin It Back was played for the first time since August 22, 2012 (111 shows). Skin It Back and Ghost contained Martian Monster teases, and Skin It Back, Scent of a Mule, and Ghost contained Martian Monster quotes. Mule also contained a Marimba Lumina solo from Fish. Rock and Roll’s lyrics were changed to reference Philadelphia.

[Setlist via Phish.net/Photo via Phish From The Road]