We always love digging into the Phish archives and scooping out some classic concerts. Today marks the 17th anniversary of one of the best shows from the “2.0 era” (2002-04), held at the Worcester Centrum Center in Worcester, MA, the band was only a few shows into their reunion, and picking up fire along a winter tour.
Any time a show starts with “You Enjoy Myself,” you’re in for a treat. That was the case for this show, where the liner notes on Phish.net simply say “W O W!!!” That first set also features debuts of four songs, one from each band member’s solo project. “Clone” was a Mike Gordon song, “Drifting” was from Trey Anastasio, “Blue Skies” was from Jon Fishman and his Pork Tornado project, and “Final Flight” appeared on Page McConnell’s Vida Blue debut. Interestingly, this marks the sole performance of each song.
There’s also some fun stuff to be heard in set two, including a cover of War’s “Low Rider” that segues seamlessly into “Makisupa Policeman,” featuring references to a fire at the band’s hotel earlier in the tour. Covers of Edgar Winter’s “Frankenstein” and Rolling Stones’ “Loving Cup” helped to bring this fun show to a close.
Listen to the audio in full, thanks to fromtheaquarium, below:
Phish – Worcester Centrum Center – Worcester, MA – 2/26/03
Setlist: Phsh at Worcester Centrum Center, Worcester, MA – 2/26/03
Set 1: You Enjoy Myself > Clone[1], Roggae, Drifting[1], Blue Skies[1], The Moma Dance, Final Flight[1] > Maze
Set 2: Stash, Ghost -> Low Rider -> Makisupa Policeman[2] -> Ya Mar, Guyute, Waves > Prince Caspian -> Frankenstein > Golgi Apparatus
Encore: Loving Cup
[1] Phish debut.
[2] Lyrics referenced the fire at the band’s hotel in Cincinnati a week earlier.
Teases:
· Clone quote in You Enjoy Myself
· Summertime tease in Maze
· Foam tease in Stash
· Stash tease in Ya Mar
· Frankenstein tease in Golgi Apparatus
· Call to the Post tease
Noteworthy Jams: You Enjoy Myself (highly recommended), Roggae (highly recommended), The Moma Dance (highly recommended), Maze, Stash, Ghost
Average Song Gap: 20.73
Performers: Trey Anastasio, Page McConnell, Jon Fishman, Mike Gordon
Notes: YEM was preceded by a Call to the Post tease from Trey. The YEM vocal jam included Trey singing pieces of Clone (which would be played in its entirety after the vocal jam). This show marked the Phish debuts of Clone, Drifting, Blue Skies, and Final Flight (all of which had previously been played by various band member side projects). Maze included a tease from Page of Summertime (Gershwin). Stash included a Foam tease. The lyrics to Makisupa referenced the fire at the band’s hotel in Cincinnati a week earlier. Trey expanded Page’s nickname to “Leo Kottke” in Ya Mar. Ya Mar also included a Stash tease. Golgi included a Frankenstein tease.
[Setlist via Phish.net, “2003” photo from Mr. Miner’s Phish Thoughts]