First and foremost, I just wanted to personally thank all of our readers for joining me on this incredible summer tour. It’s been an absolute pleasure listening to each show and sharing all of the highlights with such a devoted and enthusiastic audience. Whether you followed all of this summer tour or just caught one show along the way, there is no denying that Phish is playing some of the consistently best shows in recent memory… so I guess I’m thanking them too. I’m quite elated to be a member of this community.

While the band technically has six more shows left on this summer schedule, last night’s set at Merriweather Post Pavilion marked the finale of the tour proper, if you will. With three nights next weekend at their own festival, Magnaball, followed by three nights at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park out in Colorado over Labor Day weekend, MPP2 marked the end of a 19-show, cross country journey for the Burlington quartet. They finished things off with the same intensity and musicianship that they’ve flaunted consistently at each stop, bringing out new material, old material, and everything in between.

After making light at last night’s “Sleeping Monkey” shenanigans, Phish got down to business with “Golgi Apparatus”. Yes, Trey Anastasio, you did see us with a ticket stub in our hands. The exciting opener broke into the always-funky “Undermind”. With Page McConnell’s light touch on the keys, the band got down to business. A bluesy “Julius” kept this fiery first set rocking.

Next up was the Fuego track “555”, giving Mike Gordon a chance to take the lead. Perhaps the most unexpected song selection followed, as Phish brought out the song “Nothing” for the first time in over 100 (139 for those counting) shows, and only the sixth time overall. The gentle, seafaring song provided an engaging reprieve from the full throttle opening, and things picked right back up with a version of “No Men In No Man’s Land”. The new Anastasio/Marshall original has been on a three-show rotation all summer long, and it seems to get tighter with each passing performance. All out funk fest.

“Stash” followed, getting into some exploratory jam space before the band landed on “David Bowie”. With its tight drum lead from Jon Fishman, this was a real scorching tune. That segued into “Possum”, closing out the first half.

After the break, Gordon’s echoing tones led the group into a juicy “Down With Disease”. The soaring jam segued cleanly into “Slave To The Traffic Light”, opening up into yet another free flowing jam. The song’s climactic ending made for a smooth transition into the breezy opening chords for “Light”, which quickly went into uncharted waters for a spacey improvisation section.

In the midst of jam exploration, Anastasio leapt into the opening riff for “Twist”, bringing the band into a short and sweet funk jam. When that jam settled, the band picked right back up again with a cover of the Rolling Stones’ tune “Shine a Light”, which hadn’t been played in 91 shows. The Stones song had been in regular rotation after its debut during the 2009 Exile On Main Street Halloween show, but this was its first performance since 2013.

After “Slave To The Traffic Light”, “Light” and “Shine A Light”, it’s safe to say that the MPP crowd was absolutely feeling the light. And what better way to spread that light than with fire itself, “Fuego”. This was a smokin’ hot rendition that found its way into “Sneakin’ Sally Through the Alley”. Of course, the real highlight of the show was the second set finale, “You Enjoy Myself”. Always a fan-favorite, this was a solid version that wrapped up an illuminating second set.

With a “Backwards Down The Number Line” encore, Phish shined a light on Merriweather Post Pavilion that won’t soon be forgotten. Next up for Phish is the three-day Magnaball Festival at Watkins Glen, NY, which kicks off this Friday, August 21st. See you there!

Setlist: Phish at Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia, MD – 8/16/15

Set 1: Golgi Apparatus > Undermind, Julius, 555, Nothing, No Men In No Man’s Land, Stash, David Bowie > Possum

Set 2: Down with Disease[1] -> Slave to the Traffic Light > Light -> Twist, Shine a Light, Fuego > Sneakin’ Sally Through the Alley > You Enjoy Myself

Encore: Backwards Down the Number Line

[1] Lyrics changed to “Mike’s head.” Unfinished.

Notes: This show was webcast via LivePhish. Before Golgi, Trey teased, and Fish quoted, Sleeping Monkey, and Mike teased “Charge!.” Nothing was played for the first time since June 7, 2012 (139 shows). DWD’s lyrics were changed to reference “Mike’s head.” DWD was also unfinished.

[Setlist via Phish.net,