Phish launched its West Coast spring tour with a bang on Friday night, delivering a high-octane performance at Seattle, WA’s Climate Pledge Arena that felt more like a tour finale than an opening night.
After a two-and-a-half-month break since their annual visit to Riviera Maya, Mexico, Trey Anastasio, Jon Fishman, Mike Gordon, and Page McConnell skipped the warm-up phase entirely, diving straight into a jam-heavy set brimming with energy and cohesion. Trey sounded especially sharp, his vocals and fretwork polished from weeks of solo acoustic shows. Making his return to electric guitar, he brought along a piece of history: his original “Marmar” Languedoc, a beloved relic from Phish’s 1.0 era, played live for the first time since 2019.
A funky “Sand” opener started set one off strong, setting the pace with 12 minutes of tight grooves and blissful improvisation. Based on the crowd’s boisterous reaction, it was immediately clear to fans that this was no ordinary show.
Phish – “Sand” – 4/18/25
The momentum carried into “Kill Devil Falls”, which traded its usual bluesy bite for a more fluid, exploratory jam. Trey led the charge with soaring leads, guiding the band through more than ten minutes of expansive improv before reaching a fiery peak.
“Theme From the Bottom” kept the arena rocking, gradually climbing “from the bottom to the top” before smoothly segueing from its a cappella ending into one of the longest-ever versions of “Back on the Train”. Chugging down the track guided by Fishman’s rolling train beat, the song picked up steam as Chris Kuroda unveiled a new addition to his ever-growing light rig: spinning rainbow circles of light that danced behind the band as the jam pushed into type 2 territory. Ultimately clocking in at 17 minutes, it was the longest jam of the set.
Phish – “Back On The Train” – 4/18/25
Phish downshifted into the tender ballad “If I Could”, offering a moment of calm before launching into a punchy, no-frills “Tube”. Mike Gordon then took over on lead vocals for his song “Mull”, a psychedelic highlight from his 2023 solo album Flying Games. To close the set, the band dug into “Wolfman’s Brother”, delivering one last tight jam before stepping offstage.
Set two featured even more big jams, with just five songs making up the entire frame. “Blaze On” was a somewhat surprising choice, since one might have expected the band to save it for Sunday’s 4/20 show in Portland. It nonetheless made for a strong set opener, calling to mind the memorable version Phish played at the same venue in 2023.
Phish – “Blaze On” – 4/18/24
TV on the Radio‘s “Golden Age” was the improvisational centerpiece of the set and the longest jam of the evening at 24 minutes. “What’s Going Through Your Mind” kept the pace, drifting through different sonic landscapes without ever venturing too far afield. “I Always Wanted It This Way”, the lone Page-led song of the night, provided grounding before giving way to a climactic “Ghost” closer.
Returning for an encore, Phish finished night one off with a sentimental and airy “Bug” and a rowdy 12-minute “Possum” jam.
Click below to check out fan-shot videos and a gallery of photos from Phish’s spring tour opener in Seattle courtesy of photographer Matthew Rea.
Phish returns to Climate Pledge Arena tonight before returning to Portland, OR for the first time in 25 years on Sunday.
The entire tour is available to livestream via LivePhish. Subscribers will receive a 15% discount, while those who bundle their individual show livestream purchase with a new LivePhish subscription will get 50% off the webcast. Click here for more details. Find Phish tickets and tour dates on Ticketmaster.
Phish – “Theme From The Bottom” – 4/18/24
[Video: Darren “Dew Train” Camp]
Setlist [via Phish.net]: Phish | Climate Pledge Arena | Seattle, WA | 4/18/25
Set 1: Sand, Kill Devil Falls, Theme From the Bottom > Back on the Train, If I Could, Tube, Mull, Wolfman’s Brother
Set 2: Blaze On -> Golden Age -> What’s Going Through Your Mind, I Always Wanted It This Way -> Ghost
Encore: Bug > Possum
