Over the weekend, Phish members Trey Anastasio and Page McConnell played intimate acoustic duo sets ahead of the band’s two flood recovery benefit shows at Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC), which raised of $3.5 million to support victims of recent catastrophic flooding in the band’s home state of Vermont and its surrounding areas.

The private pre-show performances were open only to WaterWheel Foundation Package ticket holders and took place on the Charles R. Wood Stage, which sits at the rear of the infamous SPAC lawn near concessions. A few hundred lucky fans sat in chairs and on a platform with wool rugs and cushions as Trey and Page took the stage.

The pair recently surprised fans by releasing a duo album, January, however they stuck to a setlist of Phish songs during the Foundation performances, perhaps because Trey plays several instruments on the album but was limited to acoustic guitar and vocals for these sets.

Rain soaked the audience during Friday’s duo set—ironic or maybe apropos for a flood recovery benefit—but that couldn’t stop them from enjoying the rare and intimate performance, which included stripped-down, acoustic renditions of  “If I Could”, “Brian and Robert”, “Sleep”, “Talk”, “Strange Design”, “Mountains in the Mist”, and “Sample in a Jar”.

Luckily, the rain let up on Saturday, but whoever chose the set opener, “Water In The Sky”, was either having a laugh or forgot to check the weather. After ending the tune, Trey teased “We Welcome You to Munchkinland” from The Wizard of Oz, as he had several times during the Phish show the previous night on the 84th anniversary of the film’s release. He admitted that, surprisingly, he actually had no idea it was the film’s anniversary.

“Yesterday, about an hour after the show … we got a text from our manager, Patrick. He informed us that online, people had discovered that it was the anniversary of the day The Wizard of Oz was released, August 25th. No clue!” Trey told the audience. “Some magical force played me this melody, screaming out of the universe, ‘Play me, please.’ … Ironically, Page and I also enjoyed a box of Munchkins when we got off stage.”

The duo finished Saturday’s pre-show with “Farmhouse”, “Driver”, “Miss You”, “Waste”, “Evening Song”, “Joy”, and “Back on the Train”.

Watch Watch Trey Anastasio and Page McConnell’s private acoustic duo sets below, and scroll down to view the full setlist.

The shows may be over, but donations are still being accepted for the WaterWheel Foundation’s flood recovery fund. Read L4LM‘s reviews of Friday and Saturday, and click here to donate. An array of Benefit merchandise is available now at the Phish Dry Goods store.

Trey Anastasio & Page McConnell – Charles R. Wood Gazebo Stage – Saratoga Springs, NY – 8/25/23

[Video: gayanastasio]

Trey Anastasio & Page McConnell – Charles R. Wood Gazebo Stage – Saratoga Springs, NY – 8/26/23

[Video: TheKamherst]

Setlist [via Phish.net]: Trey Anastasio & Page McConnell | Charles R. Wood Gazebo Stage | Saratoga Springs, NY | 8/25/23

Set: If I Could, Brian and Robert, Sleep, Talk, Strange Design, Mountains in the Mist, Sample in a Jar

Note: This private pre-show ahead of the Phish show at Saratoga Performing Arts Center was for Waterwheel Foundation Package ticket holders. All songs were performed acoustic.

Setlist [via Phish.net]: Trey Anastasio & Page McConnell | Charles R. Wood Gazebo Stage | Saratoga Springs, NY | 8/26/23

Set: Water in the Sky, Farmhouse, Driver, Miss You, Waste, Evening Song, Joy, Back on the Train

Note: This private pre-show ahead of the Phish show at Saratoga Performing Arts Center was for Waterwheel Foundation Package ticket holders. All songs were performed acoustic. Trey teased We Welcome You to Munchkinland after Water in the Sky and said he had no clue that the previous day (in which he teased We Welcome You to Munchkinland several times during the Phish show) had been the anniversary of the release of The Wizard of Oz.