Yesterday, Trey Anastasio made an impressive debut on the public radio program A Prairie Home Companion, performing alongside show-host Chris Thile at Denver’s Ellie Caukins Opera House. The Phish guitarist performed five songs total, starting acoustic with “Brian & Robert” alongside Thile on mandolin, Aoife O’Donovan on vocals, Rich Dworsky on keys, Chris Eldridge on guitar, Brittany Haas on fiddle, Paul Kowert on bass and Ted Poor on drums. From the opening performance, the interview segment began with Trey proclaiming he hadn’t been to Denver since his three-night stand at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park and that he would go home the next day for the first time since summer tour. Trey then led the band into a rare acoustic version of “Back On The Train,” with accompanying vocals like you’ve never heard before. Watch “Brian & Robert” via Brian Geraghty and pro-shot video of “Back On The Train” via the evening’s program below:
The episode continued before Anastasio returned to perform another atypical version The Story Of The Ghost‘s “Water In The Sky” with the house band. The song took a country route that Anastasio noted only happens with the Prairie Home Companion band, before heading into a top-notch version of Big Boat’s “Miss You.” The night ended with a version of “Prince Of Peace” in dedication to the late Leon Russell. Watch the special performances below:
Enjoy this full show audio via Duanebase:
Segment I: Brian & Robert, Interview, Back On The Train
Segment II: Water In The Sky, Interview, Miss You, Prince Of Peace
[H/T Jambase / photo via @oddjoyous]