PHISH
@ BUDWEISER STAGE, TORONTO
JUNE 18, 2019
Freshly rested from a weekend of sets at Bonnaroo Music Festival, Phish returned to Toronto tonight on their Phish Summer Tour 2019, and first Canadian show in six years.
Getting down to the nitty-gritty with the classic βAC/DC Bagβ, the night kicked off with electricity. Rolling into β555β, John Fishman and Mike Gordon laid the foundation for funk with intricate drumming and a face-scrunching bassline that got the crowd swaying. Paired with Page McConnellβs keys plus Trey Anastasioβs snakey guitar licks and syrupy vocal hooks, it made for a perfect transition into crowd favourite βStashβ.
Keeping up with their stash claps, the crowd bobbed along the surface with βThe Wedgeβ. Treating us to a long overdue performance, Phish premiered a live debut of βRuby Wavesβ from Trey Anastasioβs new album Ghost of the Forest. They would revisit this album to cap off the show with the encore track βDrift While Youβre Sleepingβ. Jumping into βYou Enjoy Myselfβ, the trampolines came out for Anastasio and Gordon to bounce then an otherworldly vocal jam descended first into madness, then into set break.
What a fun, uplifting and joyful night at Budweiser Stage. It was a balmy summer evening and the backdrop of the city came alive at sunset to compliment Chris Kurodaβs pretty lights. Clearly, the love and the loyalty rolls deep with Phish fans; many of whom got right back on the road south to Blossom Music Centre amphitheatre in Cuyahoga, Ohio the following night. It might be β46 Daysβ until we can feel our faces after the all the guitar shredding, shining lights and smiling from ear-to-ear.