Sunday, January 12, 2025

Phish Delivers Unprecedented Third Performance at Riviera Maya, Breaking Records

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Phish, the prodigious American band renowned for their distinctive musical concoctions, manifested yet another masterstroke with the third night of their seventh annual Riviera Maya series that took place on the 23rd of February. Expanding on the inaugural salutation set delivered on Wednesday, and the comprehensive musical offering on Thursday, this installment continued to reverberate with a dynamic vigor, dishing out an array of 16 mesmerizing tracks which were artfully divided into two engrossing sets and an encore. One of the unforgettable marks indelibly etched onto this memorable occasion, was a rendition of “Chalk Dust Torture” that took the audience on a remarkable, transcendental journey, unfurling over a captivating 40-minute duration, thereby establishing a new record for the longevity of this musical standard.

Phish unfurled their musical tapestry using “Set Your Soul Free,” an enrapturing 2018 original composed by the brilliant Trey Anastasio. After initially blooming in its somber hues, an abrupt and exciting segue infused the air with a twisted, effects-laden interpretation of “Ghost”, followed by an artfully seamless transition into “Fast Enough for You,” a relatively rare live performance from the evocative album ‘Rift’. Then ensued an intriguing enactment of “Evolve” and “Mull,” setting the scene for “46 Days.” In a playful twist, Trey embellished this piece with tantalizing teases from the preceding track, smoothing the stylistic transition. “Kill Devil Falls” followed suit, cultivating the set’s exuberant rhythm before morphing into a foggy, experimental foray, ambushing the audience as “Wading in the Velvet Sea” emerged, leading towards the dramatic denouement of “Sigma Oasis,” the title track from the band’s newest studio production.

Following a brief interlude, the second set burst into life with a thrilling rendition of “Blaze”, serving as a thrilling precursor for the extraordinary, protracted version of “Chalk Dust Torture.” A stunning musical voyage that explored varied vibes and voices, firmly placing it among the band’s 10 longest jams ever. “Beneath a Sea of Stars Part 1” added to the allure, paving the way for energetic, straight-ahead renditions of “Backwards Down the Number Line” and “Harry Hood” which rounded off the main event. As an encore, the band launched into a high-spirited cover of Los Lobos’ 1992 gem “When the Circus Comes,” and concluded their performance by incorporating the crowd-pleasing “Character Zero.”

Phish’s 2024 Riviera Maya show promises to escalate the exhilaration as it hurtles towards its grand finale tonight. An audiovisual extravaganza awaits the band’s supporters, available for streaming on LivePhish. This final performance from an enthralling concert expedition promises to leave an indelible imprint on the memory of every spectator.

Phish
Moon Palace – Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico
2/22/24

Set I: Set Your Soul Free -> Ghost -> Fast Enough for You, Evolve, Mull > 46 Days* > Kill Devil Falls > Wading in the Velvet Sea, Sigma Oasis
Set II: Blaze On > Chalk Dust Torture+ > Beneath a Sea of Stars Part 1 > Backwards Down the Number Line > Harry Hood
Encore: When the Circus Comes^, Character Zero

Musician’s Commentary:
*With fleeting fragments of “Mull”
+ Featuring “Shipwreck” quote and inconclusive ending.
^An affectionate tribute to Los Lobos with a rendition of “When the Circus Comes”.


Vocabulary List:

  1. Prodigious (adjective): Remarkably or impressively great in extent, size, or degree.
  2. Concoctions (noun): Mixture or blend of various elements.
  3. Manifested (verb): To show or demonstrate plainly; reveal.
  4. Vigor (noun): Physical strength and good health.
  5. Denouement (noun): The final resolution or outcome of a story.
  6. Extravaganza (noun): An elaborate and spectacular entertainment or production.

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