Phish | 2020-02-20 | The Moon Palace, Quintana Roo, Mexico [AUD]

In a minute I’ll be free and you’ll be splashing in the sea…then you’ll hear my recording of Phish on their first night at The Moon Palace & Resorts.!

Kicking off the first night of their four-night-run at The Moon Palace, Phish delivered a welcome set that was almost as long as a standard show, clocking in at a little over two and half hours, to the delight of the fans in attendance. The band started the set with a cover of Rolling Stones classic “Torn And Frayed”, a nod to first night jitters. While the band may have sung about being a bag of nerves on first nights, they didn’t seem to show it as the set took shape and expanded on classics such as “Ghost”, “Steam”, and the not-often jammed “Free”, the latter of which contained samples from Halloween tunes “Shipwreck” and “Your Pet Cat”, in addition to “Rescue Squad” quotes, a possible reference to the lifeguards in the ocean holding up flashlights to make sure no errant phan is lost at sea.

In addition to “Free”, there were several other tunes that made reference to the scenery. The band performed “Shake Your Coconuts”, a song that hadn’t been seen since its debut at the Baker’s Dozen run, appropriately on the coconut night. There was “Destiny Unbound”, which contained a slick microjam. The tune itself was also preceded by the 3.0 rarity “The Landlady”, which itself carries a Latin-rhythm that fit well with our host country. And there was also the Ghosts Of The Forest tune, “Beneath A Sea Of Stars Part 1”, which blended into the final song of the set, “Say It To Me S.A.N.T.O.S.” — needless to say, the members of Phish were feeling their surroundings.

There were some odd moments as well. First off, Trey did not play the building Dsus2 chord for “Free” and instead opted to go right into the main riff. Trey also neglected the “SHIT!” lyric in “You Enjoy Myself”, a possible nod to the many children present, but who knows? There were also more segues than I think I’ve ever seen at Phish show, as the band performed 9 separate break-free transitions.

All and all, the addition of the welcome set is a welcome addition. The band performed with a tight focus and seemed to be communicating effectively. While there were no mega jams, the band’s playing was on-point, and they seemed ready to keep up the pace for the next few days. Viva Phish Mexico!

Phish | 2020-02-20 | The Moon Palace, Quintana Roo, Mexico

-= One Set =-
01. (Intro)
02. Torn And Frayed >
03. Ghost >
04. Free[1]
05. Shake Your Coconuts[2]
06. Victim
07. Moma Dance >
08. Gotta Jibboo
09. Shade
10. The Landlady >
11. Destiny Unbound
12. Steam >
13. Crosseyed And Painless >
14. Run Like An Antelope
15. Cavern >
16. Beneath A Sea Of Stars Part 1
17. Say It To Me S.A.N.T.O.S.

-= Encore =-
18. (Encore Break)
19. You Enjoy Myself

Show Notes: This was the first night of a four-night-run at The Moon Palace Resort.
[1] “Free” contained samples from “Shipwreck” and “Your Pet Cat” as well as “Rescue Squad” quotes.
[2] “Shake Your Coconuts” lyrics changed to “It’s Phish in Mexico time!”

Taper Notes: Stage left of the soundboard. Mics raised around 10′ PAS.

Thank you to Phish and The Grand at Moon Palace Cancun for being cool with taping/sharing shows. Go see live music and tip your bartenders! #spacetapes

ETREE LINK: http://bt.etree.org/details.php?torrentId=608684