In Las Vegas, Phish Dust Off Prince’s “1999,” Debut Hendrix’s “If 6 Was 9” in Numbers-Themed Show

Phish kicked off their Las Vegas Halloween run on Thursday, Oct. 28 with a numbers-themed show, marking their first appearance in Sin City since their 2018 Kasvot Växt fake-out.

The evening started with a certified dance party as the band chased “Also Sprach Zarathustra” aka “2001” with Prince’s “1999.” (“1999” saw Page McConnell and Mike Gordon take on vocal duties. It last graced a Phish setlist during their 2017 Baker’s Dozen run. Interestingly, the last time “2001” opened a show was… in 1999).

The numbers kept coming with the 3.0 cut “555” followed by “46 Days,” beloved cover “Strawberry Letter 23” and a set-ending “Twenty Years Later.”

“Seven Below” opened the second half, but the real attraction was the next selection: the first-ever version of Jimi Hendrix’s “If 6 Was 9.”

David Bowie’s “Five Years” harkened back to the band’s 2016 Halloween gig in the same room – “Five Years” was the first song of their full-set The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars costume. It was last played on that very evening: 10/31/16.

Next came the eighth-ever performance of the band’s original “Two Versions of Me” which came off 2004’s Undermind and was last heard on Nov. 27, 2009 (show gap: 435).

The show’s final bustout came after “Two Versions of Me” (and nodded to the run’s party atmosphere) as fans giggled along with the weirdness of “NO2,” last performed on Sept. 6, 2015 (show gap: 192).

“Army of One,” “My Sweet One,” and “First Tube”> “Character Zero” rounded out the fiery performance.

The encore consisted of “Backwards Down the Number Line” and “Grind.” According to Phish.net, “In place of the usual number of days lived, ‘Grind’ featured the band singing the setlist ended by noting that the songs added up to ‘4,680 digits.’”

Phish’s Halloween run continues through Oct. 29, 30 and 31.

Check out the full setlist (and clips of each opener) below:

Phish
Oct. 28, 2021
MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas

Set I: Also Sprach Zarathustra, 1999* > 555 > 46 Days, Strawberry Letter 23 > Twenty Years Later

Set II: Seven Below > If 6 Was 9[1] > Five Years^ > Two Versions of Me% -> NO2$, Army of One, My Sweet One, First Tube > Character Zero

Enc: Backwards Down the Number Line, Grind

Notes:
[1] Phish debut.
* LTP July 26, 2017 (show gap: 130)
^ LTP Oct. 31, 2016 (show gap: 147)
% LTP Nov. 27, 2009 (show gap: 435)
$ LTP Sept. 6, 2015 (show gap: 192)

The post In Las Vegas, Phish Dust Off Prince’s “1999,” Debut Hendrix’s “If 6 Was 9” in Numbers-Themed Show appeared first on Jambands.

Link to the source article – https://jambands.com/news/2021/10/29/in-las-vegas-phish-dust-off-princes-1999-debut-hendrixs-if-6-was-9-in-numbers-themed-show/

Recommended for you