Night three of a New Year’s run at Madison Square Garden is where things either loosen up or lock in. By 12/30, patterns are visible, themes start to emerge, and the band knows exactly how the room is breathing. On this Tuesday night, Phish leaned hard into momentum, confidence, and flow, delivering a show that never felt rushed yet never gave the crowd a chance to sit back and coast. This was a kinetic, muscle-flexing performance — less about surprise and more about execution, placement, and joy.
As with the two nights prior, the lights went down just before 8:00 p.m. sharp. No hesitation, no dramatic pause — just lift-off.
Set One: Momentum as a Mission
“Chalk Dust Torture” opened a Phish show for the first time since 2022, and it immediately reframed the song’s role. Freed from its usual closer slot, “Chalk Dust” stretched into a looser, more exploratory version, highlighted by a jazzy midsection where Page McConnell briefly took the wheel. It wasn’t a massive jam, but it was limber and welcoming — calisthenics before the sprint.
Without pause, the band slid into “The Moma Dance,” unfinished but still triumphant. It felt like a question mark mid-sentence: was this moment ending, or just beginning? Kuroda painted the room in pinks and whites as the groove settled in, only for Trey to yank the band right back into “Chalk Dust Torture,” bringing the crowd along for another round of youthful optimism and reckless momentum. Phish was already bending the setlist in on itself, flexible and playful.
“Back on the Train” followed in a knowing nod to New York City, complete with Trey’s tongue-in-cheek subway announcements pre- and post-show. This version didn’t wander far from the station, but it didn’t need to. The groove was bouncy, the ending rocked, and the placement was perfect. Kuroda’s rig threw pink and green snake-like shapes across the Garden, and everything felt unmistakably phishy.
The energy stayed sky-high with “Axilla (Part II),” a song that’s quietly become a reliable MSG weapon. Trey nailed it, Fishman drove it hard, and the Garden could feel the vibration in its bones. This was a crowd-mover, plain and simple.
Then came the breath.
“Divided Sky” arrived with flawless timing, and this version was all about restraint and beauty. The Garden powered down during the pause — a full 1:09 of collective stillness — as Trey turned to take in the crowd on all sides. It’s a moment MSG does better than anywhere else, and on this night it landed perfectly.
“Blaze On” followed, the only post-2000 tune in the set, and it injected a little summer warmth into December. Page led the jam with bright, playful keywork before Trey made a decisive pivot toward funk.
“Tube” delivered exactly that. Trey spiced up the intro, flirting briefly with a hip-hop feel before settling into a slithering groove that stayed playful rather than sinister. It never went evil, but it didn’t need to — the pocket was deep and satisfying.
The band showed no signs of easing up with “Reba.” This was a patient, unrushed version that felt confident and controlled. Trey navigated the composed section cleanly and eased into a jam that built naturally before peaking with joyous ferocity. No whistling ending, but no one seemed to miss it.
Instead, Phish went straight for the jugular.
“Split Open and Melt” was a clear highlight of the set and one of the most intense moments of the night. Much like the famed 12/30/18 version, this “Melt” leaned hard into dissonance and tension. Trey pushed a metallic, grinding tone through the back half while Page interlaced shimmering keys above it. Choosing a song this complex immediately after “Reba” spoke volumes about how comfortable and locked-in the band felt. Set One ended not with a bow, but with a snarl.
The lights came up and setbreak buzzed with anticipation. This was already a strong night — and it felt like there was more coming.
Set Two: Bliss, Bounce, and Full Commitment
Phish returned to the stage at 9:55 p.m. to a roaring Garden and wasted no time.
“Ghost” opened the second set for the first time in 2025, and it was a welcome surprise. Rather than descending into murk, this version floated. Trey maintained buoyant textures, Fishman drove a gorgeous, steady groove, and Page layered in organ tones that nudged the jam toward bliss. At around 16 minutes, it wrapped naturally — not maximal, but deeply satisfying.
“Ruby Waves” followed, and suddenly the room was swimming. Trey introduced a simple 1-2-3 motif that opened the door for Fishman to guide the band into a dreamy, expansive space. Trey’s phrasing here was patient and emotive, taking small, thoughtful bites of melody before letting them dissolve into the clouds. This was one of those jams that doesn’t overwhelm — it envelops.
“Light” arrived as the perfect companion piece. Page again led the way, while Trey and Fish engaged in a call-and-response that gradually stripped down into a jazzy, floating jam. Trey launched guitar peaks like flares, Fishman nudged the tempo upward, and Kuroda bathed the Garden in brilliant white light. This sequence — Ghost > Ruby Waves > Light — was the spine of the show.
And then came the pounce.
“Crosseyed and Painless” hit like a reflex. This is a pen-down song — there’s no analysis in the moment, only movement. At 13 minutes, it wasn’t a monster, but it was tight, muscular, and full of intent. Fishman shined both vocally and rhythmically, while Page’s organ locked the band into a rock-solid groove. The Garden was one organism, pulsing.
“Twist” kept things lean and mean. Under eight minutes, no wasted motion, with Mike’s bass slapping hard against Fishman’s bebop flourishes. Trey kicked his legs at the woos, clearly enjoying himself.
“Cavern” followed, because of course it did. It stomped through the Garden with fortified energy and just the right amount of chaos. Fishman’s drum work took on a hip-hop swagger, and the crowd responded in kind.
As if there were any doubt left, Phish closed the set with “First Tube.” Trey entered full rockstar mode, galloping across the stage, wide stances, big smiles, Jedi-ing his guitar skyward as the Garden lost its collective mind. It was unfiltered joy, plain and simple.
Set Two wrapped just after 11:00 p.m., and the band briefly exited before returning for the encore.
Encore: One Last Message
“Drift While You’re Sleeping” closed the night. While a “Harry Hood” might’ve felt like the obvious choice, there was something fitting about ending on a message rather than a peak. “Love will carry us through” echoed through the Garden, and the crowd listened.
It was a gentle landing after a high-energy flight.
Final Thoughts
Phish on 12/30/25 delivered a show that thrived on momentum, trust, and execution. There were no gimmicks, no forced surprises — just a band playing confidently, choosing smart placements, and committing fully to every moment. As they head into 2026, approaching their 100th show at YEMSG, it’s hard not to feel grateful. Most bands don’t get here. Phish does — and still sounds hungry.
We’re lucky.
Grade: A
Setlist
SET 1:
Chalk Dust Torture > The Moma Dance (unfinished) > Chalk Dust Torture, Back on the Train, Axilla (Part II) > Divided Sky, Blaze On > Tube > Reba (no whistling), Split Open and Melt
SET 2:
Ghost > Ruby Waves > Light > Crosseyed and Painless -> Twist, Cavern, First Tube
ENCORE:
Drift While You’re Sleeping