Take It On Down To The Shore: Phish Doubles Down On Big Jams For Night 2 In Atlantic City

By Nate Todd Oct 4, 2026 • 8:47 am PDT

Phish returned to Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City to continue their 2026 Fall Tour. The second night of the run and second show at the New Jersey shore venue since 2013 saw two more back-to-back 20-minute-plus jams following similar night one explorations. The band also revived “Sleeping Monkey” during the three-song encore.

Phish launched the show steps away from the beach with “Sand.” The quartet shifted into improv mode with a silky groove that drummer Jon Fishman chopped up with dynamic punctuations as keyboardist Page McConnell‘s clavinet warbled around Boardwalk Hall.

With Mike Gordon holding down a steady thump, guitarist Trey Anastasio unleashed liquid electricity from the Languedoc with varying degrees of viscosity. A key change boosted the band to higher intensity and on to the close via wailing notes from Anastasio.

Next, the quartet dropped “Everything’s Right” into the second song slot. After bouncing through the Sigma Oasis cut, Fish rolled the band into a funky pocket with fills full of toms and hi-hat. Trey worked out some right hand work as Page manned his Wurlitzer electric piano.

Anastasio swept the band into a major key with a flight of licks, expanding into more atmospheric territory that followed The Beatles‘ “Dear Prudence” progression. Anastasio then catapulted the group back into “Everything’s Right” before delivering rapid-fire riffs to cap off the tune.

“Back on the Train” sauntered into Boardwalk Hall next and featured barroom piano from Page. “Stash” then gave the band a chance to spread out dynamically, with the improv beginning understated and building to a boil, unfolding in a fairly straightforward “Stash” fashion. Gordon and Fishman then teamed up for “555.”

Like the “Fuego” tour-opener at Boardwalk Hall on Friday, “555” returned to the venue where it debuted on Halloween 2013 when Phish performed Wingsuit, their yet-to-be-released 2014 album Fuego.

Next, “Mountains in the Mist” floated into the room like a cool breeze from faraway climbs. The cacophonous piano of “Bathtub Gin” then emerged from the hypnotic haze of “Mist.” Trey and Mike hooked up on frenetic runs to get into the jam, injecting energy into the improv from the jump as Fish ushered in a galloping groove laced with looped, cyclical runs from Anastasio leading to a white light peak. The propulsive “Gin” brought the first set to a close.

Phish kept the energy high by kicking off the second set with “Chalk Dust Torture.” The band wasted no time dropping “CDT” into a late night drive vibe where space and the delicate dance between the instruments took the wheel.

Trey looped a feedback note that pulsed across a rhythm from Fish that saw him utilizing his full kit with McConnell adding chime-like runs on his Moog One synthesizer while Gordon bubbled underneath it all.

“What’s Going Through Your Mind,” a standout from the band’s more recent output, arrived at Boardwalk Hall next. The jam sizzled with Page’s synth array as the quartet settled into another groove that carried a good clip.

Anastasio slid over to his auxiliary percussion set up, a feature that has found legs after returning during the band’s 1995 show at MSG this summer. McConnell’s laser-like synths filled the space accentuated by Trey on his midi drum pad, a new emergence on fall tour. Fish got in on the fun as well, bringing back a Sci-Fi Soldier sample.

Shouldering his guitar once again, Trey revved up with right hand work before peeling off licks anchored by a rolling, Motown-esque bassline from Mike. A driving beat from Fish egged Anastasio on as the band surged into full-tilt boogie punctuated by smokeshow stuff from Trey. The siren song of his mini drum kit was too strong, however, and Anastasio returned to the percussion array where he completely lost his mind mind mind mind.

The opening riff of “Mike’s Song” got a rise out of the audience. The band strode into the Gordon-led favorite which saw the bassist calling back to “WGTYM.” “Mike’s” boasted a crunchy funk section that saw the band glued together, over which Trey draped whale noises before conjuring growls and wails from the Koa 1 amidst a funky sludge of clavinet leading into the song’s hits.

The opening strains of “Waste” then filtered into Boardwalk Hall, a first time “Mike’s” > “Waste.” The classic “Mike’s” closer, “Weekapaug Groove” wrapped up the three song segment. The band strutted through “Weekapaug,” Trey continuing to reel off rapid-fire arpeggios.

“Monsters,” a killer cut off the band’s most recent studio album Evolve, slid into the sixth song slot of the second set. “Harry Hood” followed the dark ballad and counted as the final song of the second set. The quartet sailed through the vintage composition with the confidence of a band that has played it 445 times but also the curiosity of kids learning it for the first time.

Phish initiated the encore with the Billy Breathes rocker “Character Zero.” The band then revived “Sleeping Monkey,” last time played on April 19, 2025. As the rhythm section worked their way into the tune, Anastasio addressed the audience.

“Thanks everybody, thank you,” he said. “We’re so happy to be here at the shore playing music. I don’t know about these two guys, but Page and I… we grew up on this beach. Couple of Jersey boys here. We got sunburned on this beach. Kinda brings a tear to the eye, thinking of those childhood memories.”

Trey tossed Page a towel to wipe the “tears” away as Phish delivered the humorous number. To put a punctuation mark on the evening, Phish threw down “Tweezer Reprise” after skipping it the night before. Anastasio rolled out the rock ‘n’ roll, filling “Tweprise” with Chuck Berry licks ahead of the final kerrang.

Phish’s run at Boardwalk Hall concludes tonight. Livestreams of Phish Fall Tour 2026 shows are available with a LivePhish With subscription.

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