Following Phish’s cow-funk laden 1997 Fall Tour, Phish embarked on a 4-night ‘Island Tour‘ with two shows each on Long Island and in Providence, Rhode Island. The result was four historic shows that continued the free flowing jams from 1997 and a new era of exploratory Phish. Unexpected jams arose from “Roses are Free,” “Cavern” and “Weekapaug Groove,” and debuts of “Shafty,” “Twist” and “Birds of a Feather” were peppered throughout the run.
As mentioned by Trey after the debut of “Birds of a Feather,” Phish was about to record Story of the Ghost shortly after the tour, before heading to Europe to test out even more new tunes before heading back for Summer Tour. Watch videos from the two Nassau Coliseum shows and relive the glory of Island Tour as it turns 21.
Setlists courtesy of Phish.net
April 2, 1998, Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, NY
Soundcheck: Funky Bitch -> Jam, Birds of a Feather
Set 1: Tube, My Mind’s Got a Mind of its Own, The Sloth, NICU, Stash[1] > Horn > Waste > Chalk Dust Torture
Set 2: Punch You in the Eye > Simple > Birds of a Feather[2], Wolfman’s Brother -> Sneakin’ Sally Through the Alley[3] -> Frankie Says[2] > Twist > Sleeping Monkey > Rocky Top
Encore: Guyute
[1] Unfinished.
[2] Debut.
[3] No vocal jam.
April 3, 1998, Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, NY
Set 1: Mike’s Song -> The Old Home Place > Weekapaug Groove, Train Song > Billy Breathes, Beauty of My Dreams, Dogs Stole Things > Reba, My Soul
Set 2: Roses Are Free > Piper > Loving Cup > Run Like an Antelope[1]
Encore: Carini > Halley’s Comet > Tweezer Reprise
[1] “Carini’s gonna getcha” sung several times in intro. “Carini” spoken later in the song.