The 2025 touring calendar stood as a definitive chapter in Phish’s modern era, characterized by a seamless integration of material from the Evolve LP and a renewed commitment to deep, long-form improvisation. For those tracking Phish setlists 2025, the year offered a journey from the tropical beaches of Mexico to the storied stage of Madison Square Garden, with a particularly fertile summer tour that pushed several classic vehicles into uncharted territory. Looking back from 2026, the patterns of that year reveal a band comfortably balancing their legacy with a relentless drive for new sonic textures.

The Warm-up: Riviera Maya and the West Coast Spring

The year kicked off in February with the annual Riviera Maya run at Moon Palace. These four nights often serve as a laboratory for the year’s sonic direction. The February 1, 2025, setlist was an early indicator of the band's form, featuring a massive "Tweezer" that anchored the second set, alongside the increasingly popular "What’s Going Through Your Mind." The inclusion of "Soul Shakedown Party" in the first set signaled a loose, celebratory vibe that would persist throughout the spring.

As the band moved to the West Coast in April, the setlists began to tighten. The three-night stand at the Hollywood Bowl (April 25–27) was a highlight of the spring tour. On the final night, April 27, the band delivered a first set that felt like a nod to their early 90s precision, opening with "The Landlady" and "Cavern." However, it was the second set's flow—"You Enjoy Myself" into "Twist" into "Kill Devil Falls"—that captured the essence of 2025: high-energy execution paired with patient, melodic jamming.

The Summer Tour 2025: A Deep Dive into the Setlists

Summer 2025 was where the heavy lifting occurred. Spanning from June to September, this tour saw the band visiting a mix of classic sheds and urban arenas. The setlists from this period show a band willing to take significant risks with set construction.

The North Charleston Breakout

One of the most talked-about shows of the summer occurred on July 13 at the North Charleston Coliseum. While the first set was solid, featuring a rare "Walk Away" cover and a haunting "Thread," it was the "Tweezer" in the second set that defined the night. Clocking in at over 30 minutes, this version explored multiple movements, from dark, synthesized funk to a triumphant, major-key peak. It remains a mandatory listen for anyone analyzing Phish setlists 2025.

Philadelphia and the "Macarena" Simple

The two-night run at the TD Pavilion at the Mann in Philadelphia (July 15–16) provided some of the most playful moments of the year. On July 16, the band opened the second set with "The Curtain With," a rarity for that slot. This was followed by a "Simple" that became an instant classic, featuring extensive "Macarena" teases from the entire band, with the crowd enthusiastically joining in. It was a reminder that for all their technical prowess, the band’s sense of humor remains a core component of the live experience.

The Chicago United Center Stand

Chicago received a three-night run in mid-July that saw some of the most consistent setlists of the tour. July 19 featured a first set with "The Line," played for the first time since 2018, while the second set was dominated by a version of "Tube" that many fans cited as one of the longest and most expansive versions in the song’s history. The segue from "A Song I Heard the Ocean Sing" into "Down with Disease" demonstrated the seamless transitions that characterized the best of 2025.

Festival Appearances and the Late Summer Push

In September, the band made a notable appearance at the Bourbon & Beyond festival in Louisville. Festival setlists are often shorter and more "greatest hits" oriented, but Phish maintained their improvisational edge. The September 12 setlist included a powerful "Chalk Dust Torture" that bled into "Light," proving they could deliver deep jams even in a festival setting with a more diverse audience.

Shortly after, the tour concluded with a high-stakes three-night run at the Hampton Coliseum. The venue, often called "The Mothership," always seems to elicit something extra from the band. The September 20 show featured a second set consisting of "Everything’s Right" > "Simple" > "A Wave of Hope" > "Simple" (reprise), a masterclass in sandwich-style setlist construction that kept the energy at a fever pitch.

The MSG New Year’s Run: The Ice Cream Evolution

As is tradition, the year culminated at Madison Square Garden for a four-night New Year’s Eve run. The Phish setlists 2025 for this run were particularly dense, with the band referencing various themes throughout the week.

  • December 28: The run opened with a high-energy "Buried Alive" and a notable "Simple" sequence that revisited the summer's improvisational themes.
  • December 29: This night focused on deep cuts and segues, including a first-set "The Curtain With" and a powerful "Mike’s Song" > "The Final Hurrah" > "Weekapaug Groove."
  • December 30: Often considered the "jam night" of the run, the 30th didn't disappoint, with a second set that flowed from "Ghost" into "Ruby Waves" and "Light."
  • December 31: The New Year's Eve show featured the "Ice Cream" gag. The third set included a sequence of "Harry Hood" and "2001" (Also Sprach Zarathustra) with giant ice cream props and dancers. The music was equally sweet, with the debut of "Sincere" and a rare "Spock’s Brain" in the encore, the latter appearing for the first time in over 200 shows.

Analysis of 2025 Song Debuts and Bust-outs

2025 was a significant year for the band's repertoire. Several songs from the Evolve album, such as "Evolve," "Oblivion," and "A Wave of Hope," became reliable jam vehicles. "A Wave of Hope" in particular seemed to find its way into the second set of many high-profile shows, often serving as the primary improvisational centerpiece.

Bust-outs were also a frequent occurrence. The return of "On Your Way Down" on July 18 in Chicago after a 522-show gap was a major moment for setlist trackers. Similarly, the revival of "Jesus Just Left Chicago" on July 12 in North Charleston for the first time since 2019 provided a dose of classic blues-rock that had been missing from recent tours.

The Evolution of the Jam in 2025

Musically, the 2025 setlists showed a trend toward "multi-colored" jamming. Rather than sticking to a single groove, the band frequently shifted between ambient bliss, dissonant tension, and funk-driven peaks within a single song. The use of new synth textures by Page McConnell and the continued evolution of Trey Anastasio’s guitar tone—incorporating more subtle delays and filters—gave the 2025 jams a distinct sonic footprint.

Drummer Jon Fishman’s role in shaping the setlists also cannot be overstated. His ability to trigger different rhythmic directions often dictated when a song would transition into a jam or segue into the next track. This was particularly evident in the "Tube" from Chicago and the "Simple" from Philadelphia, where the rhythmic shifts allowed the band to explore wildly different spaces without losing momentum.

Conclusion: The Legacy of 2025

When reviewing Phish setlists 2025, it becomes clear that the band reached a state of "effortless flow." The setlists were less about checking boxes of classic songs and more about creating a cohesive narrative across two sets. Whether it was the experimental spirit of the Spring Tour or the monumental jams of the Summer, 2025 provided a wealth of material that continues to be dissected by the community.

For those looking to revisit the year, the July 13 Charleston show, the July 19 Chicago show, and the December 31 MSG spectacular stand as the essential pillars. Each represents a different facet of the band: the fearless improvisers, the masters of the groove, and the whimsical performers. As we move further into 2026, the 2025 tour stands as a testament to Phish’s enduring ability to surprise and delight their audience, night after night, setlist after setlist.

Notable 2025 Statistics

  • Most Played Songs: "A Wave of Hope," "Evolve," "Chalk Dust Torture."
  • Longest Jam: "Tweezer" (July 13, North Charleston) – ~31 minutes.
  • Biggest Bust-out: "On Your Way Down" (July 18, Chicago) – 522 shows.
  • New Songs Debuted: "Sincere," "Dancing in Midair" (Riviera Maya), "Fling Your Head."

The 2025 setlists didn't just document songs; they documented a band in a period of high creativity, willing to play with their own history while constantly reaching for what's next. Whether you were on the rail or watching from the couch, the 2025 tour provided a lifetime of musical memories.