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Trey Anastasio, photo by Dave Vann<\/em><\/p>\n Trey Anastasio returned to the stage last night to set off his highly anticipated November tour<\/a> with the Trey Anastasio Band. To begin their first tour since 2023, the iconic Phish frontman and his six-piece backing band of Russ Lawton, Ray Paczkowski, Dezron Douglas, Cyro Baptista, Natalie Cressman and Jennifer Hartswick offered two sets of reimagined Phish classics and the bandleader\u2019s solo originals \u2013 including live debuts for two previously unheard songs.<\/p>\n TAB stepped into the spotlight for the first of two nights at Denver\u2019s Mission Ballroom with Phish\u2019s A Picture of Nectar <\/em>essential \u201cStash,\u201d performed by the septet for the first time since December 2006. After toggling to Anastasio\u2019s solo material with \u201cIn Rounds,\u201d drawn from his 2015 album Paper Wheels<\/em>, and the two-decade essential \u201cAlive Again,\u201d the band began to bounce back and forth between the catalogs. Between Phish fan-favorites like \u201cOcelot\u201d and \u201cBlaze On,\u201d the group shared Trey\u2019s independent cuts, including \u201cMozambique,\u201d \u201cDrifting\u201d and a set-closer of \u201cWhat\u2019s Going Through Your Mind.\u201d<\/p>\n A clear highlight within the era-spanning mix of hits that populated the first frame was \u201cReal You,\u201d a fresh original that rang out as a celebration of a new era for TAB. The band built on this re-introduction with \u201cMindless Mood,\u201d a second debut following the second set opening sequence of \u201cShine,\u201d \u201cWolfman\u2019s Brother\u201d and \u201cFirst Tube.\u201d Anastasio and his band brought on ebullient, baroque renditions of \u201cThe Moma Dance,\u201d \u201cLove Is What We Are,\u201d \u201cSand\u201d and \u201cValentine,\u201d then closed out the frame with an experimental high note of \u201cNo Men In No Man\u2019s Land.\u201d The frontman returned to the stage alone for an encore of the 2020 Lonely Trip<\/em> entry \u201cLost in the Pack,\u201d then called up his collaborators for a last radiant full-band blast of \u201cEverything\u2019s Right.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Trey Anastasio Band will perform at the Mission Ballroom again tonight, then head out for seven further dates through Nov. 5. From Nov. 28-30, Anastasio will return to New York\u2019s Beacon Theatre to celebrate the fifth anniversary of his unforgettable Beacon Jams<\/a> with a special three-night run. In keeping with the collaborative and experimental spirit of the peak pandemic livestream series, the artist will perform in a variety of formations, including TAB and the return of The Rescue Squad Strings. Proceeds from the residency will support the multifaceted charitable efforts of the Divided Sky Foundation. Find tickets and more information at trey.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n Stream Friday\u2019s show at livephish.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n\n<\/blockquote><\/div><\/div>\n