Sphere8 Recap: Can You Still Have Enjoyable?

[We would like to thank @GrapeApe aka @AprilDawne (Instagram) for recapping last night’s show. -Ed.]

May 1, 2026 was my first Phish present on the Sphere. My greatest pal handled me to a Dead and Company present within the 400s for my fiftieth birthday in May 2025, however going to that present didn’t make up for lacking Phish’s inaugural Sphere run in spring of 2024, and I vowed to make it occur in the event that they performed the Sphere once more.

Fast-forward to strolling into the Sphere with my cousin with simply sufficient time to purchase some merch and get to our craptacular seats within the 100s, just below the overhang, a couple of minutes after “Sample in a Jar” began. We went into this present with zero expectations. So a lot of our favourite songs had been performed throughout weekend 1 of this run, that we joked it’d be an evening of songs by/from/to Trey’s Soul and Gamehendge. The latter being a fan favourite, and a few of my least favourite songs by the band. (My first Phish present was Austin,’97 so save your bullshit.) By the time “Boogie On Reggae Woman” began, any stress from the day evaporated just like the sweat on my pores and skin within the desert solar.

The graphics on the sky-reaching screens have been daring, colourful, and jogged my memory of the examples of “seeing” music in the movie “Fantasia”, which actually is what Sphere offers you. A uncommon alternative to have interaction in synesthesia with out using medication. The band introduced the gang again right down to earth with “Heavy Things”, a candy music to remind us to take issues in stride, as rainbow waterfalls started cascading down the display screen, I couldn’t assist considering that I did my cousin soiled with our obstructed view seats. I attempted to be cavalier about our craptacular seats, however the reality is, obstructed view seat within the Sphere shouldn’t be bought, interval.

The pastel coloured waterfall continued to cascade all completely different instructions and right into a black gap because the band “wahh-haah’ed” via the refrain. While I just like the music, I felt some aid because the band launched into the best model of “Bouncing Around the Room” I’ver ever skilled. The crowd roared with pleasure and as I grew an increasing number of excited, somebody behind me jolted me out of my head saying, “I’m heading to the john” to their buddy. A strong reminder that one particular person’s favourite music is another person’s rest room music.

The sound actually bounced and swirled across the room making everybody inside a participant of the spherical Phish was creating with their voices and their devices. It gave me goosebumps, which gave approach to “Mound,” throwing us right into a dwelling, respiratory piece of album paintings, in addition to righting the wrongs on the planet for the fellows behind me that weren’t into “Bouncing Around the Room”.

I’m identified for poo-pooing a number of the extra delicate, sappy songs, however after they launched into “Mountains in the Mist” I smiled, swayed, and appreciated being proper the place I used to be. Limited view and all. As Trey and Page quietly plucked their manner via the notes of the music, I used to be in awe of the way it pressured me to sit back and expertise each word in all its sweetness proper together with them. And Phish, I converse for the entire crowd after I say, we’re so glad you’re on the highway once more, too. I wish to rewatch the exhibits I cowl as I write them and I’m typing via my tears over how lovely this music sounded to me. Hearing the gang roar on the finish is validating. As I proceed to age alongside Phish, I would be taught to lean into my secret sappy broad facet.

Well, no time to contemplate that shit too deeply, as a result of now I’ve obtained a clean house the place my thoughts must be. As I get into the groove with “Stealing Time From the Faulty Plan” I take into consideration how I might need heard via the years that this music isn’t a fan-fave, however I occur to like it. It’s so rattling catchy that I wakened from my 3 hours of sleep singing this to myself as I obtained up to make use of the lavatory and bust out this recap whereas my cousin sleeps on. Hell, it’s so catchy, it obtained me proper out of my seat final evening!

I do know I’ve already admitted to not being a Gamehendge fan, however the psychedelic pop-art animated story for “Tela” and “McGrupp and the Watchful Hosemasters” was unbelievable! And actually, I actually like each songs, so for me personally, it’s a greatest case state of affairs scenario. Plus, I knew my Phish Bros have been stoked to lastly get “Tela”.

Coming down from the temporary Gamehendge excessive, the band floated us proper into “Wingsuit”, which is one other music that may not be a favorite, however for no matter purpose, I actually prefer it. Is it the important thing adjustments? Is it Page’s angelic piano taking part in? Y’all, I don’t know. I simply know what sounds good to my ears, mind, and coronary heart. The display screen was displaying nice, trippy visuals that actually let the music do the heavy lifting. This may simply be the shitty view speaking, as I’m positive somebody was legitimately sucked into the swirling purple cyclone on the display screen.

As the band launched into the final music of the set, I used to be once more jolted out of my seat for a very enjoyable, “David Bowie”. The cascading waterfall results have been again on the display screen, however all I actually cared about was discovering out the place this DB was going. For a music of few phrases and even much less deep which means, the odd word construction of this music makes it a welcome pay attention anytime it results in a setlist. Just a little bit funky, just a little bit jazzy, it proved to be a hell of a approach to finish a enjoyable first set. [Side note: The visuals were cool, a little overwhelming, and then straight up turned into hyper-warp-speed-overdrive “David Bowie”. I am 10000000% sure that there are people who are still lost in that portal that was opened at the last 3 minutes of the song. (If you don’t believe me, go back and watch/listen, and turn it up at 1:58 – trust me.)

Set 2

Holy shit, y’all. I think having zero expectations was the way to go and served me well. While writing this recap, one of my Phish Bros texted that he now understands why everyone is dropping their pants in the 400s. Seeing one of your favorite bands in the Sphere is intoxicating, even without all the extra shenanigans.

Fans knew “Wilson” was coming sooner than later, and when the band abruptly ended set-break with the first few notes, people were sprinting back to their seats to catch the rest. Can you blame them? When Trey asked if we were still having fun, he had the biggest grin, proving that nobody is having as much fun as Phish is having right now. (And we are here for it!)

There’s no way I’ll ever get to the rest of my Saturday if I continue to go as deep, and this piece was due first thing this morning. I woke up in Austin on Friday morning at 2:30 a.m. after 2 hours of sleep, and didn’t lay down until 4:30 a.m. Vegas time this morning. I set my alarm for 7:21 a.m. to get this recap out into the world.

“Seven Below” is a fun jam-filled song that I mostly forget about until it’s thrust upon me, but since this is the Ape’s No Expectations Run, it’s all perfectly fucking cool with me. The “Seven Below” jams were heady and went well with the Sesame Street-looking pinball animation. The music was the star of the show in last night’s extravaganza, but maybe I’m saying that from the Obstructed 100s and I’m completely out of my element, but it caused me to have a very different experience. Sleep deprivation and sobriety also played a role in my experience, but I wanted to be able to properly tell my side of the story.

A telling piece of information in my notes says, “Seven Below” went some places. It certainly did. And Kuroda definitely helped take it there. The more the song popped off, the more Kuroda’s virtual rig mirrored the music. I think this was a highlight for me. I know Phish and Kuroda have this dialed into something that’s undefinable and unique in the live music world, but y’all, this was something to truly behold.

A place it didn’t go was somewhere dark. I really enjoy “evil” Phish, but honestly this show was way more sweet than evil. Who have I become?!Next thing you know, after “Plasma,” the entire Sphere elevated to new heights as the band launched into Talking Heads’ classic, “Crosseyed and Painless”, from a jam that included a mild Dononvan’s “First There is a Mountain,” into what sounded like the start of “No Quarter.”

So many great, aural surprises in this unexpected treat. Still waiting…for the next jam to blow the roof off! Everyone in the room was wiggling and writhing in excitement. The Kuroda Special was a feast for the eyes. The band was audibly fucking with us and it was fantastic!

Then they had to do it.

Phish had to play “Pillow Jets”. This is one of those songs that begs the question, If a jam is what saves the song from sucking, is it really a good song? A song should be able to stand alone and the jam should be an enhancer, not the forced star of the show. I’ll cut the band some slack on this terrible song, as I felt giving us the sound explosion towards the end of the song that could only be described as, “a pillow-jet of sound”, impressed me. Even though I still have no fucking idea what the hell those words together mean. Word salad-sounding bullshit. And yes, I admit that the jam in this song does always fuck. Hard.

“Shade” generally annoys me, but I stayed in my seat, as I didn’t need to use the bathroom, and it was quick as far as Phish songs can go. “Sand” was a welcome change from “Shade”, but man I was fading. I fell asleep. I know. I understand the lady-ball-busting I deserve, but it was a long-ass day.

That Encore was…

Fucking fantastic!

“I Didn’t Know” is one of my favorite songs. It’s so simple, so silly, so honest, and is the perfect song to roll into an encore with. To know me is to know that I hate barbershop (music), but this barbershop ditty brings me great joy. Now combine it with Fishman rolling out the vacuum to share a little “thunder from down under” with the entire room, right into “Saw It Again”, which I also love.

I love songs played in a minor key. Especially, when they sound a little punk rock, and a little avant garde, which is an oversimplistic explanation of “Saw It Again”, but fitting. Fishman brought the vacuum back out, and Trey took over on the drums, further driving home how hard Phish trolls their fans. It might be one of my favorite things about this silly-ass band.

Right into one of my top 10 covers by any band, of all time, The Velvet Underground’s, “Rock and Roll.”

18,000 lives were all saved by rock and roll, and it was alright.

See y’all tonight

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