Phish roll out fall tour in Albany

After being forced to cancel their sold-out, end-of-summer festival in Watkins Glen this August, Phish made their return to New York with a two-night run in Albany on Oct. 16 and 17.

Performing at the Times Union Center, the Vermont-based quartet played to crowds of about 15,000 each night and treated their fans to a balanced mix of newer and older songs. Known for their knack of improvisation, the band highlighted different musical moods, from upbeat, funky and joyful, to dark, sinister and ominous.

Complementing the music was a sophisticated light show and resounding roars from the crowd. Having first performed at the venue in 1995, the two-night run brought the band’s number of shows there to 13, surpassing Billy Joel’s 11, making them record holders for the most concerts at the venue.

“We love playing here,” frontman Trey Anastasio told the crowd. “It feels like a hometown gig, so thank you very much.”